1. Superman and Batman, Brothers
from World's Finest #172 (1967), by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan

I realize there's a good chance Kurt is going to disqualify this one, but it had to be my number 1 no matter what, so I'll accept ineligibility if necessary. The thing is, this is neither a typical Superman/Batman team-up nor even a part of the decades-long history of team-ups they shared in the pages of World's Finest.

This was one of DC's "Impossible Stories." In fact, I'd argue it was their absolute finest one, in which a young Bruce Wayne, having just witnessed the death of his parents, is adopted by a kind elderly couple by the last name of Kent. They happen to have another adopted son too. What follows is pure fan-boy glee, watching most everyone's two favorite boyhood heroes growing up together and fighting crime together, but then the story takes an unexpected twist when an adventure gone awry results in the death of the Kents. The meaningful transformations we see in both characters, and in their relationship with one another, is too rich, brilliant, and rewarding for a Silver Age DC book. It's probably in my Top 10 favorite individual comic book stories of all time, and (unlike the picks on the bottom of my list this year) the team-up at the center of it all was the primary draw that made it so memorable and enduring.

^^ I have loved this story since I bought it off the stands, shaxper, for all the reasons you mention. Great choice.

(I hope Kurt lets you slide by.)

1. Batman and Metamorpho
in Brave & Bold #101
By Bob Haney and Jim Aparo
Apr/May 1972, DC Comics

Issue 101 was not my first issue of Brave and Bold; that would have been issue 100. But 101 was the magic issue that converted me from a burgeoning collector to someone that wouldn't dare miss an issue of B&B for many years to follow, and a full-fledged collector and aficionado of the art form. With that special place in my heart, it had to be my Number One this year. 

I didn't know Metamorpho. How could I? I'd only been reading comics for months, and Rex Mason's comic had been cancelled since 1968. But he was visually compelling, especially in the opening scene, where he's revived, drawn from a chemical bath supposedly intended to cure him, a bath he'd been submerged in for year, unchanged and dejected. Wow--this scene was like something out of the monster movies I was crazy about, just the kind of thing I'd delved into comics to find. I was really struck by the idea of a superhero that would spend three years submerged in chemicals, to undo his bizarre transformation!



So just the opening few pages trained this nascent comics fan in some important aspects of this shared superhero universe idea. There were characters from the past, cancelled and forgotten and potentially revivable at any time! There would be explanations for what characters had been up to while they were missing--a continuity, a speculative history that had to comply with the periodic pieces that readers consumed in real time. Metamorpho appealed to the young science geek, teaching about the elements in the human body, and had an awesome, crazy quilt design, and a monster face, unique colors, expansive, inventive power set...but this isn't favorite character CCChristmas, so let's get back to the team-up!

In the initial pages, Bob Haney and Jim Aparo acquaint us with one of Batman’s most dangerous villains, the Bounty Hunter, a one-armed assassin with a hundred disguises, one of the only criminals Batman’s never been able to catch! Little did I realize that this was an entirely new character, rather than some established nemesis that never appeared on the TV show. Another lesson for me: comics could invent plenty of complex history for characters that it hadn’t ever mentioned before!

(I can't believe I kept pace with this year's contest for once! Thanks, Kurt, for a terrific topic that resulted in a lot of fun lists!)

I get a very welcome intro to Metamorpho’s interesting supporting cast, thank you, Mr. Haney, another great sampling of Aparo’s art, with plenty of well-done real-world settings on top of the action fantasy with Metamorpho’s crazy power set, and what may have been Jim’s best rendered pretty girl in Sapphire Stagg, Rex’s hot-pants, go-go-boots-wearing girlfriend and target of the assassin! And a ripping story of murder-for-hire in a spooky mansion with a crypt…


Yep, if this is what comics had to offer, I was on board! And as a brand new Metamorpho fan, I was delighted to see the final caption of the story, telling me Metamorpho was heading for his own solo again, as a back-up in Action Comics. I would definitely be there!


