Despite the cover dates, this story appeared before the next, and featured the first appearance of the Golden Age, red-headed Lex Luthor (after all, the Ultra-Humanite's bald look would still have been in readers' minds). Note the red cultist robes. He's still a super-scientist, but also a shadowy figure manipulating world events to bring about World War II so he can make himself master of the world.
In Superman #4, the Daily Star finally becomes the Daily Planet in the comics, but I do appreciate that the word STAR is still prominently featured in the headline. A sort of Easter Egg? Luthor once again features, challenging Superman with odd tasks, betraying the Man of Steel after turning "noble", and committing a daring robbery, proving himself to be an all-purpose villain.
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