Comic Title: Superman #223
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: January 1970
On Sale Date: November 6, 1969 Copyright Date November 6, 1969
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1969

Newsstand Date November 6, 1969
Source: Comic Reader, #75

Newsstand Date November 6, 1969
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V24 #9

Frequency: Monthly, with the exception of March and September
Cover Price: $0.15
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "Half a Hero"
Pages: 23

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

Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Roussos

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Adventure Comics #387; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #98)

Guest Star(s)

• Supergirl (disguised as Nura in this story; last appearance in Adventure Comics #388; next appearance in Adventure Comics #388)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Action Comics #383; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #98)
• Perry White (last appearance in Action Comics #384; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #98)

Villain(s)

• Jax-Ur (last appearance in Action Comics #368; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #98)
• Kru-El (last appearance in Action Comics #336; next appearance in Adventure Comics #395)
• Gor-Nu (a Phantom Zone criminal; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Several Kandorians (Elura and Alena named; no further appearances)
• Daravon (a singing star; no further appearances)
• Vax-Nor and Kur-Dul (paroled denizens of the Phantom Zone; no further appearances)
• Superman robot S-X6 (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Clark Kent meets three girls who apparently know that he is Superman. He soon learns that they possess super powers and form a team called the Galactons. The girls want to initiate Superman into their group. He reluctantly agrees to an initiation test in which he must battle a mumox creature. The creature breathes gas on Superman and knocks him unconscious. When he recovers the girls tell him that he can no longer leave Earth's solar system, or he will die.

Superman returns to Earth. He discovers a gigantic hypodermic needle injecting the planet's core with dangerous crystals. When he is unable to destroy them all, he contacts the girls for help. Working together, they utilize x-ray to neutralize the crystals. Superman then tells the girls that he knows who they are. One is Supergirl, and the other two are Kandorians.

The Man of Steel then visits Kandor with his cousin and finds that the same crystals are threatening the bottled city. Supergirl utilized the ruse to trick Superman into finding a way to stop the crystals. However, the same solution does not work, leaving Kandor at risk.

Superman frees scientist Gor-Nu from the Phantom Zone to help stop the crystals. In exchange he promises to switch bodies with the criminal after the threat is over. Gor-Nu succeeds in stopping the crystal menace. Superman carries through on his promise and switches bodies with Gor-Nu. However, Superman took poison before the switch. Gor-Nu agrees to switch batch and return to the Phantom Zone. Superman, back in his own poisoned body, returns to Earth. When his powers are restored, his body is impervious to the poison, and he is well again.