Comic Title: Best of DC #8
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: Nov/Dec 1980
On Sale Date: August 14, 1980 Newsstand Date August 14, 1980
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #45

Copyright Date August 14, 1980
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1980

Newsstand Date August 12, 1980
Source: Comic Reader, #182

Newsstand Date August 11, 1980
Source: Daily Planet, Vol. 80 #23
Listed as on sale the week of August 11th

Shipping Date July 22, 1980
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #45

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.95
Page Count: 96
Editor: Julius Schwartz

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "From Riches to Rags"
Pages: 13

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

Writer: Leo Dorfman
Artist: Al Plastino

Reprinted From:
Action Comics #337 (1966)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman #186; next appearance in Doom Patrol #104)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Superman #186; next appearance in Superman #188)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Superman #186; next appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #93)
• Perry White (last appearance in Superman #186; next appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #66)

Villain(s)

• The Tiger Gang, Gunner Murdock, and two thieves (Steve named; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Superbaby (in flashback as a toddler; last appearance in Superboy #124; next appearance in Superboy #130)
• Jonathan Kent (in flashback; last appearance in Superboy #124; next appearance in Superboy #130)
• Martha Kent (in flashback; last appearance in Superboy #124; next appearance in Superboy #130)

Other Character(s)

• The mayor of Metropolis (no further appearances)
• Sir Jeffrey Winston (an attorney; no further appearances)
• Dr. Vaughn and Dr. Stacey, Princess Pale Flower, and an FBI inspector (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Superman falls under a strange compulsion to take on various roles while performing his duties. He stops a crime while acting as a rich man, pretends to be poor to elicit government support for a slum project, captures two thieves while dressed as an indian chief, impersonates an attorney to stop a killer, and fakes an operation on Clark Kent acting as a doctor.

Superman then warns the FBI that he will commit a theft. Agents set up a Kryptonite trap, but Superman outwits them by stealing the Kryptonite. After disposing of the Green K, Superman returns and offers an explanation. He explains that the compulsion was caused by a nursery rhyme: "rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, indian chief". As a child a Kryptonian comet appeared in the sky while he was saying the rhyme. A hypnotic effect caused him to assume the roles when the comet reappeared.