World's Finest Comics #172

World's Finest Comics #172 (On Sale: October 26, 1967) has a rather drab Curt Swan and George Klein cover.

"Superman and Batman... Brothers" is by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan and George Klein. In this imaginary story following the death of his parents, Bruce Wayne is sent to live with the Kents in Smallville. Young Bruce and Clark Kent become brothers, though Bruce does not know that Clark is Superboy. Bruce trains and studies crimefighting techniques and eventually becomes a costumed crimefighter, Batboy. Clark thinks Bruce has become a criminal and confronts him after Bruce discovers that he is Superboy. Once the misunderstanding is resolved the two heroes become a team.

After several years, Bruce inherits Wayne Manor in Gotham City. Clark moves to Gotham instead of Metropolis and becomes a reporter for the Gotham Gazette. The two heroes continue their partnership until Luthor kills the Kents. Bruce, has now seen two sets of parents murdered, and decides to move away. Superman takes him into the future, where he continues fighting crime with the adult Legion of Super-Heroes. Reprinted in DC's Greatest Imaginary Stories TPB.

The odd back-up story for this issue is "Tank for Beach Green" from Our Fighting Forces #12 and is by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.