The Best of DC #16 [Direct]

(September 1981)

Best of DC -- Superman (Table of Contents: 1)

table of contents / 1 page (report information)

Script

E. Nelson Bridwell

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

The Origin of Superman! (Table of Contents: 2)

Superman / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Finger

Pencils

Wayne Boring

Inks

Stan Kaye

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Jor-El (flashback); Lara (flashback); Lex Luthor (cameo); John Kent (1st named, flashback); Mary Kent (flashback)

Synopsis

After a prologue which demonstrates Superman's amazing abilities, his origin is recounted. On the scientifically advanced planet of Krypton, Jor-El fails to convince the Council of Five that Krypton is doomed. As Krypton explodes, Jor-El and Lara send their son to Earth, where he is found and adopted by the elderly Kents. As Clark grows to maturity he manifests abilities far beyond that of mortal men. On his deathbed, his father urges Clark to become a powerful force for good as Superman.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #53 (July-August 1948)

Indexer Notes

A 10th anniversary story. Name John Kent appears on Superman's father's tombstone. This is the only time this name is used. Kryptonians are shown to have x-ray vision.

The Super-Key to Fort Superman (Table of Contents: 3)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Jerry Coleman

Pencils

Wayne Boring

Inks

Stan Kaye

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Batman; Joker (trophy)

Synopsis

Someone has broken into Superman's Fortress of Solitude, so Superman searches the place for clues.

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #241 (June 1958)

Keywords

Fortress of Solitude (intro); green kryptonite

Indexer Notes

A 20th anniversary story.

The War between Superman and Jimmy Olsen! (Table of Contents: 4)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Alvin Schwartz

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

George Klein

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman [Clark Kent]; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White; El Gar Kur (villain)

Synopsis

A criminal from Kandor switches places with Jimmy Olsen and forces Superman to reveal the location of his Fortress of Solitude, so he can destroy the bottled city. But scientists in Kandor reverse the switch just in time.

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #253 (June 1959)

Keywords

Fortress of Solitude; green kryptonite; Kandor (unnamed)

Indexer Notes

A 21st anniversary story.

The Conquest of Superman! (Table of Contents: 5)

Superman / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Bill Finger

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

John Forte

Colors

?

Letters

?

Editing

Mort Weisinger

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White; Lex Luthor (villain); Superman Robot

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #277 (June 1961)

Keywords

blue kryptonite; green kryptonite; Luthor's Lair; red kryptonite; white kryptonite; yellow kryptonite (introduction)

Indexer Notes

23rd anniversary story. Inks credit confirmed by Pat Lang. Inks credit previously given to George Klein (as per Gene Reed and as credited on splash page) or Stan Kaye.

The Trial of Superman! (Table of Contents: 6)

Superman / comic story / 11.67 pages (report information)

Script

Edmond Hamilton

Pencils

Al Plastino

Inks

Al Plastino

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Lois Lane; Jimmy Olsen; Perry White

Reprints

• from Action Comics (DC, 1938 series) #301 (June 1963)

Keywords

green kryptonite

Indexer Notes

A 25th anniversary story. In this book, the art for this story is incorrectly credited to George Papp. Plastino credit confirmed by Bob Bailey and Gene Reed.

The Superman-Batman Split! (Table of Contents: 7)

Superman and Batman / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Cary Bates

Pencils

Neal Adams

Inks

Neal Adams ?; Dick Giordano ? (uncredited)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Superman; Batman; Robin; Supergirl; Batgirl; James Gordon; Jimmy Olsen; Ronald Jason; Desmond Jason

Synopsis

Jason Desmond's dying performance is an attempt to fool Superman and Batman into believing he is 2 aliens, one hunting the other. But his story rings false and Superman lets Batman in on the hoax, which ends up fooling Supergirl, Batgirl, Robin, and Jimmy Olsen anyway.

Reprints

• from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #176 (June 1968)

Keywords

green kryptonite; Kandor

Indexer Notes

A 30th anniversary story.

The Superman-Batman Split! Part II: A Tale of 3 Teams (Table of Contents: 8)

Superman and Batman / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Cary Bates

Pencils

Neal Adams

Inks

Neal Adams ?; Dick Giordano ? (uncredited)

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Reprints

• from World's Finest Comics (DC, 1941 series) #176 (June 1968)

Make Way for Captain Thunder! (Table of Contents: 9)

Superman / comic story / 20 pages (report information)

Script

Elliot Maggin

Pencils

Curt Swan

Inks

Bob Oksner

Colors

?

Letters

?

Genre

superhero

Characters

Captain Thunder (villain); Superman; Willie Fawcett; Clark Kent; Merokee (flashback); Lois Lane; the Monster League of Evil (flashback); a Dr. Sivana lookalike (flashback)

Synopsis

Willie Fawcett finds himself lost in Superman's universe and that whenever he changes into his super-powered alter ego of Captain Thunder he becomes evil. Superman helps him figure out the way to return to his universe and shake the evil influence of the Monster League of Evil.

Reprints

• from Superman (DC, 1939 series) #276 (June 1974)

Indexer Notes

A 36th anniversary story.

Happy Anniversary, Superman (Table of Contents: 10)

Superman / text article / 1 page (report information)

Script

E. Nelson Bridwell (credited)

Letters

typeset

Job Number

S-5045

Genre

superhero

Indexer Notes

Inside back cover.

[Special Anniverary Issue] (Table of Contents: 11)

Superman / foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

E. Nelson Bridwell ?

Pencils

Rich Buckler

Inks

Dick Giordano

Colors

?

Letters

Gaspar Saladino

Characters

Superman; Lex Luthor; Batman; Captain Thunder

Indexer Notes

Back cover. Previews of the stories in the issue.