Action Comics #398

Action Comics #398 (On Sale: January 28, 1971), has a Superman cover by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano.

This issue begins with Superman in "The Pied Piper of Steel" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Morgan Edge assigns Clark Kent to drive a mobile newsroom so that he can report news live from the scene. Clark's first report comes from a rock concert. During the show, the audience is compelled to dig. Superman is forced into action to prevent a nearby hotel from being destroyed. The strange behavior of the crowd remains unexplained.

Clark then reports on another concert. This time the crowd begins fighting each other in order to obey a command to drink. Superman again intervenes.

Suspecting something might happen again, Superman uses Kryptonian recording technology at the next show. When the audience is commanded to tear down a building, Superman is affected too. However, when his Kryptonian recorder is knocked loose, he regains his senses. He then finds that the concert promoter has been using a device to brainwash the crowds. Superman destroys the device and apprehends the promoter. This was reprinted in Superman from the Thirties to the Seventies HC (1971) and Superman from the 30s to the 80s HC (1983).

Our backup Superman story is one of the Untold Tales of the fortress, "Spawn of the Unknown" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan, and Murphy Anderson. Superman is summoned to a volcanic crater in Africa where the botanist Professor Bruno was conducting experiments with plant life. An accidental explosion has compromised the experiment. When Superman arrives he sees several animals that have been transformed into strange plants. He then sees that Supergirl has also been affected.

Superman tries to help his cousin, but the plant wraps its branches around him. When Superman struggles to free himself, Supergirl's arms are ripped off. He is shocked. Suddenly, the real Supergirl arrives. She explains that that plants merely imitate other life forms. She then shows him another one that has taken his form. The Kryptonians then take the plants to another world where they can continue their existence. The Superman and Supergirl plants are put on display in the Fortress. This has never been reprinted.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.