Superboy #174

Superboy #174 (On Sale: March 9, 1971), has a Super-Animals cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with "The Colossal Superdog" by Otto Binder and George Papp and reprinted from Adventure Comics #262 (1959). While romping through space, Krypto encounters a Kryptonite meteor fused with another meteor. The radiations of the new meteor cause Krypto to grow to gigantic size and develop super-rabies upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.

As Krypto causes mass destruction, Superboy tries to stop his pet. The rabies eventually paralyzes Krypto. Superboy sets Krypto up as a living statue. He then discovers the meteor and exposes himself to it.

Superboy grows to gigantic size as well. The increased power of Superboy’s X-ray vision cures Krypto. Then he uses lead mirrors to turn the X-rays on himself, which restores the Boy of Steel to normal.

Next up is "The Gorilla with Super-Eyes" by Otto Binder, Curt Swan, and John Fischetti and reprinted from Adventure Comics #219 (1955). Superboy assists Professor Lang in the capture of a giant gorilla named Chandu. They return to Smallville with the gorilla who is put on display. Ex-con Doc Baird sees the gorilla on display and discovers that Chandu possesses X-ray vision.

Baird and his men steal Chandu and use his power for crime. The X-rays are triggered by lightning, so when lightning strikes the crooks are able to melt bank walls and start fires.

Professor Lang believes that Chandu got his powers from a pond in Africa containing Kryptonite. The gorilla's X-ray vision is also Kryptonite based which weakens Superboy. Despite the gorilla's advantage, Superboy overcomes him and the crooks. The effect of the contaminated water soon wears off, restoring Chandu to normal.

That is followed by "The Super-Zoo from Krypton" by Otto Binder and John Sikela and reprinted from Superboy #53 (1956). Professor Lang discovers a rocket containing several alien eggs. Superboy reads the text contained within the rocket and discovers that the eggs are from Krypton. The eggs begin hatching, releasing several unusual Kryptonian animals. 

A crook named Blacky Stone hides Kryptonite in a fake egg. Superboy is exposed to the Kryptonite, but he manages to escape with the aid of one of the Kryptonian creatures. After apprehending Blacky, Superboy takes the animals to an uninhabited world where they can live without endangering anyone.

Next is "The Bird with Super-Powers" by Alvin Schwartz, Curt Swan, and John Fischetti and reprinted from Adventure Comics #225 (1956). Professor Lang brings a talking mynah bird back from Africa. The bird displays amazing intelligence and super powers. The mynah bird escapes and begins aiding an escaped convict in crime. Superboy and Professor Lang determine that the bird's powers originate from a water source in Africa contaminated by Kryptonite. This same water source was responsible for creating a gorilla with X-ray vision.

Superboy and the mynah bird match each other in battle. The bird learns Superboy's secret identity and threatens to expose him. This forces Superboy to use Kryptonite against the bird. The overdose of Kryptonite radiation restores the bird to normal, and his convict partner is apprehended.

We end with "The Superdog That Was Greater Than Krypto" by Jerry Siegel and Al Plastino and reprinted from Superboy #105 (1963). Superboy rescues a dog, Swifty, from his mean master. Swifty follows the Boy of Steel back to Smallville and meets him again. Impressed by Swifty’s intelligence, Superboy uses a serum invented by Roz-Em to give Swifty super-powers. 

Krypto becomes jealous of the new super-dog, but when Swifty’s powers disappear suddenly Krypto comes to the rescue. Superboy tells Krypto that he intended Swifty to be a playmate for Krypto, making the super-dog ashamed of his jealousy.

edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #95

Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #95 (On Sale: July 8, 1969) has a strange cover supposedly by Curt Swan and Neal Adams. I'm not sure I see Adams in these inks and if so, it is another example of where DC had someone else go over Neal's Superman face. If there are some Neal Adams' inks on this it is the last Lois Lane cover that Neal would work on.

We begin with "Lois Lane's Super-Brain" from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #27, which is drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger. Lois Lane’s head grows to enormous size when she subjects herself to Professor Holt’s brain bank. The knowledge of famous scientists is transferred to her mind for a week, but her huge bald head is embarrassing. She attempts to cover her disfigurement throughout the week. Only her sister Lucy knows the truth. Her greatest fear is that Superman will see her like this. Fortunately only Bizarro sees her, but he falls in love with her because of it. When her head returns to normal, Bizarro becomes disenchanted with her "ugliness".

