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"Superman & Sgt. Rock: "The Miracle Man of Easy Company"": This story is reprinted from DC Comics Presents #10.

The Best of DC #5 is an issue of the series The Best of DC (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1980. It was published on February 14, 1980.

Synopsis for Superman & Sgt. Rock: "The Miracle Man of Easy Company"

This story is reprinted from DC Comics Presents #10.

When receiving an award for in France at the Arc Du Triumph for saving the country from a meteor, Superman accepts an gold trophy that is a replica of the very same threat that he saved Paris from. Superman detects that the object contains a bomb but is unable to throw it due to the fact that a super adhesive has insured that it sticks to his hand. In order to save the people of Paris again, Superman would fly out into space hoping that the bomb will not harm him. When it does explode, Superman finds himself hurtled back in time to Paris during World War II. Superman passes out near the location where two Nazi spies have broken away from Sgt. Rock's Easy Company to doff their disguises and report back to their superiors. When Superman awakens, he has partial amnesia, not remembering who he is or his Kryptonian nature. Spotting the discarded US military uniforms and not recognizing his own costume, Superman dresses up in the uniform so that he won't be considered an enemy and attacked by US troops.

Superman is found by Rock and Easy Co. who find his story of having amnesia hard to believe and are suspicious that he might be a spy. Before they can press him for more answers they are attacked by Nazi soldiers who ambush them. During the fire fight, Rock and his troops note that if it wasn't for a tree blocking Superman from the hail of bullets, the Nazis would have gunned him down as well and consider to trying to accept his story. As they march onward on their mission through enemy territory, they quiz the Man of Steel to see if he knows about current American events and Superman is able to answer all their questions, but struggle as he might he cannot begin to remember who he might really be. That night as they camp out, Rock watches as Superman looks up to the stars and wonders if during combat this "soldier" is going to be able to prove himself in battle.

The next day as they continue their trek, they are attacked by a German tiger tank. Arming Superman with a bazooka, Rock orders him to destroy the tank. However, Superman's deep rooted code of conduct to never kill prevents him from firing. Taking this as weakness, Rock and the other members of Easy Co. charge the tank. Angry at being unable to help, Superman punches the ground and is surprised to find that he has super strength. This blow goes unseen, but it breaks up the ground enough to trip up the tank allowing Rock to toss a grenade inside and kill the Nazi's within.

While trying to come to terms with the idea of killing the so called "Nazi supermen", Superman finally remembers who he is. Not willing to effect history by being seen in costume before he arrived on Earth, Superman would secretly help out Easy Co. when they are strafed by a Nazi fighter plane, incapacitating it but sparing the pilots inside. Returning back to his discarded uniform, Superman scans it with his x-ray vision and finds a secret transmitter inside and realizes that he had inadvertently tipped the Nazi's off to Rock's location. Deciding to help the war hero out on his mission, Superman would rush ahead and allow himself to be captured by the Nazis. Brought before their commander, the Man of Steel would tell them that he is part of a super soldier program and as "Corporal Steel" he was nothing compared to Sgt. Rock. When the Nazi's attempt to kill Superman, they are shocked by his super powers and he sends them fleeing while destroying their base.

When Rock and Easy Co. arrive shortly thereafter, Superman feigns being dead and Easy Co. pay their respects by burying him, marking his grave with a rifle and helmet before pressing on. With his aid no longer needed, Superman bursts out of the ground and flies back through the time barrier to the present to find out who planted the bomb that sent him into the past to begin with.

Appearing in Superman & Sgt. Rock: "The Miracle Man of Easy Company"

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Synopsis for Deadman: "Never Say Die!"

This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #466.

Deadman inhabits the body of a pigeon to keep Abraham Gold from shooting himself. He is depressed because his son Jacob makes a living pushing drugs for mobster Mr. Caprice. After a confrontation with Abraham, his son finally decides to quit Caprice's gang and go straight. Deadman follows the son to Caprice's hideout. Meanwhile, unknown to Deadman and the son, Abraham has come to kill the gang leader. Deadman tries to prevent the old man from committing murder by inhabiting his body, but he gets him killed by Caprice's gunfire instead. Deadman then hops into the son's body, defeats the gang, and tells Caprice that the police will soon be there to arrest them all, because of the gunfire noise. Caprice commits suicide. Jacob Gold promises his dying father that he will serve his time in prison, and make a new life for himself and his daughter when he is released.

Appearing in Deadman: "Never Say Die!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Abraham Gold (Single appearance; dies)
  • Jacob Gold (Single appearance)

Antagonists:

  • Mr. Caprice (Single appearance; dies)
  • Lester (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Sarah Gold (Single appearance)

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  • None

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  • None

Synopsis for Jonah Hex: "Minister of the Lord"

This story is reprinted from Jonah Hex #24.

Reverend Julian is kept company on the open trail by Jonah Hex, who is hot on the trail of the Sam Bronson Gang. The Bronson Gang ambushes the pair and the Reverend is fatally shot. Not to miss an opportunity, Hex switches into the reverned's garb and sets the corpse, in his clothes, as a decoy while he sneaks up on the gang. Hex starts shooting at them and triggers an avalanche. The gang escapes, but Hex is buried. Lucky to have survived, Hex crawls out of the debris, only he can't remember who he is. Noticing his dress and finding a letter within, Hex believes himself to be Reverend Julian, on his way to Fort Onondaga to be the new Cavalry Chaplain! Hex rides into the Fort, which is under attack by Apaches. Unfortunately, they are low on supplies, ammo, and men, and will not make it until next week, when reinforcements arrive. That night, Hex runs out with a kite and some fireworks, to try to trick the Apache that the bird-serpent god, Koishisa, has appeared, although he has no idea how he knows about Apache folklore. The trick works - the Apaches retreat, thinking that it was Koishisa - a bad omen. Over the next few weeks, the amnesiac Hex acts as a normal Chaplain in the fort. Then, a man from the Bronson Gang comes by, to check things out for a robbery. The man recognizes Jonah Hex and runs off to tell the gang. The gang comes to the Fort and calls out Hex. Luckily, Hex's memory returns just in time and he shoots the lot of them.

