World's Finest Comics #206

World's Finest Comics #206 (On Sale: August 5, 1971), has a Superman/Batman cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with "The Secret of the Captive Caveman" by Bill Finger and Jim Mooney and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #138 (1963). Batman and Robin attempt to capture an alien being spotted in Gotham City. When the alien realizes his Z-Beam weapon doesn't affect humans he rushes to the Gotham Library to learn why. There Batman and Robin overhear the alien tell its superiors that their weapons cannot affect modern man. Before the two heroes can capture the alien he swallows a pill and dies and his comrades in a ship outside breach the time barrier to escape. 

Seeing a history book opened to the time of pre-historic man, Batman and Robin deduce that the aliens have traveled back in time to try and conquer the human race in the past. Calling Clark Kent at the Daily Planet to tell them of this plot, Clark tells them that he will meet them in the past. Batman and Robin then use Carter Nichols' time machine to travel to the stone age in the hopes of thwarting the alien invasion of the past.

They all arrive in the past before the aliens do and after saving a tribe of cavemen from a sabretooth tiger, Batman, Robin and Superman disguise themselves as cavemen and wait for the aliens to arrive. When the aliens arrive their Z-Rays work at making the early humans their slaves. The three heroes pretend to be enslaved as well so that they can learn of the alien plot. They have the cavemen mine for a rare metal called Drakkium, an ore that -- unrefined -- is harmful to the aliens. The aliens intend to use the unrefined ore to take over the leadership of their race and then refine the ore, which ironically is deadly to humans, and use it to wipe humanity off the face of the Earth and take over the planet.

Batman, Robin, and Superman then free the cavemen and stage a revolt against the alien would-be dictatorship by incapacitating them with chunks of unrefined Drakkium The alien force unconscious, Superman, Batman and Robin then turn the insurgent force over to the alien authorities and launch the remaining unrefined Drakkium ore into space with an alien ship. With the threat over, Batman, Robin, and Superman return to the present.

Next up is "The Creature That Was Exchanged for Superman" by Jerry Coleman, Dick Sprang, and Sheldon Moldoff and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #118 (1961). While on a charity drive for the Heart Fund, Batman, Robin and Superman spot a strange energy beam outside the city and decide to go and investigate. Superman is teleported away and replaced by some strange creature. Concerned about this creature's sudden arrival, Batman and Robin attempt to rope it up, but it breaks free and begins to tunnel into the ground. Batman, spotting a boulder at the top of the hill it's boring into, comes up with an idea of how to attack the creature.

Meanwhile, Superman finds himself transported to the planet Xeron by an alien named Vathgar. Vathgar explains that he transported the creature to Earth, but one drawback to the device was that the transported creature has to swap places with something at its destination. Not wanting Superman, the aliens attack him but he is impervious to their weapons. However, when he uses his heat vision he finds that it freezes things instead of melting them, and his flying powers are wonky and Vathgar manages to get away. 

Flying to a nearby city, Superman sees a runaway vehicle and attempts to stop it by using his super-breath only to find that he has flame breath instead. When the people of Xeron attack him, Superman convinces them to stop to compare notes. He learns that Vathgar is a criminal on this world and that he had captured two Skrans, and the inter-temporal transport device for some unknown purpose. Superman agrees to track down Vathgar to learn his purpose.

While back on Earth, the Skran sent there comes out of its tunnel and no matter what Batman and Robin attempt to do to stop it, some impenetrable force keeps them from stopping the creature. While back on Xeron, Superman tracks down Vathgar and learns that he sent the Skran to Earth because there is an element there that is rare on Xeron that makes the Skran invincible and he intended to use the creatures to overthrow the government and take over his world. Superman is forced to battle the Skran that Vathgar has and realizes that extreme cold renders the creature harmless when he uses his freeze vision on the creature.

Back on Earth, the military fires all their artillery at the Skarn there causing it to split in two. One of the creatures passes through the returning teleportation beam, returning Superman to Earth as well. Superman flies off and comes back with a large chunk of ice to drop on the Skarn to render it harmless. With the beast quelled, the heroes bring it off to the Gotham Zoo to resume the remainder of its docile life.

That brings us to "Riddle of the Four Planets" by Jerry Coleman and Jim Mooney and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #130 (1962). An alien starfish creature lands near Wayne Manor and Batman and Robin go to investigate the creature. An alien ship lands and the aliens explain that the creature is a Zelaphod which they accidentally unleashed. They also explain that the creature grows in strength and size and gains the ability to fire explosive bursts of energy by sapping minerals deep below the surface of a planet and is seemingly indestructible. When Superman arrives, they find that the creature proves impervious to Superman's strength and x-ray vision. The alien tells them of an old poem that itemizes ingredients to a chemical compound that can help them defeat the monster.

