Comic Title: Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1988
On Sale Date: November 8, 1988 Shipping Date November 8, 1988
Source: Direct Currents, #10

Direct Market Date November 10, 1988
Source: Comic Shop News, #72

Shipping Date November 10, 1988
Source: Amazing Heroes, #151

Copyright Date November 29, 1988
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1988

Cover Price: $24.95
Page Count: 352
Editor: Mike Gold

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Origin of the Superman-Batman Team"
Pages: 12

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-1)
Batman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: Dick Sprang
Inker: Stan Kaye

Reprinted From:
World's Finest Comics #94 (1958)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman #121; next appearance in Action Comics #240)
• Batman (last appearance in Detective Comics #254; next appearance in Detective Comics #255)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Detective Comics #254; next appearance in Detective Comics #255)

Villain(s)

• Lex Luthor (last appearance in Action Comics #236; next appearance in Action Comics #249)
• Several crooks (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Powerman (a robot; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #162; next appearance in Superman #76)
• Batman (last appearance in Batman #171; next appearance in Superman #76)
• Robin (last appearance in Batman #110; next appearance in Superman #76)

Synopsis:
Lex Luthor has escaped prison, and Superman will not let Batman help him recapture the criminal. He has instead taken a new partner, Powerman. Batman and Robin trail Superman to learn why he has refused their help.

Robin recalls the first time he and Batman met the Man of Steel. They had run across some Kryptonite smugglers and gone to warn Superman. They teamed up, but at the final stage Superman refused their help in order to protect them. Batman disguised himself as Superman anyway to assist his new friend. Together they defeated the gang.

Batman suspects Superman is protecting him again. He returns to Luthor’s cell and discovers that Luthor is using a powerful new weapon. He devises a shield to protect himself from the weapon and captures Luthor. Superman then reveals that Powerman is a robot. He used the robot to get close to his foe, because Luthor was also using Kryptonite.