Mark Waid begins his fourth arc in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest by taking us back in time to when the World’s Greatest Detective met the Man of Steel. Partnering with Travis Moore once again, the pair craft a story set in the distant past which will lead into the present time. Throughout this issue, the groundwork is laid for a creative story that spans across time and universes. With the apparent return of Boy Thunder coming soon, this arc offers an interesting premise for a story split between the past and present. Overall, this is a delightful story that further deliberates how creative the series has been.
The series opens with a string of missing cases and The Riddler beginning his criminal career by leaving a message for one of the most popular heroes in the DC Universe. Through the opening moments of the series, Waid lays the groundwork for the world readers are about to enter. This is the Golden Age – things are different than they are now, and certainly different from the Bronze Age that the series primarily stays in. Through the tiny nuances of the story, we see the differences between then and now. The beginning of the DC Universe can offer fun moments to reflect on in contrast to modern stories. Waid leverages the initial introductions, vintage suits, and character dynamics in this time to weave it into a modernized retelling. It’s a creative stunt that makes the ambiguity of when in time this takes place all the more fun.
Travis Moore’s art in this series has often been a pleasant inclusion in the series because of its warmth and delightful tone. That said, in this issue, it misses the mark a bit in this issue. There are a few points in the story where faces seem a bit off, causing a slight disruption in an otherwise enjoyable read. Colorist Tamra Bonvillain does a spectacular job, however, depicting various costumes from the Golden Age through the bright and vibrant colors we all know them for.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #18, “Phantom Riddles” offers an intriguing premise to Waid’s impending sequel to Kingdom Come in issue #20. Additionally, the issue offers its spin on how Batman and Superman meet, taking cues from various prior media to pay homage to the pair. This is another can’t-miss issue for readers.
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