Batman/Superman: World's Finest
Issues: 1 & 2
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Dan Mora
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
Before we get into this review, let me give the perspective of where it is coming from. I was born in the early 1970's, so my introduction to DC and Marvel super heroes often their borderline Silver Age/early Bronze Age versions. While there was danger, these were not dark and gritty versions of the heroes. This comic captures that era of super heroes for me, and I'm enjoying immensely. Batman's detective skills along with his knowledge and connections in the superhero/super science world are highlighted over his being dark and brooding. This story doesn't happen in the current DC Universe, it happens sometime in the past when Batman wore his blue cowl and had a yellow oval around his chest emblem.
I love a team-up book, I have on more than occasion lamented the fact that the current publishers don't have regular team-up books on the stands like they did back in the day. Mark Waid leverages the fun of the team-up book by using rogues from both of the heroes' galleries. In the first issue the heroes run into Metallo and Poison Ivy. By the end of the issue we have the classic line-up of the Doom Patrol also included in the story. Issue 2, brings in a second team-up with Robin and Supergirl going off on their own side adventure related to the main story, while Batman and Superman have to defend Billy Batson against a more powerful version of Felix Faust. This what a team-up book should be, I felt the same joy reading this that I get when watching old episodes of Batman: The Brave & The Bold with my youngest son. With the end of the second issue, we've had some time travel and a visit to Hell added to the mix. This is a fun ride for only two issues so far.
Let me stop a moment to just state that it is such a big deal that Mark Waid is back at DC Comics. Because of a variety of personal/interoffice political reasons that I don't know much about Mark Waid hadn't been working for DC for a little over decade. Times change and staff changes, which brought Waid back to DC. His Kingdom Come series with Alex Ross is a story that I read at least once a year. It was one of the first graphic novels I bought digitally, just so my hardcopy version wouldn't get damaged further from my constant re-reading. When I saw he was writing this return of the World's Finest title, it made it an immediate must read for me.
As expected Mark Waid handles the variety of characters so incredibly well in their interactions. Their characterizations stay true and the banter between them is entertaining. Dan Mora's artwork and the color palette used by Bonvillain keep the comic feeling current but still capturing the feel of a past era. I don't know the plans for the series after this story arc but I'd be perfectly content staying in a time past for the rest of the stories. Letting it exist without the concerns of current continuity and character interpretations though probably isn't in the cards. According to the marketing materials from DC Comics, this first storyline is the kicking off point for a larger event impacting the DC Universe. Since I've enjoyed these first two issues, maybe this is an event I'll get into for this summer.
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