World's Finest Fools

What's more fun than one magical extradimensional imp?

Why, two of course!  

So, in honor of April Fool's Day, two of the earliest team-ups of Batman and Superman's two foolish foes, Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk!

Bat-Mite Meets Mr. Mxyzptlk

The two imps first meet in World's Finest Comics #113 (November, 1960) in a story by Jerry Coleman, Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff (under a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye), where it was an ordinary day in Gotham, with Batman and Robin about to take down a criminal robot...or at least planning on it.  But the robot seemed too much, so Superman was going to pitch in...until Bat-Mite stopped the help because he wanted his hero to do the job.  The dynamic duo went to continue the battle, but Superman was distracted by mystical menaces....but Bat-Mite said it wasn't him stopping Superman.  

It was Superman's 5th Dimensional foe, Mr. Mxyzptlk!  Mr. Mxyzptlk was not happy that Bat-Mite was vexing Superman.  The two imps battled for a while, but, after a time, Mxy got tired of it, and went home to the 5th Dimension, and Bat-Mite tired of the activity as well, and also went home (much to the relief of the heroes). 

The Incredible Team of Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk

For their second go around in World's Finest Comics #123 (February, 1962) under a cover by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff, and story by Jerry Coleman, Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff, Batman and Robin were taking down a criminal gang that used a rocket to commit crimes (with Bat-Mite watching his hero in action).  The criminals were giving the dynamic duo a hard time, so Superman joined in (with Mr. Mxyzptlk appearing at the same time).  

Superman was taking out the rocked with a boulder (because of Kryptonite on the rocket), but Bat-Mite changed the boulder into a creature....then, Mr. Mxyzptlk changed it again....then, the creature took on a life of its own due to the combined magic, and became a big menace!  The two couldn't defeat it, even working together...as the creature would just change into an even bigger problem.  Superman's powers didn't work well against the magic creature, but Batman helped with a solution, making an opposite of magnetic creature it had become, and the two cancelled each other out.  The two imps went back home to not be insulted by the heroes. 

The two would meet again, and find more history on that with Bat-Mite's history, or a little on Mr. Mxyzptlk himself.

Remembering Artist Jim Aparo

Remembering artist Jim Aparo on his birthday (August 24, 1932 - July 19, 2005), who was known for his Batman art, as well as Batman team ups...

...but, you might not be aware of his World's Finest Comics covers....specifically these from the Dollar Comics era, that wraparound the comic, showing off not only Batman, but Superman and as additional features, Captain Marvel (as the Shazam feature), Green Arrow, Black Canary, Creeper, Hawkman, Hawkgirl and Black Lightning!

World's Finest Comics #253 (October-November, 1978)

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World's Finest Comics #254 (December-January, 1978/1979)

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World's Finest Comics #255 (February-March, 1979)

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World's Finest Comics #257 (June-July, 1979)

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Happy Birthday Zatara

According to the old DC calendar, today is the birthday of the magician, Zatara.  

Giovanni "John" Zatara first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June, 1938) by Fred Guardineer (an issue which also premiered a certain caped Kryptonian),  but Zatara only appeared on two covers as the main feature, #12 and #14.

Zatara was a stage magician, but he also practiced real magic, which he could manifest by speaking backward, causing whatever he said to happen.  Zatara would work with his East Indian bodyguard, Tong, to fight evil wizards and druids, thieves such as the Tigress, and even invaders from Saturn and the moon.

His original stories ran from Action Comics #1 to #141, World's Best Comics #1, World's Finest Comics #2 to #51 , and in New York World's Fair Comics #1 and #2, though only Action Comics #1 and the 2 New York World's Fair Comics have ever been reprinted, and contrary to the Action Comics #52 cover, didn't team up with companions until after the Golden Age.

Writer Gardner Fox, who wrote some of Zatara's earliest tales, revived him in the 1960s, as he went missing due to the manipulations of sorceress Allura, sending his daughter, Zatanna, to quest for him.  Later writers writing of past have included him in the histories of Phantom Stranger, the Spectre, Madame Xanadu, a pre-Batman Bruce Wayne, Superboy and even as a member of the All-Star Squadron, cementing a place in history of this early DC magician!

 

Batman Around The Globe

Batman was an incredible force in fighting crime in Gotham...but what about the rest of the world?

Well, inspired by the Batman, various other people across the globe took to wearing costumes and fighting crime in their own countries as well.

Here are their stories.

