Publishers / DC / Action Comics (1938) / #21
21February 1940
$0.10

Action Comics #21

DC · February 1940 · on sale 1939-12-24

First appearance: Terry Curtis
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Action Comics (DC, 1938 series)
Issue
#21
Publication date
February 1940
Key date
1940-02-00
On-sale date
1939-12-24
Indicia publisher
Detective Comics Inc.
Price
$0.10
Pages
68

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Terry Curtis - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Paul Cassidy; colors: Jack AdlerClark Kent, Superman
3The Atomic Disintegratorcomic story12.88script: Jerry Siegel; pencils: Joe Shuster; inks: Paul CassidyTerry Curtis First, Clark Kent, Superman, George Taylor, The Ultra-Humanite
4More Fun Comicspromo (ad from the publisher)0.12
6The Florida Handicap Racecomic story6script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Gene Baxter; inks: Gene BaxterPep Morgan
7-comic story4pencils: H. Fleming; inks: H. FlemingChuck Dawson
8The Gun-Running Racketcomic story6pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Sheldon MoldoffClip Carson
9Last Chance... Act Now!!in-house column2letters: typeset
10The Doll Murderscomic story10script: Ken Fitch; pencils: Bernard Baily; inks: Bernard Baily; letters: Bernard BailyBob Daley, Gargantua T. Potts, Tex Thomson
11A Blaze of Glorytext story1.67script: Gardner Fox, Vin Sullivan; pencils: Fred Guardineer; inks: Fred GuardineerFireman Bill Nolan; Brick Hammon; Bailey; Captain SMith
13Action Comics; Adventure Comics; Detective Comics; More Fun Comicspromo (ad from the publisher)0.07colors: ? (red & black letters); letters: typeset
14More Fun Comicspromo (ad from the publisher)0.05
15The Lost Scot Gold Mine, Part 1comic story6pencils: Christopher; inks: ChristopherFog Fortune, Gunner Bill, Whistler Will
16-cartoon0.5pencils: Sheldon Moldoff; inks: Sheldon Moldoff"Small" Montana
17Flash Comicspromo (ad from the publisher)0.5
181940's Fair Honored; Health Stampstext article0.3letters: typeset
20The Deaths on the Moorcomic story11script: Gardner Fox; pencils: Fred Guardineer; inks: Fred GuardineerZatara, Tong

Plus 5.9 pages of advertisements and other matter across 7 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Superman: The Action Comics Archives #2
ISBN 1-56389-426-2		1998On eBay ›
The Superman Chronicles #3
ISBN 978-1-4012-1374-9		2007On eBay ›
Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus #1
ISBN 978-1-4012-4189-6		2013On eBay ›
Superman in Action Comics #1
ISBN 1-55859-595-3		1993On eBay ›
Superman: The Golden Age #2
ISBN 978-1-4012-6530-4		2017On eBay ›
DC Finest: Superman: The First Superhero #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-77952-833-9		2025On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Golden-age paper is brittle. Ask about page suppleness and check edges for chips in the photos.
  • Check for trimmed edges, married covers, and clipped coupons - all common on books this old.
  • Confirm the indicia matches this plate; many golden-age titles changed names mid-run.

Series context

‹ #2021 of 866#22 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com