Telling them the title of the poem -- Sauk -- contains the first letters in the names of different planets that supposedly have the key ingredients. With this information, they alert Commissioner Gordon of the creature and fly off to the various worlds to collect the ingredients they need.

Superman travels to the planet Sinzar to find "sand from the beach of a waterless sea", and upon freeing a trapped archeologist finds exactly what the poem is talking about: a dried-out beach in front of an ancient city buried underground. On Antella, Superman seeks out "moss from a barking tree", which he finds on that worlds "forbidden forest" region after destroying hallucination inducing plants and finding that the poem verse is not quite literal: He finds the moss in a tree that is defended by a small dog-like creature.

While elsewhere in the universe Batman and Robin arrive with the traveling band of aliens to the planet Unxor. There they agree to put on an acrobatics show when the alien cast comes down with space measles. After putting on the show, the aliens gladly tell them where to find "Ears that hear the music of the morning knell" which turn out to be ear-shaped plants that are around giant singing boulders. When traveling to the planet Karos to collect a "tuft of hair from the mystic Krell" they have to battle a giant reptilian creature - a Krell. Although they are overpowered Superman arrives and lends them a helping hand by taking a tuft of hair from the creature. In the aftermath of the battle, Batman notes that a strange gem is shining energy on a hole in the ground shaped like the Zelaphod creature and deduces that it is the source that makes the creatures a threat to the universe.

Destroying the gem to prevent any more Zelaphod threats in the future, Batman, Robin, and Superman return to Earth with the mixture of items and use it to destroy the Zelaphod that is threatening Gotham City.

We end with "The Mirror Batman" by Jerry Coleman and Jim Mooney and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #121 (1961). While attempting to stop some crooks from robbing a warehouse, Batman accidentally falls into a mirror which transports him to another dimension. Robin is unable to bring Batman back, so he contacts Superman for help. Batman emerges from the mirror, altered by it and given bizarre powers.

While Superman and Robin try to corral Batman, the thieves return to steal the mirror, locking in their hide-out safe. Batman is brought down by Superman, but can only be returned to normal by returning to the mirror’s dimension. Finding the mirror missing, Superman and Robin track down the thieves and recover the mirror.

The trio then enters the mirror and meets a strange being responsible for Batman’s transformation. Superman agrees to defeat Xanu, the being's enemy in return for returning the Caped Crusader to normal. Once the task is done, the trio return home, and Superman smashes the mirror.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Batman #228

Batman #228 (On Sale: November 5, 1970), has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with "Outlaw Town, U.S.A." by David V. Reed, Dick Sprang, and Charles Paris and reprinted from Batman #75. A town named Silver Vein is currently run by criminals and serves as the perfect hideout from any law enforcers across the country. When some criminals from Gotham City decide to relocate to Silver Vein, they are immediately followed by Batman and Robin, who capture them and bring them back to Gotham. After their intervention, Silver Vein is reclaimed by the authorities and the rest of the criminals are captured.

Next is "The Living Bat-Plane!" by Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang, and Charles Paris and reprinted from Batman #91 (1955). Batman and Robin test new remote controls on the Batplane and Batmobile with help from Dr. Philip Winters. However, Winter's laboratory is found by some criminals, who take the controls of the Bat-vehicles and turn them against the Dynamic Duo. Batman finds a way to stop the Batmobile, but the crooks manage to take the Batplane away from the Batcave and use it in their crimes.

Batman and Robin try their best to put an end to the reign of terror caused by their own plane, but they are always outsmarted by the crooks. During one last attempt, the Dynamic Duo are apparently killed in a fall from the Batplane, but when the vehicle returns to the crooks' lair, they realize that the figures that dropped to their deaths were dummies and the heroes are hidden inside the plane. The criminals are arrested and the Dynamic Duo remove the remote controls from their vehicles.

This is followed by "The Duplicate Batman!" by David V. Reed, Sheldon Moldoff, and Charles Paris and is reprinted from Batman #83 (1954). Batman crashes in the Batplane in a remote mountainous area and some crooks learn of the accident. A few days later, Batman is nowhere to be found and the thugs decide to capitalize on his absence by hiring an ex-con and Bruce Wayne look-alike to pose as Batman while they loot Gotham City. 

Their plan goes awry when the fake Batman is knocked unconscious and loses his memory. He is soon found by Robin, who takes him back to Wayne Manor and tries to bring all the memories back. The thug believes that he is in fact Bruce Wayne and soon he starts acting as Bruce and Batman. 

