World's Finest
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
No team in popular culture has survived, much less thrived, like DC Comics' World's Finest -- Superman and Batman. Almost immediately after the characters' debuts in 1938 and 1939 respectively, the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight visited each other's turf, thereby elevating cross-promotion to an art form.
Tracing the World's Finest history illustrates a relationship rich in trivia, entertaining to read, and challenging to navigate. It begins with a grand event, a somewhat anachronistic yet sorely needed high point of vision, hope, and optimism during the heart of the Great Depression.
In 1939, the New York World's Fair inspired a two-issue comic book series of the same name. The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide notes the sales history.
The 1939 edition was published 4/29/39 and released 4/30/39, the day the fair opened, at 25 [cents] and was first sold only at the fair. Since all other comics were 10 [cents], it didn't sell. Remaining copies were advertised beginning in the August issues of most DC comics for 25 [cents], but soon the price was dropped to 15 [cents]. Everyone that sent a quarter through the mail for it received a free Superman #1 or a #2 to make up the dime difference. 15 [cents] stickers were placed over the 25 [cents] price. Four variations on the 15 [cents] stickers are known. The 1940 edition was published 5/11/40 and was priced at 15 [cents]. It was a precursor to World's Best #1.
Released in May 1940, World's Fair #2 displays the first known appearance of Batman and Superman together, albeit only on the cover and not in a story. They share a one-panel shot in All-Star Comics #7 (October - November 1941), continuing their shared comic book space slowly. All-Star #36 features the characters' first co-appearance in a cover position and corresponding story via a guest appearance with the Justice Society of America.
World's Fair is the predecessor to World's Best. World's Best lasted one issue -- World's Best #1 (Spring 1941) -- because of conflict with some MLJ titles. The title changed but the overall series stayed in numerical order. World's Finest became the new banner with World's Finest #2 (Summer 1941) being the initial installment. These issues also feature Batman and Superman on the cover. The World's Finest term soon developed into the tag phrase for the Superman - Batman team.
Radio, however, was the medium of choice to convey the first substantial story starring the two franchise characters. Superman aired twenty-seven episodes from September 4, 1945 to October 10, 1945 highlighting the characters. In the companion book to Smithsonian Historical Performances: Superman with Batman & Robin on Radio, Anthony Tollin summarizes the impetus for the team-up.
"It's the most serious thing that ever happened! Batman has disappeared! On March 1, 1945, Superman
World's Finest #71 (July - August 1954) enjoys the distinction of being the first comic book to regularly feature Batman and Superman together. In DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes (1995), Les Daniels explains the rationale was financial in nature.
[P]roduction economics had shortened the page count and forced them to share the same story.
In addition, the powers that be lowered the price for the stories featuring the superpowers that be from fifteen cents to ten cents for World's Finest #70 - #73.
Batman - Double for Superman in World's Finest #71 shows a familiar scenario of Lois Lane discovering Superman's identity. Or does she? Superman and Batman deceive Lois. For example, Batman lifts and carries a moving van while flying and costumed as Superman. How can that be? The van is really a cardboard truck built around balloons. It's a flying vehicle! Robin is at the controls.
Superman and Batman learn each other's secret identity in The Mightiest Team in the World in Superman #76 (May - June 1951). However, they confessed their alter egos in radio about six years earlier. The revelation occurred during follow-up to the Scarlet Widow and Atom Man story lines.
In Mightiest, overcrowding on the cruise ship Varania force mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent and millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne to become vacationing cabin mates. When a tank truck fire occurs at the Customs Office nearby, they separately resume their respective crime fighting pursuits by changing into costume in the dark. The light through the porthole betrays their secret identities. And thus begins a pact, friendship, and tandem for the ages.
At the docks to wish colleague - competitor Clark Kent a bon voyage, a fire traps Lois. Her reporter's instincts outweigh her common sense. With Superman occupied by the fire, Batman rescues the intrepid female reporter who decides to join the cruise shortly thereafter.
