| Issue | #16 |
| Published | September 1981 |
| Cover Price | 0.95 |
| Pages | 100 |
| Editing | Julius Schwartz E. Nelson Bridwell (consulting ed) |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Rich Buckler |
| Inks | Dick Giordano |
| Characters | Superman; Jor-El (flashback); Lara (flashback); Lex Luthor (cameo); John Kent (1st named, flashback); Mary Kent (flashback) |
| Synopsis | After a prologue which demonstrates Superman's amazing abilities, his origin is recounted. On the scientifically advanced planet of Krypton, Jor-El fails to convince the Council of Five that Krypton is doomed. As Krypton explodes, Jor-El and Lara send their son to Earth, where he is found and adopted by the elderly Kents. As Clark grows to maturity he manifests abilities far beyond that of mortal men. On his deathbed, his father urges Clark to become a powerful force for good as Superman. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Bill Finger |
| Pencils | Wayne Boring |
| Inks | Stan Kaye |
| Notes | a 10th anniversary story. Name John Kent appears on Superman's father's tombstone. This is the only time this name is used. Kryptonians are shown to have x-ray vision. |
| Reprinted | from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #53 (July-August 1948) |
| Characters | Superman; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Fortress of Solitude (intro); Batman; Joker (trophy); Green Kryptonite |
| Synopsis | Someone has broken into Superman's Fortress of Solitude, so Superman searches the place for clues. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Coleman |
| Pencils | Wayne Boring |
| Inks | Stan Kaye |
| Notes | A 20th anniversary story. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #241 (June 1958) |
| Characters | Superman [Clark Kent]; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White; Fortress of Solitude; Kandor (unnamed); green kryptonite; El Gar Kur (villain) |
| Synopsis | A criminal from Kandor switches places with Jimmy Olsen and forces Superman to reveal the location of his Fortress of Solitude, so he can destroy the bottled city. But scientists in Kandor reverse the switch just in time. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Alvin Schwartz |
| Pencils | Curt Swan |
| Inks | George Klein |
| Notes | A 21st anniversary story. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #253 (June 1959) |
| Characters | Superman; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White; Lex Luthor (villain); Green Kryptonite; Red Kryptonite; White Kryptonite; Blue Kryptonite; Yellow Kryptonite (intro); Luthor's Lair; Superman Robot |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Bill Finger |
| Pencils | Curt Swan |
| Inks | John Forte |
| Editing | Mort Weisinger |
| Notes | 23rd anniversary story. Inker credit confirmed by Pat Lang (April 11, 2004). Inker credit previously given to: George Klein (Gene Reed credit) or Stan Kaye. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #277 (June 1961) |
| Characters | Superman; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White; Green Kryptonite |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Edmond Hamilton |
| Pencils | Al Plastino |
| Inks | Al Plastino |
| Notes | A 25th anniversary story. In this book, the art for this story is incorrectly credited to George Papp. Plastino credit confirmed by Bob Bailey and Gene Reed, March 2008. |
| Reprinted | from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #301 (June 1963) |
| Characters | Superman; Batman; Robin; Supergirl; Batgirl; James Gordon; Jimmy Olsen; Ronald Jason; Desmond Jason; Kandor; green kryptonite |
| Synopsis | Jason Desmond's dying performance is an attempt to fool Superman and Batman into believing he is 2 aliens, one hunting the other. But his story rings false and Superman lets Batman in on the hoax, which ends up fooling Supergirl, Batgirl, Robin, and Jimmy Olsen anyway. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Cary Bates |
| Pencils | Neal Adams |
| Inks | Neal Adams |
| Notes | A 30th anniversary story. |
| Reprinted | from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #176 (June 1968) |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Cary Bates |
| Pencils | Neal Adams |
| Inks | Neal Adams |
| Reprinted | from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #176 (June 1968) |
| Characters | Captain Thunder (villain); Superman; Willie Fawcett; Clark Kent; Merokee (flashback); Lois Lane; the Monster League of Evil (flashback); a Dr. Sivana lookalike (flashback) |
| Synopsis | Willie Fawcett finds himself lost in Superman's universe and that whenever he changes into his super-powered alter ego of Captain Thunder he becomes evil. Superman helps him figure out the way to return ot his universe and shake the evil influence of the Monster League of Evil. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Elliot Maggin |
| Pencils | Curt Swan |
| Inks | Bob Oksner |
| Notes | A 36th anniversary story. |
| Reprinted | from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #276 (June 1974) |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | E. Nelson Bridwell |
| Letters | typeset |