Action Comics #14
Action Comics #14 (cover-dated July 1939) is a foundational issue in the early architecture of the superhero genre because it delivers the second appearance of the Ultra-Humanite — comics' first recurring supervillain and Superman's original nemesis, predating Lex Luthor by nearly a year. The story establishes the template of the brainy villain who escapes justice through gadgetry and cunning rather than brute force, planting the conceptual seed for the "arch-nemesis" figure that would define superhero storytelling for decades. Beyond the Superman lead, the issue marks the debut of the Clip Carson feature, replacing Scoop Scanlon and bringing a fresh Bill Finger–Bob Kane collaboration to Action Comics' anthology lineup. It also holds a small but verifiable costume milestone: it is the first issue to depict Superman's S-shield on his cape.
In "Superman Meets the Ultra-Humanite," Superman investigates a collapsed subway tunnel, uncovering a conspiracy tied to Star, Inc.—the company responsible for the flawed construction. As he confronts the corporation’s leadership, he’s suddenly faced with the return of the Ultra-Humanite, the bald, cunning genius believed dead, now plotting his next move. Written by Jerome Siegel and illustrated by Joe Shuster with inks by Paul Cassidy, this pivotal 1939 issue features a cover by Fred Guardineer.
In this classic 1939 installment of *Action Comics*, Superman investigates a collapsing subway tunnel, uncovering a web of corporate negligence tied to Star, Inc. His pursuit leads him to confront the chilling return of the Ultra-Humanite—the bald, brilliant villain once thought dead—whose sinister plans threaten to unravel the city from within.
In "The Pharaoh's Treasure, Part 1," police Captain Beatty—posing as the ancient Egyptian phantom Cheops—uses a robot mummy to deceive locals into aiding his theft of priceless artifacts. When Clip Carson uncovers the truth, he sets out to expose the impostor before the treasure is lost to greed.
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The Superman lead was scripted by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Paul Cassidy, who signed the work as Joe Shuster — a ghost-art arrangement already in place as demand for Superman material outpaced Shuster's capacity. The issue was edited by Vin Sullivan (credited as Vincent A. Sullivan) and published on-sale around May 29–31, 1939, under the Detective Comics, Inc. imprint, carrying a July 1939 cover date. The cover itself was produced by Fred Guardineer — depicting a serpent-woman scene from his own Zatara backup — making it one of the rare early Action Comics covers not dominated by Superman. Guardineer simultaneously handled the Pep Morgan story under the pen name Gene Baxter and wrote and drew the Zatara feature, illustrating just how small and overworked the early DC talent pool was.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Second appearance of the Ultra-Humanite (first in Action Comics #13, June 1939), Superman's first recurring supervillain, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
- The Ultra-Humanite is established here as the criminal mastermind behind Star, Inc., a front company using substandard tunnel materials — continuing his role as an unseen organizer of large-scale graft schemes.
- First issue of the Clip Carson feature, scripted by Bill Finger with art by Bob Kane, replacing the Scoop Scanlon strip that had run since Action Comics #1.
- First issue to show Superman's S-shield on his cape, per the DC Database.
- The Superman story was written by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Paul Cassidy, credited (as was the studio practice) under Joe Shuster's name.
- Cover art and the Zatara: 'The Fountain of Youth' backup (script by Gardner F. Fox) were both by Fred Guardineer; Guardineer also drew the Pep Morgan story under the pseudonym Gene Baxter.
- The Chuck Dawson story in this issue ('The 4-G Gang, Part 14 of 14') concludes the 14-part serial that had run since Action Comics #1, with art by Homer Fleming; it is also noted as Chuck Dawson's first episode printed in color.
- The Superman story 'Superman Meets the Ultra-Humanite' has been reprinted in Superman: The Action Comics Archives Vol. 1, Superman Chronicles Vol. 2, and Superman in the Forties.
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↩ Reprints All-American Comics #4 (1939), Movie Comics #4 (1939)
Reprinted in Superman #[1] (1939), Superman in Action Comics #1 (1993), Superman: The Action Comics Archives #1 (1998), Clásicos DC #6 (2005), Superman in the Forties #[nn] (2005), The Superman Chronicles #2 (2007), Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus #1 (2013), Superman: The Golden Age #1 (2016), DC Finest: Superman: The First Superhero #[nn] (2025), Aventures #16/1941, Aventures #17/1941, Aventures #18/1941, Aventures #19/1941, Aventures #20/1941
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