Superman Annual #1961-1962

In "The Story of Superman, Junior," young Johnny Kirk is sent into space by his father, fearing Earth's imminent destruction by a meteor—only for Superboy to intercept the threat and be tasked with finding the boy. Years later, Johnny returns, now a teenager with powers of his own, but Superman begins to weaken after exposure to a mysterious space poison carried aboard the ship. Written by Jerry Coleman and illustrated by Wayne Boring with inks by Stan Kaye, this 1961 tale explores the legacy of heroism and the cost of saving a world.