The Greatest Comic Book of All Time: Superworld Comics #1

A comic book panel. A man named Mitey is saying "What's the meaning of this, didn't I tell you that you could not come?" The woman is replying "It means Mitey- Well it means that I am here and coming along-- Captain!"

When choosing the greatest comic of all time, the first thing to consider is the title. Look at this completely original banger:

White text reading SUPERWORLD COMICS on a red background.

No mere super MAN; it’s a complete super WORLD!

The next thing to consider is the comic’s mission statement. No kid wants to read a comic book for mindless entertainment. And Superworld Comics focuses on what every kid wants: educational content!

A page of a text: To Parents and School Teachers: * HERE at last is a new and different kind of comic magazine • Having noted the trend of the present-day magazines in the field we believe that parents and educators will welcome this new monthly which, while admittedly a comic, yet is geared to give much valuable and educational information to the reader. Let it be understood at once that nothing will ever be printed in this magazine that is downright impossible. All features are based on present-day science, and practically all of them are of an educational trend. The young reader is not confused and befuddled with impossibilities which can never come about, but at best give him an erroneous idea of man's inherent capabilities. Whatever scientific material is presented - or whatever kinds of machines are used - all are with in the realm of possibility. No superhuman feats impossible of accomplishment are ever printed. These can serve only to give totally wrong ideas of man's prowess. This magazine will, therefore, not only amuse and entertain, but it is instructive as well-something that has never been attempted in a comic magazine heretofore. In line with this thought we have prepared a simple "Test Your Knowledge" feature-page on the inside cover of this magazine. By this means the young reader· can test his knowledge after reading the magazine, and then entertain himself and his friends with knowledge thus acquired. It is suggested that you test the young reader's knowledge, after he has perused the magazine, by asking him the questions enumerated on the inside back cover. We would be very much pleased to hear from those interested in the educational value of this magazine, in this respect. THE PUBLISHERS

That’s right- EVERYTHING IN THIS COMIC COULD BE POSSIBLE! Let’s look at some of those possibilities.

Comic book panel: Two aliens shooting beams at astronauts, surrounding them with green bubbles. Text reads "THE MARTIAN NOW RELEASE PARALYZING RAYS WHICH COMPLETELY ENVELOP THEM."
We’ve all seen electric paralyzing rays. BORING.
Three aliens talking. "IT SEEMS LIKE A HOPELESS TASK. THESE EARTH PEOPLE ARE SO SLOW-WITTED. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO THINK!" "PERHAPS DOCTOR RAS COULD DO SOMETHING TO HELP!" "WELL- I COULD STEP-UP THE VIBRATION PERIOD OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT OF THEM" Text below: "THE PRISONERS' TUTOR REPORTS ON THE PROGRESS HE'S MAKING GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE TERRESTRIALS."
Intelligence has long been linked to vibration-period.
Comic book panel: A man in a laboratory is staring at a baby. Lines are drawn from the man's eyes to the baby. Text at the bottom: "PROF. KNOX RESTORES THE CHILD BACK TO LIFE WITH A SECRET OPERATION ON THE HEART, BRAIN AND EYES."
This scientist was looking for a baby to make into a master of hypnosis. Lucky for him that a random woman decided to leave one on his doorstep. It died of exposure, but that’s easy to fix with a secret heart/brain/eye operation.

That baby grow up to become this doofus:

Comic panel: a man wearing what looks like a shower cap, a red jumpsuit with an eye on the chest, and a tan belt with a giant green belt buckle stands next to two 1930s policemen. Text in the bottom right corner reads "HIP IS EMPLOYED BY THE POLICE TO LOCATE CRIME."
A chart showing how evolution works- sort of.
The natural progression of evolution: pithecanthropus (now called homoerectus), Piltdown Man (which was a hoax), neanderthal, and cro-magnon lead to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who then becomes a balloon.

The best part of the “no really, we’re teaching things here” bit is “the “How Smart are you?,” a series of questions about the stories in the book:

A page of text labelled HOW SMART ARE YOU? With a set of question and clues about where to find the answers in the comic book.

My favorite of these:

10. What simple, scientific test is there to prove that you have had a hearty lunch (without the necessity of vomiting)? (For answer see third page of ''ALIBI ALICE'' story.)

This is the panel with the “answer”:

Comic panel: A red-haired girl stands as a doctor positions an x-ray panel in front of her stomach. A man in a blue suit, red tie, and glasses stands smirking next to her.
Want to know if your kid is lying about eating? Rush them to the doctor for a healthy dose of x-rays! The dostor will be able to accurate determine what food was eaten and when the kid ate it!
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