The Batmen Of Many Nations

It all started in Detective Comics #215 (January, 1955) by Edmond Hamilton, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris, when international heroes came to Gotham to meet their hero, Batman (including the Knight and Squire of England who first appeared in Batman #62, as well as the introductions of the Musketeer from France, the Legionary from Italy, the Gaucho from Argentina and the Ranger from Australia).  

These heroes would then help Batman against Knots Cardine, a gang leader, who had escaped from Batman.  During the course of the case, it appears Batman was killed, and Robin and the Batmen go to catch the killer, where they find Batman and Knots, who had taken the place of the Legionary, thus having Batman come up with the plan to fake his death to isolate the hood.

The Club Of Heroes

The international heroes gathered again in World's Finest Comics #89 (July-August, 1957), by Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye, under a Curt Swan/Stan Kaye cover, where the heroes would get a headquarters thanks to philanthropist John Mayhew...if they could select a chairman, which they choose to do by whomever is the most successful this week.  

All the Batmen (except the Ranger, who sat this issue out) are in contention for this, as is Superman, but Superman seems to fail, needing rescue by Lightning-Man, who accomplishes the feats Superman couldn't.  Lightning-Man does succeed in winning the chairmanship, but doesn't....as Batman exposes Lightning-Man as Superman, given a split personality by an orbiting Kryptonite meteor!  Since Superman technically won, he keeps the chairman seat.

Remember, these heroes all met years before the Justice League of America fought Starro!

Now, Green Arrow had his own version of these heroes in "The Green Arrows Of The World" in Adventure Comics #250 (July, 1958) by Bill Finger and Jack Kirby, but they didn't appear again in the 20th century, and Roy Thomas and Todd McFarlane revived the Batmen Of Many Nations as the inspiration for the Global Guardians in Infinity, Inc. #34 (January, 1987), adding the Wingman to their ranks, having them work for Doctor Mist.

Grant Morrison revived them in Batman #667 (August, 2007), and had them return under a Batman, Incorporated title, adding many more members to the group, as well as fleshing out the characters that were already there!

Remembering Artist Win Mortimer

Remembering Golden and Silver Age artist, Win Mortimer (May 1, 1919 - January 11, 1998) on his birthday...

....with some of his covers featuring Superman and Batman!

Detective Comics #110 (April, 1946) and Action Comics #119 (April, 1948)

Detective Comics #116 (October, 1946) and Action Comics #167 (April, 1952)

Detective Comics #138 (August, 1948) and Action Comics #162 (November, 1951)

Detective Comics #188 (October, 1952) and Action Comics #155 (April, 1951)

World's Finest Comics #32 (January-February, 1948) and #41 (July-August, 1949)

Detective Comics #155 (January, 1950) and Action Comics (February, 1951)

Detective Comics #233 (September, 1955) and Action Comics #170 (July, 1952)

Detective Comics #207 (May, 1954) and Action Comics #180 (May, 1953)

World's Finest Comics #52 (June-July, 1951) and #60 (September-October, 1952)

World's Finest Comics #71 (July-August, 1954) and #78 (September-October, 1955)

Crisis Endings For Superman Batman And The Flash

As the DC Universe was changing due to the Crisis On Infinite Earths, there were long published titles that were ending.

Two of the longer running ending titles were the Flash and World's Finest Comics.

Each were there for the beginnings of DC's Silver Age, but had run their course....

World's Finest Comics

Superman and Batman had started teaming up with Superman #76 (May-June, 1952), but began regular team-ups with World's Finest Comics #71 (July-August, 1954), with these issues being some of the earliest tales of what would be called Earth-1, with the friendship of Superman and Batman being a foundation of that world, even before the existence of the Justice League of America, or the existence of a hero which started the Silver Age.  

 

Batman and Superman experienced a split, leading to Batman forming the Outsiders, and though they patched things up, the title came to an end with World's Finest Comics #323 (January, 1986) as the Crisis On Infinite Earths was on its 10th issue.

The Flash

Barry Allen, and his premier as The Flash happened in Showcase #4 (September-October, 1956, around the same time as World's Finest Comics #84), and ushered in DC's Silver Age, with Flash soon getting his own title, picking up from the Golden Age Flash with Flash #105 (February-March, 1959), soon after helping to form the Justice League of America along with Superman and Batman (and a few others), and even having a hand in finding the multiple Earths with the Golden Age Flash.

Barry Allen ran his last race in his own title with Flash #350 (October, 1985), ending his solo run and giving Flash a bit of a vacation, with what was suppose to be the final fate of Barry Allen unfolding then in the pages of the Crisis On Infinite Earths.

