Action Comics Weekly #601 - First Appearance of Vic Sommers, Printings and Contents

Identification plate

Series: Action Comics Weekly (DC, 1988 series)
Issue: #601
Publication date: [May 24, 1988]
Key date: May 24, 1988
On-sale date: April 5, 1988
Indicia publisher: DC Comics Inc.
Price: $1.50; 2.00 CAD; 0.60 GBP
Pages: 52

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

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Vic Sommers - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance (cover) of Luke McKendrick - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Dr. Maria Verdugo - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance of Ladonna Jameal - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance (cover) of Tony Mantegna - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance of Mitch Hoberman - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

Death on record for: Katma Tui.

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.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	1	pencils: Dave Gibbons; inks: Dave Gibbons; colors: Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein; editing: Robert Greenberger	Deadman, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, Clark Kent, Superman, Boston Brand, Blackhawk, Mitch Hoberman First, Ladonna Jameal First, Tony Mantegna First, Luke McKendrick First, Janos Prohaska, Vic Sommers First, Dr. Maria Verdugo First
2	...And the Pain Shall Leave My Heart	comic story	8	script: James Owsley; pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Gil Kane; colors: Anthony Tollin; letters: Albert DeGuzman; editing: Denny O'Neil	Arisia, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, Star Sapphire, John Stewart, Katma Tui Death, Carol Ferris
3	Moral Stand, Chapter One: Point of Order	comic story	8	script: Max Allan Collins; pencils: Terry Beatty; inks: John Nyberg; colors: Michele Wolfman; letters: Gaspar; editing: Mike Gold	Jack Wheeler, Wild Dog
5	Annual 88	promo (ad from the publisher)	1	pencils: Michael Bair, Arthur Adams; inks: Michael Bair, Arthur Adams
6	Listening to the Mockingbird	comic story	8	script: Martin Pasko; pencils: Dan Spiegle; inks: Dan Spiegle; colors: Carl Gafford; letters: Carrie Spiegle; editing: Dick Giordano	Lili De Neuve, Carlo Di Rienzi, Dr. August Durant, Mike Tempest, Mitch Hoberman First, Ladonna Jameal First, Crimson Dawn, Tony Mantegna First, Luke McKendrick First, Mockingbird, King Savage, Vic Sommers First, Dr. Maria Verdugo First
8	Faster Than a Speeding Bullet!	comic story	2	script: Roger Stern; pencils: Curt Swan; inks: John Beatty; colors: Tom Ziuko; letters: Bill Oakley; editing: Mike Carlin	Clark Kent, Superman
11	[Chapter One] The Section Chief	comic story	8	script: Mike Baron; pencils: Dan Jurgens; inks: Tony DeZuniga; colors: Liz Berube; letters: Steve Haynie; editing: Barbara Randall	Deadman, Boston Brand
12	Action Comics Weekly	letters page	2	script: Mike Gold; pencils: George Pérez; inks: George Pérez
13	Another Fine War	comic story	8	script: Mike Grell; pencils: Rick Burchett; inks: Pablo Marcos; colors: Tom Ziuko; letters: Steve Haynie; editing: Mike Gold	Blackhawk, Janos Prohaska
14	Great DC Deals!	promo (ad from the publisher)	1		The Atom, Aviax, Dartalon, Elvar, Ray Palmer, Psyche, Quantum Queen, Re-Animage

Plus 5 pages of advertisements and other matter across 6 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

Collection	Year
Superman: The Power Within #[nn] ISBN 978-1-4012-5152-9	2015	On eBay ›
Blackhawk: Blood and Iron #[nn] ISBN 978-1-77950-077-9	2020	On eBay ›
Green Lantern: John Stewart - A Celebration of 50 Years #[nn] ISBN 978-1-77951-125-6	2021	On eBay ›

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

Before you buy

Confirm the UPC box: a publisher mark instead of a barcode means direct edition, a barcode means newsstand.
Glossy covers of this era show edge chipping easily. Check black edges closely in the photos.
Check the staples and centerfold; heavily read anniversary and key issues loosen there first.

Series context

1 of 42#602 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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