Superman: The Action Comics Archives #4

Superman must confront Captain Ironfist, a legendary pirate long thought sunk beneath the waves, as the villain resurfaces to terrorize modern shipping lanes. With Lois Lane and Perry White watching from the Daily Planet, the Man of Tomorrow faces a threat that blends myth and modern menace—where the past has come roaring back to haunt the present.

In a whimsical twist on classic hillbilly satire, Superman finds himself tangled in a small-town scandal when cartoonist Al Hatt, inspired by real-life oddballs, tries to stop a marriage he deems too absurd—only to stir up more chaos than he bargained for. With Lois Lane digging into the story, Perry White fuming at the paper’s latest headline, and a cast of eccentric locals including the newly introduced Tiny Rufe, Maisie Day, and a few familiar faces from the Daily Planet’s past, the whole town becomes a stage for a very serious joke.

In "Design for Doom!", Superman faces off against the delusional architect Emil Loring, whose obsession with creating the world's tallest building drives him to target America's most iconic historical structures. With Lois Lane and Perry White at his side, Superman must stop Loring before his twisted vision brings down the nation's landmarks—before the city itself becomes his final, catastrophic design.

When the Prankster launches the Appreciation Society as a cover for his crimes, Superman finds himself facing a foe who’s less interested in chaos and more in making the Man of Steel look foolish—especially when the Prankster claims to know the secret behind his invulnerability. With Lois Lane digging into the mystery and Perry White scrambling to keep the Daily Planet ahead of the story, Superman must outwit a villain who’s turning the city into his personal stage.

In "The Face of Adonis!", Superman faces a bizarre threat when a deranged plastic surgeon, Adonis (James Trevor), surgically alters an aging actor into a living mask and forces him to commit crimes for his wealthy associates. With Lois Lane and Perry White caught in the crossfire, and a new menace on the rise, Superman must track down the source of the grotesque transformations before the city's elite fall victim to a twisted game of deception.

In "Cinderella--a la Superman!", Clark Kent’s evening plans take an unexpected turn when he learns he’s babysitting Lois Lane’s niece, Susie Tompkins. Tired and dozing off while reading to her, Clark drifts into a dream where Superman reimagines the classic fairy tale in his own heroic style—complete with magic, transformation, and a midnight deadline.

In "Lois Lane--Superwoman!", Lois Lane dreams she gains superpowers after a near-fatal accident, transforming into a heroic figure who even wins Superman’s heart—only to wake up realizing it was all a fantastical vision. The story explores her daring fantasy of becoming Superwoman, with Superman and the mysterious Doctor Skowl playing key roles in the surreal journey.

In "The Man They Wouldn't Believe!", Lois Lane finds herself at the center of a scandal when her critical article about a wealthy playboy backfires—turning him into a romantic suitor who publicly proposes, leaving even Superman, disguised as Clark Kent, flustered and forced to confront his feelings. As tensions rise and secrets simmer beneath the surface, the line between public persona and private truth begins to blur.

In the year 2143, Captain Storme shares with his grandchildren the memories of 1943—when the world teetered under the shadow of Nazi aggression and criminal greed, and one hero, Superman, stood as a beacon of hope, halting the forces of destruction before they could claim all. With Lois Lane by his side and the echoes of a bygone war still ringing, the legacy of courage endures across time.

When Clark Kent witnesses the collision of two distant suns, the cosmic event triggers a sudden loss of memory, leaving him disoriented and vulnerable. A cunning criminal named Spike Jaeger seizes the opportunity, manipulating Superman into believing he’s the notorious Muscles Moony, forcing him to battle a rival gang in a twisted charade that blurs the line between hero and villain.

In "The Terrible Toyman!", a cunning criminal uses deadly toys to pull off a string of robberies, turning the city’s playgrounds into traps. When the Toyman takes Lois Lane hostage with a swarm of poisoned dolls, Superman must race to uncover the villain’s hidden lair before it’s too late.

In "The Million-Dollar Marathon!", Superman, Lois Lane, and Perry White find themselves drawn into a high-stakes race against time when a dying millionaire sets a wild challenge: spend a million dollars in a single day, or the fortune goes to a wastrel nephew. With the fate of a children's hospital hanging in the balance, Clark Kent, Lois, and the Daily Planet crew help navigate a chaotic chain of events that tests every dollar—and every conscience.

In "The Boy Who Came Back!", Superman investigates a million-dollar reward offered for the safe return of a missing boy, only to uncover a web of deception when a young man claims to be the real nephew. With Lois Lane and the mysterious Jackie Barnett digging into the truth, secrets about the millionaire’s intentions and a hidden past begin to surface—just as a dangerous criminal known as Ferret Falvey steps into the spotlight.

In "Make Way for Fate!", Superman finds himself caught between duty and justice when a government plan to demolish older homes for a new Officer's Training School collides with a hidden criminal operation. With Lois Lane, General McTurk, and local residents like Mr. Writt, Samuel Rayburn, Martha Hoskins, Reginald Sykes, Soapy Waters, Soft-Shoe Sapper, and Flossie all affected, the stakes rise as secrets buried in the old buildings threaten to erupt—just as the city prepares to move forward.