Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #56
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Adrian Gutierrez
Colors by Luis Guerrero
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover Art by Dan Mora
I read a lot of comics, both for pleasure and for my review assignments here at ComicBook Clique, and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest by Mark Waid has always been near the top of the list of books I look forward to checking out every month. Waid has been on quite the run as of late; his resume is already legendary, and it's great to see him still craft awesome stories each month in the pages of not just World’s Finest but Action Comics as well. This was yet another great issue in a series that seems to never have a low moment. Let’s get into it. Spoiler Warning Now in Effect for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #56!
A World in Peril
The world is in chaos after the events of the last issue. Ocean Master has used Aquaman’s absence to take control of the Atlantean military and has them on the cusp of a surface invasion; Queen Bee’s robotic bees have spread a nearly untreatable virus worldwide. Tokamok is trying to bring on a nuclear apocalypse, and Poison Ivy is set to play her own massive role in the plan of mass destruction. With Ra’s al Ghul himself at the controls, Superman and Batman have their work cut out for them if they have any hope of saving the world.
Our issue opens with Poison Ivy and Ra’s Al’Ghoul at his compound in the middle of the Himalayas. Ra’s feels that nearly 90% of humanity must perish in order to preserve the Earth for the future and he has big plans for Ivy’s role in his massive plan for that to happen. Despite rejecting his creepy advances, Ra’s is just as eager to work with Ivy, and she might just be the most important part of his insane plans.
I liked this first part of the issue focusing on Ivy and Ra’s and how their goals for the Earth, in some crazy way, almost align. Ivy is the ultimate environmentalist, and Ra’s certainly considers himself one as well. Both agree that the Earth needs to be saved, but obviously their methods for doing so are highly questionable, to say the least. Waid does his best to give these two some sort of common ground to see each other, and to be honest, these are two characters that I never related to in that sense in my mind, but when presented in the way they are, it makes total sense. Ivy hates what humans have done to the world, and so has Ra’s. If only their solution to save the planet wasn’t mass genocide, then maybe I could try seeing things their way.
The next big section of this issue features the dueling POV’s of Superman and Batman as they attempt to solve some of the problems brought on by Ra’s and his squad of evildoers. Superman is tasked with ending Tokmak’s plan to bring untold nuclear damage to the Earth while Batman does his best to find a cure for the virus brought on by Queen Bee’s robotic bees. The threat of the Atlantean army has to unfortunately take a backseat as the World’s Finest do all they can to turn the tide in their favor. The stakes are raised extremely high, and with the Justice League off-world, Waid does a good job of showing that even Superman and Batman can’t be everywhere at once. It gives the story that much more weight when the heroes are on the back foot and forced to fight from behind to win the day.
Tokamak v. Superman: Dawn of Nuclear Meltdowns
We’ll start with my Kryptonian friend because man, does he have his work cut out for him. Tokamak, who I will wholeheartedly admit I was not familiar with at all before this story, was originally a Firestorm villain and has been around since 1983. He’s essentially a human nuclear reactor with radiative power. At Kori Nuclear Power Plant, in South Korea, Tokamak makes his big move and causes a nuclear meltdown. Superman shouldn’t have an issue with this C-level villain, should he? Well, I’ll admit to being surprised that this fight wasn’t as easy as I’m sure even the Man of Steel thought it would be.
First off, this was my favorite section in this issue. The art was absolutely stunning; Adrian Gutierrez and Luis Guerrero are such a good team; Batman and Superman aren't the only dynamic duo featured in this issue. The battle between Superman and Tokamak looks and feels like a major fight, not one between Superman and a throwaway villain. You can FEEL Superman’s punches as he takes it to Tokamak over the skies of the nuclear power plant. You can almost feel the heat from the nuclear plant going up in flames, and the entire battle has this violent red hue to it. I will always love the emotional and character moments in Superman books, but sometimes, I just want to see Superman involved in a cool battle, and this issue gave that to me.
I’m not kidding when I say that Gutierrez might be one of the best Superman artists of the last few years. His Superman design and the feel he gives the character remind me a lot of Jorge Jimenez’ style. Jimenez might be my favorite Superman artist of the last decade so I don’t make that comparison lightly. Gutierrez has been killing it on Batman/Superman: World’s Finest and has made this book his own after the departure of Dan Mora. Guerrero’s colors are the cherry on top, with his colors giving the blue of Superman’s suit this more muted feel in this part while letting the reds and yellows pop, including the iconic “S” shield.
Superman eventually ends the threat of the nuclear disaster by performing a feat that only Superman can. He uses his powers to convert the gases of radiation from the nuclear meltdown into a liquid, freezes that liquid, and then shoots it off into the vacuum of outer space. Interspersed with Superman completing this incredible feat are pieces of an article written by Clark Kent on what exactly it would take to stop a nuclear meltdown. I liked Waid’s choice here because it shows how the research and knowledge that Kal gains as Clark Kent can influence even some of his most superhuman feats as Superman. Just another way to tie both sides of Kal together and another way that shows how much Waid GETS Superman. A quick trip to a cell in the Fortress of Solitude ends Tokamak’s day.
Batman, Ivy & Talia, OH MY!
Half a world away, Batman is dealing with the techno-based virus that Queen Bee unleashed. He makes a discovery and realizes that Mirror Master might be the only one who can actually help solve their current crisis and enlists his help in the matter. Mirror Master is originally reluctant to help, but the threat of death for the entire planet seems to be a good motivator for one of the main members of The Rogues. Meanwhile, it's time for Poison Ivy to enact her part of the plan, and she, of course, makes ground zero in a state near and dear to the Man of Steel’s heart.
Ivy begins her plan of mass worldwide famine in what I’m sure is Smallville and despite a valiant effort to bring her down by Talia Al Ghul, she manages to capture her and makes a point that she wants to use her as bait to draw the World’s Finest to her. With Talia’s capture, Ivy begins the process of killing the world’s crops and setting the world on a path to mass famine. This is another scene that looks awesome, with a specific art highlight being a three-panel sequence of Ivy and Talia fighting in front of a golden setting sun. Just one of those sequences that you have to stop and stare at for a minute.
Our issue comes to a close as Superman races to find Ra’s Al Ghul. After Batman locates him, the Man of Steel comes face to face with the Demon’s Head, and the two have a heated exchange. Unfortunately, the Atlantean threat must take precedence, and Superman heads off to begin fighting back, but Batman has a surprise in store for him. He’s called in some reinforcements. Who are those reinforcements? You’re just gonna have to read to find out!
This was a really fun second issue in this arc featuring Ra’s Al Ghul and his merry band of villains. Superman has some really cool moments in this one, highlighted by the battle with Tokamak, and Batman realizes sometimes dire situations call for uneasy partnerships. The stakes are only going to get higher as the World’s Finest struggle to overcome this latest threat to the planet and people they both love.
Superman and Batman have their hands full with Ra’s Al Ghul’s latest dastardly plan in World’s Finest #56. From nuclear meltdowns to deadly viruses to the potential invasion of the Atlantean army, things go from bad to worse. Superman and Batman might not be able to win this one on their own and get some help from some unexpected places. Mark Waid and the art team deliver yet another great issue in a series that has become known for them.