Action Comics

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster saw their creation, Superman (also known as Kal-El, originally Kal-L), launched in Action Comics #1 on April 18, 1938 (cover dated June),{{Cite book|last= Muir|first= John Kenneth|title= The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=kdMzAQAAIAAJ|access-date=2011-05-31|date= July 2008|location= Jefferson, North Carolina|publisher= McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-3755-9|page= 539}} an event which began the Golden Age of Comic Books.{{cite book|editor-last=Wallace|editor-first= Daniel|editor2-last=Dolan|editor2-first=Hannah|chapter= 1930s|title = DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|date=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YPQ9QwAACAAJ|page= 20 |quote = With the launch of Action Comics, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster finally saw their brainchild in print, and readers responded with rave reviews. Superman became the first comic book mega-star and proved that comics were more than a fad. The Golden Age of Comics was born.}}{{cite book|last=Goulart|first=Ron|title=Comic Book Culture|date= 2000|location= Tigard, Oregon|publisher= Collectors Press|page=43|isbn=978-1-888054-38-5}} Siegel and Shuster had tried for years to find a publisher for their Superman character—conceived initially as a newspaper strip. Superman was originally a bald madman created by Siegel and Shuster who used his telepathic abilities to wreak havoc on humanity. He appeared in Siegel and Shuster's fanzine Science Fiction.{{Cite book | first=Gerard | last=Jones | title=Men of Tomorrow | pages=82–84 | publisher= Arrow Books| date=July 2006|location= New York, New York| isbn=978-0-09-948706-7}} Siegel then commented, "What if this Superman was a force for good instead of evil?" The writer and artist had worked on several features for National Allied Publications' other titles such as Slam Bradley in Detective Comics.Jones, p. 120. They were asked to contribute a feature for National's newest publication. They submitted Superman for

consideration. After re-pasting the sample newspaper strips they had prepared into comic book page format, National decided to make Superman the cover feature of their new magazine.Jones, p. 124. After seeing the published first issue, publisher Harry Donenfeld dismissed the featured strip as ridiculous. He ordered it never to be on the cover of the series. Subsequent reports of the first issue's strong sales and follow up investigations revealed that Superman was the reason. Thus, the character returned to the covers, becoming a permanent presence in issue 19 onward.{{cite book|last=Van Lente|first=Fred|author-link = Fred Van Lente|title=The Comic Book History of Comics|date= 2012|location= San Diego, California|publisher= IDW Publishing|page=32|isbn = 978-1-61377-197-6}}

Initially, Action Comics was an anthology title featuring several other stories in addition to the Superman story. Zatara, a magician, was one of the other characters who had his own stories in early issues. There was the hero Tex Thompson, who eventually became Mr. America and later the Americommando. Vigilante enjoyed a lengthy run in this series. Sometimes stories of a more humorous nature were included, such as those of Hayfoot Henry, a policeman who talked in rhyme. The series saw the introduction of several characters and themes that would become longstanding elements of the Superman mythos. Lois Lane made her debut in the first issue with Superman.Wallace "1930s" in Dolan, p. 20: "Lois Lane was established early...but she rejected Clark [Kent] as a 'spineless, unbearable coward.'" An unnamed "office boy" with a bow tie makes a brief appearance in the story "Superman's Phony Manager" published in Action Comics #6 (November 1938), which is claimed to be Jimmy Olsen's first appearance by several reference sources.{{cite book|last= Beatty|first= Scott|author-link= Scott Beatty|chapter= Superman's Career|title= Superman: The Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|date= 2006|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 126|isbn= 978-0-7566-2067-7}}Wallace "1930s" in Dolan, p. 21: "Action Comics #6 (November 1938) The Man of Steels's future pal Jimmy Olsen made his first appearance within this issue of Action Comics, although he was identified only as an 'inquisitive office-boy'"[http://www.comics.org/issue/349/ Action Comics #6 (November 1938)] at the Grand Comics Database

New superpowers depicted for the first time for the character included X-ray vision and super-hearing in issue #11 (April 1939){{citation needed|date=June 2021}} and telescopic vision and super-breath in issue #20 (January 1940).Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 33: "Superman's telescopic vision and super-breath were introduced in January's Action Comics #20."

Luthor, a villain who became Superman's arch-enemy, was introduced in issue #23 (April 1940).Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 31: "The debut of the brilliant scientist known as Luthor was a sign of things to come." The original Toyman was created by writer Don Cameron and artist Ed Dobrotka in issue #64 (September 1943).Wallace "1940s" in Dolan, p. 45: "In writer Don Cameron and artist Ed Dobrotka's 'The Terrible Toyman', a quirky toy maker used his bizarre playthings to commit crimes." By 1942, artist Wayne Boring, who had previously been one of Shuster's assistants, had become a major artist on Superman.{{cite book|last = Daniels|first = Les|author-link = Les Daniels|title = DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes|chapter= The Superman Style Refining the Man of Steel|publisher = Bulfinch Press|date= 1995|location= New York, New York|page = 28|isbn = 0-8212-2076-4|quote= The image of Superman that eventually became preeminent was Wayne Boring's. By 1942 the former assistant to Joe Shuster was working on his own for DC, turning out pencilled and inked pages for Action Comics and Superman.}}

Under editor Mort Weisinger,{{cite web|url= http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?ind_pub_notes=&reprint_notes=&letters=&series=Action+Comics&series_notes=&issue_notes=&synopsis=&colors=&keywords=&isbn=&tracking_notes=&job_number=&issues=&issue_date=&issue_reprinted=None&title=&variant_name=&brand=&feature=&indicia_publisher=&pub_name=&is_indexed=None&start_date=&pub_notes=&inks=&issue_title=&end_date=&format=&brand_notes=&price=&barcode=&volume=&pages=&characters=&genre=&issue_pages=&order2=date&order3=&order1=series&pencils=&target=issue&story_editing=Mort+Weisinger¬es=&is_surrogate=None&issue_count=&issue_editing=Mort+Weisinger&method=icontains&script=&logic=True&indicia_frequency=&story_reprinted=None&page=1|title= Mort Weisinger's run on Action Comics|publisher= Grand Comics Database}} the Action Comics title saw a further expansion of the Superman mythology. Writer Jerry Coleman and Wayne Boring created the Fortress of Solitude in issue #241 (June 1958)Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 91: "Superman's Fortress of Solitude was seen for the first time. The story 'The Super-Key to Fort Superman', by writer Jerry Coleman and artist Wayne Boring, revealed the secrets of the Fortress." and Otto Binder and Al Plastino debuted the villain Brainiac and the Bottle City of Kandor in the next issue the following month.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 90: "The mythology of Krypton expanded dramatically with the introduction of the evil Brainiac and the Bottle City of Kandor in the Action Comics #242 story 'The Super-Duel in Space', written by Otto Binder and [drawn by] artist Al Plastino"