Next is "The Superwoman of Metropolis" from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #8 written by Alvin Schwartz and also drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger. Superman gives Lois Lane temporary super powers for her birthday. She decides to keep her identity a secret, so she wears a blonde wig as Superwoman. Clark Kent tries to prove that Lois is the new Superwoman which makes it difficult for her to preform her duties.

After successfully protecting her identity several times, she eventually has to reveal herself in order to make a rescue. However, her powers have worn off. Clark secretly makes the rescue, and thinks it’s funny that Lois pretended to be Superwoman. Lois now understands how much of a pest she is to Superman.

That is followed by "Lois Lane, Slave Girl" from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #33 also drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger. Lois is transported back in time by some crooks to prevent her from testifying against them. Lois winds up in ancient Rome where she is auctioned off as a slave to Crassus, a cruel master. Lois is rescued along with some other slaves by Petronius, an ex-gladiator. Petronius is betrayed by one of the slaves, Julia. Lois tries to rescue him, but learns that he already free because he is really Crassus. He uses the disguise to cover his liberation of prisoners. Petronius proposes to Lois, but she is returned to the present in time to testify.

Next is "The Widow in Black" from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #32 also drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger. Lois is upset that Perry White will not let her cover any dangerous assignments. When she complains Perry assigns her to locate the Playboy Poisoner, a con man that poisons widows and steals their valuables.

Lois attracts the attention of the Poisoner at a hotel and tries to gather evidence against him while avoiding getting poisoned. Eventually the Poisoner catches on and ties up Lois. He threatens to blow her up, but Lois has discovered that the Poisoner is really Perry White. Perry tried to trick Lois to teach her a lesson, but the girl reporter has seen through the scheme, forcing Perry to give in and give her tougher assignments.

That is followed by "The Madam Jekyll of Metropolis" from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #36 also drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger. While explaining the properties of Red Kryptonite to her fan club, Lois Lane struck with a neutron beam of energy which is focused through the Kryptonite. Later that day Lois begins to exhibit a Jekyll and Hyde personality. Her friends try to help, but Lois gets out of control. Finally, they trick her into getting exposed to another piece of Red Kryptonite which once turned a Phantom Zone villain good. The effect cures Lois of her evil ways.

We end with "Lois Lane, Hag" from Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #40 once again drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger. Lois Lane investigates a doctor who claims to have invented a youth serum. Lois is knocked out during her attempt to prove the doctor a fraud. She dreams that she has grown old and ugly, until Perry White revives her. The doctor’s scheme is then exposed, and Superman arrives to arrest him.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #119

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #119 (On Sale: February 25, 1969) has an interesting cover penciled by Curt Swan. The Superman figure looks like it is inked by Swan himself, while the Jimmy Olsen figure is obviously inked by Neal Adams. Did they change the Superman figure at the last minute or did they change the Olsen figure?

We start with "The Lady-Killer from Metropolis" a reprint from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #33 by Alvin Schwartz Curt Swan and Ray Burnley. Jimmy visits Hollywood while Superman works on a movie. He tries on one of Superman’s spare costumes and actress Marilyn Marlowe mistakes him for the real Man of Steel. She and several other Hollywood girls begin to pursue Jimmy romantically. Jimmy is confused by the attention, unaware that they believe he is really Superman. Jimmy finally catches on to the mistake and quickly finds his popularity with women drop off.

We end with our cover story, "Nine Lives -- Like a Cat" by Leo Dorfman and Pete Costanza. Criminal mastermind Dr. Klipp pretends to be the curator of the Museum of Superstition and Magic. He tricks Jimmy Olsen into believing that the Tiger's Eye jewel can bestow its wearer with nine lives. Klipp gives the jewel to Jimmy to pass along to Superman. However, the gem is actually Gold Kryptonite which will remove Superman's powers permanently.

Jimmy carries the jewel while Superman is away on a mission. Klipp and his henchmen worry that Jimmy will discover it is a fake and not deliver it. They scheme to protect Jimmy's life to convince him that the gem's power is real. However, they soon come to believe the jewel really does possess life saving powers after Jimmy survives several brushes with death.

