Action Comics #196

In "The Adventures of Mental-Man!" from Action Comics #196, Daily Planet artist Al Fallon finds fame with his comic strip about the Eighth Wonder, Mental-Man—only to be dragged into a real-life mystery when criminals force him to reveal the hero’s true identity. With Superman quietly orchestrating events from the shadows, the line between fiction and danger blurs as the crooks’ plan unfolds.

In "The World Series of Tomorrow!" from Action Comics #196, Tommy finds himself at the center of an intergalactic sporting sensation when alien races from distant planets enlist Earth’s help to learn baseball—complete with rules, strategy, and a whole lot of cosmic enthusiasm. As he guides them through the game’s quirks and challenges, Tommy discovers that even across the stars, the spirit of competition and camaraderie might just be universal.

In "Vigilante — Foreign Correspondent!" from Action Comics #196 (1954), musician Greg—already a star on an ocean liner bound for Europe—finds himself drawn into danger when gunfire echoes through the streets of Paris. With his friend Stuff by his side, Greg dons the Vigilante costume to investigate the attack on international correspondent Bill Turner, whose life is threatened over a mysterious portable radio.