Gradually, the size of the issues was decreased. The publisher was reluctant to raise the cover price from the original 10 cents and reduced the number of stories. For a while, Congo Bill and Tommy Tomorrow were the two features in addition to Superman. Writer Robert Bernstein and artist Howard Sherman revamped the "Congo Bill" backup feature in issue #248 (January 1959) in a story wherein the character gained the ability to swap bodies with a gorilla and his strip was renamed Congorilla.Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 92: "Writer Robert Bernstein and artist Howard Sherman gave Congo Bill a new direction in Action Comics #248." The introduction of Supergirl by Otto Binder and Al Plastino occurred in issue #252 (May 1959).Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 94: "Action Comics #252 revealed there was another survivor [of Krypton]—Supergirl. Kara Zor-El (Supergirl) crashed to Earth, having been sent there by her parents." Following this debut appearance, Supergirl adopted the secret identity of an orphan "Linda Lee" and made Midvale Orphanage her base of operations. In Action Comics #261 (February 1960), her pet cat Streaky was introduced{{cite comic| writer= Siegel, Jerry| penciller= Mooney, Jim| inker= Mooney, Jim| story=Supergirl's Super Pet!| title= Action Comics| issue= 261| date= February 1960}} by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney.{{cite book|last = Eury|first = Michael|author-link = Michael Eury|chapter= Jim Mooney Interview|title = The Krypton Companion|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date= 2006|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|page = 44| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Fcm4JrX-F54C&q=streaky+the+supercat&pg=PA44| isbn = 1-893905-61-6 |quote= Streaky the Supercat was my design. I think the writer came up with the initial idea, but I designed him so he looked a little bit more like an animated cat.}} Supergirl joined the Legion of Super-Heroes in issue #276.{{cite comic| Writer = Siegel, Jerry| Penciller = Mooney, Jim| Inker = Mooney, Jim| Story = Supergirl's Three Super Girl-Friends!| Title = Action Comics | Issue = 276 | date = May 1961}} She acted for three years as Superman's "secret weapon", until her existence was revealed in Action Comics #285 (January 1962).McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 105: "In January's Action Comics #285 written by Jerry Siegel, with art by Jim Mooney, Superman's Kryptonian cousin Kara Zor-El was finally revealed as Supergirl to a very receptive Earth." In the view of comics historian Les Daniels, artist Curt Swan became the definitive artist of Superman in the early 1960s with a "new look" to the character that replaced Wayne Boring's version.Daniels "The Superman Family Strength in Numbers", p. 118: "By 1961, Swan's new look would replace Wayne Boring's patriarchal version. Swan's Superman became definitive, and ultimately he would draw, as he says, 'more Superman stories than anybody else.'" Bizarro World first appeared in the story "The World of Bizarros!" in issue #262 (April 1960).McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 100: "When Superman visited the dead planet inhabited by Bizarro...writer Otto Binder and artist Wayne Boring introduced an entire world filled with the backward beings." Writer Jim Shooter created the villain the Parasite in Action Comics #340 (Aug. 1966).McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 118: "With a story written by Jim Shooter and drawn by Al Plastino, the Parasite entered Superman's life."

Mort Weisinger retired from DC in 1970 and his final issue of Action Comics was issue #392 (September 1970). Murray Boltinoff became the title's editor until issue #418. Metamorpho was the backup feature in issues #413–418 after which the character had a brief run as the backup in World's Finest Comics.{{cite journal|last = Stroud|first = Bryan|title = Metamorpho in Action Comics|journal = Back Issue!|issue = 64|pages = 22–27|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = May 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} Julius Schwartz became the editor of the series with issue #419 (December 1972){{cite web|url= http://www.comics.org/search/advanced/process/?target=issue&method=icontains&logic=True&keywords=&order1=series&order2=date&order3=&start_date=&end_date=&title=&feature=&job_number=&pages=&script=&pencils=&inks=&colors=&letters=&story_editing=Julius+Schwartz&genre=&characters=&synopsis=&reprint_notes=&story_reprinted=None¬es=&pub_name=&pub_notes=&brand=&brand_notes=&indicia_publisher=&is_surrogate=None&ind_pub_notes=&series=Action+Comics&series_notes=&tracking_notes=&issue_count=&issues=&volume=&issue_title=&variant_name=&issue_date=&indicia_frequency=&price=&issue_pages=&format=&issue_editing=Julius+Schwartz&isbn=&barcode=&issue_notes=&issue_reprinted=None&is_indexed=None|title= Julius Schwartz's run on Action Comics|publisher= Grand Comics Database}} which also introduced the Human Target by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino in the backup feature.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 153: "Starting as a back-up feature in the pages of Action Comics, scribe Len Wein and artist Carmine Infantino introduced Christopher Chance, a master of disguise who would turn himself into a human target—provided you could meet his price." The Green Arrow and the Black Canary became a backup feature in #421 and ran through #458, initially rotating with the Human Target and the Atom.{{cite journal|last = Kingman|first = Jim|title = The Ballad of Ollie and Dinah|journal = Back Issue!|issue = 64|pages = 10–21|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = May 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} Between issues #423 (April 1973) and #424 (June 1973), the series jumped ahead by one month due to DC's decision to change the cover dates of its publishing line.{{cite book|author-link= Paul Levitz|last=Levitz|first= Paul|title= 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking|publisher= Taschen|date=2010|location= Cologne, Germany|isbn= 978-3-8365-1981-6|page= 516 |quote= Cover dates on comics didn't match magazine dating norms, and by 1973 Marvel's cover dates made them appear newer than DC's, so DC decided to skip using May 1973 and go straight to June.}}

