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.

Superboy #177

Superboy #177 (On Sale: July 8, 1971), has a cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin with "Our Traitor Super-Son" by Leo Dorfman, Bob Brown, and Murphy Anderson. Lex Luthor takes on the guise of Cerebron with a mental amplifier that enables him to deduce that the Kents are the foster parents of Superboy. To get them into protective custody without revealing his connection to them, Superboy has them jailed for selling "contaminated" food. 

Then, after keeping his stash of super-weapons and robots out of Luthor's hands by moving it frequently, he finally defeats Luthor, removes his cerebral amplifier, and convinces him he was wrong about the Kents.

Our new backup is "Plague from the Past" by Leo Dorfman, Bob Brown, and Murphy Anderson. When a plague from a long-unopened pharaoh's coffin unleashes a terrible plague on Smallville, Superboy employs a statue of Anubis to send himself back in time and undo the coffin opening. Reprinted in Best of DC #7 (1980).

The reprint is the Legion of Super-Heroes in "The Revenge of the Knave from Krypton" by Jerry Siegel, John Forte, and inkers Sheldon Moldoff, George Papp, and Al Plastino and reprinted from Adventure Comics #320 (1964). After finishing his homework, Superboy travels to the 30th Century for his regular visit with the Legion of Super-Heroes. There they are alerted by the security system of an intruder and Superboy is shocked to find it is his old tormentor Dev-Em. Capturing Dev-Em, Superboy explains how Dev-Em was a juvenile delinquent on Krypton who was sentenced to suspended animation, survived Krypton's destruction, and was revived on 20th Century Earth. 

Superboy then recounts how Dev-Em managed to trap Superboy in the Phantom Zone and pose as him to cause chaos around Earth. After returning from the Phantom Zone, Superboy was unable to stop Dev-Em who escaped into the distant future. Superboy would finish his story by explaining that the only way he was able to clear his name was with the help of his friend Chief Parker who told everyone Red Kryptonite was the "reason" for Superboy's rampage.

However, it is revealed that Dev-Em has turned over a new leaf in the 30th Century and is a member of the Inter-Stellar Counter-Intelligence Corps. However, when reporting back into the I.C.C., Dev-Em has his mission to stop interplanetary criminal Molock to Superboy. Disguising himself as Dev-Em, Superboy manages to bluff Molock with fake Gold Kryptonite, which is actually Proty II in disguise. After Superboy smashes up Molock's operation and turns him over to the police, the Legion offers Dev-Em membership in the Legion, to which Dev-Em declines, preferring to work with the I.C.C.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Adventure Comics #409

Adventure Comics #409 (On Sale: June 29, 1971), has a Supergirl cover by Dick Giordano. This is the only cover of Mike Sekowsky's editorial reign that was not penciled by him. As we will see, he really did not edit this issue despite what the indicia says.

We begin with Supergirl in "Invasion of the Mer-Men Part II" written and penciled by Mike Sekowsky and inked by Dick Giordano. Continuing from the last issue, Supergirl looks underwater for her co-worker Johnny and her captors, the whole time blaming herself for her co-worker's demise. Finally, she finds the secret base of the Mer-Men and discovers they are loading giant "tanker" space-globes with water to be shipped to their home planet.

In the meantime, a coalition of Earth armies launches attack after attack to destroy the globes, but they have force-fields that resist any attempt Earth makes to destroy them. Supergirl locates Johnny as a patrol of Mer-Men attacks her and she lets herself be captured. Once inside the base, she rescues Johnny, gets him out of the water, and then comes back to smash the globes herself, letting them rain their waters back on Earth.

The Mer-Men leader gives up, telling Supergirl that they couldn't load enough water up in time to save his world, anyway. He and the other Mer-Men depart resigned to their eventual extinction. Realizing this, Supergirl cries.

Next is a story already showing the new direction for Supergirl. "Fight with Fire Drake" is by E. Nelson Bridwell, Artie Saaf, and Dick Giordano. Mr. Stanton, the owner of KSF-TV, is throwing a party on his yacht. Freddy Nero, a party-crasher, tries romancing Linda Danvers, much to Geoff's disgust and jealousy. Minutes later, a scuba-costumed, masked villain called Fire Drake, who "breathes fire" with an acetylene torch nosepiece, loots the yacht and its passengers with his gang. Linda changes clothes and attacks the thieves. Supergirl tries to follow them when they run away, but her powers fail and she is repelled by Fire Drake's flame. 

That night Supergirl's mother, Allura, pays her daughter a visit and both women head to Kandor, where Linda's father Zor-El has some new power-substitution gimmicks for her: a bracelet which can enhance her normal strength when she is depowered, replacing the exo-skeleta cyborg, and her Legion of Super-Heroes flight-ring, to replace her jet-boots.

With her new mechanical powers, Supergirl encounters Fire Drake a second time, captures him, and unmasks him as Freddy Nero.

Our reprint is the Legion of Super-Heroes in  "The Condemned Legionnaires" by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan, George Klein, and Sheldon Moldoff and reprinted from Adventure Comics #313 (1963). When most of the female members of the Legion of Super-Heroes (and Night Girl of the Legion of Substitute Heroes) come down with the Crimson Virus, they have to be sent to a quarantine planet. The rest of the female members are hunted down by a mysterious masked villain named Satan Girl, who seems to be infecting the female Legionnaires with the virus.