Incendiary bullets started the fire, a diversionary tactic of a thief. He steals the Fabian Diamonds, stows the diamonds in his other bullets, and uses the Varania as a getaway ship Since the bullets are made of lead, they are impervious to Superman's X-Ray vision. But all is not lost. Batman's World's Greatest Detective mantle manifests as he deduces the diamond's location when the thief refuses to fire at him. If he fires the gun, he loses the diamonds.
Mightiest also offers the ubiquitous, mischievous, and altogether curious Lois Lane vainly trying to figure this new crime fighting duo's civilian personas. As usual, Superman and Batman employ trickery, deceit, and disguise to protect their identities. A sitcom-like ending has two superheros wondering which of them Lois prefers, only to find Robin, the Boy Wonder, happily escorting her to dinner.
The Origin of the Superman - Batman Team in World's FInest #94 (May - June 1958) gives an alternative account of the team's genesis in flashback mode.
When Lex Luthor escapes from prison, Batman and Robin rush to Metropolis. They are ready to aid their superfriend should the master criminal use Kryptonite. Unbelievably, but politely, Superman rejects their offer and shows off his new partner -- Powerman.
Wistfully, the Dynamic Duo recalls its first partnership with Superman, then unaware of his Clark Kent guise. Upon breaking up a smuggling ring at the Gotham Import Company, Batman and Robin learn Kryptonite is one of the smuggled items. As in the present case, they go to Metropolis to warn Superman. The trio discovers and disbands the remaining part of the ring.
Batman and Robin realize Superman's reluctance to accept help, then and now, stems not from a superego (pun intended), but from a refusal to put his friends in harm's way. So, they do some detective work.
Batman goes to the breakout scene and finds that Luthor escaped from prison by cutting through the wall with a ray gun, though unchanged silicon at the site indicates it's immune to the weapon. After devising protective silicon shields, the Dynamic Duo storms Luthor's hideout at the Metropolis Warehouse Company. They snare the Kryptonite from Luthor.
All's well that ends well when Superman reveals Powerman is, in fact, a robot. Batman expresses his feelings in the story's final dialogue. We might have known you'd never replace us with a real nrew partner.
Decidedly, Superman and Batman share a kindred spirit but they actually become kin in an imaginary tale hinting of the Elseworlds series with alternative what if scenarios decades away at the time. Superman and Batman...Brothers! in World's Finest #172 (December 1967) cleverly creates conflict in the Kent home. Mrs. Swan (tribute to DC pioneer Curt Swan?) of the Smallville Orphanage convinces the Kents to adopt orphan teenager Bruce Wayne. A mugger killed Bruce's parents. The Kents' success with Clark inspires the request.
Wary of his new sibling at first, Clark finds evidence seemingly confirming his suspicion that Bruce conducts criminal activity. For example, Bruce reads several books about famous thefts along with police files. Actually, Bruce plans to battle the criminal element as Batboy. His first mission is to seek and capture the 'Nails' Koker gang at a jewelry heist. When Smallville's newest hero returns home, Bruce stumbles upon Clark's Superboy robots, thereby uncovering the most valuable secret in the world!
Clark discovers Bruce in his Batboy garb and demands an explanation of his brother's costume and actions. Conceding, Bruce describes the need to avenge his parents' death and his consequent self-imposed duty. He assures Clark that his intentions are good. This otherworld's finest team is born.
On his 21st birthday, Bruce realizes his Wayne inheritance and the Kent brood moves to Gotham City. Clark Kent is still a mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper in this interpretation, only it's the Gotham Gazette, not the Daily Planet.
When Luthor breaks out of prison, hie takes two hostages at the East Side Charity Bazaar as part of a trap to lure Batman while creating a different emergency to keep Superman occupied.