A new version of the Toyman was created by Cary Bates and Curt Swan in issue #432 (February 1974).McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 158: "Writer Cary Bates and artist Curt Swan gave Superman all the 'fun' he could handle with the savvy new Toyman in Action Comics #432." Issues #437 (July 1974) and #443 (Jan. 1975) of the series were in the 100 Page Super Spectacular format.{{cite journal|last= Eury|first= Michael|title= A Look at DC's Super Specs|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 81|page= 22|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= July 2015|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} Martin Pasko wrote issue #500 (October 1979) which featured a history of the Superman canon as it existed at the time{{cite comic| writer= Pasko, Martin| penciller=Swan, Curt| inker=Chiaramonte, Frank| story= The Life Story of Superman| title= Action Comics| issue= 500| date= October 1979}} and was published in the Dollar Comics format.{{cite journal|last = Romero|first = Max|title = I'll Buy That For a Dollar! DC Comics' Dollar Comics|journal = Back Issue!|issue = 57|pages = 39–41|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = July 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}

The superheroine Vixen made her first appearance in Action Comics #521 (July 1981).Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 194: "[Superman] encountered the new mystery woman known as Vixen for the first time. In a story written by Gerry Conway and pencilled by Curt Swan, supermodel activist Mari McCabe leapt into the Man of Steel's life." To mark the 45th anniversary of the series, Lex Luthor and Brainiac were both given an updated appearance in issue #544 (June 1983). Lex Luthor dons his war suit for the first time in the story "Luthor Unleashed!"{{cite comic| writer= Bates, Cary|penciller= Swan, Curt|inker= Anderson, Murphy|story= Luthor Unleashed!|title= Action Comics|issue= 544|date= June 1983}} and Brainiac's appearance changes from the familiar green-skinned android to the metal skeletal-like robot in the story "Rebirth!".{{cite comic| writer= Wolfman, Marv|penciller= Kane, Gil|inker= Kane, Gil|story= Rebirth!|title= Action Comics|issue= 544|date= June 1983}} Keith Giffen's Ambush Bug character made appearances in issues #560,{{cite comic| writer= Giffen, Keith, Fleming, Robert Loren| penciller= Giffen, Keith| inker= Oksner, Bob| story= Police Blotter| title= Action Comics| issue= 560| date= October 1984}} #563,{{cite comic| writer= Giffen, Keith, Fleming, Robert Loren| penciller= Giffen, Keith| inker= Oksner, Bob| story= Black Beauty| title= Action Comics| issue= 563| date= January 1985}} and #565.{{cite comic| writer= Giffen, Keith, Fleming, Robert Loren| penciller= Giffen, Keith| inker= Oksner, Bob| story= $ellout or Manna from Mando| title= Action Comics| issue= 565| date= March 1985}} Action Comics #579, written by Jean-Marc Lofficier and drawn by Giffen, featured an homage to Asterix where Superman and Jimmy Olsen are drawn back in time to a small village of indomitable Gauls.{{cite comic| writer= Lofficier, Jean-Marc, Lofficier, Randy | penciller= Giffen, Keith| inker= Oksner, Bob| story= Prisoners of Time! (1986 A.D. to CCLIII A.D.)| title= Action Comics| issue= 579| date= May 1986 }} Schwartz ended his run as editor of the series with issue #583 (September 1986) which featured the second part of the "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" story by Alan Moore and Curt Swan.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 220: "In 'Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?', a two-part story written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Curt Swan, the adventures of the Silver Age Superman came to a dramatic close."

Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, writer/artist John Byrne relaunched the Superman franchise in The Man of Steel limited series in 1986.Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 221: "In the six-issue miniseries entitled [The] Man of Steel, the mammoth task of remaking Superman fell to popular writer/artist John Byrne...The result was an overwhelming success, popular with fans both old and new." Action Comics became a team-up title with issue #584 (January 1987) featuring Superman and the New Teen Titans.{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Squatter| title= Action Comics| issue= 584| date= January 1987}} Other costars during this period included the Phantom Stranger,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= And the Graves Give up Their Dead ...| title= Action Comics| issue= 585| date= February 1987}} the New Gods,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= The Champion| title= Action Comics| issue= 586| date= March 1987}} the Demon,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Cityscape!| title= Action Comics| issue= 587| date= April 1987}} Hawkman and Hawkwoman,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= All Wars Must End Part Two| title= Action Comics| issue= 588 | date= May 1987}} the Green Lantern Corps,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Green on Green| title= Action Comics| issue= 589 | date= June 1987}} the Metal Men,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Better Dying Through Chemistry| title= Action Comics| issue= 590| date= July 1987}} and
{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Andru, Ross| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= Element 126| title= Action Comics| issue= 599| date= April 1988}} Superboy,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= Past Imperfect| title= Action Comics| issue= 591 | date= August 1987}} Big Barda,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= ...A Walk on the Darkside| title= Action Comics| issue= 592| date= September 1987}} Mister Miracle,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= The Suicide Snare| title= Action Comics| issue= 593| date= October 1987}} Booster Gold,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= All that Glisters| title= Action Comics| issue= 594| date= November 1987}} the Martian Manhunter,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= The Ghost of Superman| title= Action Comics| issue= 595| date= December 1987}} the Spectre,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= Hell is Where the Heart Is...| title= Action Comics| issue= 596| date= January 1988}} Lois Lane and Lana Lang,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Starr, Leonard; Williams, Keith| story= Visitor| title= Action Comics| issue= 597| date= February 1988}} Checkmate,{{cite comic| writer= Kupperberg, Paul; Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Templeton, Ty| story= Checkmate| title= Action Comics| issue= 598 | date= March 1988}} Wonder Woman,{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John; Pérez, George| inker= Pérez, George| story= Different Worlds| title= Action Comics| issue= 600| date= May 1988}} and the Man-Bat.{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Mignola, Mike| inker= Mignola, Mike| story= The Dark Where Madness Lies| title= Action Comics| issue= 600| date= May 1988}} The first Action Comics Annual was published in 1987 and featured Superman teaming with Batman in a story written by Byrne and drawn by Arthur Adams.{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Adams, Arthur| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Skeeter| title= Action Comics Annual| issue= 1| date= 1987}} A DC Comics Bonus Book was included in issue #599 (April 1988).[http://www.comics.org/issue/44278/ Action Comics #599] at the Grand Comics Database