With the arrival of Supergirl, who is immune to the virus, the male Legion members try to learn the origins of Satan Girl. When she proves immune to Kryptonite, Lead, and an anti-android weapon, the heroes are puzzled to figure out her true identity. Unable to defeat her due to her superior powers, Supergirl has the Legion go and collect the Legion of Super-Pets, as Satan Girl's powers would not affect them. The Super-Pets manage to easily defeat Satan Girl, who is unmasked, revealing that she is really -- Supergirl!? The weakened Satan Girl explains that she is the product of Red Kryptonite, which Supergirl was exposed to upon entering the 30th Century. Knowing that she had only 48 hours of life, she adopted the guise of Satan Girl and created a device that would siphon the Red Kryptonite radiation and infect females with it, in hopes that once she had rid herself of the Red Kryptonite energies she could live past the 48 hour period which Red Kryptonite effects.

With her plan a failure, and the 48 hours running their course, Satan Girl merges with Supergirl. Afterward, the Legion learns that Satan Girl managed to handle Green Kryptonite because she wore a lead suit. After this revelation, although they are victorious and their female members restored to normal, the Legion takes a moment to feel pity for Satan Girl, for all she wanted to do was live.  

Though this book says it is edited by Mike Sekowsky, the internal DC Job Numbers show that only the first story has the  "M-" prefix that designated Mike Sekowsky. The rest of the book, including the cover has a "J-" signifying Joe Orlando who supposedly takes over next issue.

Batman #233

Batman #233,  Giant #G-85 (On Sale: May 11, 1971), has a nice cover by Dick Giordano.

We begin the reprints with "The Death-Cheaters of Gotham City" by  David V Reed and Jim Mooney and reprinted from Batman #72 (1952). In Gotham City, there is a strange "Death Cheaters Club." A wanted criminal, who fits the qualifications for membership, is denied the same and vows vengeance against all the members. As some of the members start dying, the prime suspect is the criminal, but after Batman starts investigating the mystery, the real killer is found and it is revealed as one of the prime members of the club.

Next, is "The Other Bruce Wayne" by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff, and Charles Paris and reprinted from Batman #111 (1957). Commissioner Gordon calls Wayne Manor to summon Bruce Wayne, not Batman, to the GCPD Headquarters. There Bruce finds an unexpected newcomer: his father's cousin and his own namesake, Bruce N. Wayne. Bruce N. is a detective from "out on the coast," and is one of the top private investigators in the country. He and Bruce have never met before, but a case has brought him to Gotham City. 

Besides meeting Bruce, he wishes to consult Batman for help. Bruce N. is dismayed that Bruce appears to be a social butterfly, with no profession and seemingly no ambition. He resolves to "make a man" of Bruce by training him to be a detective. Reluctantly, Bruce comes along with Bruce N. as they set upon the track of Varrel, a "scientific thief" who specializes in stealing new inventions.

Batman and Bruce N. encounter Varrel, but the thief escapes. Later, when Commissioner Gordon calls Bruce N. and lets drop that he has not yet told Batman of the Varrel case, the detective begins to suspect his relative of being Batman. In a final encounter with Varrel, Batman kayos the thief, makes him up as Bruce Wayne, and then lets Bruce N. see the both of them together, throwing him off track. After Varrel is jailed, Bruce N. says his goodbyes to Bruce, despairing of ever teaching him to be a detective, and wondering how he could ever have suspected him of being Batman.

Our next tale is "The Murder of Bruce Wayne" by David V Reed, Lew Sayre Schwartz, and Charles Paris and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #58 (1952). A member of the International Chemical Company's Board of Trustees is severely injured after an unfortunate accident and is unable ever to walk again. The man decides to get revenge on the other members of the board, including Bruce Wayne, with plans to kill them all in such a way that he could see the moment from his bed. 

Batman is unable to stop the murders as the trustees die one by one until only Bruce Wayne is left. As Batman, Bruce Wayne tricks the killers in their attempt on his life and locates the secret hideout of the crippled man, thus capturing him and ending his murderous spree. Afterward, Batman reveals that each trustee's death was actually carefully staged, so their killers would believe them dead and make it easier for Batman to capture the killer.

That is followed by "Bruce Wayne's Aunt Agatha" by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff, and Stan Kaye and reprinted from Batman #89 (1955). Bruce and Dick receive the unexpected visit of Aunt Agatha, who intends a long stay. Her presence complicates their activities as Batman and Robin, but they gladly accept her in their home.

The old woman's belief that Bruce is a meek and fragile young boy threatens to compromise his and Dick's secret identities. When they go out as the Dynamic Duo, Agatha thinks they're heading towards a masquerade party and they play along to keep their secret. When Batman and Robin encounter some criminals and confront them, they are accidentally captured by the criminals, who are about to eliminate them until the intrusion of the Joker. When the thugs are distracted, Batman and Robin take the chance to break free and capture the criminals, and later the "Joker" removes his mask, revealing Aunt Agatha in disguise. She removes Bruce's cowl and tells the criminals that they have been captured by a fragile young boy who was heading to a masquerade party, which she was attending as well.

After their successful feat, the trio return home, and soon enough, Aunt Agatha returns to her home, leaving the Dynamic Duo free to roam the streets of Gotham once again identities safe from prying eyes.

