Not Your Average Issue — World’s Finest #167
DC’s two biggest heroes are Batman and Superman, bar none. Well, in 1941, the World’s Finest comic was released, with the two most popular heroes teaming up and going on adventures. However, today I’m looking at World’s Finest #167, which is one of the first “alternate origins” comics. These types of comics are wildly popular today, with one recent example being Superman Red Son. This had Superman landing in Soviet Russia, rather than Smallville. And while this story isn’t that drastic, it does change the story of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, as Bruce Wayne isn’t in this story.
The story starts the same as most Superman origin stories, with Krypton being destroyed and Kal-El being shot to earth. However, on his way to Earth Kal-El encounters a large piece of Gold Kryptonite, which removes all of his powers, so he won’t become Superman. Life progresses for Clark as normal, with him and Lex Luthor becoming best friends in high school. Lex Luthor makes many great machines for betterment of the world like x-ray glasses and weather controlling machines. However, for himself he made a serum that give him the powers of Superman. Lex saves a plane from crashing into a building, and goes by the name Superboy. This was 26 years before the real Superboy, Kon-El, was even shown. After his initial feat, Superboy gains popularity from around the world as he stops forest fires and bank robberies.
However, one night Ma and Pa Kent were closing up their store when a robber threatened them. Jonathan Kent tries to stop the criminal but they both get shot, allowing the robber to escape. Clark and Lex were right outside, and Lex rushes Jonathan Kent to the hospital, with Clark’s mother having died. Clark is talking to his dad in the hospital,but his father ends up dying. Clark swears to stop criminals, and then sees a bat outside the window, in the middle of the day, and vows to be a Batman. Clark ends up living with his rich Uncle Kendall in Gotham City.
The story skips a few years, and we find out that Lex Luthor is working for The Daily Planet, and Clark Kent’s Uncle Kendall has died and left the Wayne Manor to Clark. He then made the Batcave that we all know and love. Batman then makes his debut defeating the Darron Brothers, something the entire Gotham City Police Department couldn’t do.
Lois and Lex go over to Gotham City, and Lois falls head over heels for Clark. As Lex and Lois are driving back to Metropolis, when Brainiac’s ship abducts Lois. Lex changes into Superboy, but can’t break open Brainiac’s ship. Batman shows up, and he devises a plan with Superboy. Superboy rams into Brainiac’s ship again, an Batman manages to break in when the shields are lowered. Batman goes to drive Lois Lane back to Metropolis, and Superboy uses his x-ray vision to find out that Batman is Clark Kent.
We see that Lex graduates to the name Superman when he teams up with Batman. Clark Kent also starts dating, and eventually marries Lois Lane. On their honeymoon, Clark reveals that he’s Batman, and Lex is Superman.
One day, Superman goes to where a rocket crashed and meets Supergirl, with her normal origin. Lex then brings her to Clark and Lois, who adopt her and give her the name Linda Kent.
Superman, Batman, and Supergirl are stopping a bank robbery being committed by the Toyman, when Batman is shot by Toyman’s Molecular-Dissolver ray. This causes Supergirl to have to stay away from Clark, as he has Gold Kryptonite fever. Lex makes a machine that switches his powers and Clark’s fever. This turns Clark into Superman, but Lex has to stay away from both him and Supergirl. And, in a bittersweet ending, Lex leaves the Earth to try to find a way to cure his Gold Kryptonite fever.
While this could easily have further story potential, this reality has never been seen again. It was relegated to Earth-167, which is a very creative name, for issue #167. But sadly, it was seemingly destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths. There could be more stories involving Lex trying to solve his fever, and Clark deciding if he should continue his role of Batman, or take up the mantle of Superman. But alas, it was not meant to be.
Now why is this such an interesting comic? Well, it’s one of the first alternate history comics. It also plays with conventions that people had known for years, with Lex Luthor being good and becoming Superman, and Clark Kent becoming Batman after losing his powers. And, look at the issues that came before and after this one. Issue #166 had a future Superman and a future Batman fighting an alien and a future Joker. Pretty standard stuff, with everybody looking the same as the normal Batman and Superman. And in issue #168, we see the return of Composite Superman who, while cool, falls into the trope of defeated villains coming back time and again.
Another interesting thing is that this issue manages to get a lot done in a small amount of time. We see two origin stories for Superman, one for Clark and one for Lex, as well as the origin of Batman, and the origin of Supergirl. Plus, it’s presented in an interesting manner, as it’s both familiar, but different enough to merit explanation. Something the DCEU could take notes on.
Now, if you’re interested in the plot, but are wary of the writer, don’t be. World’s Finest #167 is written by Cary Bates. He has written many different series for DC, including World’s Finest, Legion of Superheroes, Flash, Captain Atom, and a few other things. He is also responsible for the Trial of the Flash, and the recent Fall and Rise of Captain Atom. Also, comics didn’t have to be as complex as they are now, so this fulfills the niche of just good single issues.
But, bad art can make a comic less enjoyable, just look at The Dark Knight Strikes Again. But don’t worry, World’s Finest #167 is drawn by the late Curt Swan, who worked almost exclusively on Superman, between World’s Finest to Superman to Action Comics to Superboy. And, this issue is from 1967, comics didn’t need to be as extravagant as they do nowadays.
So, is World’s Finest #167 worth picking up? I’d say yes, but not for the price it’s being sold at. I bought it for $4, and even that was probably too much. It’s a fun story, but it’s nothing so important that you need to break the bank over it. If you can find it for cheap, or in a large bundle, definitely get it and take the time to read it. It’s interesting to see how much comics have changed when it comes to alternate origin stories. Overall, it’s a fun read, but it’s nothing that you have to read.
