Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #53
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Adrián Gutiérrez
Inks by Vicente Cifuentes
Colors by Luis Guerrero
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover Art by Dan Mora
Batman, Superman, and Robin have been put through the wringer since they entered the realm of Skartaris. Hybrid dinosaur creatures, time-displaced warriors, and a tyrant who wants nothing more than destruction have just been some of the challenges they’ve faced in the land of Skartaris. This issue marks the end of our time on Skartaris with the World’s Finest, and although I don’t think it lived up to the rest of the arc, it was a satisfying conclusion. Let’s get into it. Spoiler Warning Now in Effect for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #53!
Battles Rage Across Skartaris
The issue opens with two battles on two different fronts. Robin and Mariah, one of the members of Warlord’s squad, are busy taking down some of the hybrid soldiers (known as “Dinohorrors”) who have been given Superman’s powers. Meanwhile, the mind-controlled Superman and Batman are fighting two other members of Warlord’s squad, Tara and Machiste. Meanwhile, Tyrant Rex has Morgan’s ally, Shakira, held captive and means to make her his queen. This issue does not start slow and one of my favorite things was the pace of this issue. There are so many fights and battles in this one, which is very fitting for the end of this arc in a wartorn realm.
Before we even get to more of the plot of this issue, I want to bring attention to the fact that Robin has been featured in such a heavy role in this arc. Obviously, this is a Batman and Superman-based book, and we do get a good amount of them in this issue, but this arc has seen Robin take the lead, and it’s great to see him in that role. What’s even more impressive about it from a character standpoint is that Robin has accepted this responsibility in a realm where he isn’t familiar and with people and creatures he’s never seen. It shows the growth and maturity of the character and how cool he can be when he is written by someone like Mark Waid.
The battles continue across Skartaris as the mind-controlled Batman and Superman take down Tara and Machiste with the assistance of one of the dinohorror soldiers, while Travis Morgan (Warlord) is hunting other dinohorror soldiers in a different part of the realm. Now I have to admit I didn’t know much about Travis Morgan or Skartaris prior to reading this arc, but both Morgan and this realm of dinosaurs and magic have made me want to see him, his world, and his allies pop up more in current DC comics. I’ve always been a big dinosaur person, and now you combine that with a sort of Conan the Barbarian aesthetic? Sign me up for more of this whenever. Or hey, DC, maybe let Mark Waid and this creative team write an entire book in this world. It would be on my pull list 100%, and I’m sure for many others.
Robin, Mariah and Warlord find Machiste and Tara unconscious after their battle with Superman and Batman. Warlord cannot believe that they were left alive and Robin says their convictions run so deep that even mind control can’t get them to take someone's life. This exchange is not only one of my favorite parts of this issue but of the entire run of this series because yes, once again, I’m going to applaud his excellent characterization. Even when mind controlled by a Tyrannosaurus Rex - human hybrid enhanced by ancient magic and hell-bent on destruction, they refuse to ever commit what would be unforgivable in both their eyes. They don’t kill. It’s not who they are, and it’s such a core tenet of who these characters are. Just in this one exchange between Robin and Warlord, those core tenets shine through. Superman and Batman are in there somewhere, and they’re still fighting Tyrant Rex’s control.
The trio continues on through the jungles of Skartaris, fighting off dinowarriors as they make their way to the hidden Atlantean computer banks and technology bunker. The art team delivers some wonderfully kinetic panels of Robin, Warlord, and Mariah fighting off the dinowarriors, and the backgrounds of Skartaris look great as a setting for all the fighting. Gutierrez has been a rockstar on this book since taking over for Dan Mora, and that’s not an easy name to follow. Mora is synonymous with comic fans because of his gorgeous art, and Gutierrez has picked up the baton and run with it on World’s Finest. He’s truly made this book his own and put his stamp on it. Colorist Luis Guerrero and Inker Vicente Cifuentes do a wonderful job on this issue as well, with Guerrero’s colors popping on every page and Cifuentes’ inks providing just the right amount of shadow and shading.
The Fate of Skartaris is Decided
Mariah takes a bad hit during one of the skirmishes, so Robin and Warlord continue on to the Atlantean bunker. Just as Tyrant Rex is implementing the final steps of his insane plan, Robin delivers a perfect deus ex machina moment. He hits Tyrant Rex’s machine to disrupt it with Robin-ized Batarang, and the battle is on. Robin takes on Superman and Batman while Warlord goes to take on the remaining dinowarriors. Superman and Batman eventually back Robin up to the edge of a deep pit, and it seems that no kill rule might finally be broken until… Robin backs up off the ledge. Robin’s fall and possible imminent death is what FINALLY breaks the mind control Tyrant Rex had on Superman and Batman.
Batman dives off the side of the ledge to save Robin, and with Robin now safe, Superman goes to take on Kreitzer (Tyrant Rex). How the battle ultimately comes to an end I won’t spoil for you all here, but there are some great moments with Superman, Warlord, Robin, and Shakira as Tyrant Rex is finally defeated. With the threat of Tyrant Rex now ended and Warlord’s group safe and sound, the two teams say their goodbyes. Before leaving Skartaris, Batman promises not to tell the Air Force about anything that transpired there, and Superman follows the tachyon-brick road to get the World’s Finest and Robin home.
The art team again provides some spectacular work here with this entire final sequence. The battle scenes just look so damn good, and you can feel the movement and power in each panel. They deserve their flowers for this one. I liked the art team's choice of Superman’s suit for this issue, also. I love the classic Superman costume. I love the cape-less look with the black background “S” instead of the yellow background “S.” It’s a look Superman hasn’t always used; I remember it mostly from the Imperiex War storyline, but it’s cool when it pops up here and there.
Concluding Thoughts and Rating
Mark Waid concludes World’s Finest’s Skartaris arc with an issue that features big battles and great character moments. Robin takes center stage in a story that shows that if your convictions and beliefs run deep, then no one can ever change who you are. World’s Finest continues to be one of DC’s strongest titles, and it shows no signs of slowing down. If you haven’t been picking this book up, you'd better add it to your pull list.
RATING: 8.5/10