We end with  "The Crime of Bruce Wayne" by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff, and Charles Paris and reprinted from Detective Comics #249 (1957). Bruce Wayne agrees to impersonate the Collector and go to jail as part of Commissioner Gordon's plot to discover how an imprisoned man intends to escape. But Wayne is framed for the convict's death during his escape attempt, and Batwoman and Robin must clear his name before he can be executed.

The Dynamic Duo of Batwoman and Robin confront the Collector and his gang on several occasions, and each time the criminal manages to escape. The heroes decide to trail the criminal as he gets away his most prized loot from the Gotham Museum, and they are led to the Collector's hideout, where they capture the criminal during a final confrontation.

Batwoman and Robin arrive in time to stop the execution of Bruce Wayne, bringing with them the real Collector. When Bruce is released, he shows his gratitude for Batwoman and her excellent detective work.

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.

World's Finest Comics #197

World's Finest Comics #197 (On Sale: August 6, 1970) has a Superman/Batman cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.  This is the final issue of World's Finest to feature this team for a couple of years, well, as the regular team at least. Starting next issue, and I could never understand why they did not wait two months for issue #200 to do this, World's Finest will become Superman's Brave and the Bold. That is, starting next issue, they will team up Superman with another character, not just Batman.

This issue is a pile of reprints beginning with the Superman/Batman team in  "The Capture of Superman." This 13-page tale is by
Jerry Coleman, Jim Mooney and Sheldon Moldoff and is reprinted from World's Finest Comics #122. Batman and Robin are forced by an alien, Klor, to capture Superman for crimes committed on his world of Belvos. Superman feels betrayed by his friend, but Batman succeeds in making the capture.

Superman is returned to Belvos to stand trial. He is accused of causing destruction on the planet during a visit there. Superman does not recall ever having been to Belvos and claims he was searching for a strange asteroid at the time.

Klor is secretly behind the destruction. Having found special weapons, he disguised himself as Superman and caused the damage. He wants to get Superman out of the way so he can obtain treasure which will make him master of Belvos. However, the heroes realize that Klor had been to Earth before and was responsible for the crimes. They convince the Belvosian tribunal and capture Klor in the act of robbing a jeweler on Earth.

Next is another Superman/Batman tale, "The Feud Between Batman and Superman," an 18-pager by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein. When Batman is accidentally shot while pursuing some crooks, he gets an inferiority complex. Superman tries to help Batman by staging a fake menace inside Kandor where he has no super powers. Batman discovers the hoax and becomes angry, challenging Superman to a duel. Batman wins, then storms off.

The fake menace turns out to be real, when Jhan-Ar, the brother of Superman's friend Thar-Ar, becomes a Metalloid. Superman is taken prisoner, forcing Batman and Robin to rescue him. They succeed and defeat Jhan-Ar. Batman's confidence is restored, so he resumes his crime fighting career. This is reprinted from World's Finest Comics #143.

That is followed by Green Arrow in "The Unmasked Archers." This six-page tale is by France Herron, Jack Kirby and Roz Kirby. Oliver Queen and Roy Harper awaken to find that the morning newspaper contains a story revealing their secret identities. Believing their careers are over, they stop a few crooks then return to police headquarters where they unmask in front of the police commissioner.

The commissioner doesn't believe Oliver is the real Green Arrow. When Oliver checks the other newspapers, he discovers that his morning paper was a fake. It was created as part of an initiation prank for his men's club. Oliver then proves to the commissioner that he is not Green Arrow using a specially prepared trick. This is reprinted from World's Finest Comics #98. Hmm, strange how they seem to be reprinting a lot of Jack Kirby this month.

We end with a final Superman/Batman team-up story,  "The Prison for Heroes" from World's Finest Comics #145. This 16-page tale is by Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein. An alien race contacts Batman and brings him to an alien world under the pretense of aiding a great emergency. When he arrives on the alien world, Batman is hypnotized by the aliens into becoming a cruel prison warden. His prisoners are the innocent heroes of many worlds.

Batman then tricks Superman into coming to the planet. The aliens use a filter to cause the sun's rays to become red, removing nearly all of Superman's powers. Superman then becomes a prisoner.

With his last remaining bit of super powers, Superman manages to restore the powers of some of the other prisoners. They break free, help Superman fake his powers, and overthrow Batman. Superman then puts Batman to work as a prisoner.

The aliens discover Superman's escape and return to the planet to investigate. They discover that Superman does not have his powers. However, Superman has helped Batman break the hypnosis. While the aliens are investigating Superman, Batman destroys the red sun filter with the aliens' own ship. Superman's powers are restored. He frees the wrongly imprisoned heroes and ends the aliens' plans to conquer the galaxy.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

DC Special #8

DC Special #8 (On Sale: May 21, 1970) has a cover for WANTED: The World's Most Dangerous Villains by Murphy Anderson.

We begin with Superman and Batman  "Joker-Luthor, Incorporated"  by France Herron, Jim Mooney and Sheldon Moldoff and reprinted from World's Finest Comics #129. When Superman checks into a disturbance at an outdoor exhibit in Metropolis, he finds that the Joker has joined forces with
 Lex Luthor and using an atomic dispenser, they turn Superman into a stream of electronic particles. Hearing that the Joker has gone to Metropolis, Batman and Robin arrive at the exhibit, but are unable to capture the two fiends. After they escape Superman slowly returns to normal. 