Yes, this was the comic that really sealed the deal for me. Kirby had tempted me into the waters with an irresistible issue of Jimmy Olsen, and the various Superman family titles had been fun, and the previous B&B was a winner, but this, this was an all-around masterpiece to my young eyes.


When I met Aparo, this was the only comic I asked him to sign. 

(I can't believe I kept pace with this year's contest for once! Thanks, Kurt, for a terrific topic that resulted in a lot of fun lists!)

the Black Panther and the Inhumans
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Fantastic Four Annual #5 (Marvel 1967)

This and the issues of the regular FF series from around that time ( #68,69,70) were some of the first FF comics I read and it's this Annual that has always stood out in my memory. Both the Panther and the Inhumans quickly became favourites and even Psycho-Man, not usually ranked amongst the top FF villains, has always seemed to me to be up there with Doom and the others in my imagination.

1. The Thing and Spider-Man - Marvel Two-In-One #90 (Marvel, 1982)




As soon as this year's contest was announced, this was the only comic that immediately jumped into my mind. Admittedly, this is an utterly nostalgic pick because this was the first proper colour Marvel comic I'd ever seen or indeed bought. Prior to this, my only experience with Marvel or DC was black and white UK reprints. Seeing a comic that was completely in colour at age 9 was a mindblower.

Anyway, irrespective of its sentimental value to me, this is legitimately a great team-up. It's written by Jan Strnad, who I don't believe I've ever read anything by before, and drawn by Alan Kupperberg and inked by Jim Mooney...and the art is very nice and serves the story well. In a nutshell, the story involves a mediocre magician at a New York City renaissance fair who becomes possessed by an evil wizard from another dimension. Luckily, Ben Grimm and Peter Parker happen to be at the renaissance fair too, so the Thing and Spider-Man save the day. It's actually a much better story than it sounds...or maybe it isn't and my nostalgia is just colouring my view of it. Whatever, I like it, so here it is!

1. Flash 123

Flash and Jay Garrick

DC Comics 1961

Fox and Infantino



Im still not sure if this will be eligible, but as Kurt's off to his family and no-one is watching lets throw it out there.

Now Im sure it qualifies as they have never really been team-mates, and Jay isnt a regular in Barrys book. And if semi-regular meetings in Flash or JLA disqualifies him, then doesnt it also disqualify most Batman or Superman team-ups as they would have met everyone multiple times by now.

Ive no idea where I first read this, an Australian reprint no doubt(probably reprinting an American reprint issue), but it has always stuck with me for a number of reasons.
At that stage (pre-teen to early teens) Flash especially by Infantino was a great favorite. The stunning layouts, cheeky text boxes with hands, and the clever ways he would find to use his power.
Then there was that even awsomer looking Flash from the JSA, and when they met every so often in the JLA/JSA meetings I was in heaven.
I also like the alternate earth aspect of the story. Ive talked before of my irrational love for alternate stories.
These days there is also the appreciation for the historical aspect of the book. Bringing the Justice Society back from oblivion deserves some love.

Did I mention that Jay Garrick is and always will be the coolest looking Flash...bet your hat(helmet?) on it.

1. Dr. Doom and Magneto
"A World for the Winning"
from Super-Villain Team-Up #14 (Marvel, 1977)

by Bill Mantlo, Bob Hall, Don Perlin, and Duffy Vohland



Given the heavy role the Avengers play in the story, and that the story concludes in the pages of Champions, I double-checked the eligibility with Kurt. He allowed it grudgingly, but only this part, not the conclusion in Champions. But this was a clear #1 for me.

These are my favorite super-villains. And Dr. Doom has conquered the world. Like, it's over. He's won. His only enemy left is boredom. And out of that boredom, he gives Magneto a chance, a small chance, to free the world.

This story would get reused and reworked for Marvel Graphic Novel #27, "Emperor Doom", also by Bob Hall. And the bare premise of a super-villain in psychic control of an entire world has shown up here and there, since. Most recently in Tom King's Batman.

But this is the one. Doom's finest hour. The best story for Marvel's best villain.