From May 24, 1988 – March 14, 1989,{{gcdb series|id= 3564|title= Action Comics Weekly}} the publication frequency was changed to weekly, the title changed to Action Comics Weekly, and the series became an anthology.{{Cite book|last1=Miller|first1= John Jackson|author-link1=John Jackson Miller|first2= Maggie|last2= Thompson|author-link2= Maggie Thompson|first3= Peter|last3= Bickford|first4= Brent|last4= Frankenhoff|author-link4=Brent Frankenhoff| contribution=Action Comics| title=The Comic Buyer's Guide Standard Catalog of Comic Books | edition=Fourth | publisher=Krause Publications|date=September 2005|location= Iola, Wisconsin| isbn=978-0-87349-993-4|pages=35–44}} Prior to its launch, DC cancelled its ongoing Green Lantern Corps title and made Green Lantern and his adventures exclusive to Action Comics Weekly.

The rest of these issues featured rotating serialized stories of other DC heroes, sometimes as try-outs that led to their own limited or ongoing series. Characters with featured stories in the run included the Black Canary, Blackhawk, Captain Marvel, Catwoman, Deadman, Nightwing, the Phantom Lady, the Phantom Stranger, the Secret Six, Speedy, and Wild Dog. Titles spun off from Action Comics at this time included a Catwoman miniseries and a Blackhawk ongoing, in both cases by the same creative teams that worked on the weekly serials. During and after Action Comics Weekly's run, two Green Lantern Specials were published in late 1988 and the second in spring 1989, the latter special wrapping up the storylines from the Green Lantern serials in Action Comics Weekly. Each issue featured a two-page Superman serial, a feature that, according to an editorial in the first weekly issue, was intended as a homage to the Superman newspaper strips of the past.

The final issue of the weekly was originally intended to feature a book-length encounter between Clark Kent and Hal Jordan by writer Neil Gaiman.{{Cite comic | Writer=Gaiman, Neil | date=November 2000 | story=Introduction | title=Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame}} While Gaiman's story primarily teamed up Green Lantern and Superman, it also featured other characters from Action Comics Weekly, including the Blackhawks (in flashback), Deadman, and the Phantom Stranger. The story ran counter to DC editorial policy at the time as it portrayed Hal Jordan and Clark Kent as old friends who knew each other's secret identities. This was not considered canon in 1989 and Gaiman was unwilling to change this aspect of the story (as each serial in ACW was edited by different editors, continuity was not being maintained by DC editorial). The story was pulled and a different story, written by Elliot S. Maggin, was run. Gaiman's story was finally published as a one-shot in Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame in November 2000.

The Action Comics Weekly experiment lasted only until the beginning of March 1989 and after a short break, issue #643 (July 1989) brought the title back onto a monthly schedule. Writer/artist George Pérez took over the title{{cite comic| writer= Pérez, George| penciller= Pérez, George| inker= Breeding, Brett

| story= Superman on Earth| title= Action Comics| issue= 643| date= July 1989}} and was joined by scripter Roger Stern the following month.{{cite comic| writer= Stern, Roger | penciller= Pérez, George| inker= Breeding, Brett| story= Doppelganger| title= Action Comics| issue= 644| date= August 1989}}

As writer of the series, Stern contributed to such storylines as "Panic in the Sky"Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 253: "In this seven-part adventure...writers Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Roger Stern, and Louise Simonson, with artists Brett Breeding, Tom Grummett, Jon Bogdanove, and Bob McLeod assembled many of DC's favorite characters to defend the world." and "The Death of Superman". He created the Eradicator in Action Comics Annual #2{{Cite book| last = Wallace| first = Dan| contribution = Eradicator | editor-last = Dougall| editor-first = Alastair| title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia| page = 116| publisher = Dorling Kindersley|date= 2008|location= London, United Kingdom| isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}{{Cite comic| writer= Stern, Roger| penciller= Swan, Curt| inker= Breeding, Brett| story= Memories of Krypton's Past| title= Action Comics Annual| issue= 2| date= [May] 1989| publisher= DC Comics}} and later incorporated the character into the "Reign of the Supermen" story arc beginning in The Adventures of Superman #500.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: " The issue also featured four teaser comics that introduced a group of contenders all vying for the Superman name...The Eradicator returned in a preview tale by writer Roger Stern and artist Jackson Guice." The Eradicator then took over Action Comics as "the Last Son of Krypton" in issue #687 (June 1993).{{Cite comic| writer = Stern, Roger| penciller= Guice, Jackson| inker= Rodier, Denis| story = Born Again| title = Action Comics| issue = 687| date = June 1993}}

Stern wrote the 1991 story wherein Clark Kent finally revealed his identity as Superman to Lois Lane.{{cite comic| writer= Stern, Roger | penciller= McLeod, Bob| inker= McLeod, Bob| story= Secrets in the Night| title= Action Comics| volume= | issue= 662| date= February 1991| publisher= DC Comics| page= | panel= }}Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 249: "With their nuptials looming, Clark thought it was time to reveal his dual identity to the love of his life, in this landmark issue by writer Roger Stern and artist Bob McLeod."

File:Action Comics 800.jpg]]

Several major Superman storylines crossed over with Action Comics including "Emperor Joker" in 2000Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 296: "A nine-part saga that stretched over all the Superman titles." and "Our Worlds at War" in 2001.Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 300: "The multi-part story 'Our Worlds at War' dominated the Superman books for the August and September [2001] cover dates." John Byrne returned to Action Comics for issues #827–835 working with writer Gail Simone in 2005–2006.

After the "One Year Later" company-wide storyline, Action Comics had a crossover arc with the Superman series, entitled "Up, Up and Away!" which told of Clark Kent attempting to protect Metropolis without his powers until eventually regaining them.

