ACTION COMICS (1938) #47

“POWERSTONE!” The treacherous Lex Luthor gains super-strength in order to battle Superman in hand-to-hand combat after Brett Calhoun announces that he is going to give away half of his fortune to anyone who can prove himself the worthiest man in Metropolis. Superman: Since his last defeat at the hands of Superman, Luthor has been working on a plan of revenge. Using electricity, he has given himself powers almost the equal of Superman, including super-strength and invulnerability. Using his new powers, he goes on a crime spree in Metropolis and confronts Superman. However, the police show up and believe Superman is the criminal, and their intervention allows Luthor to escape.… Notes: First appearance of Lex Luthor on the cover. This was the first issue to be published after the United States officially entered World War II; it came out in mid December 1941.