Talk:World's Finest Comics

Feature?

Hi,

I don't understand what it means the table with "Feature" as a title...

Can somebody explain it to me? So, maybe, I can make it more understandable.

Thanks! Arussom (talk) 16:26, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

It's explained in the paragraph preceding the table. BPK (talk) 16:47, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

Sorry, but I read it and I still don't get it... Why there are 4 columns all named "Feature"?

I think that any difference most be from one column to another... which are those differences? I think that this difference most be on the title of each column; if not, you can use less columns (or less rows)...

Thanks, Arussom (talk) 19:13, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

At the risk of belaboring the obvious, in comics, a "feature" is a story. In a comic with more than one story, there is generally a main feature and one or more back-up features. In this comic during the period in question there were (usually) five stories in each issue of the comic, the main feature devoted to Superman and Batman and four back-up features devoted to the protagonists shown in the table. The table serves as a guide to the characters headlined in the featured stories. BPK (talk) 19:30, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

Sorry I'm not understandig yet but, for example: why Red Tornado is in the fourth column and not in another one?

I understand what a "feature" is in comics (but thanks for the explanation) and that's not the problem exacly... the problem is why there are 4 columns? why there are 2 characters on the first one, 4 on the second one, 3 on the 3rd one and 6 on the 4th one? what does it mean?

Thank for your patience. Arussom (talk) 19:52, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

Okay, then. To belabor the obvious:

The number of columns represents the number of backup features in each issue. (The main feature, which was always a Superman and Batman team-up story, is not represented in the table.) There are four columns because the comic during this period initially had four additional stories per issue (later the number of stories per issue was reduced). Each of backup feature generally had one starring character. The starring characters were changed over time.

Thus, the first backup feature usually starred Green Arrow, but in one issue the first backup feature starred the Atom instead. This fact is represented by the appearance of Green Arrow in the first column with the numbers of the issues in which he starred in the first backup feature, followed by the appearance of the Atom in the first column with the number of the issue in which he starred in the first backup feature.

The second backup feature initially starred the Vigilante; later it starred the Creeper, and later still Hawkman (replaced for one issue only by Adam Strange). Therefore the names of these four characters appear in that order in that column, together with the issue numbers in which they starred in the feature.

The third backup feature initially starred the Wonder Woman of Earth-Two; later she was replaced by the Wonder Woman of Earth-One, and later still Captain Marvel (under the series title "Shazam!") Therefore the names of these three characters appear in that order in that column, together with the issue numbers in which they starred in the feature.

The fourth backup feature initially starred Black Canary; later she was replaced by Black Lightning, and later still by Aquaman, then Red Tornado, then Plastic Man, then Zatanna. Therefore the names of these six characters appear in that order in that column, together with the issue numbers in which they starred in the feature.

It can't be any plainer than that.

BPK (talk) 13:37, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

Perfectly! You explained it perfectly! So, I'm going to change the titles for "1st Feature", "2nd Feature", "3rd Feature" and "4th Feature", because that is the difference between them, that's the reason why they have that order and not other.

Thanks! Arussom (talk) 13:53, 25 October 2013 (UTC)

how was New York Worlds Fair Comics distributed?

I think the article needs more info about the early years of the comic with the 96 page format. Specifically, its evolution from New York Worlds Fair Comics. One thing I keep wondering, was New York Worlds Fair Comics only sold at the Worlds Fair site, or was it available at all newsstands like any other comic? also, what are some other examples of early backup features?

...also, it could be noted that the Sandman had his first appearance in New York Worlds Fair Comics 1939, that is one historically significant aspect of that comic. you might also want to add Sandman Archives and DC Rarities Archives to the table of Collected Editions, as they both contain material from New York Worlds Fair Comics. since that title does not have an article of its own, and probably doesnt need one, this would be the best page for any info on these two prototypical issues. J Edward Malone (talk) 16:27, 21 December 2023 (UTC)