I was an early convert to team-up comics.While Marvel had crossovers all the time, DC was the only company doing regular team-ups with two titles: Brave and the Bold, which allowed any two heroes to work together (although it eventually was turned over to Batman teaming up with someone else), and World's Finest, which teamed up Superman, Batman and Robin.
Those stories didn't feature much in the way of characterization - but at the time, neither did any of the other DC Comics (issue #135 is cover-dated August 1963). What sold the comics was the fact that you got more than one hero for your hard-earned 12 cents, and the stories inside were clever and imaginative.
In this issue, you have our heroes facing off against The Future Man in what I believe is his only appearance (though there would be many other bad guys from the future).
He appears and begins tracking down samples of Kryptonite - and fires Kryptonite bullets at Superman when the Man of Steel tries to capture him. Don't worry, in the '60s the bullets still bounced off Superman - but the Kryptonite also robbed him of his powers temporarily.
Batman tracks down clues that show the Future Man's plans to travel into the past to steal another amazing artifact - but the bad guy's plans were still mysterious.
Our heroes split up and travel into the past and the future to solve the mystery, and eventually find themselves in the predicament depicted on the cover, as their enemy focuses a disintegration ray on them.
With powerful art by Dick Sprang and Sheldon Moldoff and a story written by Bill Finger, it's no wonder I remember this comic so fondly.
Adding to the value, the issue also features a backup story that pits Aquaman and Aqualad against some powerful alien invaders, wherein the heroes learn that to beat the bad guys, you (sometimes) have to be the bad guys.
The story features the incomparable art of Ramona Fradon, rounding out the all-star art cast for this comic.
It's amazing this issue is in decent shape, because I must have read this story dozens and dozens of times. Reading it again for this review, it hasn't lost a step - it's still a lot of fun!
Grade: A-
2 comments:
Chuck,
It's funny, I re-read this issue the other night when going through my collection. I think I had traded for this book with a kid down the street back in the day.
It was the whole "future" thing and the back up story of Aquaman that made me wanna read this one.
Good choice.
Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
Well of course it's a good choice - that's why it's a classic!
Although, come to think of it, picking a really bad "Classic" comic to review could be fun - it hadn't occurred to me!
Thanks, Beau!
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