Action Comics #125 (of 1000000)
The Modern Nostradamus
October 31st, 1948
- The Modern Nostradamus (Superman)
- Man Against Manhunter (Congo Bill)
- Bebe
- Casey the Cop
- The Phoney Pitchman (Zatara)
- Floating Fortunes, the Drama of Salvage (text story)
- Daffy & Doodle
- Captain Tootsie
- The Reluctant Annie Oakley (Vigilante)
The Daily Planet is visited by an old man claiming to be the New Nostradamus and makes a prediction that a giant meteor will hit Metropolis that day.
Sure enough, shortly afterward a meteor does come streaking towards the city, and Superman manages to prevent its impact in the nick of time.
When Lois and Clark track down Nostradamus to a cave outside the city, he makes another prediction that the following night will be turned into day.
Again, the prediction appears to come true when a giant fire starts in the city. Superman again goes into action to put the fire out.
While he is doing this, however, a crook observes him changing from Clark into Superman so it seems his secret identity has been compromised.
It turns out that Luthor is responsible for attacks on Metropolis, as he has a giant cannon out in the hills which he used to fire in first the "meteor" and then a phosphorus bomb to generate intense light.
His next plan is to get Nostradamus to predict a huge earthquake to get everyone to flee the city so he can walk in and rob it.
The next day, as everyone is evacuating the city, Superman observes one car going in the wrong direction and discovers Luthor and his plans. Superman makes the earthquake prediction come true by causing the ground around Luthor's car to open up.
However, Luthor thinks he has a trump card since the crook has told him Superman's identity. Superman has to arrange a public demonstration in which he uses super-speed to make it appear that Clark and Superman are visible at the same time.