Comic Title: Action Comics #216
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May 1956
Approx. On Sale Date: March 29, 1956 Copyright Date March 27, 1956
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1956
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The Super-Menace of Metropolis"
Pages: 12

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Bill Finger
Penciller: Wayne Boring
Inker: Stan Kaye

Reprinted In:
80 Page Giant Magazine #6 (1965)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman #105; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #82)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jor-El (last appearance in Superman #141; next appearance in Action Comics #223)

Villain(s)

• Z-4 (a Kryptonian robot; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Johnny Broddigan and Cliff Tyler (a detective and a society playboy; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Lara (in flashback to Krypton's destruction)

Comments:
This story implies that Jor-El had super strength while on Krypton. This was not the case, so he must have used other means to construct the war machines.

Synopsis:
Metropolis falls victims to several mechanical menaces. Superman defeats them, then searches out the source of the machines. He believes they were constructed by a man with super powers. He investigates several men that Lois has suspected as Superman, but is unable to find anyone with powers.

Superman’s investigation leads him to a rocket ship in the woods. Inside he finds a robot in control of the machines. He also finds a diary belonging to Jor-El. The machines were used by Jor-El to demonstrate the harshness of war and prevent one on Krypton. After Krypton’s destruction, the machines found their way to Earth. Superman takes the robot and the remaining machines to the center of the Earth and destroys them.