Comic Title: Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies HC
Publisher: Crown/Harmony (Bonanza Books)
Address: One Park Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: 1971
On Sale Date: December 14, 1971 Copyright Date December 14, 1971
Source: Library of Congress, Pamphlets 1972

Cover Price: $12.95
Page Count: 388

Title: (The Challenge of Luthor)
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: Paul Cassidy

Reprinted From:
Superman #4 (1940)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #23; next appearance in Superman #4)

Supporting Character(s)

• George Taylor (last appearance in Action Comics #23; next appearance in Superman #4)

Villain(s)

• Luthor (first appearance; first name Alexei not given in this story; last appearance in Action Comics #23; next appearance in Superman #4)
• Luthor’s henchmen (one impersonates Professor Martinson; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Professor Martinson (an inventor; dies in this story; no further appearances)

Comments:
Lex Luthor appears here and in the first story of Action Comics #23. Though Superman #4 went on sale just before Action Comics #23 making this his first appearance, the first story Action Comics #23 clearly takes place before this one.

Superman is shown to be able to stop his heart and jump higher than the stratosphere in this story.

This story was originally not titled.

Synopsis:
Clark Kent is assigned to investigate an earthquake that has shaken Metropolis. Professor Martinson has developed a new weapon that caused the quake during a test of the machine. When Clark visits Martinson’s lab, he meets one of Luthor’s henchmen. He tries to trail the man back to Luthor, but Luthor destroys the man’s plane by remote.

Superman goes to the army camp to guard the machine against theft, as Luthor has already kidnapped Martinson. After his men are defeated, Luthor issues a challenge to Superman. Superman agrees to compete against his nemesis in tests of speed, strength, and resistance to injury. Luthor is forced to concede when Superman bests his every invention. Martinson is released, and Luthor leaves the battlefield.

The contest was merely a distraction though, as Luthor’s henchmen were given time to steal the earthquake machine while Superman was busy. The master criminal uses the machine and begins blackmailing the world. Superman learns from Martinson where Luthor is hiding. He leaves to confront his foe, but is temporarily bested by the earthquake machine. Recovering quickly, Superman is able to demolish the device, but Luthor escapes. Martinson kills himself to prevent another device from being made.