World's Finest #252 is an issue of the series World's Finest (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1978.
Synopsis for Superman & Batman: "Will of the Whisperer"
The Whisperer, a scandalmonger who thrives on ruining prominent people's reputations, blackmails Perry White into running his column in the Daily Planet. Superman and Batman get on the case and try to uncover the Whisperer's real identity. On their investigation, the heroes learn that the criminal has kidnapped Alice White and is using her against Perry to blackmail him.
When the heroes find the only possible witness to the Whisperer's crimes, the man is viciously attacked and he is forced to have a brain transplant. During the man's recovery, there is a court of law and using a special machine, they try to learn the man's testimony from his new brain. However, when Superman realizes that the brain is trying to reveal Batman's secret identity, he breaks the machine, damaging the message. Batman and Superman then deduce that the brain that was transplanted was that of George Dyke thanks to Doc Willard.
After taking care of the previous situation, Batman and Superman proceed to follow the clues to the Whisperer's hideout on the press room of the Daily Planet and they discover that the criminal is a simply copy boy who was denied is chance of becoming a reporter by Perry and went out on a vendetta against the editor. During his escape attempt, the young man falls in one of the printing machines and dies, ending the Whisperer's reign of terror. Batman and Superman can finally return to their normal lives after rescuing Perry and his wife.
Appearing in Superman & Batman: "Will of the Whisperer"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Whisperer/Richie Turner (Single appearance; dies)
- Doc Willard (Behind the scenes)
Other Characters:
- Alice White (Cameo)
- Augie Moran (Single appearance)
- Doctor Hartwell (Single appearance)
- Doctor Youngblood (Single appearance)
- Jon Rambo (Single appearance)
- Old Gus (Single appearance; dies)
- Senator O'Hara (Single appearance)
- Thomas Lukens (Dies)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for Green Arrow & Black Canary: "Blades and Illusions"
The Stinger, now a costumed villain, teams up with Count Vertigo to gain revenge on their foes Green Arrow and Black Canary by switching opponents. Count Vertigo defeats Green Arrow, and the Stinger beats Black Canary. Both heroes are thrown into a death-trap, but Green Arrow defeats the trap and the twosome confront and vanquish the Stinger and Count Vertigo.
Appearing in Green Arrow & Black Canary: "Blades and Illusions"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Count Vertigo
- Stinger
- Ernie
- Howard
- Steve
Other Characters:
- Ruth Anderson
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Creeper: "The Keeper of Secrets Is Death"
Shortly after Bruise Briefly announces that Dr. Joanne Russell knows the Creeper's secret identity on network TV, Dr. Russell turns up murdered, and the Creeper must learn who is blackmailing people in her name.
Appearing in Creeper: "The Keeper of Secrets Is Death"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Bruise Briely
Antagonists:
- Abe Rocco
- Lou Knocko
- Olga Kens
Other Characters:
- Gotham City Police Department
- Lt. Bolt
- Joanne Russell (Dies)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Cosmic Broadcasting
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Wonder Woman: "A Poison of the Heart"
Wonder Woman reaches Steve Howard, but learns of her poisoned state when she accidentally brushes against a plant and kills it. Thus, she refrains from touching him until she can be treated with disinfectant.
An FBI agent tells Wonder Woman and Steve of Poison Ivy's origin: she was originally a student named Lillian Rose who fell in love with Prof. Marc Legrand, her botany teacher. He seduced her into stealing ancient Egyptian herbs from an exhibit for his experiments, and attempted to murder her with herbal poison to cover his tracks afterwards. But Lillian survived, becoming immune to all poisons in the process.
Poison Ivy, Redwood, and Sumac gain the Cupid's root in a central African nation, but Wonder Woman follows them there and confronts them. Poison Ivy steals Wonder Woman's magic lasso and encircles her with it, making the Amazon her slave But Wonder Woman has deduced that Redwood is really a transformed Marc Legrand, and reveals it to him. With his returning memories come his returning hatred for Poison Ivy, and Redwood hurls himself and Ivy off a cliff down a waterfall.
Appearing in Wonder Woman: "A Poison of the Heart"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Poison Ivy (Origin) (Apparent death)
- Marc Legrand/Redwood (Final appearance)
- Sumac
- The General
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- "A Poison of the Heart"
- The origin of Poison Ivy given in this story is the Earth-One version. After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Ivy's history will be completely changed.
- The "Lillian Rose" name for Poison Ivy in this story is an error in the FBI's files, as explained in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #18. Her real name is Pamela Isley, as revealed in Justice League of America #111.
- This story is reprinted in Batman Arkham: Poison Ivy.
See Also