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"Superman and Batman: "The Freak Who Never Fails"": Superman and Batman are assigned to free a captive scientist from the tyrannical nation of Mariposa, but Metamorpho scoops them. The elemental man becomes involved in

Quote1 The old tyrant's right! Sapph will only marry me if I've got beaucoup bread... And short of stealing or inventing a rich, dead uncle... this is the only way I'll ever get my lunch-hooks on any! Okay, Simon Legree, for that kind of pay-off, I'll play slave! Quote2
Metamorpho

World's Finest #226 is an issue of the series World's Finest (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1974.

Synopsis for Superman and Batman: "The Freak Who Never Fails"

Superman and Batman are assigned to free a captive scientist from the tyrannical nation of Mariposa, but Metamorpho scoops them. The elemental man becomes involved in the case when Simon Stagg offers him a large amount of money. Stagg's ultimate plan is to get rid of Metamorpho, but after his encounter with Batman and Superman, Rex becomes aware of Simon's plan.

Ultimately, the Superman-Batman team fail to rescue the doctor, but upon their return to America, they learn that the scientist they tried to save was fake and furthermore, he would've released a deadly virus in the US. Fortunately, Metamorpho found the real scientist and returned home to claim Simon's millions in reward.

Appearing in Superman and Batman: "The Freak Who Never Fails"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • El Jefe (Single appearance; dies)
    • Dr. Jan Vronsky's impostor (Single appearance; dies)

Other Characters:

  • Sapphire Stagg (Cameo)
  • Dr. Jan Vronsky (Single appearance)
  • Captain Diego Julio (Single appearance)

Locations:


Synopsis for Sandman: "I Hate the Sandman!"

This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #87.

Appearing in Sandman: "I Hate the Sandman!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Tennessee Tommy (Single appearance)
  • Mickey the Mope (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Silas Pettigrew (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for Eclipso: "Eclipso's Amazing Ally!"

This story is reprinted from House of Secrets #63.

Appearing in Eclipso: "Eclipso's Amazing Ally!"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Eclipso
  • A Robot Eclipso (Single appearance)

Locations:

  • An undisclosed city

Items:

  • Mazatlan Ore

Synopsis for Robotman: "The Crime Collector"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #194.

Appearing in Robotman: "The Crime Collector"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:


Antagonists:

  • Randolph Strange (Single appearance)
    • Pete (Single appearance)

Other Characters:


Locations:


Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Deadman: "What Makes a Corpse Cry?"

This story is reprinted from Strange Adventures #207.

Hill's Circus leaves town, and Deadman remains behind to check out another lead to his killing: Rocky Manzel, the thuggish owner of a discotheque called The Freak-Out. Some time before his murder, Boston Brand had befriended Liz Martin, a singer at the discotheque, and got into a fight with the jealous Rocky. After beating Manzel, Brand promised to come back and help Liz out of Rocky's clutches, but he was killed off before he could. Deadman returns to The Freak-Out and uses the body of Paul, a bartender, to expose a counterfeiting operation Manzel is running. However, he also learns that Manzel was in the hospital at the time of his murder so, he's not responsible for his demise. After seeing that Liz is safe with Paul and intends to marry him, Deadman returns to the search for his murderer.

Appearing in Deadman: "What Makes a Corpse Cry?"

Featured Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Rocky Manzel (Single appearance)
  • Mitch (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Rama Kushna (Flashback only)
  • Tiny (strongman) (Flashback only)
  • Liz Martin (Single appearance)
  • Paul (Single appearance)

Locations:

  • The Freak-Out Club

Items:


Vehicles:



Synopsis for Martian Manhunter: The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #225.

Jonn Jonnz First App

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:

Supporting Characters:

Other Characters:

  • Middleton Police Department (First appearance)
    • Lt. Saunders (First appearance)

Locations:

Synopsis for Martian Manhunter: "The Case of the Magic Baseball"

This story is reprinted from Detective Comics #226.

Baseball pitcher Big Bob Michaels had a prison sentence in his past. Gangster Brad Devon has bet a large amount of money on the team Michaels is pitching against, and warns the ex-con that if he wins, his criminal past will be publicly revealed. Lt. Saunders asks John Jones to keep an eye on the pitcher. Learning of the extortion plot, Jones uses his Martian mind-over-matter powers to help Michaels win the game. Then, when Devon and his men try to rub out Michaels, Jones is on hand to capture them.

Appearing in Martian Manhunter: "The Case of the Magic Baseball"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Lt. Saunders

Antagonists:

  • Brad Devon (Single appearance)
  • Trigger Tom Taylor (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

  • Big Bob Michaels (Single appearance)

Locations:

Items:

  • None

Vehicles:

  • None

Notes

  • "The Freak Who Never Fails" is reprinted in The Best of DC #48.
    • The story is divided in three chapters:
      • Part 1 - Mission to Mariposa
      • Part 2 The Germ Bomb
      • Part 3 Even Dictators Die



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