The Thrilling Adventures Of Superman

Everything you know will change in a flash... and someone's getting punched in the face! It is no secret the comics industry is facing changes on a number of fronts. They breed debate, talk and many cross words. But at the end of the day, the number one thing they breed is a whole of insane behavior from normally level-headed folks. This episode, in our third Fifth Week installment, Michael wades into the den of changes and reminds that we are all in this together.

We return once more to the Sunday continuity of the Superman newspaper strip, as Michael looks at the second, six-strip storyline. It is a marked improvement over the first as Superman squares off against Lois Lane, a mad scientist, flamethrowers, hypnotized men and more in this Golden Age classic!

This episode it's back to the spinner rack as Michael looks at the Superman story from ACTION COMICS #22, which finds Clark Kent and Lois Lane thrust into a war between neighboring European countries. But after strange happenings both on land and sea, it becomes apparent that there is something more sinister behind it all, meaning that this... is a job for Superman!

This episode, Michael looks at the tenth storyline from the Superman daily newspaper strip. A mysterious telegram leads Superman into an adventure where he must save a town from a destroyed dam, then deal with a thickening plot and a poisoned reservoir! The 18-strip story kicks off a trilogy which finds Superman dealing with ramifications from a war in Europe! Parts two and three will be covered in future episodes. But also in this episode, we wind up 1939 with our first glimpse at the Superman radio show!

When destruction reigns in Metropolis and a scientist goes missing, Superman takes a hand (eventually) as Michael looks at the Superman story from ACTION COMICS #21. The issues sees Superman taking on the disasters, robots, the National Guard and more in a story that lets us bid farewell to Superman's most-frequent and nefarious foe, the Ultra-Humanite.

The Superman media empire grows again as the newspaper strip expands to seven days a week with the addition of a full-color Sunday strip! This episode, Michael looks at the first storyline which features extortion, assault and animal abuse! And once Superman is done with that, he takes on the villain! HIJINKS!

Metropolis' new district attorney sets out to clean up the town... and stirs up a hornets nest who doesn't take to kindly to it as Michael looks at the ninth storyline from the Superman daily newspaper strip! Our spunky gal reporter Lois Lane is hot on the story... and neck-deep in trouble -- literally! Can Superman save the girl and the day? All this, plus Lois finally get her interview with Superman! This 30-strip story has it all, folks! Also in this episode, Michael presents a Spotlight on artist Paul Cassidy.

Michael is joined by J. David Weter of Superman Forever Radio for a look three excellent Superman comics. First up is ACTION COMICS #19 where a deadly plague wreaks havoc on Metropolis and Superman must confront the sinister force behind it all. Next up is SUPERMAN #3 which is mostly reprints, but brings some fun additions to Superman's history. And finally, David and Michael move on to ACTION COMICS #20, where Clark Kent goes to Hollywood and meets screen star Dolores Winters. But when Winters suddenly quits and turns to a life of crime... Superman has to find out why! And, boy, is it a shocker.

It's back to the newspapers as Superman look at the colossal-sized eighth storyline from the Superman daily strip. Running 96 strips for more than three-and-a-half months, the story sees Superman confronting foreign terrorists threatening as they attempt to kill visiting royalty! Plus, Clark Kent a hero? Or is he a traitor? And the most shocking puzzler of all, is Lois Lane actually being nice to... Clark Kent?! It's a thrill a minute, folks! Don't miss it!

It starts with a mysterious woman in the road ends with Superman taking on one of his own: A crooked journalist and his scandal-lovin' publisher. Yellow journalism and blackmail lead our red, yellow and blue-clad hero on his latest four-color adventure as Michael looks at the Superman story from ACTION COMICS #18!

Another big episode is here as Michael is joined by Charlie Niemeyer of "Superman in the Bronze Age" for a look at another three amazing issues! Things get kicked off with ACTION COMICS #16 where Superman smashes -- literally! -- a gambling racket. They then move on to SUPERMAN #2, with the second Superman text story. And finally, they take a look at ACTION COMICS #17, where our hero takes on the challenge of rescuing a stranded steamer, and is drawn into a larger plot formed by a very familiar foe!

This episode, we go back to the newspapers as Michael looks at the seventh storyline from the Superman daily strip. A runaway boy and a last-minute save by Superman lead the Daily Star's finest reporters, Clark Kent and Lois Lane, into a crooked orphanage. This looks like a job for... Frankie Dennis? Also this episode, Michael shines the spotlight on Golden Age artist Fred Guardineer!

Avast, me hearties! Perk yer ears and enjoy some grog as I spin ye a tale, the likes a' which ye ne'er seen before! 'Tis thrill an' chills on the high seas as Superman fights a pack a' scurvy landlubbers who dare try lay claim to a booty meant to aid a flock a' nippers. By the powers, 'tis not a tale for the lily-livered among ye, as their be fisticuffs and sharks ahead. But fer ye gentlemen o' fortune, I say 'tis for you, or I surely be headin' to Davey Jones' locker! Arr!

This week, we again interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you the second of the show's special Fifth Week episodes. This week, Michael weighs in on a story from ACTION COMICS #900. Yeah, THAT story. It's generated a lot of controversy, but Michael briefly talks about why that's a moot subject, then opens up about a different aspect of the story and explains what got under.

When a deadly gas falls into the wrong hands, it's up to Superman to reclaim it! But the adventure puts him smack in the middle of a civil war and even bigger problems. Would-be dictators! Firing squads! Baby monkeys! It's all here in this epic 36-part story that spans two continents! Plus, two integral parts of the Superman mythology are finally given proper introductions in this historic tale. Also this episode, a Spotlight on the first editor of the Superman comic book stories: Vin Sullivan!

The show returns in grand style as Michael is joined by Michael Kaiser of "Legends of the Batman" and "The Mighty Shield: A Captain America Podcast" an epic look at not one, not two, but three sensational issues! The adventures begin with ACTION COMICS #13 where Superman unravels the mystery of a taxi racket, and finds something -- or someone -- far more sinister is behind it: The wheelchair-bound madman known as the Ultra-Humanite! They then move on to the historic SUPERMAN #1, which unveils never-before-told details about Superman's origin, his first prose story, our hero's very own fan club and more! They then wrap things up with ACTION COMICS #14, where Superman investigates a suspicious subway collapse and faces off against a strangely familiar foe with a thirst for world domination!

In an unexpected turn, the show is going on a temporary and hopefully very brief hiatus. In this special installment, Michael explains why.

It may not be ACTION COMICS, but there's still plenty of action as Michael look at the 1939 issue of NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR COMICS! Mystery, thrills and adventure follow when Clark Kent and Lois Lane are sent to cover the greatest show on Earth -- the historic New York World's Fair! The Trylon, the Perisphere, and Helicline and, of course, our hero, Superman, are all on full display as the Fair celebrates the "World of Tomorrow!"

It's back to the newspapers as Michael looks at the fifth storyline from the daily strip. Five men killed in five days during the construction of a new skyscraper. Is it a curse? A jinx? Or something far worse? Superman battles a sinister menace on the high steel in one of his most exciting and dynamic adventures to date! Also this episode, Michael shines a Spotlight on early Superman artist, Paul J. Lauretta!

The death of a close friend is the instigator for Superman's adventure as Michael looks at ACTION COMICS #12. Superman does a whole lot of smashin', crashin', mashin' and trashin' (and has an unsettling amount of fun doing it) — all in the name of making the roads safer you and I. Will Superman succeed in his campaign? Or will he just endanger more lives than he saves? And what's this rumor about Superman creeping about under a strange man's bed?! Only one way to find out!