Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #245
Published December 1971 - January 1972
Frequency monthly (semi-monthly June, Dec.)
Cover Price 0.50 USD
Pages 100
Editing E. Nelson Bridwell
Notes 100-Page Super-Spectacular #DC-7

Cover Details - "World's Greatest Super-Heroes"

Characters Superman; Lex Luthor; Brainiac; Prankster; Air Wave [Larry Jordan] (inset); Super-Chief (inset); Atom [Ray Palmer] (inset); Hawkman [Katar Hol] (inset)
Genre superhero
Pencils Curt Swan
Inks Murphy Anderson
Letters typeset

27 page Superman story "The Team of Luthor and Brainiac!"

Characters Brainiac-Luthor Team [Lex Luthor (villain); Brainiac (origin, flashback, villain)] (intro); Brainiac II [ancestor of Brainiac 5] (intro, origin, flashback); Var-Don; Kandor; Jax-Ur; Professor Vakox; Phantom Zone inmates; Ardora; Lexorians (guest stars); Superman [Kal-El]; Fortress of Solitude; Kandor; Lexor; Superman Emergency Squad
Synopsis Lex Luthor escapes prison, discovers the existence of Brainiac, releases Brainiac from prison, re-programs him, and teams with him to shrink Superman. With the help of the Kandorians, Superman turns the tables on Luthor and Brainiac.
Genre superhero
Script Edmond Hamilton
Pencils Curt Swan
Inks George Klein
Editing Mort Weisinger (original editor)
Notes Three part story; Chapter 1 titled "The Deadly Duo!", Chapter 2 titled "The Downfall of Superman!", Chapter 3 titled "The Hour of Kandor's Vengeance!". First appearance of Ardora, Lex Luthor's future wife. Although named Tharla in the original printing of this story--(Superman (DC 1939 series) #167 (February 1964) )--this reprint has been edited to refer to her as Ardora, as she will be known thereafter.
Reprinted from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #167 (February 1964) [see notes]

12 page Kid Eternity story "The Count"

Characters Kid Eternity; Mister Keeper; The Count (intro, villain); Dusty (villain); Rembrant Van Rijn; Javert (a fictional character); Nostradamus; Hippocrates; The Laughing Cavalier (intro, a work of art come to life); The Discus Thrower (intro, a work of art come to life)
Synopsis Rembrandt informs the Kid that he feels something is happening to one of his paintings, and sure enough, when he and Keep check into the situation, they find the master criminal, the Court, hard at work.
Genre superhero; occult
Pencils Mac Raboy
Inks Mac Raboy
Editing George Brenner (original editor)
Reprinted from Kid Eternity (Quality Comics, 1946 series) #3 (Autumn 1946)

15 page Atom story "The Time Trap!"

Characters The Atom [Ray Palmer]; Chronos (villain, intro); Jean Loring
Genre superhero
Script Gardner Fox
Pencils Gil Kane
Inks Murphy Anderson
Reprinted from Atom (DC, 1962 series) #3 (October-November 1962)

12 page Super-Chief story "The Crowning of Super-Chief!"

Characters Super-Chief (intro)
Genre western
Script Gardner Fox
Pencils Carmine Infantino
Inks Carmine Infantino
Editing Julius Schwartz
Notes Credits for script, pencils and inks confirmed from Julius Schwartz's editorial records, provided by DC Comics [December 2007].
Reprinted from All-Star Western (DC, 1951 series) #117 (February-March 1961)

7 page Air Wave story "The Adventure of the Shooting Spooks"

Characters Air Wave [Larry Jordan]
Synopsis D.A. Cole dies, and Larry Jordan becomes D.A.
Genre superhero
Script Murray Boltinoff?
Pencils Harris Levy (as Lee Harris)
Inks Charles Paris
Reprinted from Detective Comics (DC, 1937 series) #66 (August 1942)

12 page Hawkman story "The Super-Motorized Menace"

Characters Hawkman [Katar Hol]; Hawkwoman [Shayera Thal] (as Hawkgirl)
Genre superhero
Script Gardner Fox
Pencils Murphy Anderson
Inks Murphy Anderson
Reprinted from Mystery in Space (DC, 1951 series) #89 (February 1964)

10 page Superman story "The Prankster's Greatest Role!"

Characters Superman; Prankster (villain); Lois Lane
Genre superhero
Script Bill Woolfolk
Pencils Al Plastino
Inks Al Plastino
Reprinted from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #87 (February 1954)

1 page Giant Metropolis Mailbag letters page

Characters Superman
Script E. Nelson Bridwell
Pencils Murphy Anderson ?
Inks Murphy Anderson
Letters typeset
Notes Letters from Jesus Monteagudo, Alex Hochstraser, David O'Neal, Gary Skinner, and Richard H. Morrissey; with responses by E. Nelson Bridwell.

1 page Superman illustration "The Man of Many Faces"

Characters Superman
Pencils Curt Swan
Inks Curt Swan
Notes Definitive artists guide to Superman's features by Curt showing Superman's face; every angle and undergoing every emotion. This is NOT reprinted from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #333, although that page is similar in content.

1 page Superman illustration "This Issue's All-Star Line-Up"

Characters Air Wave [Larry Jordan]; Super-Chief; Atom [Ray Palmer]; Hawkman [Katar Hol]; Superman; Kid Eternity
Genre Superhero
Pencils Curt Swan
Inks Murphy Anderson