World's Finest #143 is an issue of the series World's Finest (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1964.
Synopsis for Superman and Batman: "The Feud Between Batman and Superman"
While out on a case with Superman and Robin, Batman is wounded by a bullet that bounces off Superman's invulnerable body. After a successful operation the near death experience makes Batman decide that it's too dangerous for both he and Robin to continue to work with Superman. Realizing that Batman's morale has been shaken, Superman decides to try and end Batman's doubts and works with Jimmy to come up with a way to do it. Contacting his ally Than-Ar in the Bottle City of Kandor, the men conspire to create a fake threat to the bottle city using an old Kryponian weapon known as the Metalloids. Although Than-Ar warns Superman that this plan is too dangerous, he agrees to use the weapon to stage Superman's hoax.
When Superman arrives at the Batcave, he finds that Batman is even more listless about working with Superman than before, but convinces him to come to the Fortress of Solitude under the pretense that he needs Batman's help in overhauling security by examining the Fortress's door locks. However, when they arrive, Superman's fake hoax goes into full gear and they get an "emergency call" from Kandor. Superman convinces Batman to join him, Jimmy and Robin in shrinking down in size and traveling into the bottle city.
When they arrive they are attacked by what Superman secretly believes is Than-Ar disguised as a Metalloid, and Batman helps facilitate their escape. They arrive at the home of Superman's old family friend Nor-Kan who watches over the Nightcave. When Superman and Jimmy go out on patrol with their pet Nighthound, they get captured by the Metalloid. When Nighthound returns alone, Nor-Kan provides Batman and Robin with rocket belts and send them out to try and find Superman and Jimmy. They find Superman being strangled by a Metalloid and save him, but when Jimmy reveals Superman's scheming, Batman is angry at the Man of Steel for manipulating him and calls off their friendship, not realizing that the creature was actually trying to kill Superman.
Duel of the Fates
When Superman attempts to talk sense into Batman, the Dark Knight takes a swing at Superman. Soon the fight is broken up and they are ordered to deal with things in a fair duel per Kandorian tradition. The two agree and in single combat, and Superman lets Batman win. Superman and Jimmy then decide to try and find out what made Than-Ar go evil and end his menace. When Superman goes against the Metalloids alone he is easily defeated and taken captive.
Jimmy rushes back to base where he finds Batman and Robin about to leave Kandor and convinces Batman to stay to help save Superman; showing him footage of different crime fighters throughout Krypton's history who did so without powers. Tracking the Metalloids to their base after they robbed a science vault, Batman uses his ingenuity and natural fighting ability to knock out one of the Metalloids and steal his armor. With Robin's help he easily defeats the remaining Metalloids and saves Superman. Unmasking the Metalloid's leader, they learn that he is really Jhan-Ar, Than-Ar's brother. Jhan-Ar reveals that he overheard Superman's plan to hoax a menace and tried to capitalize on it.
With Batman's faith in his abilities restored he forgives Superman for the hoax, and the heroes return to the Fortress of Solitude; agreeing to work together as a team again in the future.
Appearing in Superman and Batman: "The Feud Between Batman and Superman"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Robin
- Flamebird (Jimmy Olsen)
- Ace the Bat-Hound (Final appearance)
- Nighthound
Antagonists:
- Jhan-Ar
- Lars-Eden (Flashback only) (On a TV or computer screen)
- Brenn-Bir (Flashback only) (On a TV or computer screen)
Other Characters:
- Nor-Kann
- Than Ar
- Kandorian Detectives
- Ab-Zorna (Flashback only) (On a TV or computer screen)
- Van-Varo (Flashback only) (On a TV or computer screen)
- Tec-Aben (Flashback only) (On a TV or computer screen)
Locations:
- Earth
- Fortress of Solitude
- Kandor
- Nightcave
- Weird Jungle
- Kandor
- Gotham City
- Metropolis
- Fortress of Solitude
- Krypton (On a TV or computer screen)
Items:
Vehicles:
- Batplane
- Nightmobile
- Winged Ones
Synopsis for Green Arrow: "The Vanishing Arrows!"
This story is reprinted from Adventure Comics #266.
Inspired by a note from the Batman signed with a bat-emblem, Green Arrow decides that all his arrows should be tipped with green arrow heads. Digging up a special green rock to make these arrow heads, Green Arrow and Speedy go into action foiling various crimes. However, after they have busted up each crime, their arrows suddenly vanish, are blown away, or are destroyed.
Once they have completely run out of arrows, Superman arrives and tells them that the arrow heads they were using were made out of Green Kryptonite and that, from a safe vantage point, Superman destroyed them so that they would not weaken him. After Superman departs, Green Arrow and Speedy have the rest of the rock destroyed so that it may not be used against Superman in the future.
Appearing in Green Arrow: "The Vanishing Arrows!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Speedy
- Superman/Clark Kent (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- Thugs (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Star City Police Department (First appearance)
- Batman (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Trivia
- In "The Feud Between Batman and Superman", the character Than-Ar is mistakenly referred to as Than-Kar when he is thought to be the Metalloid. The editor acknowledged this mistake in the letters column of World's Finest #146.
See Also