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World's Finest Comics, #271 Direct

Published: September 1981

Cover

World's Finest Comics #271

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Issue Contents:
1 page superhero
Characters
Credits
Story Notes

Cover includes background of earlier World's Finest covers by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye.

The Secrets Behind "The Secret Origins of the Superman/Batman Team"
Story 1 1 page
Credits
Story Notes

Introductory text article on inside of the front cover.

The Secret Origins of the Superman and Batman Team!
Story 2 48 pages superhero
Characters
  • Superman [Clark Kent] (Earth-One, also as Superboy in flashback)
  • Batman [Bruce Wayne] (Earth-One, also as the Flying Fox in flashback)
  • Robin [Dick Grayson] (Earth-One)
  • Superman [Clark Kent] (Earth-Two)
  • Robin [Richard Grayson] (Earth-Two)
  • Lois Lane
  • Jimmy Olsen
  • Perry White
  • Steve Lombard
  • Atoman [Heinrich Melch] (villain, Earth-Two, introduction, alias Henry Miller)
  • Dr. Melch (villain, Earth-Two, introduction, in flashback)
  • Dr. Teufel (villain, Earth-Two, introduction, in flashback)
  • Zoltan (villain, Earth-Two, introduction, in flashback)
  • Lana Lang (in flashback)
  • Professor Nichols (in flashback)
  • Powerman (robot, in flashback)
Credits
Story Notes

Roy Thomas tries to piece together all the previous "first meetings" of the pair. The stories referenced include: ¤ Adventure Comics [DC, 1938 series] #253 (October 1958) (Robin travels back in time and meets Clark Kent/Superboy; this is established as being the earliest encounter). ¤ World's Finest Comics [DC, 1941 series] #84 (September-October 1956) (Clark Kent/Superboy meets an unnamed teen trying to uncover his secret, discovering as an adult that it was Bruce Wayne). ¤ Adventure Comics [DC, 1938 series] #275 (August 1960) (Clark Kent/Superboy meets Bruce Wayne, who uses the alias the Flying Fox to fight crime). ¤ Superboy Spectacular [DC, 1980 series] #1 (1980) (Clark Kent/Superboy meets Bruce Wayne at the regional high school baseball championship). ¤ World's Finest Comics [DC, 1941 series] #94 (May-June 1958) (Superman meets Batman and Robin for what they all believe is the first time; it is established that their memories of their earlier encounters had been erased through hypnosis). ¤ Superman [DC, 1939 series] #76 (May-June 1952) (Superman and Batman learn each other's secret identity on a vacation cruise). ¤ World's Finest Comics [DC, 1941 series] #71 (July-August 1954) (Many months after their previous encounter, Superman and Batman begin having regular team-ups). Note: This story omits the meeting between Superboy and Bruce Wayne, who is seeking revenge as the Executioner, from Superboy [DC, 1949 series] #182 (February 1972). Atoman is based on the character from the Superman radio program, introduced in "The Atom Man" storyline which ran from October 11 to December 3, 1945. Teufel debuted earlier in the "Der Teufel's Atomic Pistol" storyline which ran from September 11 to September 27, 1944. This story is assigned to Earth-Two. Zoltan is based on the character from the Superman radio program, introduced in "The Mystery of the Waxmen" storyline which ran from February 28 to March 15, 1945. This story is assigned to Earth-Two. The footnote on page 18 incorrectly references "New Adventures of Superboy", it should say "Superboy Spectacular #1". The footnote on page 33 incorrectly references "World's Finest Comics #200", it should say "World's Finest Comics #71".

Story 3 0 pages
Credits
Story Notes

Inside back cover. Includes preview for Adventure Comics #485 featuring Dial "H" for Hero.

Story 4 0 pages
Characters
  • Green Arrow
  • Black Canary
Credits
#76 Jose Delbo
Story 5 0 pages biography
Credits
Story Notes

Inside back cover. Part of the Daily Planet Feature Page.

Volume 81 Issue 7 - June, 1981
Story 6 1 page
Credits
Story Notes

Back cover. Previews for Superman and His Fabulous Fortress of Solitude and others.