Superboy #165

Superboy #165 (On Sale: March 5, 1970) has cover by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson.

This issue begins with "The Super-Dog from Krypton" by Otto Binder, Curt Swan and John Fishetti and reprinted from Adventure Comics #210. This story tells the origin of Krypto, Superboy's dog. Superboy encounters a super powered dog on the streets of Smallville. The dog seems to recognize him and is friendly. Superboy follows the dog to a rocket that has recently crashed on Earth. Inside the rocket he finds papers which reveal that the dog came from Krypton. The dog was sent into space by Jor-El to test a rocket which was deflected by a meteor. The dog, Krypto, belonged to Kal-El as a baby. Krypto's ship eventually made its way to Earth.

Superboy is thrilled to have his dog back. However, Krypto's frisky nature and super powers cause several problems for Superboy including threatening his secret identity. Superboy constructs a super doghouse for Krypto, but the dog is easily able to free himself.

Eventually Krypto takes off into space to chase meteors. Superboy is happy that he won't have to deal with Krypto's antics anymore, but he is sad that his friend is gone.

Next we have "Superboy's Last Day" by Otto Binder and George Papp and reprinted from Adventure Comics #251. This story tells of Superboy's first encounter with Kryptonite. While cleaning house, Clark Kent recalls how one of his Superboy robots saved his life. Many years before, Pa Kent brought home a green glowing rock for Clark’s mineral collection. Clark immediately took ill and was on his deathbed. To replace him as Superboy, a recently constructed Superboy robot was sent out controlled by Jonathan.

When the robot returned, it inadvertently stepped in front of the Kryptonite. Being made of lead, the robot blocked the radiation. Superboy recovered but relapsed when the robot moved away. Pa Kent realizes that the rock must be responsible and places it inside the robot. Superboy recovers and learns that the rock was Kryptonite, a fragment of his home planet, which is deadly to him.

This is followed by "The Girl Who Saw the Future Superboy" by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino and reprinted from Superboy #90. While helping her father clean a scientist’s lab, Lana accidentally activates a machine that allows her to see the future. Although the image only lasts for a moment, Lana sees Superman and his girlfriend, Lois Lane. Lana become jealous and tries to alter fate by getting Lois to enter a different career.

Lana visits Lois’s school and tries to sabotage Lois’s attempts to join the school paper. Failing in that, Lana tries to get Lois to pursue a career in science and later, sculpture. Each attempt fails due to the Unbeknownst actions of Superboy and Krypto.

Next we have "The Phantom Superboy" by Robert Bernstein and George Papp and reprinted from Adventure Comics #283. This is the first appearance of the Phantom Zone. Professor Lang discovers a box of Kryptonian weapons which he delivers to Superboy. While Superboy examines and tests the weapons, he is accidentally sent into the Phantom Zone, a dimension which exists near ours in which beings can only exist in a ghostly state. Kryptonian criminals were banished here before the destruction of the planet.

Unable to be seen or heard Superboy can not communicate with anyone in his own dimension. Eventually he discovers that his super thought is enough to activate an electric typewriter on which he types a message to Pa Kent. Jonathan rescues Superboy from the Zone, and then the Boy of Steel disposes of the box of weapons.

We end with "The Death of Ma and Pa Kent" by Leo Dorfman and Al Plastino and reprinted from Superman #161. While on vacation in the Caribbean, Jonathan and Martha Kent find a buried pirate’s treasure. The chest contains a scrap from the diary of Pegleg Morgan and presents them a mystery. Superboy carries them into the past to learn how Pegleg was stranded on the island by Blackbeard the Pirate.

When they return to present-day Smallville, the Kents become ill from jungle fever. Doctors are unable to find the cure, and Superboy is likewise helpless. Superboy tries to send them to the Phantom Zone, but solar flares prevent the projector from functioning.

Without a cure, the Kents die. Superboy blames himself for their deaths and gives up his Superboy career. He donates their money to charity, maintaining their house and store for himself. When searching through his father’s belongings he finds the diary scrap and learns that the chest the Kents found in the sand was the actually source of their illness. Relieved that his time-trip was not responsible for the death of his parents, Superboy resumes his career and treasures the memory of his Earth parents.

Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.

Superman #206

Superman #206 (On Sale: March 19, 1968) has cover by Neal Adams.

"The Day Superman Became an Assassin" is by Jim Shooter and Al Plastino. Superman attends a celebration for the hero Dyno-Man on the planet Sorrta. During a parade, Dyno-Man is killed in an explosion. Superman is immediately accused of causing the blast. He is taken into custody by Dramon, head of security, and fitted with a red sun energy belt that neutralizes his powers. Superman is then injected with a chemical that causes a fit of rage and a phony confession to the murder.

