Comic Title: Superman #16
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: April 1988
On Sale Date: December 15, 1987 Shipping Date December 15, 1987
Source: DC Releases, #47

Shipping Date December 15, 1987
Source: Amazing Heroes, #131

Shipping Date December 15, 1987
Source: Capital City Distributors, Orderpak December 1987

Newsstand Date January 7, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #131

Copyright Date December 15, 1987
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1987

Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mike Carlin

Title: "He Only Laughs When I Hurt"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Superman (Post-Crisis)

Writer/Penciller: John L. Byrne
Inker: Karl Kesel
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Thomas J. Ziuko

Reprinted In:
Superman:The Man of Steel Vol. 8 TPB (2014)
Superman:The Man of Steel Vol. 4 HC (2022)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in World of Smallville #4; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #439)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Action Comics #598; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #439)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Action Comics #598; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #439)
• Perry White (last appearance in Action Comics #598; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #439)
• Supergirl (Matrix; first appearance; last appearance in Adventures of Superman #444; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #440)

Villain(s)

• Prankster (first post-Crisis appearance; Oswald Loomis; next appearance in Superman #36)
• Morgan Edge (last appearance in Superman #13; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #439)
• DeSaad (disguised as Darkseid; last appearance in Warlord Annual #6; next appearance in Action Comics #600)

Other Character(s)

• Sarah Olsen (last appearance in Superman #15; next appearance in Superman #17)
• Alice (last appearance in Superman #10; next appearance in Adventures of Superman #439)
• Tom and Billy (subway operators; no further appearances)
• Betsy (Edge's secretary; no further appearances)
• Peter James Shoemaker (a homeless man; identified only as Pete in this story; next appearance in Superman #17)
• Two unnamed producers of the Uncle Oswald Show (no further appearances)
• Lt. Shaw (a Navy pilot; no further appearances)
• A team of unnamed scientists (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
A snow storm turns dangerous when Superman discovers that a large quantity of soap bubbles has been mixed into the snow. Additional pranks occur all over Metropolis including a subway tunnel filled with popcorn and a giant rubber flower that shoots water in the middle of a city street.

Oswald Loomis, host of a children's television show, is behind the pranks. He has kidnapped Lois Lane in order to give her the story. He is upset by modern children's television which is designed to sell toys. He locks himself and Lois in the studio prompting Morgan Edge the station owner to demand his surrender. The Prankster then ejects Edge out the side of the building several stories in the air.

Superman catches Edge and returns him to the studio. Oswald quickly surrenders to Superman. He intends to capitalize on the publicity to get a new deal. However, attempted murder and kidnapping are serious crimes for which he will serve a long sentence. However, the Prankster manages to escape.

Meanwhile, a science team in Antarctica discover a heat source beneath the ice. When the investigate they uncover a blond girl half-frozen under the ice. She is wearing a Supergirl costume.