Action Comics #332 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In the 1960s, if you wanted to do something wild with DC's flagship character, Superman, you had two choices: use red kryptonite or make it an imaginary story. With red kryptonite, you could temporarily change the Man of Steel into a raving lunatic or give him the head of a ant. But if you wanted to play around with the dynamic of Superman and his friends and family, or even his personal history, you had to create an imaginary story.

Under a strict set of guidelines imposed by editor Mort Weisinger, Superman couldn't marry, he couldn't reveal his secret identity of Clark Kent and he couldn't go back in time to change the deaths of either his earthly parents, the Kent's or the destruction of his home world. That's where the imaginary tales come in.

In the cover story 'How Superwoman Trained Superboy', we see what would have happened if Kara Zor-El was born before her cousin Kal-El. Instead of only Kara going to Earth in the wake of the destruction of Krypton, her mother and father also make it to our planet. For a brief while, the family works in secret at night, using their new found powers, gained by our solar system's yellow sun, to help the people of Smallville. 

Meanwhile, Jor-El and his family have been living on a floating planetoid containing Argo City, encased in a protective plastic bubble. When asteroids destroy the dome and uncover deadly green kryptonite underneath Agro's crust, teenage Jor-El is sent to Earth to be reunited with his now adult cousin Kara. However instead of adopting the Kryptonian boy herself, she places Kal in Midvale Orphanage, until he can learn discipline and to master his new powers before he can become Superwoman's new sidekick, Superboy.

This issue opens with a Superman story involving his arch-enemy, Lex Luthor. Having escaped a prison planet, Superman goes to the planet Lexor, where the criminal mastermind is revered as the Lexor's savior, to find him. In doing so, he's inadvertently revealed to Luthor's wife Ardora that Lex is really a villain at heart. 

This causes a rift between Ardora and Luthor. Out of revenge, Lex plans to destroy Superman once and for all. But when the fiend discovers that another criminal is about to kill the Man of Steel, Lex actually comes to his foe's rescue. Changing plans, Luthor schemes to drive Superman insane by being his enemy's protector. 

But how that plan will be implemented will have to wait. Both 'The Super-Vengeance of Lex Luthor' and the cover story starring an adult Supergirl end on cliffhangers. That tale ends with Superboy planning to show Superwoman that he's more than ready to not only be her partner but out of revenge, he'll become something far more superior than his mighty cousin. 

Both stories were written by Leo Dorfman. Al Plastino both penciled and inked the Lex Luthor story. Jim Mooney was the artist and inker for the Superwoman adventure. Curt Swan was the cover artist.

Completing this review completes Task #15 (A Superman Comic From the 1960s) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Supergirl #5 (Rebirth)

     Zor-El leads an invasion of earth in order to harvest the life-force of every human and finally resurrect the people of Argo City. Added to the threat, the Cyborg Superman has activated the generators of Argo on a collision course with the earth. As Supergirl is imprisoned on Argo, stricken with Kryptonite poisoning, it's up to Jeremiah Danvers, the DEO, and Cat Grant(?!) to save the day!

     Steve Orlando has amped the action up to 11! But with this massive invasion of earth, I must ask: where are all the superheroes at? You'd think the Justice League or Teen Titans would show up to assist or something...

     Wicked fun but clearly there's an issue with continuity or plausibility here.

    Worth Consuming!

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Superman Family Adventures #4

The Daily Planet has a visitor in the form of a tiny monkey named Titano. He’s on loan from the Metropolis Zoo for a photo shoot. But when a chunk of Red Kryptonite falls from the sky and is digested by the curious ‘George’, trouble grows to epic proportions. Its Superman to the rescue until the radiation from the Red Kryptonite causes the Man of Steel to split in two!

  Now it’s Kent versus Can’t with a giant radioactive chimp terrorizing Metropolis! It’s the story of the century! Somebody find Olsen and bring Chief his coffee!

The team of Art Baltazar and Franco continue to pump out instant classics like this one. I love how they created exciting new stories for kids that are rooted in the New 52 universe while harkening back to the classic DC stories that mom and dad read as a kid! It’s a stroke of Disney-like genius- offering something for the whole family to enjoy.

The end of this book offers a study guide for teachers to use. I know if I still taught, I’d use this resource. I wonder if any teachers use this today.

Another Baltazar/ Franco gem that I found at my local library. Great comic, great series, great creative duo and Great Scott!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.