Luthor cant' defeat Batman, but Batman can't save his second set of parents from death either. Emotionally crippled, Batman wants to leave Gotham City until he finds a place where he can be at peace. His brother helps him find that place -- Adult Legion of Superheroes in the 30th Century -- 2984 Metropolis to be precise. Batman's 20th century record influences the Legion to amend its Constitution forbidding membership to those without superpowers while Superman returns to become the present-day guardian of Gotham City.
Batman triggered an interesting team-up with another member of his 'family' in Wild Week-End in Washington, a story featured in Superman #268 (October 1973). When Superman has to make a trip to Washington, D.C. as reporter Clark Kent, Batman does what any self-respecting bachelor would do for another.
As Bruce Wayne, he sets his superpal up on a blind date. The lucky woman is none other than Gotham City's Congresswoman Barbara Gordon, a cute, sunshiny little redhead who also happens to be Batgirl, though neither her prospective suitor nor her male Bat counterpart know her now rarely used superheroine guise.
Batman's thoughts indicate a true concern for his fellow battler of the criminal element. Clark's spending time with Babs will do Superman some good...it'll loosen him up from that 'world-saver' image he's always having to live up to!
An uneventful date at a White House reception for the Emperor of Ethiopia yields no romantic promise, but an opportunity arises for the congresswoman to resume her Batgirl identity. At the reception, Clark exclaims his knowledge of the solar disintegrator with the corresponding cobalt triggering device to Senator Robert Cleary whose committee funded the top secret research.
Clark's only reason for knowing this information is that Superman was asked to help with the project. His slip of the lip leads to his kidnapping after taking Congresswoman Gordon home. Of course, he fakes being knocked out to learn about the operation behind his kidapping -- an espionage group called Maze.
Headed by a mysterious Mr. J, Maze is an international crime-syndicate that steals information from around the world to sell to the highest bidder. Maze wants to know what the reporter knows about the solar disintegrator.
Batgirl traces her blind date's whereabouts and arrives just as Superman's about to end Maze. A little help almost turns into a hindrance as Superman needs to protect his secret identity. Appropriately, he uses Mr. J as a faux Clark Kent. While hiding Mr. J's face, he convinces Batgirl that he needs to rush 'Clark' to the hospital.
At story's end, we learn Clark's mention of the top secret project resulted from self-hypnosis. At the Fortress of Solitude, Batman mentioned the solar disintegrator project and Senator Cleary while his hands were on a hypnotic jewel, a memento of the team's battle with Effron the Sorcerer. This led Superman to conclude his friend inadvertently activated its hypnotic effect.
Although not suggested in the narrative, sharp-eyed readers will note the panel directly preceding shows Superman with his hands also on the jewel, indicating a possible effect.
Other members of Superman's and Batman's respective arenas also frequently appear with the World's Finest team. The Olsen - Robin Team versus 'the Superman - Batman Team' showcases the sidekicks in World's Finest #141 (May 1964) as Jimmy Olsen and Robin play dead, causing grief, sorrow, and anguish to their role models. But their intent is to protect Superman and Batman, not cause distress.
When Robin invents a monitor capable of seeing through lead, he brings it to Jimmy Olsen for testing. If the device works, it will be invaluable to Superman as his super-vision, powerful though it may be, derives from X-Rays incapable of penetrating lead.
Consequently, Jimmy and Robin hear a conversation on a nearby street corner concerning two thugs who plan to kidnap the youths for blackmail bait. The thugs hope to force Batman and Superman not to interfere when they commit raids. Further, the thugs' ability to become invisible with a de-visor inspires the young targets to quickly think of a plan.
Robin summarizes. They'd stand by, helpless, for fear of endangering our lives! There's one way to avert that danger...we'll make Superman and Batman, and the crooks, too, think we're dead!
Robin and Jimmy fake their own deaths to protect their lives and ensure the continuing crime fighting exploits of Superman and Batman.
The Olsen - Robin team deceives the World's Finest by inventing a bogus prediction machine -- 4-C. Robin and Jimmy then arrange for the machine to make three predictions and create situations so the first two come true. Since the third prediction is death for the partners in deception, they convince Batman and Superman that they need to go to a safe haven -- Stone Island.
