Action Comics #11
In "Superman and the 'Black Gold' Swindle," a 1939 issue of Action Comics, Superman teams up with the magician Zatara during a tense voyage on a trans-Pacific liner. With plans for the Panama Canal in peril, Zatara must unravel a mystery involving a phantom sea ghost and a foreign spy disguised as a fellow illusionist. Written by Gardner Fox and illustrated by Fred Guardineer, this early adventure blends espionage and magic, with the cover by Guardineer capturing the dramatic clash of illusion and danger.
When a shady company dumps worthless "Black Gold Oil" stock on the market, they're stunned to find their scam backfires—thanks to Superman's accidental discovery of real oil on the land. Now, desperate to regain control, they scramble to buy back every share, but the hero's presence has already changed everything.
In "Shanghaied," Pep finds himself forcibly taken aboard a freighter bound for the south seas, trapped with two others. When he’s locked in the brig, he uncovers a hidden cache of rifles in crates labeled "peaches" and escapes by jumping overboard, alerting authorities who move in just as the cargo is being unloaded.
In "Queen of the Malays, Part 1," Tex and Bob find themselves caught in a dangerous twist when they're shanghaied and unexpectedly recognized by an old acquaintance. Invited by Lord Reynolds, the two join a mysterious expedition to locate a hidden island home to an ancient Malay people—and their enigmatic, white-ruled queen.
In "The Sea Ghost," Zatara finds himself aboard a transatlantic liner, aiding two government agents guarding sensitive Panama Canal plans. When a mysterious sea ghost emerges from the waves, seemingly beyond his control, he soon uncovers a chilling truth: the illusion is rooted in the mind of Madame Kelly, a spy working for a foreign power.
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Reprinted in Superman in Action Comics #1 (1993), Superman: The Action Comics Archives #1 (1998), Clásicos DC #6 (2005), The Superman Chronicles #1 (2006), Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus #1 (2013), Superman: The Golden Age #1 (2016), DC Finest: Superman: The First Superhero #[nn] (2025)
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