Polite Dissent

Action Comics #363 “The Leper From Krypton”
Action Comics #364 “The Untouchable of Metropolis”
Action Comics #365 “Superman’s Funeral”
Leo Dorfman, writer
Ross Andru, pencils

Long ago on Krypton, an alien spaceship crashed, releasing a deadly disease onto the peaceful world. The disease struck suddenly and killed quickly. Its victims became grotesquely deformed before finally dying. Because of this, those imaginative Kryptonian scientists named it “Kryptonian Leprosy” – otherwise known as Virus X. A program of strict quarantine was necessary to stop the plague since no known medicine could cure it.

Years later, on Earth, Lex Luthor is able to create his own version of Virus X. Sure he’s in prison at the time, but since when has that ever stopped him? The kindly warden allowed him access to the biology lab, and there, by exposing Earthly germs to Kryptonite, he able to recreate the deadly germ.

Through a bizarre twist of events (trust me on this one), Clark Kent infects Superman with the virus, trying to kill him. Too late, he realizes he is Superman, but by then the damage has been done. Superman has contracted Virus X – Kryptonian Leprosy.

His hands swell and turn green, and half of his face becomes green and disfigured as well. He accidentally infects an inquisitive alley cat and realizes that this disease is as deadly to Earth mammals as Kryptonians. He needs to find a cure, or leave Earth forever.

No Earthly scientists or doctors can cure the disease. Superman talks to Luthor who extorts money for a cure, but in reality has no cure. He then tries to exile himself into the Phantom Zone, but the criminals there use their combined mind power to block him from entering. With only twelve hours left to live, Superman knows he’ll have to leave Earth to avoid infecting anyone.

Superman climbs into a coffin-like spaceship and heads into deep space. His trajectory takes him past many planets he has saved over the years. They all mourn for him as he passes. Even planet Lexor, where Luthor is considered a hero grieves for him (and starts to realize that maybe Luthor isn’t really as heroic as they thought). The Bizarros mourn Superman in their own way, pelting his ship with red and white kryptonite as he passes.

How does the story end? Actually, I’m not quite sure. I don’t have Action Comics #366, the fourth and final chapter in this tale (it’s on its way, though). I suspect it has something to do with the Bizarros and the Kryptonite.

The science in this story is mostly sound. There are a couple of instances where the author uses the term bacteria and virus interchangeably, but that’s my only complaint. It does seem a little convenient that Luthor could exactly duplicate an alien disease using a mineral that didn’t even exist back then, but I can live with that – if only I knew how the story ended!