World's Finest Comics #175
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeWorld's Finest Comics #175 (May 1968) holds a firm place in DC history as the first comic book in which Neal Adams drew Batman in a full interior story — a milestone that effectively launched the artist's transformative run on the character. The issue pairs that debut with a reprint of 'The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel' from Detective Comics #225, placing the complete origin of the Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) before a new generation of Silver Age readers who may never have seen the 1955 original. Taken together, the two stories make this a single package that inaugurates one of comics' most consequential artistic relationships while simultaneously re-introducing one of DC's foundational Silver Age heroes.
In World's Finest Comics #175, Superman and Batman square off in an annual friendly rivalry against Jimmy Olsen and Robin, testing their crime-fighting prowess in a series of high-stakes challenges. As the heroes compete, their respective Revenge Squads work behind the scenes to throw the match—adding tension and unexpected twists to the showdown. Written by Leo Dorfman and brought to life with dynamic art by Neal Adams (pencils and inks) and Dick Giordano (inks), the cover by Neal Adams captures the playful rivalry with bold, expressive energy.
In a yearly showdown of wits and strength, Superman and Jimmy Olsen go head-to-head with Batman and Robin in a series of high-stakes challenges. But as the heroes compete, the Superman Revenge Squad and the Batman Revenge Squad—led by "Cash" Carew, "Barney the Blast," and the Flamethrower—ramp up the chaos with their own schemes to ruin the day.
In "Part II: To the Victor Comes Death!", Superman and Batman face off in an annual showdown of skill and heroism, their rivalry spilling into a series of high-stakes challenges. As Jimmy Olsen and Robin compete alongside them, the Superman Revenge Squad and Batman Revenge Squad work in secret to undermine their heroes’ efforts—turning the friendly contest into a battle for supremacy.
In "The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel," a scientist’s accidental teleportation of a Martian to Earth sets off a chain of events that leaves the alien stranded when the inventor dies. Now living among humans, the Martian chooses to take on a new role—becoming a police detective to help protect the very world he never meant to invade.
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Veteran Superman editor Mort Weisinger, who had already been using Adams for covers, assigned Adams both the cover and the interior art for this issue — giving the young artist his first crack at Batman inside a story. Writer Leo Dorfman supplied the script for the lead feature, while the six-page back-up is a reprint of the Samachson/Certa origin from Detective Comics #225 (1955), selected by the editors as a showcase piece for readers unfamiliar with the Martian Manhunter. The issue went on sale March 12, 1968, and was later chosen as the opening story in DC's Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 1 hardcover (2003), cementing its status as the starting point of Adams' Batman career.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First interior Batman story drawn by Neal Adams — 'The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads!' (script: Leo Dorfman; art: Neal Adams), published May 1968.
- Cover also by Neal Adams, making this issue his first cover-and-interiors package on a Batman-starring title.
- Lead story (two-part): Superman and Jimmy Olsen face off annually against Batman and Robin in a crime-solving contest, while both heroes' respective Revenge Squads attempt to exploit the competition to destroy them; Barry Allen (The Flash) makes a cameo appearance that cuts the contest short.
- Back-up story is a reprint of 'The Strange Experiment of Dr. Erdel' (originally Detective Comics #225, November 1955) — the origin of J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, written by Joe Samachson and drawn by Joe Certa.
- The reprint introduced J'onn J'onzz's origin — including his human alias John Jones and his vulnerability to fire — to Silver Age readers thirteen years after the original's publication.
- Inks on the Adams story are officially disputed: Neal Adams and Dick Giordano have both been credited across different reprints; Adams himself, Giordano, and multiple published sources each support a different attribution.
- The lead story was reprinted in Super-Team Family #1 (1975), Superman in the Sixties (1999), and Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 1 (2003 hardcover; 2012 softcover), as well as the Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus (2016).
- Edited by Mort Weisinger (credited) with E. Nelson Bridwell as uncredited assistant editor; on-sale date was March 12, 1968.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Detective Comics #225 (1955)
Reprinted in Superboy #147 (1968), Superman #25 (1969), Super-Team Family #1 (1975), 月刊スーパーマン [Monthly Superman] #4 (1978), The Super Heroes #10 (1981), Batman #4 (1990), Superman in the Sixties #[nn] (1999), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams #1 (2003), Batman Anthologie Neal Adams 1967-1969 #[nn] (2005), Batman Collection: Neal Adams #1 (2008), Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams #1 (2012), Showcase Presents: World's Finest #4 (2013), Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus #[nn] (2016), Batman by Neal Adams #1 (2018), DC Comics - The Legend of Batman #26 (2018)
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