Writer: Mark Waid / Penciller: Dan Mora (#1-#5) Travis Moore (#6) / Colour Artist: Tamra Bonvillain / Letterer: Aditya Bidikar / Collects: Batman/Superman: World's Finest #1 - #6 / HC / DC Comics
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Review by: Paul Dunne

25th March 2023 (Released: 7th March 2023)

The Pitch: The Dark Knight. The Man of Steel. They are the two finest superheroes that the world has ever known… and they’re together again in an epic new series from the legendary talents of Mark Waid and Dan Mora! In the not-too-distant past, Superman’s powers are super-charged from a devastating chemical attack by the villain Metallo… and the only ally that the ultra-powerful Man of Tomorrow can turn to in this turbulent hour is Gotham’s own dark vengeance: the Batman. A nearly fatal burst of power drives Bruce Wayne to his own extreme measures to help his friend… enlisting none other than the Doom Patrol for aid. It’s the world’s greatest superheroes from the world’s greatest comic book talent in an epic comic book experience that kicks off the next big events in the DCU. Get ready, it’s time to soar.

There's a species of comic that often gets taken for granted if indeed made at all. We've had the groundbreakers, like Watchmen, Killing Joke, and The Dark Knight Returns. We thrill to the new future classics, like Wicked & Divine, and Deadly Class. We've enjoyed indie juggernauts, like The Walking Dead, Fables, and Saga. But one thing we can never get enough of (and some would argue there's just not enough to go around of now) is a previously unnamed genre…

And that's the well-made comic about characters you like. Seems hard to believe, doesn't it? But you'd be surprised how tough it is to find comics that fit the bill, especially in crossover books or team-ups. And Batman and Superman are THE high watermark for team-up comics. They've been doing this for nearly a century. It's too dismissive to suggest it's like the circus strongman joining forces with Sherlock Holmes to solve weird mysteries, even if by the end of this initial run that's kind of what Waid and Mora give us. It's not Brain Vs Brawn... it's the heart working with the head. Soul teaming with ruthlessness. Humanity meeting the cold calculation. Only Superman is the one with all the humanity and Batman is the machine. And maybe a little Clark's heart rubbing off on Bruce along the way? These are the good things that make this title worth reading. But in today's comic landscape, how else does a modern book distinguish itself? In this case, as befits a veteran writer like Waid, Batman Superman: World's Finest looks to the past.

It's the inclusion of Robin that gives you the first clue. Always a feature of the early, classic WF stories, the boy wonder is often given short shrift in later stories. Now, with the ongoing popularity of Dick Grayson, Waid is wise to include him here. But the fact that he's Robin and not Nightwing also tells us we're around year 3 – 5 in the Batman mythos. And it's those early years that readers really seem to relate to. Maybe because things are uncomplicated by giant crossover events (up 87, when Year One made its bow, the only major event had been Crisis), or maybe because it's when some of our favourite writers were coming on, like Frank Miller, John Byrne, and George Perez, the past for DC characters was another country that everyone seemed to want a vacation to. So we get a Batman of yore, a wider-eyed Superman, and teenage kids running around in tights, relatively angst-free. Taking it back to the golden age of World's Finest Comics, which Robin was very much an integral part of. It's not giving much away to say that the teen sidekicks are at the heart of these first issues and in particular, the next run. That's right, I cheated folks. I read the first twelve issues because I just couldn't put it down. Just gonna do the first six issues here, though. Sorry.

We also get to have our cake and scoff it down our greedy little faces, because as far as those complicated crossover events go, because we get a guest appearance from DC heroes in nearly every issue. The Silver Age Doom Patrol, complete with Rita Farr occupy much of the early issues, and we get some glorious, underused, and almost defunct villains like Mirror Master and Dr. Alchemy. The past is where it's at, apparently. And the story carries this theme through, making it integral to the plot. For you silver-age foxes, this is hog heaven. There's also great use of the future history of DC characters. Since we know what fate awaits characters (because we're reading a story set in their pasts) this creates a second-level resonance, something that's evident when Hal Jordan goes bad, prefiguring his turn to Parallax in later years. But it's the main villain we have to keep an eye on because DC has big plans for him. The Devil Nezha is a great addition to the roster of all-time DC villains. He's a maniac, but a maniac with purpose and worse, power. He remains hidden at first, using others, but once he's revealed, all bets are off. A formidable villain for both WF characters, his magic renders Superman powerless and places him outside Batman's more grounded abilities.

Waid is a good writer for many reasons, but one sticks out here. He commits to character. Commits to their ideals and the classic elements that make them our favourites. He creates believable conflicts, both for Bats and Supes against their enemies – and friends – and inwardly, with each other. His writing has a sharp wit yet resists the urge for out-and-out comedy. He finds great moments of joy in the different teams assembled, each with their own missions and contributions to the story. Dan Mora's art is a sheer pleasure from panel to panel. He keeps the action clear and dynamic, with sharp edges and a beautiful flow between his panels. He's like the love child of Lee Weeks and Phil Hester. There's a hint of the 80s prestige graphic novels, like Son of the Demon, in his textured pencils. He also does something almost unheard of in modern superhero books, largely because of time and I assume the risk of burnout: HE DRAWS THE BACKGROUNDS. There's a ton of detail and movement in his images, keeping the energy up, up, and away on every page. He's fast turning into one of my favourite artists and I'm thrilled he'll be jumping on the new Shazam title in May. Tamra Bonvillain's colours keep that silver-age spirit alive but using a modern palette that DC's paper stock holds wonderfully. Her use of lighting creates a wonderful atmosphere. Aditya Bidikar's letters are, as always, beautifully done, marking him out as one of the best in the business. His sound effects blast across the panels with authority. No wonder he's so in demand. Credit must also go to Travis Moore, who steps in for the one-off final issue of the arc, which whilst it is its own beast, remains tethered to the main arc. Moore keeps a style similar to Mora's, ensuring there's consistency throughout the run. This story, written by Waid, is beautifully done and gives us a solid end to this glorious opening salvo. I hope this book continues for a least another year, with this team wherever possible. Not just one of the best books to come out of the Distinguished Competition's house this year, but one of the World's Finest!

Batman Superman: World's Finest Vol.1: The Devil Nezha is available now. Shop our latest webstore additions here, including the first two arcs of this title. Subscribe to our Patreon and support more original writing on comics.