 

 

But, as with all things, endings can be new beginnings, as is always the case in comics, as Superman and Batman had their relationship redefined (first in Man of Steel #3 of November, 1986) and the former Kid Flash took over the mantle of the Flash, and, after a few adventures with other Legends (including Superman, Batman and the Suicide Squad), picked up his own title, Flash #1 (June, 1987)...proving "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"!

 

The Earliest Adventures Of The Super Sons Of Superman And Batman

Long before Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, or even the creations of Bob Haney in the 1970s, Superman and Batman had adventures with their super sons, Superman Jr. and Batman Jr. in World's Finest Comics.

Here are their two adventures from so long ago!

The Sons Of Superman And Batman

First up, from World's Finest Comics #154 (December, 1965) by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein (and cover by Swan/Klein), the beginnings of the Super-Sons! 

Superman (as Clark Kent) married reporter Lois Lane, and Batman (as Bruce Wayne) married Kathy Kane (Batwoman).

The two couples went on separate honeymoons (starting a riff between Lois and Kathy, as the Waynes could do a world tour, but the Kents just did Niagra Falls because Clark had to appear to live on a reporter's salary.  Time progressed, and each couple had a son, Kal-El Jr. for Clark/Lois and Bruce Wayne Jr. for Bruce/Kathy.

The boys played together, yet young Kal would bully young Bruce with his super powers.  This set Kathy against Lois, and could have separated the Superman and Batman partnership as well. 

The boys figured this out, and set out, figuring their absence would bring their parents together.  Along the way, the runaways were found by recent escapee, Nappy Klains (the Napolean of Crime, a foe of Superman and Batman that young Bruce had read about).  The villain tricked the kids to going with him to his lair, capturing them to use against his foes, their parents.  The Waynes and Kents realized their boys were missing, and all went looking for them....as Nappy hatched his plan, of disguising himself as Bruce Jr. (Nappy was a midget, which also helped his escape).  Trapped in his lair, the two boys worked together to get free, then thwarted Nappy's plans, reuniting with their parents and ending the feud.

The Abominable Brats

Continuing the saga of the Super-Sons, but a few years down the line for the characters, is World's Finest Comics #157 (May, 1966) by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan, George Klein and Sheldon Moldoff (with cover by Swan/Klein).

It is years later, as seen by the grey in Clark, Bruce and Kathy's hair, and the sons have gotten older.

Bruce Wayne Jr. seems to be becoming quite a problem, but thankfully, Kal-El Jr is there to save him from crashing his flying car.  Hearing about his later, Batman confronted his son, who denied it.  Conferring with Superman, Batman asked him to watch his son, but Superman first found his own son performing misdeeds, which Kal Jr denied when confronted.

These acts continued, with both Superman and Batman's crime fighting abilities starting to slip.  The two work together to find  the boys problems, but they continue, eventually putting Superman and Batman in danger....only to be saved by Superman Jr. and Batman Jr.?  The evil boys were duplicates in disguise, with "Superman Jr." being the son of Mxyzptlk, and "Batman Jr." being Bat-Mite Jr..  Mxyzptlk's son, the evil 5th dimensional imp, hypnotized Bat-Mite Jr. to help him vex Superman and Batman, and only the quick thinking of Batman Jr. got rid of the super-imp, resolving the dad's problems with the boys.

Back then, these were Imaginary Stories (stories with familiar characters not set in current continuity), but the Crisis Compendium placed these adventures on Earth-154 (and they were different from the adventures of Bob Haney's Super Sons, who were in issues of World's Finest Comics in the 200s, and existed on Earth-215....differentiated by Superman not having gray hair when the boys were teenagers, and the Super Sons adventures taking place in what looked like the 1970s).

Had things gone differently, those two earlier issues could have been on "Earth-E", as in "E. Nelson Bridwell" or "Extraneous", as postulated by Mark Gruenwald, on Omniverse 1 (1977), a fanzine. 


Earth-E would be a place where adventures of Superman and Batman in the late 1940s and 1950s took place (basically from after the tales of the Justice Society in All-Star Comics #57  in 1951 to just before the Justice League in Brave and the Bold #28 in 1960). 

This would take into account slow changes that happened with Superman and Batman (Superboy facing an adult Lex Luthor, Superman working for the Daily Star and then Planet, Batman's odder tales and even working with Batwoman), and be a bridge between Earth-1 and Earth-2.  But, Mark went to work for Marvel, so it never happened...and, like the early stories is only imaginary.....

