The Best of DC #32 is an issue of the series The Best of DC (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 1983.
Synopsis for "Solomon Grundy Wins on Monday!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #301.
Solomon Grundy travels to Earth-One, beats Superman in battle, and goes searching for an other-Earth version of himself.
Appearing in "Solomon Grundy Wins on Monday!"
Featured Characters:
- Superman also (Disguised as Solomon Grundy of Earth-One)
Supporting Characters:
- Steve Lombard also (Disguised as Clark Kent)
Antagonists:
- SKULL (First appearance)
- Intergang (Mentioned only)
- Samuel Simeon (First appearance)
- Solomon Grundy
Other Characters:
- The Flash of Earth-One (Mentioned only)
- The Flash of Earth-Two (Mentioned only)
- Green Lantern of Earth-One (Mentioned only)
- Green Lantern of Earth-Two (Mentioned only)
- Justice League of America (Mentioned only)
- Justice Society of America (Mentioned only)
- Metropolis Police Department
- Terri Cross (First appearance)
- WGBS Employees (Unnamed)
- National Guard (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth-One
- Metropolis
- Garden Avenue
- Market Street
- Galaxy Communications Building
- Clark Kent's Office
- WGBS Studios
- Metropolis Bay
- Slaughter Swamp (Cameo)
- Metropolis
- Space
- Earth-Two (Cameo)
- Slaughter Swamp (Cameo)
- Interdimensional Limbo
Synopsis for "Power of the Parasite!"
This story is reprinted from Action Comics #340.
After Superman finishes an experiment with radioactive materials, a lab assistant, Jensen, is assigned to dispose of them. Jensen opens the container and is irradiated by atomic particles. He soon discovers that though disfigured he can drain energy from people.
Jensen plans to use his new powers for crime by stealing the power of Superman. He visits a construction site where the Man of Steel is scheduled to attend and begins draining Superman's energy. In so doing, Parasite discovers Superman's secret identity. Despite Superman's efforts to fight the Parasite he continues to grow weaker. Finally the Parasite draws more of Superman's power than his body can contain. Parasite seemingly explodes into nothingness.
Appearing in "Power of the Parasite!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Parasite (First appearance) (Dies)
Other Characters:
- Various Atomic Scientists
- Metropolis Mayor
Locations:
Items:
- Intergalactic Radioactive Waste
Vehicles:
- Lois Lane's Car
Synopsis for "The Ultimate Battle!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #242.
Jimmy Olsen finds Superman's weakened and injured body in a junk yard, where a paper-created monster inhabited by a spirit from the Quarrm dimension dragged him. Jimmy has the doctors operate on Superman's head injury while two criminals try to take advantage of the monster's abilities before they become its victims. The monster is drawing itself toward where Superman is in order to finish him, but finds himself contending with the sand-created Superman figure whose power is partially restored, wondering why he even cares to act on behalf of anyone. Superman and the sand-created duplicate work together to bring the spirit inhabiting the monster back to the Quarrm dimension, but now the duplicate wants to take over Superman's role as protector of the planet. Superman fears that he would have to battle this duplicate whose very touch can trigger off a powerful explosion, when I-Ching mysteriously causes such effects to be cancelled, which results in a knock-down drag-out fight between the two Superman which results in the world's destruction. However, this fight turns out to be nothing more than a dream that I-Ching cast both Superman and his duplicate into, to make them realize the futility of such a fight. The duplicate decides to return to the Quarrm dimension, and Superman is left with a third less of his powers than before.
Appearing in "The Ultimate Battle!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Chinese Paper Monster
- Sand Superman
- Stewpot and Gemmi (Dies)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Broadway Hospital
- Central Park
- Manhattan
Items:
- Kryptonite (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Man Who Murdered the Earth!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #248.
Lex Luthor created a Galactic Golem to destroy Superman, un-ironically comparing himself to Victor Frankenstein. He used a Galactic Cannon to saturate Superman with Galactic Matter; and the Golem was attracted by it and attacked Superman. Lex watched as Superman and the Golem came together and detonated, and believed that he had destroyed all life on Earth as a result of their titanic battle.
Afterwards, Superman reappeared and had to save Lex himself from the Golem, as he had changed the vibrational frequency of every living thing on earth to shunt them into another dimension. Despite Superman's return, Lex Luthor was still glad to see that life returned to the Earth.
Appearing in "The Man Who Murdered the Earth!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Galactic Golem (First appearance)
- Lex Luthor
Other Characters:
- Victor Frankenstein (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Meteor Swarm
- Metropolis
- Luthor's Lair
- Metropolis Open Golf Classic
- Mountain
- WGBS-TV Studio
- Moon
Items:
- Galactic Cannon
- Galactic Matter
- Statue of Superman
Synopsis for "Mystery Mission to Metropolis!"
This story is reprinted from Superman #281.
The murder of his wife's bionic (psychic) twin on Earth dooms the wife of alien super-hero Vartox. Vartox must now find a way to bring the killer to justice on his own world, despite the interference of Superman.
Appearing in "Mystery Mission to Metropolis!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Vartox (First appearance)
- Frank Sykes (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Teddy Sykes (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Lower East Side
- Metropolis State Penitentiary
- Spiffany's (Jewelry Store)
- Lackey's Judo School
- Valeron (First appearance) (Unnamed)
Items:
- Autopsiscanner (Single appearance)
- Timescanscope (Single appearance)
- Teleport-Trail (Single appearance)
Vehicles:
See Also
Recommended Reading
Links and References
The events from this issue or series involve a Multiversal Crossover between Pre-Crisis worlds and characters. This template will categorize articles that include it into the Pre-Crisis Multiverse Crossover category.
See also Post-Crisis Multiverse Crossovers.