DC Super Heroes vs. T. Rex is a no-brainer. DC loves dinos. And what dinosaur symbolizes raw Jurassic fury better than old Tyrannosaurus rex? We expect ol’ Rex to show up in The Warlord, Tarzan, Tor, Arak, Son of Thunder even the Horror comics and SF comics like Strange Adventures, but in superhero comics? Well, here are fifteen examples where the caped crusaders meet the King of the Dinosaurs. Sure, sometimes they are robots (DC also loves robots!). Whether it’s time travel or old bones brought back to life, it all counts.
The Golden Age
“Dinosaur Island” (Batman #35, June-July 1946) was written by Bill Finger. This might be the first appearance of Dinosaur Island, the location of The War That Time Forgot. This one is unofficial but the writer, Robert Kanigher, of Star-Spangled War Stories #90 (May 1960) must have had some fond memories of it.
“Stone Age Menace” (Flash Comics #86, August 1947) was written by Robert Kanigher. Or maybe Kanigher was remembering his own story from thirteen years earlier when he came up with The War That Time Forgot? Joe Kubert would draw his share of dinos later in Tor.
“The Caveman Batman” (Batman #93, August 1955) was written by Edmond Hamilton. Hamilton was a Science Fiction writer from the Pulps, though he didn’t write any dino tales (Did he?). In this comic, he convinces us dinosaurs and humans have always lived together. (A Ray Harryhausen fan if I ever saw one.)
The Silver Age
“The Secret of Dinosaur Island” (Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #12, April 1956) was written by Otto Binder. This is Superman’s rare dinosaur story. I suppose when you have Flame-Dragons from Krypton to worry about, a little T. rex is nothing much. Otto Binder was another Pulpster like Hamilton. I don’t know if he wrote any classic dino fiction either.
“Death in Dinosaur Hall” (Detective Comics #255, May 1958) was written by Bill Finger and features robotic dinosaurs. What better way to kill the Dynamic Duo than setting machines after them. The Dino-Bots of the Transformers franchise wouldn’t exist until 1984.
“Prisoners of the Dinosaur Zoo” (The Brave and the Bold #39, December 1961-January 1962) was written by Robert Kanigher. Dinosaur Island moves from Star Spangled War Stories over to The Brave and the Bold for a few issues with the Suicide Squad. Ross Andru and Mike Esposito were the artists for The War That Time Forgot and anytime DC needed a dino cover Ross and Mike were happy to supply one.
“Public Enemy — Of the 26th Century” (Rip Hunter…Time Master #18, January-February 1964) was written by Jack Miller. Time travel is Rip Hunter’s bread & butter. Too bad when your enemies can use it against you.
“Four Worlds to Conquer” (Justice League of America #26, March 1964) was written by Gardner F. Fox. Fox is the third of our SF Pulp writers turned to comics. I don’t recall any dino stories by him either. Seems these Pulp boys got to write theirs for the comics instead. Gardner gives us a sympathetic and intelligent T. rex rather than the usual hungry monster.
“The Dinosaur Who Stayed For Dinner” (Metal Men #18, February-March 1966) was written by Robert Kanigher. Metal heroes so, of course, a metallic T rex.
The Bronze Age
“The Eternity Man” (Swamp Thing #12, September-October 1974) was written by Len Wein. This one seems even farther out, with Berni Wrightson’s famous Horror character now drawn by the equally wonderful Nestor Redondo. Cavemen & dinosaurs is older than DC Comics but they had their share.
“Isle of a Thousand Thrills” (Batman Family #3, January-February 1976) was written by Elliot Maggin. Bat-Girl and Robin team up when Provincetown is suddenly threatened by a rampaging T. rex. Good thing Robin has faced them before (thirty years earlier!)
“The Mind Killers” (Super Friends #8, November 1977) was written by E. Nelson Bridwell. The Super Friends go back in time to fight their enemies while dinosaurs get in the way.
“The Case of the Impossible Crimes” (Wonder Woman #257, July 1979) was written by Paul Levitz. That horn on the nose– is this T. rex? The thing shows up and disappears before anyone can identify it.
“The Dinosaur Demon” (Super Friends #36, September 1980) was written by E. Nelson Bridwell. That’s Vince C9lletta’s third dino! You need a dinosaur inked, call Vince!
(Young All Stars #12-14, May-July 1988) was written by Roy and Dann Thomas. When I saw that rex lying there on the table, I just knew he’d break free!
Conclusion
Dinosaurs have been appearing in the comics since before comic books, with the comic strip, Alley Oop in 1932. (He wasn’t the first.) They find their way into the comic books in the 1940s with Jungle Comics and other Tarzan clones. Edgar Rice Burroughs filled his fiction with giant reptiles, including the Tarzan novels, which featured the dino-lands of Pellucidar and Pal-U-Don. (There was also The Land That Time Forgot, Caspak, but Tarzan had to wait for Russ Manning to take him there.)
DC loved dinosaurs even more than most companies. They dedicated an entire comic to fighting dinos in The War That Time Forgot (Thanks ERB for that title idea.) Of course, there had to be a robot fighting in that one, too. Somehow robots and dinosaurs just go together (at DC anyway).
But dinosaurs can show up anywhere. They certainly get the cover spot often enough. And T. rex more than other prehistoric beasts. What could be better than a green (or is it purple or red?) brute on the cover making trouble? DC Superheroes vs. T. Rex has been a tradition for ninety years!
Devil Dinosaur was actually Marvel…
You are right, of course!