Batman believes the Joker gave away their next crime and show up the next day at a spring flower show, where the Joker is found in a giant flower and Luther is inside a giant mechanical bee. Superman is again shot and turned into a stream of electronic particles and Batman and Robin are unable to keep the two from stealing some prized bulbs and escaping once more.  Mr. Webb, who put on the flower show says he is still going ahead with a gem exhibit the next night.

The next night we see Mr. Webb enter a bunker using a concealed elevator and arriving on the stage inside an impenetrable glass bubble where the gems will be displayed The Joker and his men arrive by helicopter and try to break into the dome. Meanwhile, inside the dome, Webb gathers all the jewels and asks to be let out of the dome. IT is all a ploy as once in the open, Webb uses jet shoes to fly out with the gems. However, Superman figured the whole thing out and stops the flying Webb, really Luthor and Batman and Robin handle the Joker.

Next is the Flash in "Who Doomed the Flash?" by John Broome, Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella and reprinted from Flash #130. The Flash’s runs into a number of his old foes around Central City, but when Flash checks on them, he finds that each is still in jail. The only connection between the villains is attorney Paul Barrett and when the Flash visits Barrett’s office, Barrett knocks him out.

Barrett disguises himself as the Flash and breaks Mirror Master out of jail. It was Barrett who was impersonating the villains and who has been under Mirror Master’s mind control since his trial.

The Flash awakens to find he has been imprisoned in a Mirror Master trap. He is able to escape using a filling from a recent dentist appointment. After freeing Barrett of Mirror Master's control, Barrett leads Flash to the crook’s next heist. Flash tracks down Mirror Master and returns him to jail.

This is followed by Green Lantern in "The Day 100,000 People Vanished" by John Broome, Gil Kane and Joe Giella and reprinted from Green Lantern #7. Green Lantern checks into the strange disappearance of all the citizens of Valdale, but comes up clueless.  Green Lantern realizes that he was supposed to be in Valdale when the disappearances happened and wonders if he was the real target. Suddenly Green Lantern is struck weak for a moment, his mind going momentarily blank.

The weakness was caused by the Guardians of the Universe who have once again pulled an astral projection of Hal Jordan to Oa. The Guardians relate to Hal the story of Sinestro, the rogue Green Lantern. Sinestro was the ring bearer of sector 1417 and initially he performed his duties well, but he soon became corrupt. First he built a fabulous palace and dispensed justice to his constituents. Sinestro then dissolved the high council and made himself dictator.

In response, the Guardians stripped Sinestro of his ring and power battery and banished him to the universe of Qward. Sinestro immediately got involved with the Weaponers of Qward and plotted revenge, beginning by capturing Hal Jordan.

After realizing that he was correct in guessing that the Valdale vanishings were meant to capture him, Green Lantern’s energy duplicate is returned to Earth, this time retaining his memory of the Guardians. Once he returns, Hal flies to the inter-universe aperture that allows access to Qward. He finds it sealed. So, he flies to Coast City and uses the power ring to make the citizens invisible as he learned that his transporter beam only affects visible humans. Green Lantern then walks around town baiting Sinestro.

Green Lantern’s plan is successful, as he is beamed to Qward by Sinestro, who believes Green Lantern is powerless. His ring still functions however, and he defends himself, but when Sinestro threatens to kill the people of Valdale if he does not stop, Green Lantern exchanges his life for theirs. They are returned to Earth and Green Lantern is placed into a yellow bubble until his ring runs out of charge.

But Green Lantern speeds up the Qwardian clock to make them believe his 24 hour charge has expired. His ring is still charged enough to defeat them all. He imprisons Sinestro in a force bubble of his own. Finally, Hal returns to Earth and attends his engagement in Valdale.

Lastly we have Hawkman in "Shadow-Thief of Midway City" by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert and reprinted from Brave and the Bold #36. A creature made only of shadow robs the Midway City Bank just as the Thanagarian authorities recall Katar and Shayera, They postpone their departure to search for the fiend. Hawkman and Hawkgirl eventually catch up to the shadow thief as he robs a private residence of a fortune in rare coins. but are unable to prevent the crime.

We follow teh shadow thief and learn he is Carl Sands, who become fascinated by shadows in prison, and while using a color-disc magic-trick projector after his release, accidentally discovered another dimension, and a being in trouble there. Saving the alien, Thar Dan, gave him a Dimensiometer, a device which enabled Sands to exist in shadow, as a gift.  However, when Thar Dan discovered that use of this device would trigger another Ice Age, and requested his invention’s return, Sands ignored the plea and continued his ravaging of Earth.

Hawkman and Hawkgirl are able to identify the creature from mug shots, by comparing it to the shadow profile of convicted burglar Carl Sands. Hawkman believes that suspending Shadow-Thief in the air would prevent his escape, and when some birds tell them where the shadow thief is, they lift his mobile home into the sky..The Thief has to rip the Dimensiometer from his wrist in order to become solid on Earth, and they catch him. This action ruins the device, one use short of starting the new Ice Age.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

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.

Batman #213

Batman #213 (On Sale: May 6, 1969) has a cover by Bill Draut and Vinny Colletta hearkening back to the style of Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson for this 30th Anniversary special issue.

