The World's Greatest Superheroes: Vandal Savage Strikes!
This half-page ad ran in DC Comics, encouraging readers to ask for the strip in their local papers. The World’s Greatest Superheroes ran for seven years, bringing the adventures of the Justice League (and its signature superstar Superman) to America’s front doorsteps and breakfast tables. It was also DC Comics’ first trip to the funny pages in 22 years. Previously, Batman and Robin had enjoyed excursions in three consecutive decades, beginning in 1943. Wonder Woman helmed a single short-lived, six-episode-a-week series (at just over a year in publication) during World War II. And Superman drew in as many as 20 million regular readers as the star of a strip which bridged 1939 to 1966. By 1978, the time was ripe for a return to newspapers. Superheroes were big on TV again, Superman: The Movie had broken box office records, and DC’s rival Marvel Comics had already staked a claim in the market, with newspaper strips featuring the Amazing Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Conan the Barb...