| Issue | #23 |
| Published | April 1940 |
| Cover Price | 0.10 |
| Pages | 68 |
| Editing | Whitney Ellsworth, Murray Boltinoff |
| Notes | 1st issue with DC bullet on cover: "A DC Publication". |
| Characters | Superman |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster |
| Inks | Paul Cassidy |
| Notes | 1st issue with DC bullet on cover: "A DC Publication". |
| Reprinted | In Superman: The Action Comics Archives (DC, 1997 series) #2 (1998). |
| Characters | Superman [Clark Kent]; Daily Planet (1st in comic book); Lois Lane; Villains: Luthor (intro, no first name given in this story), General Lupo; George Taylor (unnamed). |
| Synopsis | While on assignment with Lois Lane as Clark Kent, Superman investigates the conflict between Galonia and Toran and finds munitions manufacturer Luthor behind it. When Lois is kidnapped and taken to Luthor's colossal dirigible, Superman follows and puts an end to Luthor and the war. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Jerry Siegel (signed as Jerome Siegel) |
| Pencils | Joe Shuster (signed) |
| Inks | Paul Cassidy |
| Notes | Radio show begins 2/12/40; Superman #4 on sale 2/15/40. Although this predates Action 23, the Luthor story here comes first. The last panel of this story is an illoed promo ad for the Sandman in ASdventure Comics [added by Craig Delich 8-22-08.]. |
| Reprinted | In Superman: The Action Comics Archives (DC, 1997 series) #2 (1998); in Superman in the Forties (DC, 2005 series) #nn. |
| Characters | Pep Morgan |
| Genre | adventure |
| Pencils | Fred Guardineer (signed as Gene Baxter) |
| Inks | Fred Guardineer (signed as Gene Baxter) |
| Characters | The Black Pirate (Jon Valor, I). |
| Genre | period |
| Pencils | Sheldon Moldoff (signed) |
| Inks | Sheldon Moldoff (signed) |
| Characters | Three Aces: Fog Fortune, Gunner Bill and Whistler Will. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Gardner F. Fox |
| Pencils | Chad Grothkopf |
| Inks | Chad Grothkopf |
| Notes | Writer credit added and art verification by Craig Delich 8-22-08. |
| Characters | Tex Thomson; Bob Daley, Gargantua T. Potts. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Ken Fitch? |
| Pencils | Bernard Baily (signed) |
| Inks | Bernard Baily (signed) |
| Letters | Bernard Baily |
| Notes | Letterer credit added by Craig Delich 8-22-08. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Toni Blum ? (signed as Jack Anthony) |
| Letters | typeset |
| Characters | Clip Carson |
| Genre | adventure |
| Pencils | Sheldon Moldoff |
| Inks | Sheldon Moldoff |
| Characters | Zatara; V: the Tigress. |
| Genre | occult |
| Script | Gardner F. Fox |
| Pencils | Fred Guardineer |
| Inks | Fred Guardineer |