All Kirby and Ditko stories in this one. Every "trick" and trope Kirby used in the glorious '70s is all here in more simplified form. There are different levels at which this work can be enjoyed; for me it was studying the art. I wish I could say the repetitive Stan Lee stories were at the same level.
It would have been nice to see some Kirby and/or Ditko art on the cover and most of these stories seem reprinted from their early '70s reincarnations (themselves reprints). Still, Jack Kirby wrote a new essay for this book in 1989 so, for Kirby completists, this is one to grab.
Reprinting all of the Superman stories from January through early May, 1941, the Chronicles series is a steal for the $14.99 cover price (which price would barely cover the shipping/insurance costs of ordering a low grade condition copy of the original comics).
Each volume of the Superman Chronicles necessarily retreats from the purity and charm of the original Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster comics. The demand by National for Superman material by 1941 was high and it took many hands to keep the pace. While without the airy simplicity of Shuster's art, cartoonist Jack Burnley's contributions are easy on the eye and Shuster was still contributing some pencils. The stories are fortunately still written by Siegel, so we still get to see the rambunctious, devil-may-care Superman, before he was neutered for many decades by his corporate taskmasters.
Order The Superman Chronicles, Vol. 5 here: http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Chronicles-Vol-Jerry-Siegel/dp/1401218512/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342283967&sr=1-1&keywords=superman+chronicles+vol+5
