Publishers / DC / Action Comics (1938) / #242
242July 1958
$0.10

Action Comics #242

DC · July 1958 · on sale 1958-05-29

First appearance: BrainiacOrigin: Brainiac
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Action Comics (DC, 1938 series)
Issue
#242
Publication date
July 1958
Key date
1958-07-00
On-sale date
1958-05-29
Indicia publisher
National Comics Publications Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Brainiac - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Origin story on record for: Brainiac.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0The Super-Duel in Space!cover1pencils: Curt Swan; inks: Stan KayeBrainiac First, Clark Kent, Superman
1Are You a Litter-Bug?public service announcement1script: Jack Schiff; pencils: Henry Boltinoff; inks: Henry Boltinoff; letters: Henry Boltinoff
2The Super-Duel in Spacecomic story13script: Otto Binder; pencils: Al Plastino; inks: Al PlastinoBrainiac First, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent, Martha Kent, Lois Lane, Superboy, Superman
3-comic story1script: Henry Boltinoff; pencils: Henry Boltinoff; inks: Henry Boltinoff; letters: Henry BoltinoffPete; Miss Muffin
5The Traffic Cop of 2058, A.D.comic story6script: Otto Binder; pencils: Jim Mooney; inks: Jim MooneyColonel Tommy Tomorrow
6-comic story0.5script: Henry Boltinoff; pencils: Henry Boltinoff; inks: Henry Boltinoff; letters: Henry Boltinoff
8Meet the Space Rangerpromo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Bob Brown; inks: Bob Brown
9-text article1letters: typeset
10Safari from Space!comic story6pencils: Howard Sherman; inks: Howard ShermanCongo Bill, Janu
11Pacific Mantacartoon1script: Martin Naydel; pencils: Martin Naydel; inks: Martin Naydel

Plus 4.5 pages of advertisements and other matter across 5 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Superman Annual #21960On eBay ›
Action Comics #2771961On eBay ›
Superman #2171969On eBay ›
Superman from the Thirties to the Eighties #[nn]
ISBN 0517551004		1983On eBay ›
Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Archives #1
ISBN 1-4012-0156-3		2004On eBay ›
Showcase Presents: Superman #1
ISBN 1-4012-0758-8		2005On eBay ›
Superman in the Fifties #[nn]
ISBN 1563898268		2002On eBay ›
Superman: The Bottle City of Kandor #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-4012-1465-4		2007On eBay ›
Superman vs. Brainiac #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-4012-1940-6		2009On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

‹ #241242 of 866#243 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com