A Smithsonian Book of Comic-Book Comics #[nn]

In "The Coming of Superman," a young man from a distant planet arrives on Earth and begins his journey as a hero, first stepping in to prevent an unjust execution and then confronting violence in the streets. As Clark Kent, he shares a date with Lois Lane, drawing the ire of a local bully whose threats force Superman to intervene. When Clark is sent to Washington to investigate a political conspiracy tied to a foreign war, he uncovers a web of deceit that puts him on a collision course with powerful figures—pushing him to use both his strength and his wits to protect the truth.

In "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate," the Bat-Man delves into the murder of chemical tycoon Mr. Lambert, uncovering a web of betrayal among his associates. As the investigation unfolds, the detective confronts a shadowy network of greed and deceit, with figures like Paul Rogers, Alfred Stryker, and Jennings pulling strings behind the scenes. With the help of a young man linked to the victim and a determined police sergeant, the Bat-Man races to expose the truth before another life is lost.

When Ma hears that Dinky and Sisty have been kidnapped by the Torponi mob, a casual comment from Scribbly about the Green Lantern sparks a bold idea: she decides to become a costumed heroine to rescue them. With a dash of imagination and a flair for the dramatic, Ma takes on the role of the Red Tornado, stepping into a heroic persona that surprises everyone—including herself.

When the Red Tornado stops a mob of Torponi thugs and saves the day, the Police Chief claims the credit—prompting Ma Hunkel to set things right. Now, the Red Tornado must deliver a no-nonsense lesson in honesty, proving that heroes don’t need medals to be heroes.

Scribbly, a young reporter with a knack for trouble, sets out to track down the elusive Red Tornado after his editor challenges him to get a sketch of the hero—before rival papers do. With the Red Tornado said to move only through the neighborhood, Scribbly’s quest becomes a mix of determination, missteps, and the kind of luck only a kid with a notebook and a big idea can pull off.

After the Red Tornado finds herself on the wrong side of the law after a misunderstanding, the local police launch a manhunt for the mysterious hero. With quick thinking and a little help from the zoo, she stages a clever distraction—dressing up a gorilla in her costume to throw off the authorities.

When the local newspaper dubs Red Tornado a hoax, the crooks who fled town decide to come back—with a vengeance. The hero must prove he’s no myth, even as the city’s faith in him wavers.

Eeyow! It's Plastic Man! — a young man with a knack for trouble finds himself transformed after a chance encounter with acid, gaining the power to stretch and reshape his body. Now with a second chance, he turns his new abilities toward justice, setting out to bring his former criminal allies to account.

In "Presenting the Man Who Can't Be Harmed," a chance act of kindness grants Woozy the power to withstand any harm—though not without consequences. With his fate decided by a coin toss, he embraces a life of crime, teaming up with the cunning Eel O'Brian. When Plas convinces him to turn himself in, the police quickly learn that no jail can hold a man who can't be harmed—leading to an unlikely alliance: Woozy must help Plastic Man bring down his former partner.

In "Feelin' Mighty Hale, and Farewell," Albert’s culinary misadventure takes a dramatic turn when he mistakes a beehive for a fish pie, only to realize too late the dish was meant for the annual fish fry. Overwhelmed by guilt, he resolves to end it all—until Pogo intervenes with a dramatic rescue using the fire brigade’s pulmotor.

In this whimsical retelling, Albert spins a tale for Pogo and the bug children, casting Pogo as Cinderola in a furry, forest-bound version of the classic. With the three bears playing her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, and Howland as her magical godmother, the story unfolds with charm and humor—complete with a royal page, a magical transformation, and a mysterious invitation to a grand ball.

In "The Big Rock Candy Quarry," Albert the alligator sets off on a wild quest after discovering sheet music for "The Big Rock Candy Mountain," convinced the legendary place holds untold riches. With help from Rackety Coon Chile and Pogo, he buys a mysterious pile of garbage from Seminole Sam, who insists it's rock candy in disguise—leading to a surreal journey through a landscape of sugary wonders and unexpected surprises.

In "Air Burst," two members of a retreating Chinese mortar crew set a booby trap for the advancing American forces, hoping to turn the tide with a final, desperate strike—only to find their plan misfires when the trap is triggered by an unexpected pair of soldiers. The story unfolds with tense, grounded realism, capturing the unpredictable chaos of war through a single, devastating moment.

In the quiet, grim stillness of the Imjin River, an American soldier watches the bodies of fallen soldiers drift past—each a silent question of how they met their end. When he’s suddenly set upon by an unseen enemy, the line between observer and victim blurs in an instant.

In the aftermath of World War II, a fugitive former commandant of Belsen Concentration Camp—haunted by guilt and paranoia—flees across Europe and into America, ever fearful of a single survivor who vowed to hold him accountable. His dread reaches a fever pitch on a train ride when he suddenly finds himself face to face with the man he once imprisoned, the weight of history pressing down in silence.