Post by chadwilliam on Jul 3, 2017 12:58:52 GMT -5
So Superman raced The Flash for the first time in issue 199 of Superman. Reserved for the clandestine 200th anniversary issue of that title was an Imaginary Story dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Canada's foundation.
The Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Cluemaster, Getaway Genius, Johnny Witts, and Mr Esper pooled their resources to save the life of the Caped Crusader several times one evening to mark the 201st issue of Batman. While the preceding issue's anniversary tale did recap the Dynamic Duo's origins and feature cameos from The Joker, Penguin, and Killer Moth (not to mention feature The Scarecrow as that issue's primary villain), I can't help but feel that a story centered around the premise of Batman's greatest foes teaming up to do something nice for their enemy befits an anniversary issue more than the one we got.
I suppose DC might have felt "Hey, Superman 200 is going to sell no matter what - why not have him race The Flash in Superman 199 since it'll sell more than a typical issue would?" but it's nevertheless got me wondering if there are more instances of this phenomenon. Have other titles missed the ball by publishing a less than notable tale for a special occasion while sneaking something spectacular through as just another issue? Or, on the other hand, have there been instances of synchronicity at play which resulted in a forgotten anniversary issue accidentally becoming something special? For example, Detective Comics 267 marks both the first appearance of Bat-Mite and the 20th anniversary of Batman's debut in the same title. Though I regard Bat-Mite as important enough to Batman's history that this counts as an historic issue, I can't imagine DC meant anything special for (or even remembered) this anniversary issue. Interestingly, they did manage a special issue for the 200th appearance of Batman in Detective with Tec 226's introduction of Batman's mentor Harvey Harris and revelation that Bruce Wayne was the first Robin, but had they occupied that issue's back up with the one from the issue before, Detective Comics 226 would also have featured the first appearance of The Martian Manhunter (and, as some argue, mark the start of the Silver Age of Comics).
The Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Cluemaster, Getaway Genius, Johnny Witts, and Mr Esper pooled their resources to save the life of the Caped Crusader several times one evening to mark the 201st issue of Batman. While the preceding issue's anniversary tale did recap the Dynamic Duo's origins and feature cameos from The Joker, Penguin, and Killer Moth (not to mention feature The Scarecrow as that issue's primary villain), I can't help but feel that a story centered around the premise of Batman's greatest foes teaming up to do something nice for their enemy befits an anniversary issue more than the one we got.
I suppose DC might have felt "Hey, Superman 200 is going to sell no matter what - why not have him race The Flash in Superman 199 since it'll sell more than a typical issue would?" but it's nevertheless got me wondering if there are more instances of this phenomenon. Have other titles missed the ball by publishing a less than notable tale for a special occasion while sneaking something spectacular through as just another issue? Or, on the other hand, have there been instances of synchronicity at play which resulted in a forgotten anniversary issue accidentally becoming something special? For example, Detective Comics 267 marks both the first appearance of Bat-Mite and the 20th anniversary of Batman's debut in the same title. Though I regard Bat-Mite as important enough to Batman's history that this counts as an historic issue, I can't imagine DC meant anything special for (or even remembered) this anniversary issue. Interestingly, they did manage a special issue for the 200th appearance of Batman in Detective with Tec 226's introduction of Batman's mentor Harvey Harris and revelation that Bruce Wayne was the first Robin, but had they occupied that issue's back up with the one from the issue before, Detective Comics 226 would also have featured the first appearance of The Martian Manhunter (and, as some argue, mark the start of the Silver Age of Comics).
