Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Action Comics #355

Action Comics #355 (On Sale: August 29, 1967) has a Curt Swan and George Klein cover.

Inside we have "The Mighty Annihilator" by Leo Dorfman and Wayne Boring. Continuing the story from last issue, Biochemist Karl Keller has been imprisoned in a forced labor camp after criticizing his country's leadership. Keller escapes after discovering some Kryptonian chemicals that when ingested give him an explosive punch. The scientist then comes to America where he becomes a boxer called the One Punch Kid. During one match, Superman disguises himself as Keller's opponent and is surprised when a punch knocks him down.

Later, Keller creates a costumed identity for himself called the Annihilator. He holds a grudge against Superman, since the Man of Steel did not free him from the labor camp. The Annihilator then becomes a super-villain and his punch is able to best Superman. The Man of Steel is forced to retreat in order to develop a strategy against his newest foe.

The back-up Supergirl story is "The Death of Luthor" by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney and is a reprint from Action Comics #286. Luthor escapes from jail while Superman is away. He sets out to prove that Supergirl is only a robot. When he finds out that she is real, he creates a distraction designed to keep her away from a robbery.

Supergirl pursues Luthor, and he crashes his car. During the crash, Luthor is shot by a weapon of his own design. Supergirl searches the universe until she finds the means to bring Luthor back to life to fulfill his debt to society.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

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