Superman Goes Nova On Batman

Superman, losing his powers and adopting a new costumed identity?  Then, turning on Batman with a murderous rage?

Is this real?

No, even a little less than normal, as these two issues of World's Finest Comics contain an "imaginary story", a story with familiar casts, but willing to shake up the status quo....now, these are set on alternate Earths.

Let's take a look at how things change and progress here!

The Has-Been Superman!

This saga begins in World's Finest Comics #178 (September, 1968) by Cary Bates, Curt Swan and Jack Abel, all under the stunning cover by Neal Adams with Superman taking on a new identity!


But, why is Superman taking on this new identity and what happened to his powers?


Superman, piloting a space ship into a dimensional rip in space caused by a super cobalt bomb, goes searching for lost aircraft there.  Finding an odd cavern, Superman finds alien machinery which coats his craft in a eerie white goo that shuts his systems down.

Not needing the ship to get around, Superman heads out and is covered with the goo as well.  Not feeling well, he heads back through the dimensional aperture, landing unconscious at a military base.  The doctors, checking on Superman find out he is fine, but now powerless, with no hope of regaining his super abilities.  Thankfully, they had called Batman in, as the shock of his loss drove Superman a little crazy for a time, and Batman slowed his friend down. 

Superman tries just living life as Clark Kent, reporter, but then, after covering an archery exhibition by Green Arrow and Speedy, gets the idea to create his own non-powered costumed hero identity. 

Batman and Robin respond to a prowler in the warehouse district, and Batman fights the green and purple costumed creeper, eventually knocking him out.  Removing his mask, Batman finds....Superman!  Clark had created the heroic identity of Nova, and was practicing his moves on the Gotham waterfront, when mistaken by security for a prowler.  Superman, as Nova, works with a special cape that allows him to glide and has special gadgets.  But, in encountering some thugs outside the Daily Planet, Nova finds his old Superman safety precautions of pulling his punches allows the thugs to capture him....and take him to the crime boss, Mr. Socrates (and into the next issue!).
 

Superman's Perfect Crime!

Continuing the imaginary story from issue #178 (#179 was a Giant, filled with fascinating reprints), World's Finest Comics #180 (November, 1968) has an even bigger shocker of a cover by Neal Adams, to reflect the shocks within the story by Cary Bates, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.


After a quick splash page and recap, the story gets down and dirty with Mr. Socrates revealing his plans for Superman's new heroic identity of Nova....to wipe out Batman!  Superman scoffs at Socrates' plans, but his thugs work Superman over again.  Batman, checking on Clark to find him not home, leaves him information on Horatio Socrates, and wonders where his now non-super friend could be. 

Nova, recovering from his surgery, is very happy to work with Socrates....as Mr. Socrates had a mind control device implanted in Nova's neck, allowing him to control the former Superman.  While Socrates' men take Nova back to Metropolis, the control breaks for a second while in a tunnel (with Nova fighting the henchman) until Socrates' computer takes back control. 

Batman and Robin are concerned about Socrates (a millionaire criminal computer expert, that had his eyesight damaged in a fight with Batman), when over the radio, the Dynamic Duo hear of a crime spree in Gotham by Nova!  

The pair head to a construction site where he was spotted, finding Nova in his Superman costume, planning to kill Batman until they take him down, and back to the Bat-Cave. 

While there, Superman is free from the control, but escapes in the Batmobile.  Batman and Robin follow, now knowing of the device in Superman's neck (while Mr. Socrates and his men use the tracker in the device to go to the Bat Cave).  Superman heads out to a rocket testing facility, while Socrates and his men break into the Bat Cave, preparing a bomb under their elevator to finish the Dynamic Duo, but, a now immune Superman, with Batman and Robin, show up, stop Socrates thugs, and Socrates, in trying to escape, kills himself in the bomb blast meant for Batman and Robin.  The radio signals at the rocket range messed up the control device, and with Batman's help, Superman made a lead collar to continually block the signal.  Planning on wiping the memory of the Bat Cave from the thugs memories with Green Lantern's help, the Dynamic Duo wonder if Superman can indeed make it as the non-powered Nova.

This wasn't quite the end for Nova, popping up in the Human Target feature in an issue of Action Comics Weekly (#641) as a movie hero (and person Christopher Chance had to save in the story), then being a mystery figure in the 52 series (with a slightly different costume, and new identity), a year long weekly series (in 2006/2007) dealing with the DC Universe (including a non-powered Clark Kent and Booster Gold).