We begin with a new tale, "The Origin of Robin" by E. Nelson Bridwell, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. This story has been reprinted in DC Special Series #19 and Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 TPB.

Next is "Here Comes Alfred" from Batman #16 and created by Don Cameron, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson. Crooks attack a recently arrived passenger from England. Batman and Robin are on hand to fight off the crooks, who manage to escape. The intended victim is an amateur sleuth named Alfred. Later, Alfred arrives at Bruce Wayne's home. Alfred's father Jarvis was Bruce's father's butler. Alfred intends to carry on in the family tradition. Despite Bruce's protests Alfred makes himself comfortable.

That night the crooks return trying to steal Alfred's valise. Batman once again chases away the crooks. While Batman follows them, Alfred accidentally discovers the Bat-Cave and the secret identities of the Dynamic Duo.

Having trailed the thieves to a music hall, Batman and Robin are captured. Alfred also follows and manages to rescue them. Batman then apprehends the crooks, who are after the crown jewels of Dorian. The Duke of Dorian was a passenger on the ship that carried Alfred.

The following evening, Alfred brings Bruce and Dick their uniforms, revealing that he knows their secret identities. Bruce is surprised, but decides to keep the trustworthy man on as his butler.

That is followed by "The Game of Death," a Robin tale from Star Spangled Comics #127 and created by David V. Reed and Jim Mooney.

Next is "The Man Behind the Red Hood" from Detective Comics #168, created by Bill Finger, Lew Sayre Schwartz and George Roussos.

We end with "The Challenge of Clay-Face" from Detective Comics #298 and the work of Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. A mysterious new crook with the power to change shape, Clay-Face, arrives in Gotham and begins a life of crime. Clay-Face is really Matt Hagen, a crook who has found a pool of strange chemicals which allow him to change shape.

Clay-Face’s crimes put him at odds with Batman and Robin. His powers allow him to elude capture, but during one encounter they nearly fail him as they wear off. After escaping Hagen returns to the chemical pool and restores his powers.

To protect himself from further trouble Clay-Face hires two henchmen, but one leaves a clue at a crime scene which allows Batman to track him down. Batman captures the henchmen while Robin trails Hagen back to his hide-out. Together the Dynamic Duo stall Hagen until his powers wear off allowing them to make an easy arrest.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

World's Finest Comics #183

World's Finest Comics #183 (On Sale: January 23, 1969) has a cover by Neal Adams.

"Superman's Crime of the Ages" is by Leo Dorfman, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. Two members of the future Time Patrol return to the 20th century from the year 4069. They meet Batman and show him that Superman went mad after a failed experiment involving Red Kryptonite. The Man of Steel sent a super-satellite into the future which caused the people their to devolve into ape men. Batman accompanies the Time Patrol officers into the future to confirm their story.

After Batman has seen the truth for himself he returns to the 20th century and apprehends his friend. He brings the Man of Steel before a council of U.N. representatives. After testimony is given, Superman is found guilty. As punishment the Time Patrol officers plan to lobotomize him.

Before they can execute their plan, Superman exposes them as Luthor and Brainiac. Their story was a fake which was backed up a future remake of the Planet of the Apes movie. Batman only witnessed a movie set on his trip to the future. With the villains exposed, Superman is honored by the U.N. council that convicted him.

The back-up story is "The Ghost Planet" reprinted from House of Mystery #80 and drawn by Sheldon Moldoff.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Sugar and Spike #81

Sugar and Spike #81 (On Sale: December 17, 1968) has a cover by Sheldon Moldoff.

We begin with Sugar and Spike in "Trouble in Tortilla" written and drawn by Sheldon Moldoff and guest starring Bernie the Brain. We end with "The House-Hold Helper" also by Sheldon Moldoff.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Batman #208

Batman #208 (On Sale: November 12, 1968), 80pg. Giant #G-55, has a cover by Nick Cardy featuring Who is the Most Important Woman in Batman's Life?

This book contains"The Women in Batman's Life" by E. Nelson Bridwell, Gil Kane and Jack Abel. This story is a new framing sequence that surrounds reprinted stories. This framing sequence consists mostly of flashbacks to earlier events in the career of the Earth-1 Batman. Some of these events parallel adventures of the Earth-2 Batman. It should not be assumed that all other Earth-2 stories have Earth-1 parallels.

Mrs. Chilton, the woman that cared for Bruce Wayne following the death of his parents, remembers various events from the career of Batman that involve important women in his life. The women she remembers are: Julie Madison, Catwoman, Linda Page, Vicki Vale, Batwoman, Kaye Daye, Aunt Harriet, Patricia Powell, Marcia Monroe, Poison Ivy, and Batgirl. Unbeknownst to Bruce, Mrs. Chilton knows that he is Batman and that her sons Joe and Max Chill played important roles as villains in Batman's life.

The first woman is Catwoman in "The Secret Life of the Catwoman" a reprint from Batman #62 by Bill Finger, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris. Next is Vicki Vale in "Vicki Vale's Secret" from Batman #73 by David V. Reed, Lew Sayre Schwartz and Charles Paris. Next we have Batwoman in "The Menace of the Firefly" from Batman #126 by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris wherein Firefly robs a party at which Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Kathy Kane are guests. The crook gets away, but Kathy sees the host, Ted Carson, slip away prior to Batman appearing on the scene. She suspects Ted is Batman, but when she confront him, she learns he is really the Firefly. Batman and Robin predict where Firefly will strike next, and Kathy shows up as Batwoman to stop the crook.

