Comic Title: Best of DC #40
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: September 1983
On Sale Date: June 2, 1983 Newsstand Date June 2, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #211

Newsstand Date June 2, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #26

Shipping Date May 10, 1983
Source: Comic Reader, #211

Shipping Date May 10, 1983
Source: Amazing Heroes, #26

Shipping Date May 10, 1983
Source: Comics Journal, #82

Copyright Date May 10, 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

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

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Doomsayer"
Pages: 7

Feature(s):
World of Krypton

Writer: Dennis J. O'Neil
Artist: Dick Giordano

Reprinted From:
Superman #236 (1971)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman #236; next appearance in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #137)

Guest Star(s)

• Green Arrow (last appearance in World's Finest Comics #201; next appearance in Green Lantern #83)
• Black Canary (last appearance in Justice League of America #88; next appearance in Green Lantern #83)

Other Character(s)

• Doctor Mo-De and his wife (in flashback; no further appearances)
• The Surrusans (in flashback; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Superman joins Green Arrow and Black Canary for a picnic. When Green Arrow sees a factory dumping waste into the nearby river he begins preaching about saving the environment. Black Canary is skeptical regarding Ollie's view that the planet is in danger. Superman then tells them a story about Krypton.

Twenty years before the destruction of the planet in the city of Surrus, Dr. Mo-De discovered that Krypton's core was unstable. He developed a plan to save the planet. However, the Surrusans were reluctant to listen to his warnings for they were enchanted with beautiful flowers that produced music.

Determined to get his point across to the people Mo-De began destroying a field of the flowers. When faced with the possible loss of their music, the townspeople beat Mo-De. When he asks why they won't listen, they tell him they only want to hear beautiful things. To punish Mo-De they lock him in a room surrounded by the flowers. Eventually Mo-De becomes enchanted with them too. The Surrusans return to their happy ways until their planet explodes twenty years later.

Inspired by the story, Black Canary leaves the picnic to talk with the factory owner about handling the waste more responsibly.