Customer Reviews

World's Finest Comics Archives, Vol. 1 (DC Archive Editions)

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When I was a boy I loved reading the DC line-up of comics. Action comics, Superman, Batman, Detective, JLA, Flash, Adventure, Metal Men, Jimmy Olsen and WORLD'S FINEST were my favorite books.

If you enjoyed these stories as I did, but lost your comic collection along the way - as I did - then this is a book for you.

Handsomely bound in a hard cover with jacket cover art remenisant of the old days, the book has 16 full color, complete tales from Superman #76 and World's Finest #71 thru 85.

The price tag will probably keep younger readers from buying the book, but then, younger readers would probably scoff at the tales and art we enjoyed in the late fifties and thru the sixties.

The trip down memory lane couldn't find better company than Batman, Robin and Superman of old. I'm anxiously awaiting volume two to appear.

~P~

DC has been brilliant with their archive releases, bringing tons of material, much that has never been reprinted before, from the 30's through early 80's and putting them together in hardcover editions. Teen Titans. The Flash. Justice League of America. Green Lantern. Hawkman. And of course, let us not forget the Superman and Batman collections. Of them all, however, there is only one set that is a personal must-buy for me, and I'll nab any future collections released. That is the World's Finest collection, which has both heavy-hitters Batman and Superman team up together.

Yet these aren't the heroes from the modern ages, who are more uneasy allies than anything else. The Batman and Superman in this set are not just allies, but also the best of friends; comrades in arms who would always look out for one another. Superman and Batman always were the brawn and the brains respectively, and combined with Robin there was nothing that could take them down. Of course, this presented a few challenges in trying to create some strong adversaries or dillemas for the near-invincible trio to face, yet writers Edmond Hamilton, Bill Finger, and Alvin Schwartz always managed a way, whether it be aliens, time travellers, a sneaky group of gangsters, or one hero taking measures to make sure to other wasn't injured, even if it meant at that time "betraying" his friend to do so. Combined with the wonderful artwork of the late, great Curt Swan and these stories were guaranteed to be instant classics. Sure, they were simple 11-pagers, but in today's comic world of long, drawn out sagas that can take up to a year or two to complete, these tales from yesteryear are a very nice breath of fresh air.

I have already bought the first two titles in the collection, and have discovered that a third one is coming out this August. I am eagerly awaiting it.

This book is a must for ALL comic fans.It reprints stories from the 50'ss and 60's that team up Superman,Batman and Robin!Such comis aren't printed today,sadly.See how Superman and Batman learned each other's identities and teamed up for the FIRST time.Watch as they sove baffling mysteries.I love this book because the stories are action-packed and it features great artwork from the Golden Age!If you are a hero fan,read about the Dynamic Duo and Superman!Now THAT'S a plan!

Ideas are strange things. Even the most obvious thing we take for granted now had to come in some great flash of insight to a pioneer or desperate soul, or both. And then we all sit around going "well duh, why didn't I think of that."

"The World's Finest Comics Archives" is an excellent example of this. Superman and Batman had been HUGE hits in comics. Even when super-heroes were winding down at the end of the Golden Age, these two were still going strong in multiple titles, including "World's Finest". They were even sharing the cover, and had been for over a decade. And yet, they had not met in a story. Even though DC/National had put together several super-heroes early in the 1940s and called it the Justice Society of America, somehow the editors didn't think to bring together their two big guns until the 1950s.

Maybe it was the times. Super-heroes had gone dormant. EC's horror line had taken hold, only to be kicked in the teeth by concerned parents, a German shrink, and the Senate. Maybe now was the best time to get these two together.

And when they did get together, whoa brother! The result was a huge blast of fun and adventure, in the plot and action driven style common to DC Comics, as all-powerful Superman and non-powered Batman met and saved the day, all while sharing quips and smiles.

The stories are all fun, but have to take them as you find them. The folks at DC knew how to play on Superman's great powers and Batman's excellent detective skills. Don't presume the modern (and probably more realistic) post-Crisis approach of a relationship built on respect and a little distrust. These characters were the best of friends, and a great deal of sacrifice and concern went into their adventures (maybe with a hint of competition). Superman and Batman were not above lying to the other if it meant keeping the other safe. But that was the most conflicted their relationship ever got.

Great stores need great art, and this volume boasts not one, but two classic artists: Curt Swan (primarily a Superman artist) and Dick Sprang (who cut his teeth on Batman). Each knows how to tell a crisp, clean story, always concious of the whimsy and fun of bringing such two fantastic characters together.

You can't go wrong with this volume. The Silver Age hadn't quite started yet, but you can see a transition in this volume from the Golden Age "down to earth" quality to the more "sci-fi" Silver Age. The result is an excellent archive.