World’s Finest #201 (1971)
by Danny O’Neil & Dick Dillin
cover by Neal Adams
For a while, World’s Finest moves away from the traditional formula of having Superman team up with Batman to having the Man of Steel meet other heroes.
The fact that in the O’Neil period Batman was a more serious character could be a factor, but considering he also writes this team-up with Green Lantern makes me doubt it.
Apparently, this story previously qualified as being Top Secret.
We begin with Green Lantern missing the social commentary from his series, only to find a swarm of meteors about to hit the planet.
Superman is also on the scene, and the two heroes deal with the problem in different ways that don’t really mix well.
Superman narrowly prevents the meteors from hitting some planes, and then the two heroes begin arguing about who messed up.
Guys, there’s no reason to fight about this! You’re BOTH terrible!
So naturally the Guardians of the Universe interfere and decide to run a contest to see which hero is going to be on duty for protecting Earth.
Because never forget these blue guys are just. The. Worst.
Superman firmly believes he’s going to defeat Green Lantern because… well he’s Superman, that tends to be the case.
So THAT is why this was a Top Secret story! Lame.
Green Lantern is not so sure about this, and Green Arrow makes one of the best decisions of his career by staying away from this story.
The Guardians decide to have Doctor Fate to be the judge in this idiotic contest.
Because clearly anyone who is able to grab a magic dragon’s tail is going to be the best space hero. I mean it’s just common sense.
I suppose it’s fair to involve magic to make things slightly more fair, but it still feels completely at odds with the situation.
In order to get to the dragon, each hero is going to face his greatest fear thanks to Fate’s magic.
So Hal Jordan meets the thing he fears the most.
Well okay, a gigantic yellow spider is slightly more terrifying.
But apparently its webs are not particularly strong, so Green Lantern breaks free without using his ring.
Well that was as predictable as it could have been. But what’s Superman’s greatest fear?
Not being able to save everyone?
Disappointing the legacy of the father who raised him?
Disappointing the legacy of the father he barely knew?
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: one of the funniest panels you have ever seen.
This was approved by the Comics Code, by the way. Presumably because they couldn’t stop laughing.
Okay I’m not an orphan, but I refuse to believe it’s typical (or healthy!) for them to fantasize about being slapped by a gigantic version of their father.
Superman beats this by realizing it’s not real. That’s it.
Yeah it’s a bit late to be humble, Superman.
Both heroes reach the dragon at the same time…
…and if you’re surprised the entire thing is a lesson to teach them to work together, I’m sorry for you because this must be your first comic book.
While I don’t buy the idea that Doctor Fate would have trouble crossing to Earth-1 at any time… he can basically do whatever he wants… not only he’s not really here, but unlike what I expected the Guardians of the Universe also were not involved.
This was actually a plan by Justice League villain Felix Faust.
Yeah I don’t think this is the last time you’ll get into a superhero rivalry, Green Lantern.
Historical significance: 0/10
Maybe this should’ve stayed Top Secret.
Silver Age-ness: DADDY/10
Does it stand the test of time? 3/10
Not exactly the best O’Neil work on either character. Neither comes off as particularly great: their rivalry feels extremely petty, and not particularly bright for falling for Faust’s plan.
Green Lantern’s trial is one of the most predictable things he’s ever done, and the less said about Superman’s gigantic daddy issues the better.