250's for America's 250 · Day 3: Action Comics #250
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Publishing: Saturday, June 13, 2026 · DC Comics · Cover date: March 1959
Add the cover scan here when publishing.
The comic that started it all — Action Comics #1 gave the world Superman in 1938 — reaches 250 here, a classic Mort Weisinger–era secret-identity puzzler.
The issue
In the lead story, "The Eye of Metropolis!," Perry White sends Clark Kent onto a live TV interview show. Clark X-rays the host's question cards and is alarmed to find them lined with lead — has the host figured out his secret? Strapped to a lie detector and asked point-blank whether he has super-powers, Clark hides a tiny grain of Kryptonite in a lead-lined compartment of his watch to briefly drain his abilities, so he can honestly answer "no" and beat the polygraph. It's quintessential Silver Age cleverness. Backup features bring Congorilla and Tommy Tomorrow along for the ride.
Who's in it
Superman / Clark Kent, Perry White, and TV host John Bates. Backups star Congorilla (Congo Bill) and Tommy Tomorrow.
Behind the book (creators)
- Cover: Curt Swan (pencils), Al Plastino (inks)
- "The Eye of Metropolis!": Bill Finger (writer), Wayne Boring (pencils), Stan Kaye (inks)
- Tommy Tomorrow: Otto Binder (writer), Jim Mooney (art)
- Editor: Mort Weisinger
What it's worth
A real 1959 Silver Age issue — scarcer and more fragile than the Marvel #250s of the 1980s, so it carries weight despite having no major first appearance. Mid-grade (GD/VG–Fine) copies commonly sell $30–$90; VF copies roughly $150–$300+; and high-grade graded copies (rare in 9.x) can reach the several-hundreds to low four figures. (Its famous neighbor, #252 — first Supergirl — is worth dramatically more; #250 has no comparable key, so verify any high-grade figure.)
Where to read it (collected edition)
A specific modern reprint of Action Comics #250 could not be confirmed — it's a candidate for DC's Silver Age Superman omnibus/compendium lines, but treat its inclusion as unverified until you check the volume contents.
Part of "250's for America's 250" — counting 24 milestone #250 comics down to the U.S. 250th on July 4, 2026.