Comic Title: Superman #156
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: October 1962
On Sale Date: August 2, 1962 Copyright Date August 2, 1962
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1962

Newsstand Date August 2, 1962
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V17 #6

Frequency: Monthly, with the exception of March, June, Sept. and Dec.
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "The Last Days of Superman"
Pages: 25

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

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein

Reprinted In:
Limited Collectors' Edition C-52 (1977)
Superman in the Sixties TPB (1999)
Superman:The Greatest Stories Ever Told Vol. 1 TPB (2004)
Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 3 TPB (2007)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #293; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #36)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #63; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #36)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #63; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #36)
• Perry White (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #63; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #36)
• Lana Lang (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #35; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #36)
• Lori Lemaris (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #63; next appearance in Superman #157)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Supergirl (last appearance in Action Comics #293; next appearance in Action Comics #293)
• Krypto (last appearance in Superman #155; next appearance in Action Comics #293)
• Superman Emergency Squad (last appearance in Action Comics #292; next appearance in Action Comics #295)
• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #307; next appearance in Detective Comics #308)
• Robin (last appearance in Detective Comics #307; next appearance in Detective Comics #308)
• Legion of Super-Heroes (last appearance in Adventure Comics #300; next appearance in Superboy #100)
• Cosmic Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #300; next appearance in Superboy #100)
• Saturn Girl (last appearance in Adventure Comics #300; next appearance in Superboy #100)
• Lightning Lad (last appearance in Adventure Comics #300; next appearance in Superboy #100)
• Sun Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #300; next appearance in Adventure Comics #301)
• Mon-El (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #62; next appearance in Superman #157)
• Chameleon Boy (last appearance in Action Comics #287; next appearance in Superboy #100)
• Brainiac 5 (last appearance in Action Comics #287; next appearance in Adventure Comics #303)
• Bouncing Boy (last appearance in Action Comics #287; next appearance in Adventure Comics #301)
• Triplicate Girl (last appearance in Action Comics #287; next appearance in Adventure Comics #301)
• Shrinking Violet (last appearance in Adventure Comics #301; next appearance in Adventure Comics #301)
• Invisible Kid (last appearance in Adventure Comics #323; next appearance in Adventure Comics #304)

Other Character(s)

• An unnamed doctor and Tharb-El (a Kryptonian scientist; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Jor-El (appears in flashback)
• Jonathan Kent (appears in flashback)
• Martha Kent (appears in flashback)
• Lyla Lerrol (appears in flashback)

Comments:
Chap. 1: "Superman’s Death Sentence"
Chap. 2: "The Super-Comrades of All Time"
Chap. 3: "Superman’s Last Day of Life"

Lightning Lad incorrectly refers to Cosmic Boy as Cosmic King once in this story.

Synopsis:
Superman encounters a Kryptonite capsule containing Virus X, a deadly Kryptonian disease. Jimmy Olsen opens the capsule and accidentally exposes Superman to the virus. Superman begins to grow weak and will soon die.

Superman’s friends gather around him and perform a list of spectacular tasks for the benefit of mankind. Brainiac 5 tries to find a cure for Virus X, but he fails.

Supergirl flies back in time to Krypton to learn that the virus could only be destroyed by element 202. The virus in the capsule was already exposed to the element and rendered inert. Mon-El, having been in the Phantom Zone, witnesses Superman’s exposure and explains that Superman’s illness was actually caused by a tiny piece of Kryptonite in Jimmy Olsen’s camera. With the Kryptonite out of range, Superman's strength returns.