The "Last Son" storyline was written by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner, the director of the 1978 film Superman: The Movie, and was pencilled by Adam Kubert. This story introduces the original character, Christopher Kent, and adapts the classic Superman film villains, General Zod, Ursa and Non into the regular DC Universe continuity.{{Cite comic| writer = Johns, Geoff, Donner, Richard| artist = Kubert, Adam| story = Last Son| title = Action Comics| issue = 844–846, 851, Annual 11| date = December 2006 – July 2008}} Issue #851 (August 2007) was presented in 3-D.[http://www.comics.org/issue/364092/ Action Comics #851] at the Grand Comics Database

Starting with issue #875 (May 2009), written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Eddy Barrows,{{cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20543 | title=Greg Rucka: Man of Action|first= Jeffrey|last= Renaud|date= March 24, 2009|website= Comic Book Resources |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090429085936/http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20543|archive-date=April 29, 2009 |access-date= April 19, 2012}} Thara Ak-Var and Chris Kent, took Superman's place as the main protagonists of the comic, while Superman left Earth to live on New Krypton. A Captain Atom backup feature began in issue #879 (September 2009).

On February 22, 2010, a copy of Action Comics #1 (June 1938) sold at auction for $3 million, besting the $317,000 record for a comic book set by a different copy, in lesser condition, the previous year. The sale, by an anonymous seller to an anonymous buyer, was through the Manhattan-based auction company ComicConnect.com.{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100222/FREE/100229983 |title=Superman's debut sells for $1M at auction |newspaper=Crain's New York Business |date=February 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311214801/http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100222/FREE/100229983 |archive-date=March 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}

Although DC had initially announced Marc Guggenheim as writer of the title following the War of the Supermen limited series,{{Cite web|first=Alex |last=Segura |url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/12/10/dcu-in-2010-marc-guggenheim-steps-in-as-writer-on-action-comics/ |title=DCU in 2010: Marc Guggenheim Steps in as Writer on Action Comics |work=The Source |publisher=DC Comics.com |date=December 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403105036/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2009/12/10/dcu-in-2010-marc-guggenheim-steps-in-as-writer-on-action-comics |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=April 19, 2012 }} he was replaced by Paul Cornell.{{Cite web | first=Alex | last=Segura | url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/12/paul-cornell-steps-in-as-new-action-comics-writer/ | title=Paul Cornell Steps in as New Action Comics Writer | work=The Source | publisher=DC Comics.com | date=April 12, 2010 | access-date=April 12, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100415050712/http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/12/paul-cornell-steps-in-as-new-action-comics-writer/| archive-date= April 15, 2010 | url-status= live}} Cornell featured Lex Luthor as the main character in Action Comics from issues #890–900{{cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26828 | first=Kiel | last=Phegley | title=Paul Cornell: A DC Exclusive |date= June 22, 2010|website= Comic Book Resources |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100624074613/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26828 |archive-date=June 24, 2010 |access-date= April 19, 2012}} and Death appeared in issue #894, with the agreement of the character's creator, Neil Gaiman.{{cite web | first=Kiel | last=Phegley | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27068 | title=Lex Luthor Faces Death | website=Comic Book Resources | date=July 8, 2010 | access-date=July 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100710092338/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27068| archive-date= July 10, 2010 | url-status= live}} In April 2011, the 900th issue of Action Comics was released. It served as a conclusion for Luthor's "Black Ring" storyline and a continuation for the "Reign of Doomsday" storyline. The final issue of the original series was Action Comics #904.

The title was relaunched from issue #1, as part of 2011's The New 52 by the creative team of writer Grant Morrison and artist Rags Morales.{{cite web|url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2011/06/10/history-happens-now |title=History Happens Now |first=David |last=Hyde |date=June 10, 2011 |work=DC Universe |publisher=DC Comics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712223339/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2011/06/10/history-happens-now |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=April 19, 2012 |quote=Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman) joins with sensational artist Rags Morales to bring you tales of The Man of Tomorrow unlike any you’ve ever read before in Action Comics #1. }}{{cite news|url=http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/06/10/new-superman-comics |title=The New Superman Titles Are Here, Grant Morrison on "Action Comics" |first=David |last=Uzumeri |date=June 10, 2011 |work=ComicsAlliance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412222642/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/06/10/new-superman-comics/ |archive-date=April 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 19, 2012 }} As with all of the books associated with the relaunch, Clark Kent appears younger than the previous incarnation of the character. Action Comics focus on the early days of Superman's career, while the Superman series focus on Superman's present. Superheroes at large have appeared only in the past five years, and are viewed with at best, suspicion, and at worst, outright hostility. The storyline in Action Comics takes place about a year before the events of Justice League #1, and was referred to by DC Co-Publisher Dan DiDio as "DC Universe Year Zero" while JL operates as "Year One."{{cite news|url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/fan-expo-new-52-110827.html |title=Fan Expo '11: DC Comics – The New 52 Panel (JSA Returns!) |first=Jonathan |last=Ore |date=August 27, 2011 |work=Newsarama |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002114125/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/fan-expo-new-52-110827.html |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=August 19, 2012 |quote='So much of the DCU is built around Superman,' explains DiDio. 'If Justice League is Year One, Action Comics is almost Year Zero.' }} The Man of Steel is not yet trusted by Metropolis citizens and wears a basic costume consisting of a caped T-shirt, jeans and work boots. The first issue has had five printings as of March 2012.{{cite web|url=http://sciencefiction.com/2012/02/28/action-comics-batman-the-dark-knight-and-detective-comics-getting-reprints/ |title=Holy Sales, Batman! Action Comics, Batman, Batman: The Dark Knight, and Detective Comics #1s Getting Reprints |first=Scott |last=West |date=February 28, 2012 |publisher=ScienceFiction.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414050127/http://sciencefiction.com/2012/02/28/action-comics-batman-the-dark-knight-and-detective-comics-getting-reprints/ |archive-date=April 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 15, 2012 }}

The first story arc of the relaunched series, entitled Superman and the Men of Steel for the collected edition, begins very early in Superman's career as he starts making a name for himself as a champion of the oppressed in Metropolis. He captures the attention of the military and scientist Lex Luthor, who are both interested in testing his capabilities as well as discovering what kind of threat he represents.

