Anti Superman and Anti Batman

[williamtheday]

Alias Perry White and Commissioner Gordon. Would they ever make a comeback?

[exile001]

Okay, so to give some actual context - in World's Finest 159 (1966), Batman and Superman give Perry White and commissioner Gordon a tour of the Fortress of Solitude and then the Batcave, as Perry is doing a series of articles on Superman and Batman's greatest foes.

Shortly after, Perry gives Clark an assignment to go see about some strangely costumed men on the outskirts of Metropoils. Superman arrives to find a false Superman (wearing a bandanna) and Batman in alerted, darker costumes. They introduce themselves as the Anti-Superman and Anti-Batman, and say they for revenge on behalf of Luthor, Braniac and Penguin. Superman fights Anti-Superman while the Batman (having been alerted by Gordon) tackles Anti-Batman in their respective Batmobiles.

The impostors get away so Batman, Robin and Superman convene in the Batcave and discover that Batman's files have been looted, coming to the realisation that the Antis know the location of the Batcave and so probably know their secret identities.

The Antis attack a museum displaying artifacts/evidence from Superman and Batman's cases and return them to the imprisoned villains. Robin takes a call in the Batcave and the three are horrified that the villains have received gifts and decide it is time to deal with the impostors.

Superman tracks down Anti-Superman, who tricks almost Supes into the range of some Gold Kryptonite (that Superman had one of his robots bury). As Anti-Superman is unaffected, Superman deduces he is not Kryptonian. Superman runs away throughout Metropolis, ultimately leaving Lois to cry that her hero is a coward. How necessary. He eventually changes to Clark and realises Anti-Superman doesn't know his secret identity.

Anti-Batman, in his Anti-Batmobile, rocks up to Bruce Wayne (with Dick Grayson) and brazenly demands to know where Batman hangs out, tipping them off that he doesn't know the Dynamic Duos secret identities. Bruce says he doesn't know so Anti-Batman drives off.

Bruce and Dick change to Batman and Robin to track down Anti-Batman but after a quick confrontation Anti-Batman runs drives off again.

Back in the Batcave, the three heroes discuss the situation and Batman, out of nowhere, states that in the Fortress Superman has an alien gas called Formula X-22. He asks Superman to grab the antidote.

Batman, again out of nowhere, reveals there is a storm-drain that eventually leads to a series of cells under Gotham City Police Headquarters, and only he and Gordon have keys. Batman and Robin head inside then immediately discover and apprehend Anti-Batman and unmask him to reveal a young (mustacheless) Commissioner Gordon.

Anti-Superman bursts in, throwing away the Gold K as he does, so Superman bursts through the ceiling and sprays the Anti-Superman and Anti-Batman in the face with the Formula X-22 antidote.

Turns out, as is so often the case, our heroes left their friends alone in the weapons room and immediately Perry spilled a jar of alien poison that turned them evil. No, seriously. Perry's dialogue about the leaked gas actually says "it did something to us... Turned us EVIL." Evil Perry then offhandedly mentions to Evil Gordon that Superman has a machine that will turn them younger. And also give Perry superpowers. Gordon and Perry operate this miracle machine themselves, without instruction and in secret. Also, I guess the de-aging effect (that removed Gordon's mustache, too) didn't take effect for awhile as they went to the Batcave after the Fortress?

Ultimately, everyone laughs about the situation and are all chums again.

This absolute nonsense was a genuinely fun read, but is very much why I prefer '60s Marvel to DC for the most part.

Will we ever see Anti-Superman and Anti-Batman again? Only time will tell...