Comic Title: Best of DC #44
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: January 1984
On Sale Date: October 6, 1983 Newsstand Date October 6, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #214

Newsstand Date October 6, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #32

Shipping Date September 13, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #214

Shipping Date September 13, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #32

Copyright Date September 13, 1983
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1983
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Shipping Date October 6, 1983
Source: Comics Journal, #84
CJ was usually reporting ship dates during this period
However this appears to be a newstand date

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

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Super-Tests of the Super-Pets"
Pages: 17

Feature(s):
Legion of Super-Heroes (of Earth-1)

Writer: Edmond Hamilton
Penciller: John Forte
Inker: Sheldon Moldoff

Reprinted From:
Adventure Comics #322 (1964)

Feature Character(s)

• Legion of Super-Heroes (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #50; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)
• Saturn Girl (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #142; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)
• Lightning Lad (last appearance in Adventure Comics #321; next appearance in Superboy #125)
• Superboy (last appearance in Superboy #114; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)
• Chameleon Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #321; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)
• Phantom Girl (last appearance in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #50; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)
• Brainiac 5 (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #142; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)
• Sun Boy (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #142; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)
• Mon-El (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #142; next appearance in Adventure Comics #324)
• Lightning Lass (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #76; next appearance in Adventure Comics #325)

Supporting Character(s)

• Legion of Substitute Heroes (last appearance in Adventure Comics #319; next appearance in Adventure Comics #331)
• Polar Boy (last appearance in Adventure Comics #319; next appearance in Adventure Comics #331)
• Night Girl (last appearance in Adventure Comics #319; next appearance in Adventure Comics #331)
• Fire Lad (last appearance in Adventure Comics #319; next appearance in Adventure Comics #331)
• Chlorophyll Kid (last appearance in Adventure Comics #319; next appearance in Adventure Comics #331)
• Legion of Super-Pets (last appearance in Action Comics #309; next appearance in Action Comics #323)
• Krypto (last appearance in Action Comics #309; next appearance in Action Comics #323)
• Streaky (last appearance in Action Comics #309; next appearance in Action Comics #323)
• Super-Monkey (last appearance in Action Comics #309; next appearance in Action Comics #318)
• Comet (last appearance in Action Comics #314; next appearance in Action Comics #318)
• Proty II (joins the Legion of Super-Pets; last appearance in Adventure Comics #320; next appearance in Adventure Comics #323)

Villain(s)

• Time Trapper (behind-the-scenes only; last appearance in Adventure Comics #321; next appearance in Adventure Comics #338)

Other Character(s)

• The inhabitants of an unnamed planet of the star Antares (Proty II's race; appear in flashback only; next appearance in Adventure Comics #334)
• The Llorn (a super-scientific race; appear in flashback only; no further appearances)
• Dr. Karnes (an archaeoloist; no further appearances)
• A spaceport captain and the inhabitants of planet Vor (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Supergirl (in flashback)
• A giant cyclops monster and a child (in flashback)

Comments:
Part 2: "The Pet of a Thousand Faces"

The emblem on Light Lass's costume changes as of this story.

Synopsis:
The Legion, assisted by the Substitute Heroes, leaves Earth to try to penetrate the Time Trapper's Iron Curtain of Time, and summons the Legion of Super-Pets to guard the Clubhouse while they're away. Chameleon Boy's pet, Proty II, wants to join the Super-Pets, and although they scoff at his usefullness, they offer to take him in if he passes each of their initiation tests.

Comet tells Proty to change into Superboy, and carry out the next mission assigned to the Boy of Steel, which he does. Streaky then orders Proty to impersonate a Legionnaire, and accompany Saturn Girl on a mission without letting her discover his real identity. Changing himself into a duplicate of his master, Chameleon Boy, Proty easily passes this test, as well. Beppo assigns Proty to keep the Legionnaires out of their Clubhouse for an hour, which he does by decoying them with a ruse. Finally, Krypto orders Proty to hunt and track him down on Earth within two hours. In fulfilling this task, Proty rescues Krypto from some Green Kryptonite which he had accidentally stumbled upon.

By successfully completing all four tests, Proty II becomes the fifth member of the Legion of Super-Pets.