Superman v1 152

Superman #152 Preboot » Pre-Crisis Cover by Curt Swan, George Klein and Ira Schnapp Story title The Robot Master Previous story Adventure Comics #293:The Legion of Super-Traitors Next story Action Comics #287:Supergirl's Greatest Challenge Cover date April 1962 Creators Writer(s) Jerry Siegel and Mort Weisinger Penciller(s) Curt Swan Inker(s) George Klein Letterer(s) Milton Snapinn Colourist(s) Unknown Editor(s) Mort Weisinger Cover artist(s) Curt Swan, George Klein, Ira Schnapp

"The Robot Master!"

(9 pages/44 panels)

Plot Synopsis

Clark Kent enters the offices of the Daily Planet to find Lois Lane writing a story exposing him as Superman and Perry White declaring they will print it immediately. Using his x-ray vision, Superman discovers both of his closest friends, plus his pal, Jimmy Olsen three, are robots.

Their 'Master' has made a Clark Kent robot also, which enters the room. Then, suddenly, all of the robots collapse. Superman calls Supergirl, and they take the robots to the Fortress of Solitude. There, the robots revive, and tour the fortress like tourists. They each bost about the person they look like, then start fighting. All are destroyed except the Clark robot.

That night while the Kryptonians rest, the Clark robot gets containers from the ruins of the other robots. It then opens the Fortress door to let the robot master in. It is the Legion of Super-Heroes. They came back in time on the anniversary of Supergirl's arrival on Earth to present miniature busts of themselves, and of Superman and Supergirl, to their heroes.

Roll Call

In order of appearance:

Legionnaires

• Supergirl (25 panels - inc. 1 ea. as Linda Danvers, in flashback)
• Saturn Girl (7 panels - inc. 1 in flashback)
• Cosmic Boy (9 panels - inc. 1 in flashback)
• Lightning Lad (5 panels - inc. 1 in flashback, 0 words)
• Brainiac 5 (6 panels - inc. 1 in flashback)
• Chameleon Boy (5 panels - inc. 1 in flashback, 0 words)
• Sun Boy (5 panels - inc. 1 in flashback, 0 words)

Supporting Characters

• Superman (40 panels - inc. 9 as Clark Kent, 1 in flashback)

Other Characters

• Mr. Danvers (1 panel)
• Mrs. Danvers (1 panel)
• An unnamed alien held in the Fortress of Solitude (1 panel)

Planets and Settings

• 20th century Earth, including
  • The Daily Planet
  • The Fortress of Solitude

Technology, Gadgets and Other Neat Stuff

• Clark Kent Robot (23 panels - inc. 1 in flashback)
• Jimmy Olsen Robot (26 panels - inc. in in flashback)
• Lois Lane Robot (30 panels - inc. in in flashback)
• Perry White Robot (22 panels - inc. in in flashback)
• Jor-El statue (1 panel)
• Lara statue (1 panel)
• Giant Key to the Fortress of Solitude (1 panel)
• Legion Time Bubble (2 panels, - inc. 1 in flashback)
• A "picto-caster" (1 panel)
• Legion statuettes (1 panel)

Notes of Interest

Twisted Timelines

This story is said to take place on the "latest anniversary" of Supergirl's arrival on Earth. Considering the number of adventures both she and the Legion would have, and how their respective timelines would end up compressed, this story must have taken place fairly early in the careers of each, perhaps on Supergirl second or third anniversary, but within the first year of the Legion's.

Worth 1,000 Words

Contains a flashback to the cover image from Supergirl's 1st appearance in Action Comics #252.

Other stories in this issue

There are two additional stories that do not feature the Legion. "Superbaby Captures the Pumpkin Gang" & "The TV Trap for Superman"

Reprints

This Legion story has been reprinted in the following: