World's Finest #268 is an issue of the series World's Finest (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1981.
Synopsis for Superman & Batman: "The Twelve Coins of Power!"
Dr. Zodiac seeks to steal twelve Atlantean coins bearing the signs of the Zodiac, each of which will give him the powers of Zodiac symbols following a strange ritual. Batman becomes aware of the plan when one if his coins is stolen from his private collection.
When Batman tells the information to Superman, who in turn goes to Atlantis to learn the origin of the coins. While in the lost city, Superman is attacked by Dr. Zodiac, who has gained the powers of the coins he has already stolen.
Zodiac overpowers Superman and Batman on every occasion thanks to his newfound powers and after a crime spree, there is only one coin missing to grant him the entire powers of the Zodiac signs. Batman prepares a trap to force Dr. Zodiac to steal a fake coin and when the evil magician tries to use it, his powers are drained, as Superman had learned that the whole process would revert if a regular coin was used in the ritual. Thus, Dr. Zodiac is capture and all the stolen coins are returned.
Appearing in Superman & Batman: "The Twelve Coins of Power!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Doctor Zodiac
- Roscoe (Single appearance)
- Carl (Single appearance)
- Tony (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Benny (Single appearance)
- Ar-Phazel (Flashback only)
Locations:
Items:
- Bat-Signal
- Zodiac Coins
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Green Arrow: "The Blade of Death"
When Green Arrow begins cracking down on the drug-dealing operations of gangster Al Canino, the gang-boss forces samurai and restaurateur Yoshido Minowara to work against the archer by kidnapping Minowara's daughter. But Green Arrow and Minowara form an alliance, free the girl, and bring down Canino and his operation.
Appearing in Green Arrow: "The Blade of Death"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Al Canino
- Al Canino's thugs
- Yoshido Minowara
Other Characters:
- Yoshido Minowara's daughter (unnamed)
Locations:
Items:
- Trick Arrows
- Yoshido Minowara's sword
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Red Tornado: "Whose Body is It Anyway?"
T.O. Morrow, in the Red Tornado's body, tries to take the hero's place, but the Red Tornado, in T.O. Morrow's body, follows him for a showdown.
Appearing in Red Tornado: "Whose Body is It Anyway?"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Hawkman: "Your City or Your Life!"
Appearing in Hawkman: "Your City or Your Life!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Lord Insectus
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Captain Marvel: "A Sleep and the Deep: A Special Presentation of the Origin of Captain Marvel, Jr."
Freddy Freeman is having a nightmare about the sea being furious at him, calling CAPTAIN MARVEL in his sleep as he awakens and returns to normal, calling up Billy Batson to meet him to talk. Billy calls SHAZAM to have Captain Marvel fly the way there and lands. Freddy tells him he keeps having dreams of the sea and that he spent his early life in a New England fishing village with his family: his parents… and his brother. Billy is shocked to hear he has a brother as Freddy says his name was Christopher, but they called him “Kit” (after Marlowe). The last day he saw his father, he went out on the water despite signs of bad weather, thinking he could beat the bad weather. It turned out to be a hurricane and he was never seen again. While waiting to see her husband return home, Mrs. Freeman is flushed away by the storm when it destroys the pier she’s on. They would wash on the shore the next morning… Freddy went to live with one grandfather and Kit with the other. A few years later, Grampa Freeman found a man fall in the water of the bay with Freddy rowing and they turn around to help him. They fish him out of the water, but it’s Captain Nazi, who punches Grampa hard enough to snap his neck and knock him into the water. Freddy tries to hit him with an oar, but Capt. Nazi swipes it from him and smashes it into him to knock him off his boat. Billy realizes this is where Captain Marvel came in, saving Freddy by taking him to the Wizard Shazam to give him a portion of his powers, allowing Freddy to survive by becoming Captain Marvel, Jr., though he remains disabled to this day as Freddy Freeman. Freddy says later he heard that Kit and Grampa Troop were sunk by a U-Boat and says he finds it so strange to think of being worried about WWII in the ‘80s (due to the Suspendium Globe Incident). Freddy wonders if the sea taking everything from him is why he has these nightmares… and if the sea is coming for him too some day…
Appearing in Captain Marvel: "A Sleep and the Deep: A Special Presentation of the Origin of Captain Marvel, Jr."
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- "Kit" Freeman
- The Wizard Shazam (Flashback only)
Antagonists:
- Captain Nazi (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
- "Grampa" Freeman (Dies in flashback)
- "Grampa" Troop (Dies in flashback)
- Freddy's Parents (Dies in flashback)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Captain Marvel's story is reprinted in Shazam!: The World's Mightiest Mortal Vol. 3.
See Also