Comic Title: Best of DC #19
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: December 1981
On Sale Date: September 10, 1981 Newsstand Date September 10, 1981
Source: Comic Reader, #194

Newsstand Date September 10, 1981
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #58

Newsstand Date September 10, 1981
Source: Amazing Heroes, #4

Newsstand Date September 10, 1981
Source: Daily Planet, Vol. 81 #14

Copyright Date August 18, 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 August 16, 1981
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #58

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

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The New Superman and Batman Team"
Pages: 19

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

Writer: Cary Bates
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein

Reprinted From:
World's Finest Comics #167 (1967)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (imaginary appearance)
• Batman (no appearance)

Guest Star(s)

• Lex Luthor (imaginary appearance)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (imaginary appearance)
• Alfred Pennyworth (imaginary appearance)
• Perry White (imaginary appearance)
• Jimmy Olsen (imaginary appearance)

Villain(s)

• Brainiac (imaginary appearance)
• Toyman (imaginary appearance)
• A hold-up man (imaginary appearance)
• The Darron Brothers (imaginary appearance)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Supergirl (imaginary appearance)
• Jonathan Kent (imaginary appearance)
• Martha Kent (imaginary appearance)
• Lana Lang (imaginary appearance)

Other Character(s)

• Kendall Kent (imaginary appearance)
• Jor-El (imaginary appearance)
• Lara (imaginary appearance)

Comments:
This story is an imaginary story. The events depicted are not part of regular continuity.

Bruce Wayne does not appear in this story. In this imaginary continuity Clark Kent becomes Batman while Lex Luthor becomes Superman.

Synopsis:
Jor-El sends his son Kal-El to Earth as Krypton is destroyed. On the trip to Earth Kal-El's rocket passes a Gold Kryptonite meteor which removes his super powers permanently. Kal-El then lands on Earth, is found by the Kents, and named Clark Kent.

Clark grows up in Smallville and becomes friends with genius Lex Luthor. While Clark doesn't possess powers, Luthor creates a serum to give himself powers and becomes Superboy. Meanwhile, the Kents are killed by a hoodlum. Clark vows vengeance and is sent to live with his uncle Kendall in Gotham City where he eventually grows up to become Batman.

Luthor later moves to Metropolis and becomes a reporter at the Daily Planet. He also continues his career as Superman. On a case involving Brainiac, Superman and Batman join forces, then discover each others secret identities.

In his personal life Clark meets and falls for Lois Lane. The two marry, then Clark shares his secret identity with Lois. When Supergirl lands on Earth Lois and Clark agree to adopt her and she becomes Linda Kent.

Still later, Toyman battles Superman, Batman, and Supergirl. During the fight Batman succumbs to one of Toyman's weapons which reacts with the Gold Kryptonite poisoning from Kal-El's infancy. Clark then learns of his Kryptonian heritage. To save his friend's life Lex transfers his own powers to Clark, who becomes the new Superman. Lex is forced to leave Earth, as his body is charged with Gold Kryptonite radiation and is now a danger to both Clark and Supergirl.