Appearing in Jonah Hex: "Minister of the Lord"

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Supporting Characters:

  • Reverend Julian (Single appearance; dies)

Antagonists:

  • Frank (Single appearance; dies)
  • Sam (Single appearance; dies)
  • Jake (Single appearance; dies)
  • Sam Bronson (Single appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Apaches

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Synopsis for Superboy: "The Shadow of Jor-El!"

This story is reprinted from Superman Family #196.

Jonathan Kent feels inadequate comparing himself to the late Jor-El, but proves his worth to himself when he discovers a meteorite causing quakes in Smallville and risks his life to bring Superboy to destroy it.

Appearing in Superboy: "The Shadow of Jor-El!"

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  • Riy-Ul (Flashback only)

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  • Mind Prober Ray

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Synopsis for House of Mystery: "The Mouse of History"

This story is reprinted from House of Mystery #267.

Appearing in House of Mystery: "The Mouse of History"

  • Appearances not yet listed

Synopsis for Batman: "The Curse of Crime Alley"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #483.

On the anniversary of his parents' death, Batman returns to Park Row, now called Crime Alley and meets with Leslie Thompkins, the kind elder woman who once comforted an orphan Bruce Wayne.

During their conversation, they notice a couple of strange men outside the Skirley Apartments, a building located in the same spot where the Waynes were murdered. Batman forces the thugs to tell the truth of their intentions and so he learns that they were hired by a criminal called Maxie Zeus in order to kill a former enemy called John Logan.

Batman and Leslie go into the building to warn Logan about the attack. When Batman is distracted by a case of domestic violence, a lowlife takes the chance to snatch away Leslie's purse and attack her. When Batman notices the thief escaping and Lelise injured, he goes berserk and attacks the criminal, beating him to a pulp. Batman is only stopped at Leslie's pleadings and they are soon joined by Logan, who shows true intentions of protecting Leslie.

Knowing that his friend is in good hands, Batman goes looking for the rest of henchmen hired by Zeus and he finds them at the top of the building, ready to drop a chemical agent through the ventilation system, which would kill Logan or force him to leave the apartments, where more thugs would attack him.

Batman takes all of the crooks down and prevents them from spreading the gas as a heavy storm starts pouring over Crime Alley. Before the night is over, Maxie Zeus receives a note from Batman with the only word: "soon". At dawn, Leslie has been taken to the Gotham General Hospital, where she is glad to see that her efforts and sacrifice can bring small changes in people such as John Logan.

Appearing in Batman: "The Curse of Crime Alley"

Featured Characters:

  • Batman (Flashback and main story)

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Other Characters:

  • Long John Logan (Single appearance)
  • Thomas Wayne (Dies in flashback)
  • Martha Wayne (Dies in flashback)
  • Ansel (Single appearance)

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Synopsis for The Private Life of Clark Kent: "Clark Kent's Mynah Dilemma"

This story is reprinted from Superman Family #197.

Clark Kent gets a gift of a Mynah bird from May Marigold, and it promply repeats the phrase, "Clark Kent is Superman."

Appearing in The Private Life of Clark Kent: "Clark Kent's Mynah Dilemma"

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Synopsis for Haunted Tank: "Back Door to War"

This story is reprinted from G.I. Combat #213.

Appearing in Haunted Tank: "Back Door to War"

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Synopsis for Secrets of Haunted House: "Papa Don"

This story is reprinted from Secrets of Haunted House #17.

A black man of 1937 Harlem is saved from a racketeer by a voodoo zombie.

Appearing in Secrets of Haunted House: "Papa Don"

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Synopsis for Superman: "Fall and Rise of the Star-Child"

This story is reprinted from Action Comics #502.

An alien race, the Dyrlians, selects Superman and Supergirl to be the surrogate parents of Rovos, a synthetically-born child who will grow to maturity in a day. The child develops mentally and physically under their care, but seems to have no emotions. To remedy this, Superman feigns a battle with the Galactic Golem and the Parasite, which Supergirl and Rovos watch on a viewscreen. Rovos experiences love, hate, joy, pride, fear, grief and courage during the battle and when he sees the "Parasite" unmasked as Superman. Rovos even laughs at the absurdity of it all. Superman tells him that the Dyrlians, who abandoned their organic bodies long ago to put their minds in android bodies, had gradually lost their emotions and needed Rovos to experience them and, unwittingly, transmit them back to his creators. Supergirl admits that they are going to miss him, and Rovos, shedding tears, says that he will miss them as well.

Appearing in Superman: "Fall and Rise of the Star-Child"

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Other Characters:

  • Citizens of Metropolis (Unnamed)
  • Rob Geller (a professional photographer looking to get an unsuspecting photo of Clark Kent) (Single appearance)
  • Jackie (Mentioned only)
  • Sophia (Mentioned only)
  • Mick (Mentioned only)
  • Dyrlians (Mentioned only) (Origin)
    • Rovos (Single appearance) (Origin)
  • Albert Einstein (Mentioned only)
  • Kryptonian Gods (Mentioned only)
  • Rao (Mentioned only)

Locations:

Items:

  • Rob Geller's Camera (Destroyed)
  • Two Dyrlian Mind Probes
  • Super-Computer
  • Code-Red Catastrophe Alarm
  • Superman's Satellite Monitors (Mentioned only)

Vehicles:

  • Dyrlian Spacecraft (In ruins)

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