The crooks take the gem back when they believe Jimmy's nine lives have been used up. Klipp then uses it to enter a booby-trapped vault containing his former partner's loot. The gem fails, but Superman saves Klipp. The Man of Steel then tricks the crook into signing a confession before revealing that Jimmy knew the gem was Gold Kryptonite and replaced it.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

World's Finest Comics #179

World's Finest Comics #179 (On Sale: August 6, 1968), AKA 80pg. Giant #G-52, has a cover by Neal Adams.

We begin with "The Origin of the Superman-Batman Team" from World's Finest Comics #94 by Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye. Lex Luthor has escaped prison, and Superman will not let Batman help him recapture the criminal. He has instead taken a new partner, Powerman. Batman and Robin trail Superman to learn why he has refused their help.

Robin recalls the first time he and Batman met the Man of Steel. They had run across some Kryptonite smugglers and gone to warn Superman. They teamed up, but at the final stage Superman refused their help in order to protect them. Batman disguised himself as Superman anyway to assist his new friend. Together they defeated the gang.

Batman suspects Superman is protecting him again. He returns to Luthor’s cell and discovers that Luthor is using a powerful new weapon. He devises a shield to protect himself from the weapon and captures Luthor. Superman then reveals that Powerman is a robot. He used the robot to get close to his foe, because Luthor was also using Kryptonite.

Next is "The Mightiest Team in the World" from Superman #76 by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and John Fischetti. This is the story where Superman and Batman discover each other’s secret identities. Both Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne board a cruise ship and end up sharing a cabin. When a fire breaks out, both switch to their alternate identities of Superman and Batman. Batman rescues Lois Lane, while Superman puts out the fire.

Later aboard ship they protect their identities from Lois Lane, while tracking down a jewel thief, John Smilter. Superman must save the ship from danger, while Batman captures Smilter and once again rescues Lois. When the ship arrives at port, the duo once again protects their secret identities from Lois.

This is followed by "Batman – Double for Superman" from World's Finest Comics #71 by Alvin Schwartz, Curt Swan and Stan Kaye. Superman rescues Batman and Robin, when the Bat-plane is shot down by crooks. In the process, Lois Lane witnesses Clark Kent change into Superman. Batman and Superman agree to switch identities to confuse Lois, so she won’t realize she has discovered Superman’s secret identity.

Superman disguised as Batman follows the crooks, but is felled by a piece of Kryptonite. Meanwhile, Batman disguised as Superman tries to convince Lois that Superman is Bruce Wayne. When Superman fails to return Batman tracks him down at the crooks’ hide-out. Lois also arrives, discovering Clark wearing the Batman costume. Batman rescues Clark from the Kryptonite and apprehends the crooks. Lois is still confused by the secret identity situation and believes it was a prank perpetrated by Superman.

Next is "When Gotham City Challenged Metropolis" from World's Finest Comics #76 by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and Stan Kaye. Superman and Batman compete in a contest to determine which whether Gotham City or Metropolis will host a science convention. Superman patrols Gotham and performs four feats in the allotted time frame. Batman is able to perform five feat in Metropolis, earning him the victory for Gotham City.

Batman tried hard to win the contest because one of the inventions on display at the convention emits Kryptonite rays. When the machine is tested, Superman is nearby and weakened. However, the machine malfunctions and destroys itself. Superman then reveals he performed a fifth feat, so the convention is held in both cities.

"The Dictator of Kandor" from World's Finest Comics #100 is next, by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye. Luthor has invented a belt which reduces him and his gang to tiny size. Using the belts, Luthor sets up a trap for Superman. Unknown to Superman, he brings Luthor into the Fortress of Solitude inside a machine Luthor has built to use as a Trojan horse.

Once inside the Fortress, Luthor infiltrates the bottled city of Kandor. Superman follows him inside, but without his powers in the Kandorian City, he is captured by Luthor’s gang. Luthor then forces the citizens of Kandor to give him their advanced weapons.

Following a lead of their own, Batman and Robin arrive at the Fortress and enter Kandor. They rescue Superman and take on Luthor with him. Luthor is victorious and leaves Kandor. However, the heroes are still alive and follow him outside. Superman and Batman remain tiny in size because the belts they used were broken, but Superman’s powers return. Together they defeat Luthor and his men.

Lastly we have "The Club of Heroes" from World's Finest Comics #89 by Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye. Superman, Batman, and several heroes from around the world are called together to form a Club of Heroes. The members decide to elect the chairman of the club based on heroic deeds performed that week. Each hero is selfless and wants another to be elected chairman, so they don’t take credit for their own rescues.

