“So you’re heroes on your world? Prove it”
Since its inception in March of 2022, Mark Waid’s Batman/Superman: World’s Finest has been a highlight of DC’s monthly schedule. The out-of-mainline-continuity has allowed Waid to tell any sort of story he wants with the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight and it’s only gotten better and better. Next month, issue #50 will hit comic book stands and digital apps and will feature the return of Dan Mora to the book he helped create. It’s going to be a monumental event but for now, Clark and Bruce have their own problems to deal with on Earth-3 with the early incarnation of the Crime Syndicate…
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #49 was a really fun issue that gives us more time on Earth-3 with Batman and Superman and gives us a broader view of just how bad that version of Earth really is. If anything, this book is yet another that proves that the entire world owes Jonthan Kent, Martha Kent and Alfred Pennyworth everything since they did their jobs to keep Clark and Bruce on the right track during their formative years. Ultraman and Owlman are as menacing as ever and the addition of Superwoman (Earth-3’s Lois Lane) only adds to the chaos. Do Clark and Bruce make it back to their Earth? How will they escape their current containment? Can anyone on Earth-3 actually help them? These questions and more are answered as Waid, artist Marcus To and colorist Tamra Bonvillain deliver another fantastic issue. Let’s dive in. Spoiler Warning Now In Effect for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #49.
How did Superman and Batman get to Earth-3?
World’s Finest #49 opens two days prior to the last issue (Just for a quick refresh: Batman and Superman are chained up in the basement of Earth-3’s Magnus Robotics and have just been discovered by Ultraman, Owlman and Superwoman) and we learn how Superman and Batman ended up on Earth-3. Back on Earth-0, Superman and Batman were engaged in a battle with Brainiac as he attempted to open a portal to another multiversal destination. Superman damages Brainiac’s ship so the portal closes but he is thrown out of the ship, into Batman’s space ship and the duo fly through the closing rift to the other side just as it closes. The duo end up in the atmosphere of Earth-3 and are captured by that world’s version of S.T.A.R Labs and BOOM, title card.
Day for Night, Part Two officially picks up right at the moment the last issue ended. Superman and Batman pretend to be asleep as the dastardly trio of Owlman, Ultraman and Superwoman talk about what they should do with the prisoners. Superman and Batman begin to talk about how to escape when the Riddler of Earth-3 shows up and frees the World’s Finest from their cell. Turns out the Riddler isn’t as dead as previously thought as the “lava” he fell into last issue was actually a vat of acid and while it didn’t kill him, it left him disfigured with one massive arm and one normal sized arm along with some other variations to his appearance. The trio sneak away from Magnus Robotics with the aid of a boat on an underground river that connects from the building to the sewer system. The trio discuss where the World’s Finest came from and decide their best course of action is to head to the nearest S.T.A.R Labs outpost. On the way to the outpost, the trio pass Earth-3’s dilapidated version of Gotham.
I liked the little flashback to open the issue from Waid as well as the fact that Batman is going to have to trust versions of people he would never trust back on his Earth. Remember, these versions of Batman and Superman are from much earlier in their lifespans, they don’t know about all of this Earth-3 stuff yet so this experience has to be very jarring for the both of them. Imagine being thrown into a world where good is evil and evil is good? Who do you trust? Who can you trust? I really like how Waid explored this idea in this early part of the issue and as the issue continues on.
Artist Marcus To and colorist Tamra Bonvillain are a great team. Bonvillian has been rocking the colors on this book for awhile now and it’s always a pleasure to see her color choices and she nails it every time. Marcus To hasn’t spent as much time on this book as Mora or Adrian Gutierrez but I think his art style fits really well and I really like his take on the designs of Superman and Batman. My favorite bit of art from the art team in this opening section is when Superman, Batman and the Riddler pass by the ruins of Earth-3’s Gotham. The dark reds, blacks and overall depressing feel of this ruined version of Gotham makes for a great splash page.
Surprise allies aid the World’s Finest
Continuing on in the issue, Ultraman, and Owlman discover that Superman and Batman have escaped and begin to track the duo. They don’t want these “do-gooders” loose on their world. They begin their search as Ultraman completely evaporates the Gotham river and tries to pick up any trace of the World’s Finest. This part to me is a perfect example that encapsulates the big differences between Superman and Ultraman. Waid has Ultraman evaporate what is essentially an entire ecosystem without a second thought; animals will die, people will be without water and the entire area of Gotham City will be radically changed. The effects of this act for Ultraman will be widespread and hurtful. This microcosm of an event shows how the ends always justify the means to Ultraman. That couldn’t be different from Superman and his mentality.
