Action Comics #392
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeAction Comics #392 (September 1970) holds a firm place in DC history as the final chapter of the Legion of Super-Heroes' sixteen-issue run as a backup feature in Action Comics — and, by wide consensus among Legion scholars, the last story of the Silver Age Legion era. The issue also debuts Saturn Girl's radically redesigned costume, a fan-submitted look that would define her visual identity for more than a decade. On the Superman side of the book, the Super-Sons saga — an 'Imaginary Story' following Superman Jr. and Batman Jr. — reaches an emotional peak when the newly powerless Clark Kent Jr. proves his heroism without super-abilities, after which Superman transfers his own powers to his son. Together, the two stories mark a clean generational hinge: the end of Mort Weisinger's long editorial tenure and the beginning of a Bronze Age sensibility for both franchises.
In "The Shame of the Super-Son!", the Legion of Super-Heroes faces a shocking twist when Saturn Girl and Princess Projectra return from a mission only to be met with disbelief—two male Legionnaires now possess their exact powers. As trust within the team frays, Mon-El and Element Lad step forward to claim leadership, setting the stage for a pivotal shift in the Legion’s structure. Written by Cary Bates and illustrated by Win Mortimer with inks by Jack Abel, this 1970 classic features Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson on the cover.
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The issue went on sale July 30, 1970, under the editorship of Mort Weisinger with E. Nelson Bridwell as assistant editor — Weisinger's final issues before his retirement from DC, a transition that would fundamentally reshape the Superman line. The Legion backup, 'The Legionnaires Who Never Were!', was written by Cary Bates and drawn by Win Mortimer with inks by Jack Abel; it was the last Legion story penciled by Mortimer and the last edited by Weisinger. The Superman lead story, 'The Shame of the Super-Son!', was scripted by Robert Kanigher with pencils by Ross Andru and inks by Mike Esposito, while the cover was penciled by Curt Swan and inked by Murphy Anderson. With Weisinger's departure, editorial oversight of the Legion passed to Murray Boltinoff, and the team's backup slot moved to Superboy beginning with issue #172 (March 1971).
Trivia · 8 facts
- The issue contains two stories: the Superman lead 'The Shame of the Super-Son!' (script: Robert Kanigher, pencils: Ross Andru, inks: Mike Esposito) and the Legion backup 'The Legionnaires Who Never Were!' (script: Cary Bates, pencils: Win Mortimer, inks: Jack Abel).
- The cover is penciled by Curt Swan and inked by Murphy Anderson; the on-sale date was July 30, 1970, with a September 1970 cover date.
- This is the final Legion of Super-Heroes backup in Action Comics, capping a run that spanned issues #377–392 (June 1969–September 1970); the team's next original appearance was in Superboy #172 (March 1971).
- The issue is broadly considered by Legion historians and critics to be the last Silver Age Legion story, marking the end of the Mort Weisinger editorial era for the feature.
- Saturn Girl debuts her iconic fan-designed new costume in the Legion backup; the design was submitted by reader K. Haven Metzger of Columbia City, Indiana, and would remain her signature look for over a decade.
- In the Superman lead — labeled an 'Imaginary Story' — Superman Jr. (Clark Kent Jr.) saves his father's life despite having had his powers permanently removed by gold kryptonite; his immunity to green kryptonite is the key to the rescue, after which Superman uses a Kandorian device to transfer all of his own powers to his son.
- The Legion backup story resolves with Mon-El and Element Lad being sworn in as the Legion's new leader and deputy leader, respectively.
- The Legion backup story has been reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 9 (DC, 2000), Showcase Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 4 (2010), Legion of Super-Heroes: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 3 (2020), and the Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes Tempo Books paperback (black and white).
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When Saturn Girl and Princess Projectra return from a mission their fellow Legionnaires don't recognize them, because they already have two male members with the girls' powers. In the end, Mon-El and Element Lad are sworn in as the new leader and deputy leader.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
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