| Issue | #53 |
| Published | July-August 1948 |
| Cover Price | 0.10 |
| Pages | 52 |
| Editing | Whitney Ellsworth (credited); Jack Schiff (managing); Mort Weisinger (actual) |
| Characters | Superman |
| Genre | superhero |
| Pencils | Wayne Boring |
| Inks | Stan Kaye |
| Synopsis | List of Superman's accomplishments in the "real world" |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | ? [as "Lois Lane"] |
| Letters | typeset |
| Characters | Superman; Jor-El (flashback); Lara (flashback); 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 | The 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 | in Superman From the Thirties to the Seventies (Crown Publishers, Inc., 1971 series) #nn; in Best of DC, The (DC, 1979 series) #16; in Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1987 series) #nn; in Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1989 series) #nn; in Superman in the Forties (DC, 2005 series) #nn |
| Characters | Captain Tootsie |
| Genre | superhero; ad |
| Pencils | C. C. Beck (signed) |
| Inks | C. C. Beck (signed) |
| Characters | Superman; Prof. Grog; Mike Mooney; Agamemnon; the Delphic Oracle |
| Synopsis | Professor Grog accidentally sends Superman and mechanic Mike Mooney back to ancient Egypt. The cynical Mooney tries to come up with ways to make money off of the Delphic Oracle, but Superman teaches him not to scoff at things he doesn't understand. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Alvin Schwartz |
| Pencils | Al Plastino |
| Inks | Al Plastino |
| Notes | time-travel story |
| Genre | gag |
| Script | Henry Boltinoff |
| Pencils | Henry Boltinoff |
| Inks | Henry Boltinoff |
| Letters | Henry Boltinoff |
| Genre | humor |
| Script | Lit-Win |
| Pencils | Lit-Win |
| Inks | Lit-Win |
| Genre | fact |
| Script | Joe Samachson [as William Morrison] |
| Letters | typeset |
| Genre | humor |
| Script | Phil Berube (signed) |
| Pencils | Phil Berube (signed) |
| Inks | Phil Berube (signed) |
| Characters | Superman; Lois Lane; Don Camero; Estrellita; The Eye; Perry White; Mike the Clip; Horseface; the TNT Kid; Glass Jaw Grogan; One Ear Eddie. |
| Synopsis | The Eye takes all the criminals in Metropolis to South America to set up a giant piracy operation, using the home of an old friend of Lois' as a front. |
| Genre | superhero |
| Script | Don Cameron |
| Pencils | Al Plastino |
| Inks | Al Plastino |
| Notes | Don Camerro is name after writer Don Cameron. |