We re-join Superman, Batman and Earth-3’s Riddler in a lead lined bunker in the bowels of a ruined Gotham City. They meet the Earth-3 versions of Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Toyman, Scarecrow and Silver Banshee. It’s made very clear that these people do not like Ultraman, Owlman and their allies. The group begin to formulate a plan to return Superman and Batman to their proper Earth. It’s pretty cool to see characters who would normally be after the World’s Finest be more than willing to help out and work with them. So what is this magical plan that will get Superman and Batman home? It involves not just S.T.A.R Labs but also the infamous psychiatric institution itself: Arkham Asylum.
The plan is set into motion shortly after the initial meeting. One group, containing most of the Earth-3 “villains” will head to Arkham Asylum and cause a massive distraction while Superman, Batman and Riddler head to S.T.A.R. Labs to see if they can find a way to bring back the rift in order to get them home. Toyman and Scarecrow kick off the Arkham Asylum distraction with fear gas that explodes from inside kid sized nutcracker wind-up toys. God, I love comics. As the nutcrackers make their way into the Asylum they explode their fear gas all over the guards. With the guards now terrified, Catwoman and her crew make their way to the cells and begin to free the prisoners inside Arkham Asylum. The group gets as far as releasing Earth-3’s Two Face before Ultraman, Owlman and Superwoman show up to ruin the party.
While Batman and the Riddler work on getting the S.T.A.R. Labs computer to lock onto the rift needed to take them home, Superman realizes the Arkham Asylum crew is in a lot of trouble and goes to rescue them from the dastardly trio. He does all he can to fight them and stop them from destroying the Earth-3 villain counterparts. Superman fights off Ultraman as he tries to burn the Earth-3 crew alive and is about to knock out Superwoman until she reveals that she’s pregnant and he stops himself short. With Superman about to be taken down for the count, Silver Banshee uses the full power of her voice to knock out the Crime Syndicate and allows Superman to escape and leave Earth-3 with Batman as the portal closes.
Ending Thoughts and Rating
There was some great stuff in this last act that I really want to highlight. First off, the color choice by Bonvillain to make Ultraman’s suit a dark muted blue as opposed to the bright blue of Superman’s really makes a difference in this last battle and further enforces the dichotomy between the two. I also liked the fact that, without a second thought, Superman went to defend the Earth-3 “villains.” Remember, at this point in time, especially with the multiverse being so new to the World’s Finest, he didn’t have to trust these versions of these people. But he did and had no issue stepping in to defend them. It further speaks to his character and is a great character moment for Superman.
To and Bonvillain’s designs for the Earth-3 “villains” and for the Crime Syndicate are really cool, especially Toyman, Silver Banshee and Catwoman. As a bonus, it was nice to see their take on Brainiac in the beginning of the issue. I would love to see this art team get another chance on this book and get an even longer arc next time. If I had one issue with this arc, it's that I wish it was maybe even 2-3 issues longer. There are 100% more stories to tell on Waid’s World’s Finest version of Earth-3 and I hope one day we return. With Mad Hatter asking Superman if he and Batman will return with the "cavalry,” Superman basically says they will do their best to try and I await the day that we see that arc come to life.
One final thing I want to highlight in this issue before I wrap up is one last character moment from the end of the issue. When Ultraman, Superwoman and Owlman all get the upper hand on Superman towards the end of their battle at the Asylum, it looks like the Man of Steel may have met his match. As the trio beat down Superman, a shrill shriek fills the air and knocks them out. Silver Banshee and the Earth-3 "villains" come to his aid in a great time of need and Superman is shocked at their help but comes to realize after a small conversation with Catwoman that he inspired them to help. It's a quintessential Superman moment and once again, shows that Waid just gets it.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #49 has some great character moments, and features some brilliant art from Marcus To and Tamra Bonvillain. Mark Waid could write this book for 200 issues and I’d never get bored. Superman and Batman got a stark reminder of what a dark path looks like for them both but also saw just how inspiring both of them can be. The landmark issue #50 of World’s Finest is up next and I cannot wait to read it.
RATING: 8.5/10