World's Best Comics Vol 1 1

"Superman: "Superman vs the Rainmaker"": The Rainmaker arrives at B. Drexel Rutherford's mansion, predicting it will rain in 5 minutes, in which he is correct. He then offers Rutherford a deal - Rather pay him or have his Imperial Valley Dam destroyed. Rutherford declines, believing him to be bl

World's Best Comics #1 is an issue of the series World's Best (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1941. It was published on February 10, 1941.

Synopsis for Superman: "Superman vs the Rainmaker"

The Rainmaker arrives at B. Drexel Rutherford's mansion, predicting it will rain in 5 minutes, in which he is correct. He then offers Rutherford a deal - Rather pay him or have his Imperial Valley Dam destroyed. Rutherford declines, believing him to be bluffing.

However, in the ensuing weeks and days, strange occurrences happen, all predicted by the Rainmaker, such as the employees' picnic being ruined by unexpected rain and two important executives of Rutherford's company drowning in violent storms.

Superman eventually gets the location of the Rainmaker by interrogating one of his goons, leading him to Rainmaker's lab in Millerton. Superman defeats Rainmaker's giant boa and goons with ease but is stopped in his tracks by his Paralysis Gas Gun.

Superman however soon recovers, defeats Rainmaker and diverts the flooding from the dam to an empty arid desert. As Superman helps to land an endangered plane that Lois Lane is on, the Rainmaker reappears and takes her hostage, but Lois fights back, causing him to shoot but Superman blocks the bullet before it can do any harm. The Rainmaker attempts to flee before hitting his head on a rock, the blow killing him.

Appearing in Superman: "Superman vs the Rainmaker"

Featured Characters:

• Superman

Supporting Characters:

• Lois Lane

Villains:

• Rainmaker (Dies)

Other Characters:

• Metropolis Fire Department (First appearance)
• Perry White
• B. Drexel Rutherford
• Mrs. Rutherford

Locations:

• Metropolis
  • Daily Planet
    

Synopsis for Red, White, and Blue: "The Super-Tank"

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Appearing in Red, White, and Blue: "The Super-Tank"

Featured Characters:

• Red, White, and Blue
  • Red Dugan, USMC
  • Whitey Smith, USA
  • Blooey Blue, USN

Supporting Characters:

• Doris West, G2
  

Synopsis for Crimson Avenger: "The Ambassador"

An Ambassador from Bolivinia attempts to visit Lee Travis' friend the Governor, but is kidnapped and impersonated. The Governor's guest Lee Travis spotted the impostor, changes clothes, subdues some thugs, and rescues the Governor from an attempted kidnapping.

Appearing in Crimson Avenger: "The Ambassador"

Featured Characters:

• Crimson Avenger

Supporting Characters:

• Wing

Villains:

• Gans, kidnap gang boss
  • Oskar, ambassador impostor
  • two others

Other Characters:

• Governor
  • his assistant
  • three cops
• Ambassador of Bolivinia (wears a monocle) (Single appearance)

Locations:

• New York City
• Governor's Mansion
• Bolivinia (Mentioned only)

Items:

• Ambassador's Credentials
  

Synopsis for Johnny Thunder: "Johnny Drives a Truck"

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Appearing in Johnny Thunder: "Johnny Drives a Truck"

Featured Characters:

• Johnny Thunder

Supporting Characters:

• Thunderbolt
• Herman Darling
  • Darling Trucking Co.

Villains:

• Mr. Leaps (Single appearance)
  • Leaps & Bounds Trucking Co.

Other Characters:

• Homer Legion (Single appearance)
• Mr. Katz (Single appearance)
  

Synopsis for Young Doc Davis: "Tong War in Chinatown"

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Appearing in Young Doc Davis: "Tong War in Chinatown"

Featured Characters:

• Young Doc Davis
  

Synopsis for Zatara: "The Menace"

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Appearing in Zatara: "The Menace"

Featured Characters:

• Zatara

Villains:

• The Menace (John West) (Single appearance)
• Gangsters (Single appearance)
  • Spud (Single appearance)
  • Bill (Single appearance)
  • Joe (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

• Cole (Single appearance)

Locations:

• Carson City
  

Synopsis for Drafty #158: "The Buffalo"

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Appearing in Drafty #158: "The Buffalo"

Featured Characters:

• Drafty #158
  

Synopsis for The King: "Adventure of the Nosy Waitress"

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Appearing in The King: "Adventure of the Nosy Waitress"

Featured Characters:

• The King (Flashback only)

Villains:

• The Witch (Flashback only)

Other Characters:

• Jim Nelson (Flashback only)
• Herb Harper
  

Synopsis for Punch Parker: "The Radium Robbers"

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Appearing in Punch Parker: "The Radium Robbers"

Featured Characters:

• Punch Parker
  

Synopsis for Lando, Man of Magic: "Visit to Neva"

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Appearing in Lando, Man of Magic: "Visit to Neva"

Featured Characters:

• Lando, Man of Magic
  

Synopsis for Batman: "The Witch and the Manuscript of Doom"

While James Gordon and Bruce Wayne are having a conversation, they are informed about a recent murder. When they arrive at the place, the butler informs them that his master, Eric Dorne was killed by a witch. Dorne was a famous writer and he left a manuscript about a witch, which was going to be part of his next story. At the crime scene, several people become involved including Dorne's aunt, Dorne's wife and Dorne's publishers.

Pitting their "physiques of breathktaking symmetry" against this sinister mystery, Batman and Robin investigate. He suspects both Dorne's aunt and wife since they both had some connection with witches. However, after examining the evidence, Batman deduces the identity of the killer and prepares a trap for him. Dorne's publisher, who was the real killer disguised as a witch falls for Batman's trap. The solution turns out to be that the publisher was a Nazi sympathizer and was using his high position to distribute subversive literature. Rather than turn the publisher in, Dorne had tried to blackmail him.The case is solved and the dynamic duo settle after another achievement.

Appearing in Batman: "The Witch and the Manuscript of Doom"

Featured Characters:

• Batman

Supporting Characters:

• Robin
• James Gordon

Villains:

• The Witch (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

• Melissa Brunt
• Erik Dorne (Dies)
• Joshua Grimm
• Harvey Morrow
• Jane Ware

Locations:

• Gotham City

Notes

• World's Best Comics had that title for the first issue only. It was changed to World's Finest Comics from issue #2 onward.
• "Superman vs the Rainmaker" is reprinted in Superman: The World's Finest Comics Archives Vol. 1.
  • The title was added when reprinted. In this issue, the story is untitled.
  • In this story, Lois Lane is kidnapped for the 12th time.^[1]
• The Crimson Avenger still wears his short red cape in this issue's story. It wasn't around for long.
  • Lee Travis's new friend the Governor is not named, nor is his state.
• The King: "Adventure of the Nosy Waitress" is reprinted in World's Finest #210.
• Batman: "The Witch and the Manuscript of Doom" is reprinted in Batman #254 and Batman: The World's Finest Comics Archives Vol. 1.
• Also appearing in this issue of World's Best Comics were:
  • Just Like Junior (gag strip)
  • "Carnival" (text story) by George Shute
  • "Danger Ahead" (text story) by Arch O'Hara
  • Curios by Henry Boltinoff
  • Dinky by Henry Boltinoff
  • Incredible But True

See Also

• Cover gallery for the World's Best series
• Images from World's Best Comics Vol 1 1

Links and References

1. ↑ Action Comics #1, Action Comics #7, Superman #3, Action Comics #23, Action Comics #26, Superman #5, Action Comics #29, Superman #7, Action Comics #32, Superman #8, Superman #9, & World's Best Comics #1