1. New York Worlds Fair Comics #2  As with its predecessor, the second issue of this series of promotional comics produced for the New York Worlds Fair is an unremarkable entry in Superman’s overall catalog. Jewel thieves and some lip service given to the Fair’s attractions accompany a little bit of smoke and almost no trace of fire between Lois and Clark alongside some cursory crook-punching. What’s most notable about this comic is that it features the first time Superman and Batman appear together – on the cover, at least. While there are still many years to go before the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader begin to share their adventures, the idea of pairing them between the covers of the same book obviously appealed to someone at National, as it won’t be too long before the debut of World’s Best/World’s Finest Comics…

    New York Worlds Fair Comics #2 

    As with its predecessor, the second issue of this series of promotional comics produced for the New York Worlds Fair is an unremarkable entry in Superman’s overall catalog. Jewel thieves and some lip service given to the Fair’s attractions accompany a little bit of smoke and almost no trace of fire between Lois and Clark alongside some cursory crook-punching.

    What’s most notable about this comic is that it features the first time Superman and Batman appear together – on the cover, at least. While there are still many years to go before the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader begin to share their adventures, the idea of pairing them between the covers of the same book obviously appealed to someone at National, as it won’t be too long before the debut of World’s Best/World’s Finest Comics…

  2. New York World’s Fair Comics #1 - April 1939 National Allied Publication is still finding their feet with Superman’s skyrocketing success in early 1939, and the second ongoing title featuring Superman is still a couple of months away when New York World’s Fair Comics (#1) debuts. A single issue released to coincide with the wildly popular event, it only made sense for The Man of Tomorrow to make an appearance at the celebration of the world of tomorrow. It’s a largely sub-par story – possibly the first official dud of Superman’s early career – involving as did most World’s Fair Comic stories a cursory and mandatory tour of the highlights of the Fair (Although, in Superman’s case, this involves a lengthy bit of side-business in helping finish construction on the infantile paralysis exhibit) and a bog-standard political corruption case. Most interestingly, though, for those who wonder where Superman’s sense of fair play ends – we see here for the first time Superman using his powers to gain an unfair advantage over other reporters (Specifically, he leaps to a second-story window in order to eavesdrop for a scoop, while his competitors mill helplessly by the front stairs)!

    New York World’s Fair Comics #1 - April 1939

    National Allied Publication is still finding their feet with Superman’s skyrocketing success in early 1939, and the second ongoing title featuring Superman is still a couple of months away when New York World’s Fair Comics (#1) debuts. A single issue released to coincide with the wildly popular event, it only made sense for The Man of Tomorrow to make an appearance at the celebration of the world of tomorrow.

    It’s a largely sub-par story – possibly the first official dud of Superman’s early career – involving as did most World’s Fair Comic stories a cursory and mandatory tour of the highlights of the Fair (Although, in Superman’s case, this involves a lengthy bit of side-business in helping finish construction on the infantile paralysis exhibit) and a bog-standard political corruption case.

    Most interestingly, though, for those who wonder where Superman’s sense of fair play ends – we see here for the first time Superman using his powers to gain an unfair advantage over other reporters (Specifically, he leaps to a second-story window in order to eavesdrop for a scoop, while his competitors mill helplessly by the front stairs)!