Superman's case is given to lawyer Rilora Dorc, who soon finds evidence that implicates Dramon in the frame job. Before she can act on the information, Superman is broken out of jail by vigilantes who want to kill him. Rilora is captured by Dramon and nearly executed too.

The back-up is "The Menace of Mr. Mxyzptlk," a reprint from Superman #131 by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino. Mr. Mxyzptlk returns from the 5th dimension to play tricks on Superman. Superman tries to send Mxyzptlk back home by making him say his name backwards. This time however, the imp has an alarm, that warns him when he is about to say his name backwards.

Superman gets Mxyzptlk to remove his hat, where the alarm is stored. However, when Superman and Lois Lane trick him into saying Kltpzyxm, Mxyzptlk’s head cold makes him lose his voice.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

World's Finest Comics #173

World's Finest Comics #173 (On Sale: December 12, 1967) has a Curt Swan and George Klein cover. This is the first issue of World's Finest Comics I purchased.

"The Jekyll-Hyde Heroes" is by Jim Shooter, Curt Swan and George Klein. Dr. Aaron is apprehended by the World's Finest Team for illegal human science experiments. When he gets out of jail, Dr. Aaron decides to take his revenge on Superman and Batman. First he learns which of their villains that they fear the most, then he uses psyche-distorter chemicals on them. The chemicals cause physical and psychological transformations which turn Batman and Superman into Two-Face and the space villain Kralik (being my first issue of World's Finest, I thought Kralik was a well-known and established Superman villain. Only later did I realize that Shooter had invented him for this one story and that he was never heard from again.).

As Two-Face and Kralik, the former heroes begin attacking Metropolis and each other. Robin deduces that the heroes have been turned into villains, but he is captured by Dr. Aaron before he can summon help. However, when Batman in his Two-Face guise decides to kidnap Dr. Aaron himself, the scientist is forced to drink his own chemicals and becomes the Composite Superman.

The back-up story is "The Super-Key to Fort Superman" reprinted from Action Comics #241 and created by Jerry Coleman, Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye. While visiting his Fortress of Solitude Superman discovers a message written on the wall which reveals that an intruder has penetrated the Fortress. Superman seals the entrance, but later learns that the intruder has returned.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Superman #201

Superman #201 (On Sale: September 21, 1967) sports a nice cover by Curt Swan and George Klein that looks like an Infantino layout.

"Clark Kent Abandons Superman" is by Cary Bates, Curt Swan and George Klein. Clark Kent joins Professor Steele on an archaeological expedition. When a dangerous creature is unearthed, Superman goes into action. However, Professor Steele is killed.

Superman blames himself for Steele's death. Kandorian psychologists are unable to help him overcome his guilt. Later, when a stray bullet fired by crooks bounces off his chest and nearly wounds Lois Lane, Superman fears that he is a danger to those around him.

Superman decides to leave Earth. He goes to the planet Moxia which has a red sun. Superman then becomes ordinary scientist Clarken. However, when the planet is threatened by Kromn, a man threatening to make himself a dictator, Superman fights back without his powers.

The back-up is "The Jolly Jailhouse" reprinted from Superman #139, by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino. Superman travels to the island republic of Voroda as Clark Kent. He is arrested by the commandant of a political prison who is trying to establish himself as dictator. While in the Voroda jail, Clark secretly uses his powers to embarrass the Colonel. When some government officials arrive at the prison, Clark further humiliates the Colonel, and in so doing, the political prisoners are freed.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

World's Finest Comics #171

World's Finest Comics #171 (On Sale: September 12, has a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.

Inside we begin with "The Executioner's List" by Leo Dorfman, Curt Swan and George Klein. After catching crooked gambler Swifty Sloane, Batman switches back to his Bruce Wayne identity. As police take Swifty away, an unseen gunman takes shots at Bruce and Swifty. Later Clark Kent is nearly killed in a helicopter explosion, though as Superman he is able to protect his secret identity and provide an explanation for his survival. Next Perry White and Alfred are each the victims of unexpected attacks. Superman and Batman think someone is going after their friends until Batman finds a death list.

The back-up story is "The Secret of Kryptonite" reprinted from Superman #136 and is by Jerry Coleman and Al Plastino. Superman returns to his hometown of Smallville for a celebration of the day he landed on Earth. While there he recalls how the world learned about Kryptonite. When he was Superboy, he was briefly exposed to some in a planetarium exhibit, and a crook named "Silk" Smith witnessed his weakness. The underworld then tried to find out which mineral in the exhibit weakened him. Superboy was able to trick the crooks into believing they were wrong.

Later at the first Superman Earthday celebration, a scientist, Mel Evans gives Superboy a present which is a fragment of Krypton. The fragment is of course Kryptonite, which weakens Superboy.The fragment is taken away, but now the world knows Superboy’s Achilles Heel.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

World's Finest Comics #170

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Mort Weisinger.