Before you read this review, make sure you have a copy of this comic in hand. This is going to be an issue that will get a lot of talk and hype as you discover just what major DC Comics story it will connect to. As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, you will be getting some great story and art, but now Mark Waid, Dan Mora, and Tamra Bonvillain are going to crank it to eleven. We thought we knew everything about Boy Thunder, David Sikela, but that could change after this issue.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #10!
You thought last issue’s cliffhanger with Boy Thunder kidnapped by the Joker would amp up this issue, especially with that killer cover by Dan Mara featuring Batman, Superman, Robin, and the Titans, with the Joker, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Good thing Boy Thunder has superpowers as Joker is laying down the hurt to get the secret identities of the World’s Finest. Of course, it doesn’t work as Boy Thunder doesn’t know these secrets; instead, he gets more torture, which is perfect for the Key. Mark Waid plays that character perfectly, and there is mention of the keys to the Multiverse, and Boy Thunder is from out there – remember Hypertime?
Dan Mora gets to play with a very angry Superman here, and it’s great to see all the heroes on high alert, searching Gotham City for their missing partner. Mark and Dan show Superman on a tear as he busts in on all places that are lead-lined, it would be interesting to see what Superman could do if he used that anger differently, but that could be an issue for another time. Tamra Bonvillain adds such a great touch of color with the red in Superman’s eyes, but also keeps most of his body in shadow to help emphasize his emotional state.
Dan Mora and Mark Waid create some great visuals for the World’s Finest as they search for the Key and the Joker. All those floating doors help to show that the Key has some pretty wild abilities, and I can’t wait to see just how far Mark Waid will go to explore those abilities. Waid does give us an origin for the Key, which helps to establish his motivations. I like that the Key is a character looking to expand his mind and try to transform the world; of course, he’ll believe that he is doing it for the better. Now with him knowing Boy Thunder is from a parallel world, this makes for so much potential danger for the heroes and excitement for the readers.
Lots of character drama in this issue, but the best moment of bringing the creative team together would be the page where Superman instructs the Joker to step away from Boy Thunder. Mark Waid has put Superman in an emotional crisis to which Dan Mora draws such an angry version of the character. Remember earlier when I mentioned that nice touch Tamra Bonvillain did with the red eyes? Here she takes it a step further with black eyes and a red circled center, putting Superman in a position where it looks like things are going towards Injustice, but that’s not the story this will connect to later.
Mark Waid gives some action moments in the script to allow Dan Mara to flex his skills. Thankfully, this issue guest starred the Teen Titans, and some moments with them are hilarious; Speedy talking about how his arrows will help is terrific. Now, as the action continues, the anger has shifted from Superman to Boy Thunder, and this is where you’ll start to clutch your copy of Dark Crisis: Big Bang #1. We have seen Boy Thunder angry in past issues, so I’m starting to worry about who this character will become.
What an issue! Mark Waid and Dan Mora are setting up some heavy developments here, as it seems the Joker is shaping Boy Thunder’s future. Get ready for a jaw-dropping last page, as you will see just what can happen in the DCU. Just imagine!
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