Action Comics # 390 1970 VG

Action Comics #390 (July 1970) is a classic DC comic book featuring two distinct stories: a main Superman thriller dealing with a rogue defense contingency, and an Espionage Squad backup feature starring the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Main Story: "The Self-Destruct Superman"

• The Premise: An earthquake near the White House accidentally triggers a hidden underground weapon known as the Superman Elimination Machine (SEM).
• The Twist: Superman actually built and gave this ultimate kill-switch weapon to the President of the United States years prior, as a safety measure in case the Man of Steel ever lost his mind or went rogue. To protect the weapon's secrets, Superman used super-hypnosis to completely wipe his own memory of how it works.
• The Conflict: The activated machine ruthlessly hunts Superman across the globe and through time. During the chase, Superman learns from a Kandorian scientist that the weapon's underlying technology was originally engineered on Krypton by his father, Jor-El.
• Resolution: Realizing his psychological fear of the weapon is paralyzing him, Superman stands his ground. He uses a special helmet to alter his own brain waves, causing the machine to self-destruct. This action unlocks his childhood memories of Krypton, where Jor-El had initially deactivated the dangerous device.

Backup Story: "The Tyrant and the Traitor"

• The Premise: This short feature shifts focus to the Legion of Super-Heroes and their specialized Espionage Squad.
• The Conflict: The team is tasked with covertly overthrowing the tyrannical president of the planet Lahum. However, they must do so carefully to prevent a dangerous revolutionary backed by the villainous Dark Circle organization from seizing the power vacuum.
• Key Characters: Features appearances by Saturn Girl, Chameleon Boy, Brainiac 5, Timber Wolf, Element Lad, and Karate Kid