Meanwhile, the real Batman has learned of the impostor in Gotham and he decides to return, using all the strength left in his body. As he returns to Gotham, the fake Batman recovers his memory after another hit in the head and using his identity as Batman, he saves the real Batman from being killed by some criminals, but the feat costs his life.

Next is "The Gotham City Safari!" by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff, and Charles Paris and reprinted from Batman #111 (1957). Batman and Robin have been made members of the Safari Club, a group of Gotham big-game hunters. Their host, Alec Judson, takes them on a tour of his palatial country estate, subdivided into different areas to simulate such locales as Africa, Mexico, and Malay, and each stocked with appropriate wild animals. Then they begin their annual contest, to see which of the hunters can be the first to bag one of Judson's animals, with a silver pith helmet-trophy the prize. However, the first victim turns out to be a man--Ed Yancey. When a horseshoe watch fob is recovered near the body, Jones identifies it as belonging to Yancey, the English former member of their club.

Judson relates how, on a safari in Africa, an elephant stampede had begun and all of them were able to run for safety except Markham, who had twisted his ankle. They later had Markham doctored and returned to health, but, says Judson, Markham swore revenge upon them for not helping him to safety. Batman and Robin begin their search on the grounds for the killer. The dynamic duo must contend with a charging rhino, a crocodile, and a lion net that eventually traps Batman. A figure who appears to be Markham, after stepping out of the way of a black panther to avoid bad luck, kayos Robin and carries him off. After escaping with the help of a lion, Batman tracks "Markham" to a Mayan temple in "Mexico." There he finds Robin and Markham bound and gagged. When released, Markham explains that they had seen Judson impersonating him and that he has been trussed up ever since coming to America to ask Judson for a loan.

Judson reappears and threatens to kill them all, but Batman bluffs him, saying that he gave away his imposture when he avoided a black panther because Englishmen consider it good luck to cross the path of a black cat. Also claiming to have loaded Judson's gun with blanks, Batman tackles the startled thief. Judson confesses that he killed Yancey because he had discovered Judson was operating an international crime-cartel, using his hunting trips to meet contacts. When Yancey blackmailed him, Judson hit upon the idea of impersonating Markham and placing the blame on him for Yancey's murder. Later, after Judson is jailed, Batman receives the Safari Club trophy for bringing in his quarry--a human killer.

This is followed by "Prisoners of the Bat-Cave!" drawn by Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris and reprinted from Batman #108 (1957). John Roddy, convicted of killing a man named Winters and scheduled for execution, pleads his innocence to Batman, who believes him. Batman goes to the Governor and gets a slight delay, only until midnight of that night. At the district attorney's office, Batman and Robin pick up two packages, one of evidence in the Roddy case and the other a special package addressed to Batman and Robin. By an electrical mishap both are trapped in the Batcave, and the second, special package, actually a booby-trap, bursts into flame and melts their radio transmitter and telephone. Batman puts it out by lowering a hollow, glass bust of Two-Face onto it. Determining that the crime was committed by a man with a much longer thumb than Roddy, the dynamic duo proceed to deduce exactly who the killer was, and discover him to be Len Paul. Batman uses an insulated diving suit to help him survive touching a powerful electric charge to the Bat-Cave's lock mechanism, freeing them. Then they race to apprehend Len Paul and save Roddy's life with only minutes to spare.

We end with "The Doors That Hid Disaster" by Dave Wood, Sheldon Moldoff, and Charles Paris reprinted from Detective Comics #238 (1956). A criminal known as Checkmate is dying from radiation poisoning after escaping the Dynamic Duo. To follow through with his life's goal of "checkmating Batman" before dying, Checkmate leaves an elaborate deathtrap to his men for use against Batman and Robin, but the heroes find a way out of trouble.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Batman #223

Batman #223 (On Sale: May 12, 1970) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson on Batman and Robin Face Danger Around the World!

We begin our reprint fest with "City Without Guns" by Bill Finger (or William Woolfolk, you decide), Dick Sprang and Charles Paris a reprinted from Detective Comics #196. Gang boss Frank Lumardi flees Gotham City and heads for London. A month later Bruce and Dick visit London and go to Scotland Yard to learn about British detection methods, where they are shocked to see an empty frame that once held a picture of Batman and Robin. The inspector showing them around only says that it will never hang there again. Before he can say more, the Inspector leaves to an alarm sounds in Leicester Square.

As Batman and Robin, Bruce and Dick hitch a ride with the Inspector to the scene of a stolen briefcase. They find the crimes are being committed by Lumardi and his gang. With the help of Scotland Yard and one of their more zealous British fans, Chester Gleek, Batman and Robin track down the fugitive and capture him on the Oxford campus.

