Comic Title: Best of DC #34
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: March 1983
On Sale Date: December 9, 1982 Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: House Ad, Fury of Firestorm #10, Page 32

Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #207

Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: Comics Journal, #78

Shipping Date November 16, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #207

Newsstand Date December 9, 1982
Source: Amazing Heroes, #17

Copyright Date November 16, 1982
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1982
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Cover Price: $1.25
Page Count: 96
Editor: Nicola Cuti

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Notes:
Cover is misnumbered #497.

Title: "The Flaming Fiend"
Pages: 47

Feature(s):
Metal Men (of Earth-1)

Writer: Robert Kanigher
Penciller: Ross Andru
Inker: Michael Esposito

Reprinted From:
Showcase #37 (1962)

Feature Character(s)

• Metal Men (next appearance in Showcase #38)
• Platinum (next appearance in Showcase #38)
• Gold (next appearance in Showcase #38)
• Mercury (next appearance in Showcase #38)
• Lead (next appearance in Showcase #38)
• Iron (next appearance in Showcase #38)
• Tin (next appearance in Showcase #38)

Supporting Character(s)

• Doctor Will Magnus (creator of the Metal Men; first appearance; last appearance in Brave and the Bold #55; next appearance in Showcase #38)

Villain(s)

• A prehistoric flying creature (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Colonel Henry Casper (an army officer; next appearance in Showcase #38)

Comments:
This story features the origin and first appearance of the Metal Men.

This story continues in part in Showcase #38.

Synopsis:
A prehistoric flying creature is released from a glacier. The creature becomes a menace, so army colonel, Henry Casper is ordered to find a way to stop it.

Casper contacts scientist genius Dr. Will Magnus. Magnus has just completed a robot made of platinum nick-named Tina. The robot is powered by a microscopic device and exhibits the personality and appearance of a human woman. Magnus decides to create a group of metal robots to combat the monster. The other Metal Men, Gold, Lead, Iron, Mercury, and Tin are completed and sent into battle against the flying creature.

Tin is weak, but brave and sacrifices himself to save his fellows from the monster’s radioactive eye blasts. Iron and Gold are defeated as well. The Metal Men appear to be failures, but the combined efforts of Mercury, Lead, and Tina help to finally bring down the flying creature, but it costs them their existence as the Metal Men are all destroyed.