World's Finest Comics, #5
Published: Spring 1942
Cover
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Issue Contents:
"96 thrilling pages!"
Characters
- Batman (mainstream Universe)
- Dick Grayson (mainstream Universe)
- Clark Kent (mainstream Universe)
- Robin (mainstream Universe)
- Superman (mainstream Universe)
- Bruce Wayne (mainstream Universe)
Story Notes
Inside front cover.
"The world's finest heroes go to town in 96 pages of fast-action adventure!"
Characters
- Batman (mainstream Universe)
- Crimson Avenger (mainstream Universe)
- Dick Grayson (mainstream Universe)
- Clark Kent (mainstream Universe)
- Robin (mainstream Universe)
- Superman (mainstream Universe)
- Lee Travis (mainstream Universe)
- Bruce Wayne (mainstream Universe)
- Zatara (mainstream Universe)
Story Notes
Head shots of several of the issue's feature characters, by various artists, line the top and bottom of the page.
The Tower of Terror
"Superman is confronted by a puzzling mystery when he seeks to solve the secret of..."
Storyline
A manufacturer purchases a sacred Indian tower and tries to move it, but is faced with many attempts on his life, unaware that an ancient manuscript indicates priceless Indian valuables were secreted in the tower.
Characters
- Clark Kent (mainstream Universe)
- Lois Lane (mainstream Universe)
- Superman (mainstream Universe)
- Perry White (mainstream Universe)
- Brent Matthews
- Lemuel P. Potts (villain, death)
Credits
- Script: Jerry Siegel
- Pencils:
- Inks:
Story Notes
Titled "The Case of the Flying Castle" in the table of contents. This title is also used in Superman: The World's Finest Archives, whose credits are wrong too.
The Man Who Stole a Bank
"When a ruthless scientist discovers a method of degravitizing objects so that they float upwards..."
Credits
- Script: Gardner Fox
- Pencils: Norman Boyd
- Inks: Norman Boyd
Story Notes
Title from table of contents.
Crime's Stage Manager
"When actors rob their audiences and trusted employees loot the firms that employ them..."
Characters
- The Crimson Avenger (mainstream Universe)
- Wing How (mainstream Universe)
- Lee Travis (mainstream Universe)
- Wing (mainstream Universe)
Credits
- Script: Jack Lehti
- Pencils: Jack Lehti
- Inks: Charles Paris
- Letters: Charles Paris
Story Notes
Titled "Murder in Three Acts" in the table of contents.
Tactical Error
"It was a week now since old man Matt Arthur and his confounded Indian partner had made the strike."
Credits
- Pencils: Cliff Young
- Inks: Cliff Young
- Script: Eric Carter
The Crime Clown!
"The sinister name is the deadly spark that ignites a powerhouse of peril..."
Characters
- Dan the Dyna-Mite (mainstream Universe)
- Danny Dunbar (mainstream Universe)
- T.N.T. (mainstream Universe)
- Tex N. Thomas (mainstream Universe)
Credits
- Script: Mort Weisinger
- Pencils: Al Carreño (uncertain)
- Inks: Al Carreño (uncertain)
Story Notes
Titled "Case of the Crime Clown" in the table of contents. Second appearance of TNT and Dan the Dyna-Mite. First appearance in Star Spangled Comics (DC, 1941 series) #7 (April 1942). The order of TNT appearances determined by copyright dates (Star Spangled Comics #7 on February 1, 1942 and World's Finest Comics #5 on February 3, 1942). Note that the two books essentially debuted at the same time. This is the only story in which Dan the Dyna-Mite has a chest emblem.
Now on Sale
"Adventure thrills action!"
Story Notes
Promo for DC's line of titles.
Wings for America
"The latest development in the United States' determination to protect our American way of life..."
Characters
- Blooey Blue (mainstream Universe)
- Red Dugan (mainstream Universe)
- Whitey Smith (mainstream Universe)
- Doris West (mainstream Universe)
Credits
- Script: Jerry Siegel (uncertain)
- Pencils: Harry Lampert
- Inks: Harry Lampert
Story Notes
Title from table of contents.
Gems of Jeopardy
"Cloaked and helmeted, and armed with a gasgun and a sack of loose fine sand..."
Storyline
Gay Thompson's brother is an ex-con who wants her husband's fabulous collection of diamonds, and the Sandman must work within the situation to trap the man before he can kidnap the woman's only son.
Characters
- Dian Belmont (mainstream Universe)
- Wesley Dodds (mainstream Universe)
- The Sandman (mainstream Universe)
- Gay Thompson
- Fred Thompson
- Billy Thompson
- Gay's unnamed brother (villain, ex-convict, death)
Credits
- Pencils: Cliff Young
- Inks: Cliff Young
Story Notes
Title from table of contents. Last with original mystery-man costume. Last appearance of girlfriend Dian Belmont.
Featuring Goggles
"S'matter, Pappy?"
Credits
- Script: Fred Schwab (uncertain)
- Pencils: Fred Schwab (uncertain)
- Inks: Fred Schwab (uncertain)
- Letters: Fred Schwab (uncertain)
Vengeance
"With the advent of the morning sun, a light breeze sprang up and sent scurrying away in wispy threads the mist..."
Credits
- Script: John Hilton
Superman's Secret Message
Story Notes
On the bottom center of the second page of the "Vengeance" text story.
Rubies for Ransom (1)
"A glowing ruby called "the Gypsy Luck" brings together a fugitive from justice..."
Characters
- The King (mainstream Universe)
- The Witch (mainstream Universe)
- King Standish (mainstream Universe)
Credits
- Script: Gardner Fox
- Pencils: Harry Lampert
- Inks: Harry Lampert
- Letters: Harry Lampert
Story Notes
Story title from table of contents.
The Good-Hearted Gangster!
"Untold power is placed in the hands of Lando for the purpose of helping the deserving..."
Characters
- Lando (mainstream Universe)
Credits
- Pencils: Louis Cazeneuve
- Inks: Louis Cazeneuve
Story Notes
Titled "Adventure of the Good-Hearted Gangster" in the table of contents.
"Oh, boy - Wotta spot..."
Characters
Credits
- Script: Henry Boltinoff
- Pencils: Henry Boltinoff
- Inks: Henry Boltinoff
- Letters: Henry Boltinoff
The "Big 8"
"Tops in monthly comic magazines"
Story Notes
Promo for DC's line of titles.
Crime Takes a Holiday
"Midnight in Gotham City -- and church bells chime a curfew of crime!"
Storyline
A "crime holiday" is declared by the mobs in Gotham City, but Batman and Robin soon discover the reason why: the mobs plan to disguise themselves as members of other mobs, commit crimes, and have the blame placed on them!
Characters
- Batman (mainstream Universe)
- Dick Grayson (mainstream Universe)
- Robin (mainstream Universe)
- Bruce Wayne (mainstream Universe)
- "Big John" Waller (villain, gambling house owner, introduction)
- Brains Kelley (villain, introduction)
- Slinky [aka Carrot-Top McGraw] (villain, introduction)
- Dude Davis (villain, introduction)
- Scar Ryan (villain, introduction)
- The Domino Killers (villains, introduction)
- The Hooded Gunmen (villains, introduction)
Credits
- Script: Bill Finger
- Pencils:
- Inks: George Roussos
- Inks:
Story Notes
Inside back cover.
Prizes for All!
"Any prize shown in this circle, and dozens of others in our free prize book, is given to you for selling..."
Story Notes
Back cover.