Superman is knocked unconscious by an unknown force while stopping a lightning storm. An unknown hero, Lightning-Man, appears and accomplishes Superman’s duties. The next day a similar event happens and Lightning-Man once again makes the scene while Superman is incapacitated.

Batman suspects that Lightning-Man is behind Superman’s problems. He suspects that the new hero is trying to win chairmanship in the club which is exactly what happens.

When Lightning-Man appears again however, Batman proves that the identity of the new hero is Superman himself. An orbiting piece of Kryptonite is affecting him causing him to assume another identity. The Kryptonite is removed, Superman returns to normal, and he remains chairman of the club.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Action Comics #359

Action Comics #359 (On Sale: December 26, 1967) features another dramatic cover by Neal Adams.

Inside "The Case of the People Against Superman" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and George Klein continues from last issue. Superman stands trial for the death of Ron Noble, who was killed during an exhibition boxing match with the Man of Steel. Noble was really a criminal, who swallowed a poison pill to frame Superman. Famed lawyer Earl Barton represents Superman, while district attorney Alonzo Kroll hopes to make a name for himself by getting Superman convicted.

Choosing a jury is difficult because Superman is popular among the citizens of Metropolis. When the trial begins the district attorney makes his case that Superman can't safely control his powers.

For his defense, Superman is able to take the courtroom back in time to view the actual death of Noble.

The back-up Supergirl story is "The Super-Initiation of Supergirl" by Otto Binder and Kurt Schaffenberger. When Supergirl sees a group of sorority girls hazing pledge Joan Bryant with cruel pranks she sets out to stop them. The Girl of Steel pledges the group herself, so the girls come up with pledge stunts that could expose Supergirl's secret identity.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Batman #198

Batman #198 (On Sale: November 14, 1967), AKA 80pg. Giant #G-43 features a cover by Carmine Infantino and Murphy Anderson spotlighting an All-Villain Issue.

We begin with "The Origin of the Batman" from Batman #47 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Charles Paris. Batman and Robin discover that a trucking company is smuggling wanted criminals out of state. When Batman sees a picture of the trucking company's owner, Joe Chill, he immediately recognizes the man as the killer of his parents (this was the first time the killer's name was revealed. Batman works the case alone, trying to trap Chill and get evidence against him. Chill eludes Batman's traps and continues to operate his company.

Finally Batman takes a daring risk and reveals his identity to Chill, explaining that Chill was responsible for creating him. Batman threatens to follow and harass Chill until the crook eventually slips up. Frightened, Chill runs to his gang. He tells them that he was responsible for creating Batman. Before he can tell them who the Batman really is, they gun him done for creating their nemesis. Batman is then able to finally close the case of the Wayne murder.

Next is "The Jungle Cat-Queen" from Detective #211 by Ed Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris. After a jewel heist, Catwoman pilots her plane to a remote island where she meets her accomplices. Batman follows her to the island and is quickly captured. Catwoman allows Batman to escape, even though her partners try to kill him. Once free Batman rounds up the gang, but the Catwoman herself escapes.

This is followed by "The Web of the Spinner" from Batman #129, by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. While Batman and Robin track down a new costumed foe, the Spinner, Batwoman is investigating a swami who she believes is a phony. All the heroes finally follow their leads to an old windmill which the Spinner is using as a hideout. Although they are able to overcome the Spinner, Batman suspects more is going on. They exit the windmill just before it explodes. The swami is the real Spinner, and he setup another crook to take the fall. Batman then finds evidence in the swami’s possession and arrests him.

Next we have (Oswald Who?) reprinted from the Batman Sunday strip 2/10/1946-3/10/1946 by Alvin Schwartz, Jack Burnley and Charles Paris. This was later reprinted in Batman:The Sunday Classics, 1943-1946 TPB.

"The Crimes of Batman" from World's Finest #61 by David Reed, Lew Sayer Schwartz and Charles Paris follows.

This is followed by "The Menace of False Face" from Batman #113 drawn by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. A new criminal and master of disguise, False Face, commits robberies around Gotham by disguising himself. Batman realizes that the real people which False Face replaces are delayed from their normal activities in advance. When someone is delayed, Batman arrives in their place and is able to locate False Face, but the crook escapes. During another encounter, Batman is apparently knocked out, but he is really able to capture False Face and his gang.

Lastly we have "The Bandit of the Bells" from Batman #55 drawn by Bob Kane and Charles Paris.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.