Following the completion of Morrison's storyline, writer Andy Diggle and artist Tony Daniel became the new creative team on the title with issue #19. Unlike the previous issues, the setting for the Action Comics series would now take place in the present. Diggle announced his resignation as the writer of the series shortly before his first issue went on sale.{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44383 |title=Diggle Leaves Action Comics, Daniel Takes Over Scripting Duties |first=Kiel |last=Phegley |date=March 20, 2013 |website=Comic Book Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503192328/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44383 |archive-date=May 3, 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=May 10, 2013 }} Diggle left the title with only one issue completed (he was co-writer for #20 and co-plotted issue #21), with Daniel taking on full scripting and art duties for the two following issues completing the three-part story arc "Hybrid". Scott Lobdell wrote the series after Diggle and Daniel's departure.{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44845 |title=Lobdell on Teen Titans, Superboy & Action Comics |first=Steve |last=Sunu |date=April 11, 2013 |website=Comic Book Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501030142/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=44845 |archive-date=May 1, 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=May 10, 2013 }} Writer Greg Pak and artist Aaron Kuder became the new creative team on the series with issue #25 (Jan. 2014).{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46263|title= Greg Pak & Aaron Kuder Take Over Action Comics|first= Kiel|last= Phegley|date= June 24, 2013|website= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131029115437/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=46263|archive-date= October 29, 2013|url-status= live|access-date= January 1, 2014}} This series concluded with issue #52 (July 2016), which was part of the "Final Days of Superman" storyline which depicted the death of the "New 52" version of Superman.{{cite comic|writer= Tomasi, Peter|penciller= Eaglesham, Dale; Eaton, Scott|inker= Eaglesham, Dale; Faucher, Wayne|story= The Final Days of Superman Part 6: The Great Pretender|title= Action Comics|volume= 2|issue= 52|date= July 2016}}

As part of DC Comics' DC Rebirth relaunch in June 2016, Action Comics reverted to its original numbering beginning with Action Comics #957. Written by Dan Jurgens, the series ships twice-monthly{{cite web|last=White|first=Brett|date=February 18, 2016|title='Action', 'Detective Comics' Return To Original Numbering For 'Rebirth'|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/action-comics-detective-comics-return-original-numbering-rebirth|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303012943/http://www.cbr.com/exclusive-action-detective-comics-return-to-original-numbering-for-rebirth/|archive-date=March 3, 2017|website=Comic Book Resources|quote=Action Comics numbering will pick up with #957 and Detective will be at #934. Both series will be released on a twice-monthly schedule, at a $2.99 price.}} and serves as a continuation of the comic book series Superman: Lois and Clark, which featured the pre-Flashpoint Superman alongside his wife, Lois Lane, and their son, Jon Kent.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsarama.com/28578-dc-comics-rebirth-recap.html|title=DC Comics Rebirth Recap – Creative Teams, Schedule & a Few New Details|last=Marston|first=George|work=Newsarama|date=March 26, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161011165142/http://www.newsarama.com/28578-dc-comics-rebirth-recap.html|archive-date= October 11, 2016|url-status= live|access-date=March 28, 2016}}{{cite web|url= http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/dc-comics-has-unveiled-the-titles-and-creative-lineup-behind-rebirth/|title= DC Comics Has Unveiled The Titles And Creative Lineup Behind Rebirth|first= Andrew|last= Liptak|date= March 29, 2016|publisher= Kotaku|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160424100013/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/dc-comics-has-unveiled-the-titles-and-creative-lineup-behind-rebirth/|archive-date= April 24, 2016|url-status= dead}}

File:Library of Congress celebration of Action Comics and Superman.jpg hosting a discussion with Dan Jurgens and Paul Levitz for Superman's 80th anniversary and the 1,000th issue of Action Comics]]

For the series' 1000th issue—released on April 18, 2018, the 80th anniversary of the premiere issue—DC returned Superman to his traditional costume with the red trunks and yellow belt.[https://www.newsarama.com/38237-superman-gets-a-new-costume-and-those-iconic-classic-red-trunks-for-action-comics-1000.html SUPERMAN's Red Trunks Are Back For ACTION COMICS #1000] Action Comics #1000 collects the regular cover, blank variant cover, eight covers spanning eight decades from the 1930s-2000s, nineteen other variant covers from variant artists, and a hardcover Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman Deluxe Edition.

Brian Michael Bendis became the new writer for the Action Comics series starting with issue #1001.{{Cite web |url=https://nerdist.com/brian-michael-bendis-will-relaunch-superman-get-his-own-comic-line/ |title=BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS WILL RELAUNCH SUPERMAN, GET HIS OWN COMIC LINE -Nerdist |access-date=2018-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042413/https://nerdist.com/brian-michael-bendis-will-relaunch-superman-get-his-own-comic-line/ |archive-date=2018-03-14 |url-status=dead }}[https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2018/02/01/exclusive-bendis-to-write-superman-revive-jinxworld-and-oversee-new-custom-imprint-at-dc-comics/#7c54a7f15c40 Exclusive: Bendis To Write Superman, Revive Jinxworld, And Oversee New Custom Imprint At DC Comics -Forbes]

Starting with issue #1029, the title became a part of the Infinite Frontier relaunch in March 2021. Phillip Kennedy Johnson became the lead writer on the series, as well as its companion series Superman.Action Comics #1029 (March 23, 2021){{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/dc-superman-action-comics-creative-teams/ |title=New Action Comics, Superman Creative Teams Bring a Death of Superman Arc |first=Jon |last=Arvedon |date=December 16, 2020 |website= Comic Book Resources |access-date=May 2, 2021}}

Action Comics is the longest-running DC Comics series by number of issues, followed by Detective Comics. A departure from a strict monthly schedule was four giant-size Supergirl reprint issues published as a 13th issue annually: issues #334 (March 1966), #347 (March–April 1967), #360 (March–April 1968), and #373 (March–April 1969). Action Comics has not had an uninterrupted run, having been on a three-month hiatus on two separate occasions. The first of these occurred during the summer of 1986, with issue #583 bearing a cover date of September, and issue #584 listing January 1987. The regular Superman titles were suspended during this period to allow for the publication of John Byrne's six-issue The Man of Steel limited series. Publication was again suspended between issues #686 and #687 (February and June 1993) following the "Death of Superman" and "Funeral for a Friend" storylines, before Action Comics returned in June 1993 with the "Reign of the Supermen" arc.