Next is "The Dilemma of the Detective's Daughter" from Batman #165 by France Herron, Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella. Patricia Powell, the daughter of Lt. Mike Powell, graduates from the police academy with top honors. She receives her awards from Batman and is immediately promoted to detective. She tells Batman that she has a crush on Bruce Wayne, though the two have never officially met.

Batman keeps an eye on Patricia. During her first case, Pat investigates the kidnapping of Professor Smedley. Batman helps her track down the Professor. The Dark Knight apprehends the crooks, while Pat releases the professor. Later, Pat attends a weekend party held by Bruce Wayne, where she meets him for the first time.

This issue also contains excerpts reprinted from other stories including: two pages from Detective Comics #203, one page from Detective Comics #233, one page from Batman #194, one page from Detective Comics #328, five pages from Brave and the Bold #64, two pages from Batman #181, two pages from Batman #182, and five pages from Detective Comics #359.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

World's Finest Comics #180

World's Finest Comics #180 (On Sale: September 10, 1968) has just a very nice cover by Neal Adams. Gorgeous coloring on this one!

We begin with "Superman's Perfect Crime" by Cary Bates, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. In this imaginary story, after losing his powers, Superman assumes a new costumed identity as Nova. However, he is captured by gang boss Mr. Socrates on his first crime-fighting adventure. Using an electronic implant embedded in Superman's neck, Mr. Socrates is able to control Superman's actions remotely. He then uses the former Man of Steel to lure Batman into a trap.

Batman escapes the trap and takes Superman back to the Batcave. However, Mr. Socrates is able to trace the signal from Superman to find the hidden location of the Batcave. Superman gets away from Batman, who gives chase. While the heroes are away, Mr. Socrates enters the cave and sets a booby-trap.

Superman is able to interrupt the signal that is allowing Mr. Socrates to control him. He then teams up with Batman and they return to the Batcave. Mr. Socrates falls victim to his own booby-trap. The rest of his gang is apprehended. Batman states that he will contact Green Lantern to brainwash the crooks, so that they will not remember his secret identity or the location of the Batcave. This story was reprinted in DC Special Series #23.

The back-up Batman story is "The Batmen of All Nations" a reprint from Detective Comics #215, by Edmond Hamilton, Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris. A group of international costumed heroes visit Gotham City to meet their idol Batman. Knots Cardine, a bold gang leader, embarrasses Batman by escaping him during a robbery. When the other heroes help Batman track down Cardine, a bomb detonates, apparently killing Batman.

The other heroes agree to guard a bank delivery in Batman’s place. The Legionary, an Italian hero, is actually Cardine in disguise and he robs the delivery truck. However, Batman is inside, and he stops the robbery. Batman suspected that Cardine took the place of the real Legionary, so he led the crook into a trap

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.

Blackhawk #241

Blackhawk #241 (On Sale: April 9, 1968) has the last of the Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera covers as new editor Dick Giordano burns through inventory from George Kashdan's run.

"A Blackhawk a Day" is by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. The Blackhawks receive letters inviting them to various meetings around the world. When they arrive at the individual meetings, they discover traps have been set to capture them. For each of six days one of the Blackhawks is caught by Baron Booby-Trap who intends to turn them over to the Crime Combine. However, Chuck, the Listener, is able to get a message to Blackhawk. He then helps the others escape and together they trap the Crime Combine and Baron Booby-Trap.

The back-up story, "The Phantom Spy," is a reprint from Blackhawk #160 by Jack Miller, Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Superboy #148

Superboy #148 (On Sale: April 4, 1968) has a cover by Neal Adams.

"Superboy's Greatest Gamble" is written by Leo Dorfman, pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Sheldon Moldoff and Jack Abel. Continuing from last issues, having left his foster parents, the Kents, Superboy goes to Casino City and assumes the identity of Chuck Kibbee. He searches a carnival until he finds a couple who are running a crooked game. He then reveals to them that he is Superboy and offers to become their son.

Working with his new parents, the Zeros, Chuck breaks the bank at an underworld casino. The racket boss Hal King realizes that Chuck is Superboy. He then threatens to kill the Kents. The Boy of Steel acts like he doesn't care.

The back-up story, "The Canine That Outclassed Krypto," is by Cary Bates, George Papp and Frank Springer. Superboy is called by an alien zookeeper to help track down a dangerous space bird that has escaped. The Boy of Steel recaptures the bird and saves a space dog in the process. The alien dog which possesses super powers follows Superboy back to Earth. The dog then tells Superboy telepathically that he is a Zkor and his originally family was recently killed. He requests that Superboy make him his new pet.

Zkor helps Superboy fight crime, but when Krypto returns to Earth he becomes jealous of the new pet. Zkor consistently outclasses Krypto.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Superboy #147

Superboy #147 (On Sale: March 14, 1968), also known as 80 Page Giant #G-47, features the Legion of Super-Heroes and sports a cover by Curt Swan and Neal Adams.

"The Origin of the Legion" is by E. Nelson Bridwell and Pete Costanza. In a room in the newly-built Legion Headquarters complex, three statues honor the group's founders. One, of Lightning Lad, wields electricity between its hands; Cosmic Boy's image suspends a metal ball between its hands with a magnetic charge; the third, of Saturn Girl, mentally communicates the story of the Legion's origin to all who enter the room.

