World's Finest # 188, November, 1969

Here we are at the annual reprint collection again already. This would have been, as always, on sale in late Summer. Nice Swanderson cover and a pretty good reprints collection. The Speedy origin from ADVENTURE is a nice touch to match the GA origin in the previous issue of WF.

World's Finest # 187, September, 1969

A Swan/Anderson cover! That dream team wows about to become increasingly important in the life of Superman. 

Continued from last issue, Batman, accused as a witch in the past by Superman, manages to turn the tables and get folks thinking Superman to be the witch. He also runs into his ancestor, "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who inadvertently got them mixed up in this in the first place. And Wayne has a young "sidekick" named "Robby." 

Three cool kits advertised below but none proved as popular as expected. CHITTY was probably the biggest disappointment, although the movie was--at age 10--my first date.

I was still amazed that Kirby had ever drawn Green Arrow and Speedy and now more so that he had down an origin! I had never known GA's origin! According to the letters page, this was run just after Neal's major makeover on the character had first appeared.

Don't laugh. SUGAR & SPIKE is one of the most fondly remembered titles by Silver Age DC fans. In fact, it holds up better than LOIS LANE today! The Giant advertised below remains one of my favorite sixties comics.

World's Finest # 186, August, 1969

Another two parter begins, this one yet another one where if the two heroes acted in character we would have no story. As it is, they go back in time on a  whim and a seemingly jealous Superman gets Batman convicted of being a witch...to be continued. The best part is the cameo from Ben Franklin. I remember this also as being the first time I had ever heard of the real historical figure "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

Johnny Quick was the first Golden Age hero I had ever encountered, first seen in a FLASH 80 Page Giant in 1966.

World's Finest # 185, June, 1969

Another manipulative aliens pitting the world's finest heroes against each other story. A good one, tough, with some interesting layouts. The script, with a gambling theme, is an uncharacteristic turn at Batman and Superman from Bob Kanigher, best known for his war comics and for a couple of decades of Wonder Woman stories.

World's Finest # 184, May, 1969

Bates and Swan and Abel are back this time for the first time in a few issues with what has to be my favorite story from this period and one of my favorite Imaginary Stories.

These Fact Files were some of the earliest historical pieces on comics, usually written by the late Mark Hanerfield.

Once again, proof that the Manhunter reprints were popular. This one tied in with the previously mentioned JLA issue--advertised above--in which they attempted to write the character out of continuity.