Before leaving London Batman and Robin discover that it was Chester who took the picture from the wall in Scotland Yard's headquarters, because he believed that the British police were not displaying the photo in a proper place of honor.

Next is "Batman of the Mounties" by David V. Reed, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Stan Kaye and is reprinted from Batman #78. Batman and Robin are the guests of the Canadian Mounted Police for National Law-Enforcement Week.. However, during the celebration, the news that the Leclerc Brothers have escape jail arrives. After a demonstration of their unique crime-fighting techniques, Batman and Robin leave and the Mounties have to stop the event and start the hunt for the fugitives. While flying back to Gotham, Batman and Robin spot a body in the snow and land to find a wounded Mountie. While Robin takes the wounded Mountie to a hospital, Batman track the Leclerc's on foot. Robin returns to the Mounties and heads out to reconnect with Batman. Together, Batman and Robin are able to locate the criminals and bring them back to justice.

This next one is interesting in that  "The Mardi Gras Mystery" by Bill Finger, Jack Burnley and Charles Paris is reprinted from the Batman Sunday Strip #40-46, 8/6/1944-9/17/1944  Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson arrive at the New Orleans home of Mr. Bagley who invited them down for Mardi Gras. Since they are from Gotham, Bagley provides them with Batman and Robin costumes for the parade. They choose to wear their actual costumes and during the parade, Miss Lacey, another guest of Bagley's, gives Batman a secret envelope, saying he must guard it with his life. This causes some thugs to attack the dynamic duo, but the heroes manage to overcome the odds.

Afterwards, Batman learns that the envelope contains the secret location of a missing treasure and that Bagley was responsible for the attack on them. Batman manages to locate  Miss Lacey and she informs Batman about the lost treasure. Batman, Robin and  Miss Lacey go to the marked place, unaware that Bagley and his thugs are following them.

When they finally reach the lost boat in which the treasure is located, Bagley manages to place the heroes in a deadly trap. Batman breaks free and helps Robin and the lady to get out of the trap. Then, they work together to stop Bagley and his henchmen. During the struggle, a fire starts and the boat is consumed by the flames. Batman and Robin are more concerned on capturing the thugs and saving the girl, causing the ship to burn and sink and the treasure is lost once again. With the criminals behind bars, Batman and Robin are free to enjoy the rest of the Mardi Gras festival. This story was reprinted in Batman: The Sunday Classics, 1943-1946 TPB and Batman: The Sunday Classics, 1943-1946 HC.

This is followed by "Journey to the Top of the World" by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris which is reprinted from Batman #93. Batman and Robin join a mountain climbing expedition in search of a lost container of stolen microfiche. The party begins the ascent of K-4, and soon runs into trouble as one of the ropes is cut causing Sidney Smythe to fall to his apparent death.

Batman suspects the other climbers are responsible. He investigates and is attacked by an masked climber. Batman eventually reaches the top of the mountain and retrieves the container. The killer turns out to be Smythe who staged the fall. He struggles with Batman, then falls to his death. When Batman returns from the mountain he learns that the real Smythe was never on the expedition. The dead man was an imposter.

We end with "Around the World in 8 Days" also by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris and reprinted from Detective Comics #248. When the Gotham City Hospital is robbed of platinum, radium, and a rare serum, the dynamic duo are called in. The serum is needed to save the life of a patient who will die in eight days without it. Batman and Robin track down the thieves, but find the loot was divided up and smuggled out of the country.  Batman and Robin then race around the globe searching for the stolen serum before the patient dies. They finally locate it in Mexico with the final group of smugglers and return in time for the serum to successful restore the patient to health.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Batman #218

Batman #218 (On Sale: November 11, 1969) has a cover by Murphy Anderson. This is the last issue to feature this long-running Batman logo.

We begin with "Batman and Robin's Greatest Mystery" which is reprinted from Detective Comics #234 and created by Ed Hamilton, Sheldon Moldoff and Stan Kaye. Batman and Robin track down a crook, Jay Caird, who has stolen a sonic weapon. When the weapon is turned on the Dynamic Duo, they are knocked out and begin suffering from amnesia. Commissioner Gordon allows them to search the police files for clues to their secret identities in hopes that it will restore their lost memories.

Batman finds several clues while reading the files. He learns that he is wealthy, is a pilot, and a polo player. With the possibilities narrowed, Batman is able to guess that he is Bruce Wayne. He drives to Wayne Manor where his memories begin to return. With his recovery, he remembers where Caird was headed, and together with Robin, Batman captured the crook.