Actually, Robin and Jimmy create fake graves and leave Stone Island for a new hiding place, an abandoned observatory atop a mountain midway between Metropolis and Gotham City. They name it eyrie in hone of their exploits as Robin and Flamebird. By monitoring Metropolis and Gotham City with electronic equipment, Robin and Jimmy discover the criminals robbing the Gotham Bank. Jimmy uses Robin's belt-radio to warn Batman in a disguised voice while Superman learns by his super-hearing.
After capturing the invisible criminals, Superman and Batman counter their young wards' trickery with subterfuge of their own, placing wax replicas of Jimmy Olsen and Robin in the fake coffins on Stone Island. Superman perceives the Olsen - Robin team's hoax when he saw Jimmy Olsen's fingerprints on the coffin. Superman realizes that Jimmy could not have buried himself.
Batman and Robin team up with Superboy separately in some stories involving time travel. Superboy Meets Robin in Superboy #133 (October 1966) is a reprint of a Hall of Fame Classic story originally featured in Adventure Comics. When DC Comics discontinued HOF, it later featured the series' best stories in other Superman family titles.
Robin time travels back to Superboy's day to destroy a clock the teen superhero won at the Smallville Science Fair because it contains Kryptonite. The Boy Wonder discovers this when he visits Superman at the Fortress of Solitude and the Kryptonite bomb detonates years after the Boy of Steel originally recieves it.
When Superman reveals its origin and a doctor says it's only a matter of time until the Man of Tomorrow dies, Robin realizes he must travel to yesteryear and prevent Superboy from receiving the clock. With the help of Professor Nichols' time ray, Robin travels to Superman's past.
The trouble begins when Pete Groff, owner of Smallville's largest stadium, asks Superboy for a favor. Groff wants Superboy to appear at his Smallville Science Fair, luring the Boy of Steel by promising three top scientists to study him and make a report on his superpowers.
At the fair, the three scientists also announce predictions. Professors Wilcox, Higgins, and Wolfe respectively predict jet planes breaking the sound barrier, man splitting the atom, and artificial satellites orbiting Earth. Each is curiously incapacitated -- Wilcox by age, Higgins by blindness, Wolfe by paralysis.
Thereafter, a robot brings trophies to Superboy, one being the clock containing Kryptonite. Actually, Pete Groff controls the robot from inside it. Upon capture, he explains his reason for the ruse.
I intended to burn down my stadium for the insurance -- to pay my gambling debts! But I was afraid you'd investigate, so I rigged the clock to destroy you and the building at the same time! I figured one of the scientists would be blamed for it!
Robin helps Superboy destroy the trophy. A bonus in the story is a cameo by a young Lex Luthor.
In You Can Take the Boy Out of Smallville... in The Brave and the Bold #192 (November 1982), Superboy time travels ahead a decade and a half from 1967 to 1982 and Superman goes back to his childhood home. Ira Quimby a.k.a. I.Q. tires to use solar flares to send Superman back to prehistoric days. A miscalculation causes a fifteen year trip. Superboy replaces his adult self since two people cannot exist in the same time.
In Smallville, the situation forces Batman to accept that Superboy has not yet fully developed or learned how to use his powers to maximum efficiency. In turn, he teaches the young superhero. For example, he tells Superboy to use heat vision to melt a thief's bullets rather than the gun as the latter action will detonate the gunpowder and cause possible harm to innocent bystanders.
Superboy gains enough solar radiation to break I.Q.'s time shield and Batman sends him back to his time with the highest of accolades. They call Superman and Batman 'the World's Finest team'...I'd say that applies to us, too!'
Superman's and Batman's Greatest Foes in World's Finest #88 (May - June 1957) pits the World's Finest team against the members' arch-enemies -- Lex Luthor and Joker. In this outing, the bad guys scheme to commit robberies, mayhem and the like with artificial robotic mechano-men. This is the first team-up of Lex Luthor and Joker.