The Super-Genius from Space!

 

In March 2026, Action Comics 242, from July 1958 was re-released as a facsimile reprint. It featured the debut of Brainiac and the Bottle City of Kandor. Maybe in advance of the 2027 Superman sequel, "Man of Tomorrow" featuring Brainiac as the main adversary.

The story is very succinct and to the point. Clark and Lois are covering a story as passengers on a fantastic new rocket! When confronted by Brainiac's ship, Clark suits up as an astronaut and escapes back to Earth to protect his secret identity! So Silver Age! Brainiac quickly captures Earth's major cities, including Metropolis, intending to repopulate his home planet. This was before Brainiac was reimagined as Kryptonian, and developed as the planet's version of Google, created by Jor-El. Superman feigns defeat to sneak back and subvert Brainiac. That's when he discovers Kandor and an old college classmate of his father's! using his super-wits, The Man of Steel outsmarts his adversary, actually catching him napping! It's an interesting out, leaving room for an opening for Brainiac to return for another face-off. Short and sweet, the story doesn't waste any details, moving deftly and smoothly. The pacing is a bit brisk, but it works. Obviously.

But wait, there's more!

Tommy Tomorrow, Space Traffic Cop of the future isa fun, wacky, sci-fi story. A Boring weekend of traffic control in space in the future!

Then there's Congo Bill, before he was Congorilla. Confronted by an alien octopod from Venus! The alien forcefully enlists Bill and Janu into assisting in his plan of world conquest! It takes some ingenuity to discover how to overcome the alien menace, yet Bill does. With the alien's dying breath, it reveals that there are FIVE MORE similar aliens somewhere on Earth working out their own plan! Nana-nana-boo-boo to you Bill!

Zoinks!

Definitely a Classic!

This facsimile issue of Action Comics earns four stars! 

The Girl of Steel! Action Comics 252 Facsimile Reprint Review!

 

In December 2025, DC Comics reprinted Action Comics 252, May 1959, featuring the first appearance of Supergirl and Metallo! The issue was previously reprinted at the turn of the century as a Millenium Edition issue.

The classic issue features an equally classic cover: Supergirl zooming out of her Kryptonian rocket announcing to Superman and the world who and what she is! Definitely a memorable cover by the legendary Curt Swan and Stan Kaye.

Robert Bernstein and Al Plastino present the debut of Metallo! He's murderous reporter, John Corbin! And, apparently, a reckless driver! Taking a curve to sharp, he flips his car! If not for Professor Vale passing by driven by his housekeeper Edith, Metallo might never have come to be! Humanitarian Vale saves Corbin and continues his treacherous ways. His new metal body requires a Uranium or Kryptonite heart to power him! Coincidentally, he's also a near identical twin to The Man of Steel! Only the fickle finger of fate is able to stop him!

Bernstein and Howard Sherman present another Congo Bill/Congorilla adventure! Congorilla must rescue Bill, the Comandant and his troops at an oasis commandeered by highwaymen bent on pathway piracy!

Finally, Otto Binder and Al Plastino introduce The Maid of Might, "The Supergirl from Krypton"! The story hinges heavily on coincidence and serendipity. It's all very convenient and somewhat predictable. The nitpick I have with this is that DC Comics decided to kill off the Kents. Granted, Supergirl gets her own, individual area. Yet, had the Kents lived, Supergirl could have lived and gone to school in Smallville. Maybe that would have been even more redundant, but it would have avoided what might be considered "super-dickery": Superman shunting his cousin off to an orphanage in Midvale far away from Smallville. It just seems more complicated than less, especially for the newest addition to The Superman Family. Yes, it would have seemed creepy for Superman to have his young "cousin" living with him in Metropolis. Maybe it would have been too revealing to have another superhuman alien in Smallville. Is that where they grow them?

For what it is, Action Comics 252, featuring the famous first appearances of Supergirl and Metallo is fine. It could have been more or better. It is what it is for the time.

Action Comics 252 earns two stars.