Next is "The Hand from Nowhere" reprinted from Batman #130 and created by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. A giant hand appears above a factory. The hand is controlled by two alien creatures. Batman confronts the aliens who are making the hand steal metal ore. Batman is unable to capture the aliens because the giant hand protects them.

Batman follows the trail of the aliens as they steal several other metals. The aliens make a raid on some valuable platinum, and Batman is able to uncover their scheme. The whole setup has been a hoax. The aliens are really disguised crooks. Batman locates the hideout and finds that Superman’s frequent foe, Lex Luthor is behind it. Batman takes control of the hand, which Luthor invented, capturing Luthor and his gang.

That is followed by "The Man Who Couldn't Be Tried Twice" reprinted from Batman #118 and created by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Ray Burnley. Batman testifies in a murder case to help free the defendant, James Lee, who is accused of killing his former trapeze artist partner. Lee is acquitted, then brags that he did kill his partner, Wyler. Batman’s name is ruined, but he uncovers evidence proving that the circus owner, David Dial, is the real killer. Dial bribed Lee to brag so that no one would find him. Batman then brings both men to justice.

That brings us to "The Body in the Bat-Cave" reprinted from Batman #121 and created by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. Batman and Robin discover the body of electronics genius turned criminal Alec Wyre in the Bat-Cave. They believe wire and an associate discovered the cave, then the associate murdered him. Batman then tracks down three suspects, despite the fact that one must know his secret identity. All three suspects prove to be false leads. Batman then deduces that Wyre found the Bat-Cave on his own and was knocked dead when he hit his head on a stalactite. The location of the Bat-Cave and Batman's secret identity therefore remains a secret.

Next is "Four Hours to Live" which originally appeared in the Sunday Batman newspaper strip from June 11 to July 30th, 1944.

We end with "The League Against Batman" from Detective Comics #197 and created by David V. Reed, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris. A new hooded criminal known as the Wrecker strikes against Batman by destroying objects dedicated to the crime fighter. He destroys Batman toys, signs, and sculptures, claiming to seek revenge for his three brothers who were executed after Batman captured them.

Dwight Forrow, a man who wrote a book about Batman, receives a death threat and is assigned two police bodyguards. The Wrecker still succeeds in carrying out the threat, apparently killing Forrow.

Batman and the police believe that the Wrecker is Skip Denton, who had three criminal brothers. However Batman finds a clue that proves the real identity of the Wrecker. Police apprehend Denton, but Batman clears him by finding Forrow alive. Forrow and his brother were running an insurance scam and set Denton up. A sunburn on Forrow's hand gave the crook away and allowed Batman to apprehend him.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

World's Finest Comics #188

World's Finest Comics #188 (On Sale: August 7, 1969) has a cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

We begin with Superman and Batman in "The Super-Rivals" by Ed Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #85. Princess Varina visits the United States and meets her heroes Superman and Batman. The heroes begin competing for Varina’s affection because if she elopes with Stefan, her royal guard, a commoner, she must abdicate. Abdication would lead to civil war in Balkania.

The heroes continue their pursuit of Varina, but when Pete Kaney’s gang try to steal the royal jewels, the heroes make Stefan appear to be a hero. Stefan’s notoriety allows him to safely marry the princess without risk of war pleasing not only the princess but Lois Lane and Vicki Vale as well.

Next is Superman and Batman in "The Super-Newspaper of Gotham City" also by Ed Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #80. Lois Lane and Clark Kent are asked to work for the Gotham Gazette temporarily to save it from ruin. Bruce Wayne also joins the staff as a reporter to help track down a large crime ring. Bruce and Clark compete for stories, while working on breaking up the crime ring as Batman and Superman. They eventually track down the ring with Robin’s help and deliver the story to the Gazette. The newspaper increases in circulation due to the story and is saved from bankruptcy.

That is followed by Superman and Batman in "The Negative Superman" by France Herron, Jim Mooney and Sheldon Moldoff and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #126. Luthor uses a new device to cause Superman to split in a positive and negative half. The Negative Superman begins helping Luthor and other criminals. The real Superman is unable to stop his duplicate because of an energy field.

Batman and Robin assist the Man of Steel in combating the super-powered menace. Batman uses Kryptonite, but the mineral causes the Negative Superman to grow more powerful. When Superman collides with his negative half, the increased power of the Negative Superman breaks the energy field and allows them to merge back into one being.

