“David, how many times do I have to say it? Superman never lies.”
Continuing off of the previous installment, Waid and Mora drop readers into a deeper exploration of the world of Kingdom Come and quite intelligently play with the actual religious beliefs of Gog and Magog. Waid’s writing in Kingdom Come has, in its core, been religious, only for that to be extended upon with Elliot S. Maggin’s novelization of story where Maggin leans on the religious beliefs of Superman and the characters around him. To have a story of Kingdom Come without a love for religious literature is to not have Kingdom Come at all. Thankfully, Waid remembers this and reminds us.
The book opens with a comic book rendition of Gog and Magog’s plan with the heroes they have enslaved enacting biblical stories of Gog leading people and his pawn into certain death. Waid’s angle on it is both subtle and on the nose as Gog sending heroes to Apokalips for their death is a unique way to not only lean on the religious aspects of New Gods but the biblical writing held inside of Waid’s Gog. It is a dance between Kirby’s style of storytelling and Waid’s, and it does not disappoint.
DC Comics
Alongside this religious storytelling, Waid continues to play with the father/son dynamic of David and the World’s Finest. The best way to sum up David’s connection to Batman and Superman is that they’re his fathers in the same way Supergirl and Nightwing are children to Bruce and Clark. They have influenced him into being the way he was. Something that was crucial to David’s development is that back during his introduction into the series, Kara and Dick helped him heal far better than Bruce and Clark which adds a level of guilt and emotion to a story such as this.
Bruce and Clark do feel regret and sadness. They want to save David from Gog and are even reflected with the older versions of Batman and Superman they have traveled and fought with thus far in the journey. It has became clear to readers that Waid’s writing is less a continuation of Kingdom Come and more a dissection of how these characters act in regards to children and their own self-worth. It aims to dissect Clark Kent’s way of parenting and it dissects how Bruce Wayne’s coldness affects the children he tries to help.
DC Comics
All of this is complemented by the emotional art of Dan Mora as we see a heated final battle between Gog, Magog, and the heroes. Mora’s strongest work has been this storyline as we truly get to see the intensity that he is willing to show during the process of translating Waid’s script work. The fights between the two Supermen, Gog’s large and haunting figure, and even scenes of emotion show the true talent begin Dan Mora’s art and goes to prove that Mora remains one of the strongest artists we’ve had in years.
Ultimately, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #23 is by far the best issue in this current arc as it not only shows the best of Dan Mora’s work but aims to dissect the very nature of these heroes and their lives in a religious and metaphorical way. Waid’s writing really shins here and does its job of reminding those that Waid has been a powerhouse writer for years and will remain as such.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.