Comic Title: Best of DC #16
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: September 1981
On Sale Date: June 4, 1981 Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Comic Reader, #191

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #55

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Comics Journal, #64

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Amazing Heroes, #2

Newsstand Date June 4, 1981
Source: Daily Planet, Vol. 81 #8

Copyright Date May 12, 1981
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1981
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date May 12, 1981
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #55

Cover Price: $0.95
Page Count: 96
Editor: Julius Schwartz

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Superman-Batman Split"
Pages: 18

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

Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Neal Adams
Inker: Dick Giordano

Reprinted From:
World's Finest Comics #176 (1968)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Justice League of America #63; next appearance in Justice League of America #240)
• Batman (last appearance in Justice League of America #63; next appearance in Detective Comics #376)

Guest Star(s)

• Supergirl (last appearance in Action Comics #366; next appearance in Action Comics #364)
• Batgirl (last appearance in Brave and the Bold #78; next appearance in Detective Comics #384)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (last appearance in Batman #202; next appearance in Detective Comics #376)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #111; next appearance in Justice League of America #240)
• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Brave and the Bold #78; next appearance in Detective Comics #376)

Other Character(s)

• Ronald Jason (an actor; disguised as Dur and Tiron; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Desmond Jason (Ronald's brother; dies in flashback; no further appearances)

Comments:
Part II:"A Tale of 3 Teams"

Synopsis:
During an interview between Clark Kent and actor Ronald Jason, the actor unmasks himself and shows Clark that he is an alien. He also reveals that he knows Clark's secret identity and requests the help of Superman. The alien Dur, is the second in command on his world, but assassins have killed their leader. Fearing he was the next target he teleported to Earth to hide. Superman agrees to take Dur to the Fortress of Solitude for protection.

Batman then finds another alien in the Bat-Cave. This alien named Tiron explains that Dur is a criminal who has taken refuge on Earth. He enlists Batman's aid to capture Dur, but warns the Caped Crusader that Superman is involved. Batman then asks Supergirl for her help to stop her cousin while Batman capture Dur.

Superman manages to keep Supergirl and Batman from capturing Dur. He decides to enlist some help of his own and enlists the assistance of Batgirl. Meanwhile, Robin and Jimmy Olsen have made a startling discovery about the aliens. Before they can tell their friends, they are hit by knockout gas.

Batman and Supergirl then face off against Superman and Batgirl. During their duel, Tiron collapses. They unmask him as Ronald Jason. The actor admits that he played the roles of both aliens. His brother had discovered the secret identities of Batman and Superman, but an accident had claimed Desmond Jason's life and was quickly killing Ronald too. His last role has one that could fool both Superman and Batman.

After Jason dies, Robin and Jimmy arrive and tell the others that they found out about Jason. Superman and Batman explain that they knew the alien was phony too. They played along to make the actor happy, and knocked out Jimmy and Robin to prevent them from interfering. Supergirl and Batgirl were the only ones who believed Jason until the end.