(Superman I #49) - Clark fled from a collapsing bridge so he could change to Superman and save the day, but a photog snapped pictures of Clark's apparent act of cowardice and Perry White fired him in disgust. Lois demanded that he find a backbone and redeem himself, and he got his chance when approached by inventor Ira Stone. Stone's competitor J.C. Quagmire had stolen his formula for a new paint, but overlooked one ingredient. Stone would prove the superiority of his paint by using it on dangerous outposts around the world and Lois and Clark agreed to accompany him. Quagmire sent his goon the Gargoyle after them, and when they painted a Himalayan mountaintop he created an avalanche, but Superman saved Lois and Stone's life. He foiled the Gargoyle twice more, and managed to paint a volcano and an iceberg. Perry rehired Clark and ran with the Stone story.

(Superman I #49) - Perry White called Lois and Clark into his office concerned that circulation was decreasing because of the Examiner, which won public approval through fake scoops and phony stunts. Lois, inspired by Nellie Bly, the famous girl reporter who raced around the world in 72 days, announced her own bid to circle the globe. She'd use local transportation, and abandon her transport at midnight every day. Clark wondered if she needed Superman's help, and she was determined to go it alone, and flatly refused any aid. Clark changed to Superman to keep an eye on her, a wise choice since Examiner editor Ryall sent a thug after Lois to spoil her story. The thug was willing to resort to murder, but Superman stayed his hand and helped Lois behind the scenes, posing as a magic carpet in the Orient and assembling a crocodile team to pull her boat across the Nile. On her return to Metropolis Lois literally ran into Ryall, who was so flustered that he confessed to attempted murder. Perry didn't believe Lois' story until he saw the photos, and Lois rubbed it in Clark's face.

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