Superman #52

Superman #52 brings a wonderfully odd standoff to its sun-baked cover: the Man of Steel swoops low in full flight, fists clenched, bearing down on a small, seemingly ordinary boy who stands his ground with calm defiance, a thin stick in hand. It's a striking visual contrast — all of Superman's power aimed at someone who doesn't look the least bit intimidated — that sets a genuinely intriguing tone for the "Preview of Plunder" story within. At ten cents for 82 pages in 1948, this DC issue offers serious value, with cover art penciled by Wayne Boring and inked by Stan Kaye delivering that bold, grounded Superman style the era does so well.