World's Finest #175 is an issue of the series World's Finest (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1968. It was published on March 12, 1968.
Synopsis for Superman and Batman: "The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads - To the Victor Comes Death!"
Superman and Jimmy Olsen square off against Batman and Robin in an annual duel of wits competition, while the Superman Revenge Squad and the brand-new Batman Revenge Squad intend to use the contest to wipe both teams out.
The villains have managed to tamper with the various objects that have been placed as trophies for the winners of the competition, hoping to eliminate one of the heroes. However, Batman and Superman are always tied and they villains have to intervene to make one of the heroes win the contest. When the whole event is cut short by a warning delivered by Flash, the heroes decide to share the objects as trophies and it is then that they realize that the objects have been tampered and turned into deadly weapons against them. Jimmy and Robin start working on the objects and soon they find the source of the remote control devices, which takes them directly to the villain's hideout. Batman, Superman, Jimmy and Robin arrive to the place and they capture their respective Revenge Squads for good.
Appearing in Superman and Batman: "The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads - To the Victor Comes Death!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jimmy Olsen (Flashback and main story)
- Robin (Flashback and main story)
- Commissioner Gordon
Antagonists:
- Superman Revenge Squad
- Batman Revenge Squad (Single appearance)
- "Cash" Carew
- Flamethrower
- Barney "The Blast"
Other Characters:
- The Flash
- Officer Lewis
Locations:
- Metropolis
- A Railroad 'Graveyard'
- Gotham City
Items:
- Gold Kryptonite
- Muscle Amplifier
- Infra-red Bat-Specs
- Jimmy Olsen's Anti-Grav Feather Cloak
- Intelligence Expander
- Jimmy Olsen's Signal Watch
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Martian Manhunter: "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel"
This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #225.
J'onn J'onzz, The Martian Manhunter
When Professor Mark Erdel uses a "robot brain" and teleportation system of his creation to capture and retrieve something from space, it brings a green-skinned Martian named J'onn J'onzz to Earth. After both introduce themselves to each other, J'onzz asks Erdel to return him to Mars. Erdel replies that he cannot do that, since it might take years to reverse his computer's program. The Martian, knowing he must adapt his appearance to that of humans, uses his chameleon-like powers to make himself look like a brown-haired Caucasian human male. Seconds afterward, the shock of the preceding events takes its toll on Erdel's weak heart. With his last breaths, Erdel asks J'onzz to forgive him for making him a prisoner of Earth. Then he dies.
J'onzz muses that the Martians are working on a "Project Star-Ride" for interplanetary travel. But until that project is completed--however long that may take--he is bound to Earth. He Americanizes his name to John Jones. Then, going to the seaside, he uses his Martian mind-over-matter power to extract gold from seawater to give him working capital. John Jones then takes a tour of the Earth, sometimes using his powers of invisibility and immateriality to conceal his presence.
One aspect of Terran life disturbs J'onn J'onzz: crime. Since Earth is a younger planet than Mars, and since Mars underwent the "Great Evolution" centuries ago that virtually wiped out crime, its rate of wrongdoing is much less than that of Earth. J'onzz decides to help the Earthmen by fighting crime. In his John Jones identity, he takes and passes a detective exam at the Midtown police department. But he realizes he must avoid a Martian's one weakness--fire, which can sap his powers and take his life.
Appearing in Martian Manhunter: "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel"
Featured Characters:
- J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars/Detective John Jones (First appearance) (Origin)
Supporting Characters:
- Professor Mark Erdel (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Middleton Police Department (First appearance)
- Lt. Saunders (First appearance)
Locations:
Notes
- "The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads" is reprinted in Super-Team Family #1, Superman in the Sixties and Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol 1.
See Also