On the planet Winath, Garth Ranzz bids his family goodbye, and boards a ship bound for Earth. He takes a seat next to another youth named Rokk Krinn, of the planet Braal. The two become friends, and Rokk explains that his people have magnetic powers, developed to battle the metal monsters of that world, and that, since he is considered an adult at fourteen, he is hoping to use his ability to find work on Earth. Garth, in turn, tells how he, his twin sister Ayla, and older brother Mekt gained the ability to wield lightning when they were attacked by lightning monsters on the wild planet Korbal, where their ship was forced to land. Mekt later disappeared, and Garth hopes that the Science Police on Earth can help find him.

Meanwhile, a shuttle craft from Saturn brings new passengers to the ship, including the richest man in the universe, R.J. Brande, and a gorgeous blonde bound for Earth's Science Police Academy, Imra Ardeen.

The ship finally reaches Earth's Metropolis Spaceport, and as its passengers debark, two men run up to them and reach for guns. Imra reads their minds and screams a warning, and Rokk and Garth immediately use their powers to disarm the killers. Imra's telepathy further tells her that Brande's cousin, Doyle, had sent them to kill the rich man, so that he could inherit his money and pay his debts to a gambling syndicate.

A grateful and impressed Brande summons the three youths to his office the following morning, where he suggests that they band together as a crime fighting organization to be bankrolled by him, and uses Superboy and Supergirl as examples. They all agree, and before long, Brande has them outfitted in new costumes and gives them new names to go with them: Rokk is now Cosmic Boy, Garth is Lightning Lad, and Imra is Saturn Girl. Brande Industries erects a yellow, rocket-shaped clubhouse for the trio, and their new computer selects Cosmic Boy as their leader.

The three then write a Legion Constitution, which contains strict-by-laws, and are voted honorary citizenship on all member worlds of the United Planets. They are also made deputies of the Science Police.

Some days later, they gain two members, Triplicate Girl, who reveals her power to them by having each separately accompany one of her three selves to the clubhouse, and Phantom Girl, who easily infiltrates their supposedly impenetrable headquarters, and is made a member on the grounds that she help secure them against "ghostly" intruders. Not bad for eight pages of story! Reprinted in Secret Origins #6, Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 8 HC and Superboy #147 Replica Edition #1.

"The Boy with Ultra-Powers" from Superboy #98 is by Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan and George Klein. A costumed youth called Ultra Boy secretly arrives in Smallville with his adult mentor, Marla, intent upon discovering Superboy's secret identity. Ultra Boy at first suspects that Pete Ross is the Boy of Steel, but then correctly deduces that Clark Kent is actually Superboy.

When Pete accidentally becomes locked in a bank vault, Ultra Boy’s power of penetra-vision which, unlike Superboy’s super-vision, can melt and see through lead, enables him to assist Superboy in rescuing Pete. He then reveals that he is a time-traveler from the future planet Rimbor and an applicant for membership in the Legion of Super-Heroes, who have assigned him the task of unmasking Superboy as an initiation test. Having completed the test, he and Marla, actually the Legion’s Senior Advisor, return to the future.

"The Legion of Super-Traitors" from Adventure Comics #293 is by Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan and George Klein. When powerful alien creatures known as the Brain-Globes of Rambat scheme to move Earth to their own solar system, they realize that they must first subdue Superboy. After unsuccessfully attempting to control Superboy themselves, they summon the Legionnaires from the Earth’s future, and mentally command them to defeat him.

Once this is done, the overconfident Brain-Globes release the heroes from their trance. Together, they are not powerful enough to defeat the aliens, until they notice that the Brain-Globes are incapable of controlling the minds of animals. Manning the Time Sphere, the Legionnaires gather Krypto, Streaky, Beppo, and Comet (aka Super-Dog, Super-Cat, Super-Monkey, and Super-Horse), who, united as the Legion of Super-Pets, defeat the Brain-Globes. The Legion returns them to their proper time eras before Superboy recovers to dismantle the Brain Globes’ machines. Superboy remains unaware of the pets’ involvement, and thus unaware of the future existence of Supergirl.

"Supergirl's Three Super-Girl Friends" from Action Comics #276 is by Jerry Siegel and Jim Mooney. One year after first meeting the Legion, Supergirl is once again invited to try out for membership. In the 30th century, she is told that new rules allow two members to join each year, and meets several other applicants, including Brainiac 5, the descendant of the original Brainiac, one of Superman’s greatest foes. She distrusts him until, after her own initiation test, he risks his life by giving her his force-shield belt to protect her from a giant Kryptonite meteor.

Along with Brainiac 5, who allows her to keep the belt, Supergirl is inducted into the Legion. She returns home confident that she’ll never have to worry about Kryptonite again; however, an explosion damages the belt beyond repair, and she is vulnerable once more.

"The Secret of the Seventh Super-Hero" from Adventure Comics #290 is by Robert Bernstein and George Papp. Tom Tanner, a juvenile delinquent escapee from the state reform school, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Clark Kent, arrives in Smallville and is mistaken for Clark by everyone, even Ma Kent, who unwittingly gives away Superboy’s secret identity. Tanner decides that he likes his new life as Clark and intends to remain in his place.

