While “We Are Yesterday” has been a fun crossover event with Justice League Unlimited, it’s detracted from what makes Batman/Superman: World’s Finest one of the best books on the stands: the “pick up and read” quality of the series. Now that World’s Finest‘s part of the crossover has wrapped up, Mark Waid and Adrian Gutierrez wisely give us a breather issue until the next story arc. In true World’s Finest style though, that “breather issue” contains a giant kaiju fight, a dig at influencer culture, and so many characters that you’ll feel like the cover price is a bargain and a half.
Commissioner Gordon has been asked to take part in a live recording for Frank Rotsler’s podcast. Essentially a Joe Rogan type, Rotsler has had it out for Gordon, sharing years of stories about Gotham’s crime rate. Bruce Wayne is with Gordon as public support, as well as his friends Clark Kent and Lois Lane, who also bring Perry White along to assist Gordon with any journalist “tricks” Rotsler may throw at him. As the talk gets heated, a monstrous being mysteriously arrives to wreak havoc on Metropolis, causing Clark and Bruce to switch into Superman and Batman (in a sweet giant mech) to take on the creature before it levels Metropolis. But Perry and Gordon feel like this is all too convenient. Why would this monster attack during Rotsler’s big interview? They determine that Rotsler has to be behind it, and they’re going to find out how.
One of the best things about World’s Finest is how you can pick up pretty much any issue, even one mid-storyline, and get a solid idea of what’s going on. But as good as those issues are, the standalone ones are even better in my opinion. The series has already had one of my favorite single issues in recent years with issue #12, which featured Robin and Supergirl’s now legendary awful date. Now, 28 issues later, we have another awesome standalone that can sit alongside that. Waid gives us the Batman and Superman action we expect, but what makes this stand out is the focus on the side characters and what makes them so engaging as characters. Giving Perry White and James Gordon (arguably the side characters that are the most important but overlooked in their respective universes) center stage as the leads for this issue is a genius move on Mark Waid’s part. Seeing the two of them respectively use their journalism and detective skills to solve the mystery behind the Kaiju attack is just as engaging as watching Superman and Batman smack it around, and that’s all due to Waid’s excellent skills at characterization. To praise Waid at this point would be like praising water for quenching my thirst, but the fact still remains that there’s a reason why he’s such a legend in the medium.
DC
Adrian Gutierrez has had the unenviable task of following Dan Mora on pencils, and yet there’s been no falter in his confidence since he took over. In fact, this issue may be his best yet, as he really gets a chance to show off all of his skills here. Like Waid’s script, Gutierrez’s art is engaging even when Perry and Gordon are racing through the hallways trying to solve their mystery, with art that is just as frenetic and animated as the big kaiju fight. And said kaiju fight? It rules, with a fun monster design that is both reminiscent of what you’d expect a big monster to look like, but has enough uniqueness to make it stand out from others. The Batman mech that he creates is also one of the best I’ve ever seen. I already want a deluxe action figure of it to put on my bookshelf.
If there’s one knock against World’s Finest #40, it’s that we are a bit overloaded with “superheroes vs. giant kaiju” at the moment (hell, even the new Superman movie is seemingly anchored by one). But I would chalk that up to scheduling coincidences instead of an actual movement to flood the market with big monster fights. As it stands right now, this is one of the best issues of an already great series, and a fantastic jumping on point for those who have been waiting for the right moment to get started.
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