The series was published weekly from May 24, 1988, to March 14, 1989. (See detail in The Modern Age section above.) The temporarily increased frequency of issues allowed Action Comics to further surpass the older Detective Comics in the number of individual issues published. It surpassed Detective Comics in the 1970s when that series was bimonthly for a number of years. This change lasted from issue #601 to issue #642. During this time, Superman appeared only in a two-page story per issue; he was still the only character to appear in every issue of the series.

An issue #0 (October 1994) was published between issues #703 and #704 as part of the Zero Month after the "Zero Hour: Crisis in Time" crossover event. There was an issue #1,000,000 (November 1998) during the "DC One Million" crossover event in October 1998 between issues #748 and #749.

On June 1, 2011, it was announced that all series taking place within the shared DC Universe would be either canceled or relaunched with new #1 issues, after a new continuity was created in the wake of the Flashpoint event. Although being DC's longest running series, having reached issue #904 at the end of its initial run, Action Comics was no exception, and the first issue of the new series was released on September 7, 2011.

In February 2016, it was announced that as part of the DC Rebirth relaunch, Action Comics would resume its original numbering system, starting with issue #957 (Aug. 2016) and ship on a twice-monthly schedule.

The Action Comics series is included in many trade paperbacks and hardcovers. These generally reprint only the Superman stories from the given issues.

• Superman: The Action Comics Archives
• Volume 1: reprints issues #1, 7–20, and summarizes #2–6; May 1998; {{ISBN|978-1-56389-335-3}}
• Volume 2: reprints issues #21–36; December 1998; {{ISBN|978-1-56389-426-8}}
• Volume 3: reprints issues #37–52; August 2001; {{ISBN|978-1-56389-710-8}}
• Volume 4: reprints issues #53–68; June 2005; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-0408-2}}
• Volume 5: reprints issues #69–85; March 2007; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-1188-2}}
• The Superman Chronicles
• Volume 1: reprints issues #1–13; New York World's Fair Comics #1; Superman #1; January 2006; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-0764-9}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-1|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 1|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012|archive-date= 27 April 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140427214759/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-1|url-status= dead}}
• Volume 2: reprints issues #14–20; Superman #2–3; February 2007; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-1215-5}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-2|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 2|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012|archive-date= 27 April 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140427204355/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-2|url-status= dead}}
• Volume 3: reprints issues #21–25; New York World's Fair Comics #2; Superman #4–5; August 2007; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-1374-9}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-3|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 3|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012|archive-date= 28 April 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140428023709/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-3|url-status= dead}}
• Volume 4: reprints issues #26–31; Superman #6–7; February 2008; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-1658-0}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-4|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 4|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012|archive-date= 28 April 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140428000217/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-4|url-status= dead}}
• Volume 5: reprints issues #32–36; Superman #8–9; World's Best Comics #1; August 2008; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-1851-5}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-5|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 5|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012|archive-date= 27 April 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140427213353/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-5|url-status= dead}}
• Volume 6: reprints issues #37–40; Superman #10–11; World's Finest Comics #2–3; February 2009; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-2187-4}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/superman-chronicles-vol-6|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130208040732/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/superman-chronicles-vol-6|url-status= dead|archive-date= February 8, 2013|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 6|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012}}
• Volume 7: reprints issues #41–43; Superman #12–13; World's Finest Comics #4; July 2009; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-2288-8}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-7|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 7|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012|archive-date= 27 April 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140427204331/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-7|url-status= dead}}
• Volume 8: reprints issues #44–47; Superman #14–15; April 2010; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-2647-3}}{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-8|title= The Superman Chronicles Vol. 8|date= 9 March 2012|publisher= DC Comics|access-date= July 14, 2012|archive-date= 27 April 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140427195704/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-superman-chronicles-vol-8|url-status= dead}}
• Volume 9: reprints issues #48–52; Superman #16–17; and World's Finest Comics #6; June 2011; {{ISBN|1-4012-3122-5}}
• Volume 10: reprints issues #53–55; Superman #18–19; and World's Finest Comics #7; September 2012; {{ISBN|1-4012-3488-7}}
• Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus
• Volume 1: reprints issues #1–31; Superman #1–7; New York World's Fair Comics #1–2; June 2013; {{ISBN|1-4012-4189-1}}
• Volume 2: reprints issues #32–47; Superman #8–15; World's Best Comics #1; World's Finest Comics #2–5; July 2016; {{ISBN|1-4012-6324-0}}
• Volume 3: reprints issues #48–63; Superman #16–23; World's Finest Comics #6–10; December 2016; {{ISBN|1-4012-7011-5}}
• Volume 4: reprints issues #64-85; Superman #24-33; World's Finest Comics #11-17; May 2017; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-7257-9}}
• Volume 5: reprints issues #86-103; Superman #34-42; World's Finest Comics #18-25; January 2018; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-7476-4}}
• Superman in the Forties, includes issues #1–2, 14, 23, 64, 93, 107; November 2005; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-0457-0}}
• Superman in the Fifties, includes issues #151, 242, 252, 254–255; October 2002; {{ISBN|978-1-56389-826-6}}
• Superman in the Sixties, includes issue #289; October 1999; {{ISBN|978-1-56389-522-7}}
• Superman in the Seventies, includes issue #484; November 2000; {{ISBN|978-1-56389-638-5}}
• Superman in the Eighties, includes issues #507–508, 554, 595, 600, 644; April 2006; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-0952-0}}
• Adventures of Superman: Gil Kane collects Action Comics #539–541, 544–546 and 551–554; Superman #367, 372, 375; Superman Special #1–2; and DC Comics Presents Annual #3, 392 pages, January 2013, {{ISBN|978-1-4012-3674-8}}
• Superman: Action Comics (DC Rebirth until #1000, simply being called Action Comics)
• [http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/action-comics-2016/action-comics-vol-1-path-of-doom Volume 1: Path of Doom], includes Action Comics issues #957–962; February 2017; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-6804-6}}
• [http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/action-comics-2016/action-comics-vol-2-welcome-to-the-planet Volume 2: Welcome to the Planet], collects Action Comics issues #963–966, Justice League #52; April 2017; {{ISBN|978-1-4012-6911-1}}
• [https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/action-comics-2016/action-comics-vol-3-men-of-steel Volume 3: Men of Steel], collects Action Comics issues #967–972; June 2017
• [https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/action-comics-2016/superman-reborn Superman Reborn], collects Action Comics issues #973–976, Superman #18-19; September 2017
• [https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/action-comics-2016/superman-action-comics-vol-4-the-new-world Volume 4: The New World], collects Action Comics issues #977–984; November 2017
• [https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/action-comics-2016/superman-action-comics-the-oz-effect-deluxe-edition The Oz Effect], collects Action Comics issues #985–992; March 2018
• [https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/action-comics-2016/superman-action-comics-vol-5-booster-shot Volume 5: Booster Shot], collects Action Comics issues #993–999, Action Comics Special #1; August 2018
• [https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/superman-action-comics-vol-1-invisible-mafia Invisible Mafia], collects Action Comics issues #1001–1006; April 2019
• Leviathan Rising, collects Action Comics issues #1007–1011, Superman: Leviathan Rising #1; November 2019
• Leviathan Hunt, collects Action Comics issues #1012–1016; May 2020
• Metropolis Burning, collects Action Comics issues #1017–1021; May 2021
• The House of Kent, collects Action Comics issues #1022–1028; August 2021
• Warworld Rising, collects Action Comics issues #1030-1035; 2022
• The Arena, collects Action Comics issues #1036-1042; 2022