Meanwhile, outside Smallville, Superboy meets with Sun Boy, the newest member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, who has arrived from the future. He explains that he is in the 20th century to gather and return to a secret vault the six pieces of a super-weapon once dismantled and buried in Superboy’s time by the Legion. However, once the Boy of Steel gathers the pieces, Sun Boy, actually a villainous impostor, assembles them into a robot which emits a ray that can change good people into evil, and vice versa. He then sends the robot after Clark Kent.

Shortly thereafter, Superboy appears and begins an evil rampage, until such time as the bogus Sun Boy's guard is down. Then he destroys the robot, and takes the villain back to the future, where he explains to the Legion that the impersonator had given himself away by not giving the official Legion handshake.

The "Clark Kent" affected by the robot’s ray was Tom Tanner, who as a result is reformed and loses his knowledge of Superboy’s secret.

"The Legion of Super-Villains" reprinted from Superman #147 is by Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan and Sheldon Moldoff. Lex Luthor, who has known of the existence of the Legion of Super-Heroes for years, theorizes that there should also be a Legion of Super-Villains, and, working from prison, he constructs a device that allows him to contact them. The Super-Villains break him out of jail, and, with him, lure Superman to a remote planetoid and capture him.

However, before these criminals can execute Superman, the adult Legion of Super-Heroes intervenes, and fights the Super-Villains to a standstill. Unable to defeat them, the Legionnaires listen as Luthor challenges them to sacrifice one of their number for Superman. Saturn Woman volunteers, and the villains allow the Man of Steel time to perform one last deed in her honor. With a giant shovel, he gathers some material from the rings of Saturn, and creates a similar ring around the planetoid. When he does, Saturn Queen surprises everyone by suddenly using her powers to defeat her partners.

Superman then explains that he had theorized that radiations from the rings of Saturn would cancel out the evil tendencies of inhabitants of that world. He gives the reformed Saturn Queen a small chunk from the rings that will prevent her from returning to evil, then takes Luthor back to his prison on Earth as the Legionnaires likewise take the Super-Villains to jail.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

Superboy #146

Superboy #146 (On Sale: February 20, 1968) has an "OK" cover by Neal Adams.

"The Runaway Superboy" is by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and Sheldon Moldoff. Clark Kent leaves home and meets up with two runaway boys on the road. He deduces that one boy is Barry Porter who has left home after his father accused him of theft. Superboy proves to Dr. Porter that Barry is not a thief, so the boy returns home.

The other boy, Ducks, is an homely orphan. When a runaway steamroller threatens to hit a blind couple, Ducks helps them get out of the way while Clark secretly uses his powers to stop the steamroller. Ducks is then adopted by the blind couple.

Clark then continues on his own. His foster parents send out an anonymous notice that Superboy has run away from home. Superboy sees the notice, but he mysteriously refuses to return home.

The back-up is "The Notorious Captain Sinbad Kent" reprinted from Superboy #79 and by Robert Bernstein and John Sikela. For a school project, the Kent family line is traced back to Captain Sinbad Kent, a pirate in the days of the Revolutionary War. The town of Smallville learns of the Kent lineage and begins to harass Jonathan at the Kent store.

Superboy travels back in time to learn the truth about his adopted ancestor. He soon discovers that the accounts are true, and Captain Sinbad is indeed a notorious pirate. Later, however, Superboy learns that Sinbad is actually working undercover for the colonists in their fight with the British. Superboy aids the captain and then returns home to his own time.

With no way to prove the reasons for his ancestors actions, Jonathan plans to leave Smallville. A document is uncovered though that exonerates Captain Sinbad and reveals his true motives. The Kent name is finally cleared.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Hawkman #25

Hawkman #25 (On Sale: February 20, 1968) has a cover by Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera.

"Return of the Death Goddess" is by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. Professor Martin, an obsessed blind archaeologist, donates a statue of Medusa which he uncovered to the Midway City Museum, only to free the spirit of the monster by kissing the statue's lips, as per his translation of the inscription. The spirit professes its love and appreciation, telling him that he need only kiss the statue again to save her if she is imperiled.

She then selects Shiera Hall as her host vessel, and begins her revenge on mankind. First she creates a fire demon which blows up a powder company; this sets nearly all the city on fire. Hawkman rescues endangered residents, the uses Thanagarian electro-knuckles to smash a dam and flood the city, which puts out the fire. Medusa then frees zoo animals, and when the army attacks she dispatches a minotaur to demolish their tanks, a hurricane to down a jet, and finally attacks Hawkman herself.

As Martin hears a radio report of the hero's imminent defeat by Medusa, he kisses the statue, and infuses her with more power. Fortunately, Hawkman is able to smash the statue, and Shayera is returned to normal.

The back-up story is a golden age reprint from Flash Comics #11, (The Heart Patient) by Gardner Fox and Sheldon Moldoff. Carter Hall sees his old friend Tommy Rogers who is suffering from a heart condition. Tommy’s doctor tries to convince Carter that he too has a weak heart. Carter believes Tommy is being scammed and investigates as Hawkman.

Hawkman discovers that Tommy’s girlfriend is working with the doctor to poison Tommy and steal his money. The Winged Avenger then exposes the scheme and brings both the doctor and the girl, Betty, to justice. This story is reprinted in Golden Age Hawkman Archives Vol. 1.

Edited by George Kashdan.