Next is Green Arrow in "The World's Worst Archer" by Robert Bernstein and Lee Elias and reprinted from Adventure Comics #262. Roy Harper, a promising athlete and archer, wants to become Green Arrow’s partner. His guardian is Brave Bow, an Indian chief whose life was saved by Roy’s late father. Brave Bow has trained Roy to master the bow and arrow, but is now too old to care for Roy.

Green Arrow gives the boy a chance to prove himself at the Greenville Fair. Roy’s arrow misses the target horribly. Roy doesn’t give up and follows Green Arrow after some crooks. Roy uses Brave Bow’s lucky flint arrow to catch the criminals. Green Arrow misses the action and believes the crooks were caught by a lucky accident.

G.A. gives Roy another chance after Roy wins a track meet. Again the boy’s arrow goes wide of the target. Roy is disappointed, but again trails Green Arrow after some crooks. His flint arrow punctures the tire of the getaway car, but the shaft breaks off leaving no evidence that Roy was responsible. Roy finally gives up, but Green Arrow returns later to explain to Roy that his arrowhead was in the tire. The shots he missed were metal arrows which had become magnetized at the fair, causing them to go wide of the targets. Green Arrow gives Roy the nickname Speedy and takes him as a partner.

We end with Superman and Batman in "The Batman Nobody Remembered" by Bill Finger and Jim Mooney and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #136. Batman is forced to crash land the Batplane during a lightning storm. When he returns to Gotham City no one remembers him. He also discovers that certain things are different. Bruce Wayne is really Superman and lives with Robin and Alfred; Vicki Vale looks like Lois Lane; and the Joker is a TV comic.

Batman’s behavior causes Superman and Commissioner Gordon to think he is a criminal, so he is hunted. He eventually proves himself by helping Superman rescue Robin. After relating his story to Superman, the Man of Steel reasons that Batman has been on a parallel Earth. Then he sends Batman to his own dimension, where he belongs.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Superman #217

Superman #217 (On Sale: April 8, 1969) has a cover by Curt Swan and the dreadful Vinny Colletta. featuring Famous Firsts!

We begin with "The Outlaws from Krypton" by Bill Finger, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye and reprinted from Action Comics #194.

Next is "The Girl in Superman's Past" also by Bill Finger, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye and reprinted from Superman #129. This is the first appearance of Lori Lemaris. Superman recalls an old romance from his college days. When he met Lori Lemaris, she was a college girl confined to a wheelchair. He began to date her as Clark after saving her from an accident. He found her mysterious because she always had to leave at a certain time of night.

Eventually, Lori told Clark that she must return to her homeland. Clark did not want to lose her, so he decided to give up being Superman and propose. Lori told him that she already knew his secret and could not marry him.

Clark investigated further and found a huge salt water tank instead of a bed in her bedroom, and he was able to guess her secret. Lori was a mermaid from Atlantis. She tells Clark the truth about herself, but she still must return to Atlantis forever.

"The Super-Duel in Space" is by Otto Binder and Al Plastino and is reprinted from Action Comics #242 and features the first appearance of the bottled city of Kandor. Clark Kent and Lois Lane are aboard an experimental rocket ship to cover the story for the media. The ship is attacked by a flying saucer. Clark exits the ship and arrives as Superman. Inside the saucer, an alien called Brainiac uses a shrink ray to steal Earth cities and place them in bottles. Superman is prevented from reaching Brainiac by a force field that surrounded the ship.

Superman returns to Metropolis where the rocket has landed. As expected, Brainiac shrinks Metropolis next and takes the tiny city aboard his ship. A tiny Superman escapes the bottle and tries to restore the captured cities to normal. He is forced to hide momentarily as Brainiac’s monkey attacks him.

Superman hides inside another bottle. The bottle contains a Kryptonian city called Kandor, taken from before Krypton’s destruction. Superman is powerless inside Kandor, so he seeks out a scientist, Kimda. Kimda has studied Brainiac’s machines and knows how to free everyone. Superman uses a rocket to escape the bottle.

Outside the bottle, Superman’s powers return. He reverses the controls to restore the Earth cities. There is only enough energy for one more use of the machine. He decides to restore Kandor rather than himself, but Kimda flies a rocket out of Kandor and presses the control which restores Superman. Kandor is stuck in it’s tiny form. Superman takes the city back to his Fortress of Solitude for safekeeping. Brainiac, who is now in suspended animation is sent into space.

Next we have "The First Supergirl" by Otto Binder, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye and reprinted from Superman #123. Jimmy receives a magical totem which grants three wishes to him. The first wish brings into existence a Super-Girl, who Jimmy wishes to be the perfect mate for Superman. Unfortunately, the female heroine gets in Superman’s way and becomes a nuisance. She realizes her existence is becoming a problem, so she sacrifices her life to make the Man of Steel happy.