Action Comics #684 was part of "The Death of Superman" storyline which won the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for "Favorite Comic Book Story" for 1992. Action Comics #687–691 were part of "The Reign of the Supermen" storyline, which won the same award for 1993.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/cbg-fan-award-winners-1982-present |title=CBG Fan Award winners 1982–present |first=John Jackson |last=Miller |date=June 9, 2005 |magazine=Comics Buyer's Guide |location=Iola, Wisconsin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405104720/http://www.cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/cbg-fan-award-winners-1982-present |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=April 17, 2012 }}

• The 2006 film Superman Returns features a scene in which Superman holds a car over his head in the same pose. The season premiere for the CW's 2021 television series Superman & Lois also features a scene in which Superman saves a kid from an uncontrolled green car homaging the iconic #1 cover.
• In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice from 2016 Lex Luthor's inmate number is AC-23-19-40, a reference to Luthor's first appearance in Action Comics as well as a small newspaper clipping of Superman holding a car over his head in the same pose.
• In the 1999 animated film The Iron Giant, Hogarth shows the titular robot a collection of comic books, including an issue of Action Comics featuring Superman, and notes the Giant's comparison between him.
• In The Simpsons episode Homer's Barbershop Quartet, Homer scavenges through a box of priceless artifacts, one of the items being the very first copy of Action Comics, which he dismisses all as junk and worthless.

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| 2009

| 192,400{{cite web |title=2009 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2009.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 20, 2018}}

| {{US$|{{#expr:192400*2.99}}|long=no}}

|-

| 2010

| 439,000{{cite web |title=2010 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2010.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 20, 2018}}

| $1,778,610

|-

| 2011

| 950,600{{cite web |title=2011 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2011.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 20, 2018}}

| $3,677,494

|-

| 2012

| 1,035,600{{cite web |title=2012 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2012.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 19, 2018}}

| $4,326,044

|-

| 2013

| 777,500{{cite web |title=2013 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2013.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 19, 2018}}

| $3,528,125

|-

| 2014

| 583,704{{cite web |title=2014 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2014.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 19, 2018}}

| $2,507,133

|-

| 2015

| 440,757{{cite web |title=2015 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 19, 2018}}

| $1,784,243

|-

| 2016

| 1,080,297{{cite web |title=2016 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2016.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 19, 2018}}

| $3,440,779

|-

| 2017

| 1,179,798{{cite web |title=2017 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2017.html |website=Comichron |access-date=September 19, 2018}}

| $4,118,675

|-

| 2018

| 1,119,097{{cite web |title=2018 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2018.html |website=Comichron |access-date=January 25, 2018}}

| $6,995,333

|-

! Total

! 187,508,831

! $86,533,945

|}

• List of DC Comics publications
• List of Superman comics
• Publication history of Superman

{{Reflist}}

• DC page: [http://www.dc.com/comics/action-comics-1938 AC1938] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105195914/https://www.dc.com/comics/action-comics-1938 |date=2022-11-05 }}, [https://web.archive.org/web/20221201143929/http://www.dc.com/comics/action-comics-2011 AC2011], [https://web.archive.org/web/20220819234506/https://www.dc.com/comics/action-comics-2016 AC2016], [https://www.dc.com/comics?filters=eyJ0eXBlIjpbIkNvbWljQm9vayIsIkdyYXBoaWNOb3ZlbCJdLCJyZWxhdGVkQ29taWNTZXJpZXMiOlsiYjUwNTk3ZmMtMmQ0OC01ZjNjLTgyMTQtZGQ3ODQzYjM4NGI3Il19 ACDCFD]
• {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=34|title=Action Comics}}.

{{Superman|state=collapsed}}

{{Superman publications|state=collapsed}}

{{The New 52|state=collapsed}}

{{DC Rebirth|state=collapsed}}

{{Infinite Frontier}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Comics magazines published in the United States

Category:DC Comics imprints

Category:DC Comics titles

Category:1938 comics debuts

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Category:2011 comics debuts

Category:Comics by Bob Haney

Category:Comics by Brian Michael Bendis

Category:Comics by Dan Jurgens

Category:Comics by Gail Simone

Category:Comics by Geoff Johns

Category:Comics by George Pérez

Category:Comics by Grant Morrison

Category:Comics by John Byrne (comics)

Category:Comics by Kurt Busiek

Category:Comics by Len Wein

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Category:Comics by Roger Stern

Category:Magazines established in 1938

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Category:Magazines established in 2011

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Category:2016 comics debuts

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