Superman #233

Superman #233  (On Sale: November 5, 1970), has another classic cover by Neal Adams. Neal has dissed fans love of this cover, but it is great.

Rarely has an editor change made such an impact on a character than Julie Schwartz taking the reigns of Superman. We begin with the classic "Superman Breaks Loose" by Denny O'Neil, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Superman helps out with an experiment involving Green Kryptonite as an alternative power source when the experiment goes haywire, the energy harnessing machine about to explode. Superman tries to contain the explosion, but fails, being knocked out by the force of the blast and by exposure to the Green Kryptonite. Strangely, the explosion also causes all forms of Kryptonite on Earth to transform into harmless iron, which in turn is interpreted as Superman now being totally invulnerable.

Clark Kent is now hired by Morgan Edge as a television reporter for WGBS, and his first assignment is to cover an experimental mailing rocket that will travel from Metropolis to Los Angeles. When Clark spots some would-be saboteurs who want the rocket for their own purposes, he goes into action as Superman and tries to stop them. However, he begins to notice that his heat vision powers no longer work, as well as a temporary drain on his physical strength powers. As he returns to Metropolis fulfilling his job reporting the rocket launch, a figure resembling Superman made of sand emerges from where he had been laid following the Kryptonite energy machine explosion and starts wandering about. This classic tale has been reprinted in Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies HC (1971), Superman in the Seventies TPB (2000), Millennium Edition: Superman 233 (#58) (2001), Superman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told Vol. 2 TPB (2007), and Superman: Kryptonite Nevermore HC (2009).

The back up is a new series, World of Krypton,  "Jor-El's Golden Folly" by E. Nelson Bridwell and Murphy Anderson. After graduating from school, young Jor-El begins work at the space-center under the leadership of Professor Ken-Dal and General Dru-Zod. He also meets astronaut Lara Lor-Van for the first time. Within months of his joining the space program, Jor-El successfully isolates an anti-gravity particle and builds a spaceship that can utilize it. Due to budget restraints placed on the space program, Jor-El is forced to construct his ship from the most common metal on Krypton, gold.

When Jor-El's Golden Folly is complete, the unmanned ship lifts successfully into space. Only after take-off does Jor-El discover that Lara has stowed away on board. When the ship's controls freeze, Lara is forced to crash land on Krypton's moon Wegthor. Jor-El then stows away on another ship scheduled to land on the moon. He locates and rescues Lara. Reprinted in Best of DC #40 (1983), Millennium Edition: Superman 233 (#58) (2001), and Superman: The World of Krypton TPB (2008).

Edited, for the first time, by Julius Schwartz.