Something I can actually comment on 'cause I've got the issues!
Back in these days I was a nine-year-old. My friends and I were of the opinion that while DC had the better super-heroes, Marvel had the better comics. Ironically, now I'm 34 and think the reverse.
Superman Titles
Two real winners here. The fantastic Cary Bates/Curt Swan Action Comics issue is discussed here
http://www.imwan.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=871, but the champion - not just of the Superman line, but the whole DC shibang - is the World's Finest. The cover's by Neal Adams and the Batman/Superman story is by Denny O'Neil and Jose Garcia-Lopez. Batman gets Kryptonian lynanthropy, turning him into the creature he identifies with most - naturally, a bat. Plus we get Rich Buckler art (why didn't he become a superstar?) on Black Lightning and Hawkman, Don Newton on a Captain Marvel Jr. story and a Green Arrow story as well. DC Dollar Comics had a lot of value, but rarely were they as good as this one.
One quick note about World of Krypton - it's surreal to see Murphy Anderson inking Howard Chaykin.
Batman Titles
Detective was the easy winner of the Batman line. Bat Woman meets her final fate at the hands of the League of Assassins and Batman goes hand-to-hand with The Bronze Tiger. Gorgeous Don Newton art (who also did a ManBat story this issue) and a great story by Denny O'Neil makes this a joy to read. The rest of the book isn't so hot, but there's Dikto Demon and Heck Batgirl and a quickie Robin mystery.
It's interesting to contrast the 1979 Batman to the modern one. This Batman (a) acknowleges that Kiteman is a more skilled hang-glider than he is in Batman (b) gets his butt kicked hard by a superior martial-artist in Detective and (c) cracks bad jokes in Brave and The Bold. Plus over in Justice League he acknowleges that he's not a scientist but rather a dabbler and is out of his league on a particular problem. Yeah, he's changed a lot.
Oh, and Jim Aparo is God. Yes he is.
DC Universe Titles
Gotta give this one to Justice League. I love Dick Dillon's art, and the story was a ton of fun - plus Batman, my favorite DC character, saves the day. The Wonder Woman issue had horrible, horrible artwork but an interesting story as Ares and his followers decided to take down Diana. Hermes steals Wonder Woman's bracelets which sends her on a murderous rampage in downtown NYC. Hercules comes to the rescue of the city and property damage ensues. Herc ends up winning the battle in a story to be continued next month.
Since I'm buying these books in monthly installments, I'm getting to relive my childhood a bit. Still, I can't forget what I know is going to happen. With Marvel, I wish I could so I could relive it all again. With DC, that's not such a problem. In the next couple of months, Green Lantern's going solo and Superboy and Legion split into two seperate titles. I'm looking forward to that. The real excitement for DC is still a year or so away, though. In cover-date October 1980, Wolfman and Perez debut The New Teen Titans in DC Comics Presents. Yeah, baby!
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