Comic Title: Superman #5
Publisher: DC (Superman, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Summer 1940
On Sale Date: May 10, 1940 Newsstand Date May 10, 1940
Source: House Ad, Action Comics #25, Page 64, More Fun Comics #56, Page 11,
Detective Comics #40, Page 48, Adventure Comics #51, Page 21

Copyright Date May 10, 1940
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1940

Frequency: Quarterly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 64
Editor: Fredric Whitney Ellsworth

Title: (Luthor's Incense Menace)
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Penciller: Joe Shuster
Inker: Paul Cassidy

Reprinted In:
Superman Archives Vol. 2 HC (1990)
Superman Chronicles Vol. 3 TPB (2007)
Superman:The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1 HC (2013)
Superman:The Golden Age Vol. 2 TPB (2017)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman #5; next appearance in Superman #5)

Supporting Character(s)

• George Taylor (last appearance in Superman #5; next appearance in Superman #5)

Villain(s)

• Luthor (last appearance in Superman #4; next appearance in Superman #10)
• Borden Mosely and his henchmen (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Mr. Gregory (a businessman; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Several other businessmen (no further appearances)
• An insurance agent and his secretary (no further appearances)

Comments:
First mention of Superman’s indestructible costume, which is made of a cloth he invented.

Luthor is shown with grey hair instead of red in this story.

This story was not originally titled.

Synopsis:
Clark Kent investigates a sudden wave of unemployment. After questioning several business leaders and noticing a smell of incense in their offices, Clark inquires about it to a businessman, Mr. Gregory. Gregory denies its importance, but when Kent leaves calls a secret boss who then orders the Daily Planet bombed. Superman stops the bombing and returns as Kent to Gregory’s office. The man commits suicide and makes it look like Kent is responsible. Clark gets out before the police arrive and returns to help them realize it was a indeed a suicide.

Clark continues his investigation which leads him to a ruthless businessman, Borden Mosely. Mosely refuses to see Kent, so Clark sneaks into the building another way and overhears Mosely’s plans. The crook sees Clark hiding and has his henchmen throw him down an elevator shaft. Clark survives and confronts the crooks as Superman, after learning the true villain is Luthor.

Following Mosely to a secret hide-out, Superman encounters many traps. He catches up to Mosely and learns of a conference where the leaders of the conspiracy are meeting. The Man of Steel disguises himself as Mosely and attends the meeting. Luthor sees through his disguise, but Superman overcomes his foes. Luthor apparently is killed in a plane crash. Superman then works to free the business leaders from Luthor’s influence, for the incense was a narcotic Luthor supplied to gain power over them. With the men cured, the nation begins to prosper again.