Cover: Leo O'Mealia

Action Comics #4

Sep 1938 · DC · 0.10 USD

📊 ~112,839 copies sold its debut month

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“Superman Plays Football”

In "Superman Plays Football," the Man of Steel takes a surprising turn from saving the world to playing quarterback, infiltrating a college football team to expose a corrupt coach’s scheme. Written by Jerome Siegel and drawn by Joe Shuster, this 1938 classic blends sports action with superhero sleuthing, all wrapped in a cover by Leo O'Mealia that captures the game’s high-stakes energy.

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writer Jerome Siegel · artist, inker Joe Shuster · cover Leo O'Mealia

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Cast · 10 characters

Bob Daley Chuck Dawson Marco Polo Pep Morgan Rusty James Scoop Scanlon Superman Tex Thomson Tong Zatara

Full credits

writer Jerome Siegel

artist, inker Joe Shuster

cover pencils, inks Leo O'Mealia

Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers

▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers

Overhearing a crooked college football coach at Dale University plotting to populate his team with thugs to defeat rival Cordell University, Superman impersonates a football player from Cordell to straighten the situation out.

Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).