Crooks steal the totem and use the second wish to remove Superman’s powers. Jimmy and Superman then spend the day faking his powers to convince the crooks that the spell failed. After being tricked, the crooks allow the spell to be removed, restoring Superman’s powers.

For the final wish, Jimmy wishes for Superman to meet his parents. However, he has decided to type the wish and a typo causes Superman to "Mate" his parents. As a result, Superman travels back to Krypton and meets young Jor-El and Lara. They are working as undercover agents with Kryptonian Intelligence. With Superman’s aid, they stop a criminal, Kil-Lor, and the Man of Steel plays cupid, setting up his own parents, before returning to Earth.

We end with "The Menace of Metallo" by Robert Bernstein and Al Plastino and reprinted from Action Comics #252. Reporter John Corben is involved in a near fatal car accident. He is found by Professor Vale who rushes Corben to his lab. In order to save the injured man’s life, Vale gives Corben a metal body powered by uranium. After completing the operation the professor suffers a stroke.

Corben begins a criminal career as Metallo. He begins stealing uranium from secure places with his super strength that the robot body provides him. He also joins the staff at the Daily Planet.

When the professor recovers from his stroke, Corben learns that Kryptonite can also power his body. Corben is given a piece of Kryptonite by the professor, but he uses it on Superman who has been trying to capture him. He replaces his own Kryptonite with a sample from a display. The display Kryptonite was fake, so without power, Corben dies from heart failure..

Edited by Mort Weisinger and E. Nelson Bridwell.

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.

Batman #203

Batman #203 (On Sale: May 9, 1968) AKA 80pg. Giant #G-49 has a cover by Neal Adams over a layout by Carmine Infantino. I remember as a kid being excited by this issue, that there were actually some "secrets" that I was going to learn.

We begin with "The 1,000 Secrets of the Batcave" by Bill Finger and Jim Mooney from Batman #48. Escaped killer Wolf Brando on the run from police takes refuge inside Wayne Manor. Once inside, he knocks out Dick Grayson and accidentally discover the Batcave entrance.

Batman learns that Wolf is hiding in his home and follows him into the Batcave. Brando has Dick held hostage, but Batman rescues him. Together Batman and Robin then chase Brando through the Batcave. They know that once he is caught, Wolf will reveal their secret identities to the world. After a long chase, Brando is finally cornered. However, he accidentally falls into an underground stream and drowns.

Next is "The Birth of Batplane II" by David V. Reed, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris from Batman #61.

That is followed by "The Secret of Batman's Utility Belt" also by David V. Reed, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris and from Detective Comics #185.

Next is "The 100 Batarangs of Batman" by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris from Detective Comics #244. Film is stolen which contains pictures of Batman throwing his batarangs. The Dynamic Duo recalls several criminals who have been defeated by the batarangs. They determine that Jay Garris is the likely suspect. Batman locates Garris and uses Batarang X, a giant batarang that can carry a man, to sneak into Garris’ hide-out. He learns the crooks intend to use exploding batarangs for crime.

Next up is "Secret of the Batmobile" also by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris from Batman #98. When Batman pursues the Racer in the Batmobile, Vicki Vale snaps a photo of the chase. Batman sees the photo and worries that it will reveal a secret. He convinces Vicki to run several stories of cases in which the Batmobile was used before printing the photo. The reason for this is that the engine of the Batmobile was damaged. While repairs continued, Batman replaced the Batmobile with Bruce Wayne's sports car. Vicki's photo showed the sports car and would have given away his identity.

Lastly we have "The Flying Bat-Cave" by David V. Reed, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris from Detective Comics #186.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell who began editing all of the Batman 80-Page Giants beginning with issue #198.

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.

World's Finest Comics #170

World's Finest Comics #170 (On Sale: August 15, 1967), AKA, 80pg Giant #G-40 has a past-up cover by Curt Swan, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye featuring "Six Startling Sagas!"

Inside we begin with "The Star Creatures" from World's Finest Comics #108 by Jerry Coleman, Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff. Batman and Robin track two missing crooks in an area just outside Gotham City where they vanished into a green mist. There they encounter a strange alien creature, which sends a robot army to attack Gotham. Superman arrives to help take on the creature while Batman stops the army. The creature then disappears in another green mist.

More strange alien creatures appear to confront the heroes. The creatures are robots controlled by an alien film-maker, who is filming Superman and Batman’s exploits. He has captured the two hoods, but an accident allows them to escape. They tie up the alien and use his technology to rob a bank.

