Maybe so. I guess I'm afraid sometimes that if I slow down, something behind me... might... catch up with me... All my life I've pushed... driven... Denied myself anything that didn't directly apply to the goals I set for myself. Times like this make me see a glimmer... Of what I may have missed. 
- — Batman
World's Finest #285 is an issue of the series World's Finest (Volume 1) with a cover date of November, 1982. It was published on August 26, 1982.
Synopsis for "Deliver Us from Evil!"
On their way back home after defeating Amalgamax, Superman takes Batman flying back to Gotham City and the experience gives Batman a new perspective on things. However, as they descend on the city, they spot a man being attacked by a tiger and the heroes immediately help. While Superman takes out the tiger, Batman makes sure the victim is alive. When Superman approaches the animal to know more about it, a dense black cloud transports him into another dimension, leaving Batman alone in the street, where several wild animals appear out of nowhere. Batman is taken to the limit of his physical abilities to defeat the animals, but in the end he collapses from exhaustion.
When Bruce recovers, he finds himself back at Wayne Manor, with Superman watching over him. The Man of Steel explains that he was eventually released from the cloud dimension and when he returned, he found Batman unconscious and the animals gone. Bruce then asks Superman to stay for a moment and talk about his past in Smallville and his stories soothe Batman's mind, always tortured about a lost childhood. When Bruce falls asleep, Superman returns to Metropolis, where he tries to get a few hours of sleep, but he has a horrible nightmare involving Batman's death and the Zodiac Idol, which was stolen from Superman not so long ago.
Superman goes to Gotham to warn Bruce about his dream and he finds that Bruce is currently with Dr. Dundee, discussing the theft of his medical records. Bruce realizes that only someone who knows Batman's secret identity must be interested in such information, but since there is nobody who knows about it on the loose, Bruce ignores the event. Superman finally tells Bruce about his dream and he also informs Batman that the zodiac coins that were given to the Museum are fake. When Bruce examines the coin in his own collection, he also finds that it is fake and the heroes realize that whoever has gotten the real coins, must be planning to use them with the Zodiac Idol.
In the meantime, Dr. Zodiac and his lover, Marissa are waiting for their master's instructions after they have successfully stolen Bruce Wayne's medical records and proven that he is the perfect test subject when he defeated their animals. The crooks know that Batman is Bruce Wayne.
Without nobody else to turn to, Batman and Superman ask Zatanna for assistance and she tries to decipher the mystery of the fake coins, but as soon as she touches them, she becomes possessed and attacks her friends. Batman and Superman fight Zatanna's magic and using a well aimed Batarang, Batman forces Zatanna to drop the enchanted coins. Zatanna is free from the possession, but she faints, muttering something about a terrible being and the heroes realize that their troubles have just begun.
Appearing in "Deliver Us from Evil!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Adored One
Other Characters:
- Wayne Family
- Thomas Wayne (Dies in flashback)
- Martha Wayne (Dies in flashback)
- Joe Chill (Flashback only)
- Kent Family
- Martha Kent (Flashback only)
- Jonathan Kent (Flashback only)
- Krypto (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Gotham City
- Crime Alley (Flashback only)
- Wayne Manor
- Metropolis
Items:
Notes
- This is the first full length issue of World's Finest. With these issue, several changes were made to the format, starting with Marv Wolfman's tenure as editor, the extended continuity between stories and the characterization of Batman and Superman.
See Also
Recommended Reading