The modern retro vibe of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest continues with the “We Are Yesterday” arc, and it is also the first crossover of DC’s “All In” initiative. Mark Waid, the series’ consistent voice, proves again that he knows how to make these icons feel alive both in and out of costume. Even if this issue isn’t quite as thrilling as I hoped, it still delivers on character and charm. Waid shows he can wonderfully capture the Silver Age vibe and DC’s love of apes to mix it all together for DC’s current initiative. What kind of chimpanzee shenanigans await in part one?
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The story drops us into a retrofitted adventure, slotting itself into a younger DC Universe where Gorilla Grodd takes on an early version of the Justice League. It’s a fun conceit, even if the method of capturing the heroes feels a little too old hat. I think that Waid is hiding a hook here; maybe some clues seeded in Grodd’s scheme suggest something bigger at play, and knowing Waid, it’ll likely pay off by the arc’s end. The narrative might be light on surprises this time – for example, taking Superman’s body – but there’s enough groundwork here to keep me curious. Waid must have a reason for that action, and I think it will come out later in the story arc.
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Waid’s effortless handle on the personalities of these heroes continues to be this series’ secret weapon. The banter between Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent is my favorite part of the book. Waid writes Superman and Batman’s friendship better than almost anyone in the game, and those quieter, out-of-costume moments are where the book shines brightest. It’s great to have an era where Batman and Superman are friends, but not cheesy “Super Friends.” That same vibe carries into the team interactions, especially with The Flash, whose dynamic with Superman here is one of the best moments in their friendship/speed rivalry.
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