Next we have "The Super-Mystery of Metropolis" from World's Finest Comics #84 by Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye. Small-time crook Thad Linnis tells Superman to leave town for two weeks, or he will expose Superman’s secret identity. When the Man of Steel disappears, Batman is called in to find him. The Caped Crusader tracks down his friend and asks him to explain.

Superman reveals that when he was Superboy, Linnis hired a young boy to learn his secret. The boy followed Clark and Superboy around and eventually got the Boy of Steel’s fingerprints. Superboy was unable to get them back from Linnis and now the crook had cashed in on his knowledge.

Batman explains that he was that young boy. As Bruce Wayne he had come to Smallville to prove himself as a detective.

Next up is "The Menace of Superman's Pet" from World's Finest Comics #112 by Jerry Coleman, Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff. While deflecting a comet in space, Superman encounters an cute alien creature which follows the Man of Steel like a pet. When he returns to Earth to help Batman and Robin, catch a gang of criminals called the Wreckers, the pet imitates Superman’s actions, unknowingly causing destruction.

Superman tries to lose the creature, but it’s powers allow it to follow him. He finally flies away invisibly at high speed. Once out of sight, the creature grows to tremendous size and causes more destruction. When the Man of Steel returns, the creature returns to normal.

The creature’s interference makes it difficult to catch the Wreckers, so Superman decides to search for the pet’s home, while the Dynamic Duo handle the criminals. While searching in space, Superman encounters a large Kryptonite meteor which makes him helpless.

This is followed by "Batman and Superman, Swamis Inc." from World's Finest Comics #73 by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and Stan Kaye. Batman disguises himself as a carnival swami in order to lure a criminal gang leader out of hiding. Superman agrees to help make the swami’s predictions come true. The ruse lures the gang out of hiding, but they capture Robin and use him to lure Batman into a trap.

Next we have "The Boy from Outer Space" from World's Finest Comics #92 by Edmond Hamilton, Dick Sprang and Stan Kaye. Superman finds a boy with amnesia in a crashed spaceship. The boy has super-powers. Superman names him Skyboy and takes him as a junior partner.

Batman and Robin investigate some copper thefts committed by super-powered thieves. They suspect that Skyboy may be working with them. When Skyboy’s fingerprints match those found at the crime scene, he appears to be responsible.

Lastly we have "The Duplicate Man" from World's Finest Comics #106 by Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff. Batman and Robin encounter a new criminal, Duplicate Man, who can split himself into two people, and then revert back into one. Duplicate Man commits several thefts and is able to avoid capture from Batman and Superman as well.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Batman #193

Batman #193 (On Sale: May 9, 1967), AKA 80 Page Giant #G-37 has a cover made up of panels for different stories by Sheldon Moldoff, Winslow Mortimer, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris. The theme of this one is "Batman and Robin's Bizarre Action Roles!"

We start off with "Ride, Bat-Hombre, Ride" (love that title) from Batman #56 by David V. Reed, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris.

It is followed by "The Armored Batman" from Batman #111 by Edmond Hamilton, Sheldon Moldoff and Stan Kaye. In it a man named Blair Graeme makes several threats against Batman. When the Caped Crusader learns of the threats, he and Robin show up in armored suits without explanation. Vicki Vale tries to discover why Batman fears Graeme so much.

Next is "His Majesty, King Batman" from Batman #96 by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. Batman and Robin guard the visiting King of Norania and the crown jewels. Batman and the king swap identities to fool the thieves who are trying to steal the jewels. Batman inspects the jewels and learns they are fakes. He suspects the king’s advisors, but continues the impersonation.

Next is a real oddity, "Holy Smoke" by Bill Finger, Jack Burnley and Charles Paris which originally appeared as a Sunday newspaper strip from January 7, 1945-February 17, 1945.

That is followed by "Batman and the Vikings" from Batman #52 by (someone signing the name of) Bob Kane and Charles Paris. A carving is found by archaeologists which dates back to the age of Vikings. A Viking warrior is depicted in the carving who looks identical to Bruce Wayne. Bruce decides to investigate the mystery and gets Professor Nichols to send him back in time.

Next we have "Mayor Bruce Wayne" from Detective Comics #179 by David V Reed, Dick Sprang and Charles Paris.

And finally we end with "The Flying Batman" from Batman #82 by David V Reed, Sheldon Moldoff and Stan Kaye. Batman and Robin are brought to the Lost Valley of the Bird-Men by a flying man with wings. The man and the inhabitants of the valley ask Batman's assistance to defeat the Gravio Clan, a winged family of tyrants. Batman agrees to help. He is given wings via a surgical procedure that enables him to fly.

Edited by Julius Schwartz.