Out of all of DC’s current titles, I’d argue that Batman/Superman: World’s Finest has been one of the most consistent. Mark Waid’s been penning the title for four years. It’s mostly focused on the past adventures of Batman and Superman, with the odd detour to the future of Kingdom Come or the present day for the “We Are Yesterday” storyline. It’s boasted some incredible artwork, most notably from Dan Mora – in fact, this is one of the titles that helped cement him as one of the best artists in the game. So how does Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 celebrate all of that? The answer is simple: it sticks to its roots.
World’s Finest #50 consists of two stories: “Dream Team” by Waid and Mora, and “Sturm und Drang” by Waid and Adrian Gutierrez. “Dream Team” finds the world in a state of constant insomnia due to the dream-manipulating villain Dr. Destiny, forcing Batman and Superman to seek help from Zatanna. The Mistress of Magic teleports the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel into the Dreamstone, where they’re forced to face their deepest fears and insecurities. “Sturm und Drang” launches a competition between the dueling duos of Robin/Jimmy Olsen and Supergirl/Batgirl, where they seek the lost statue of Dhur-La…and learn that there’s a reason for it to stay lost.
“Dream Team” will more than likely be the issue that draws in readers due to the fact that it brings Mora back to art duties, but it also serves as a companion piece to Waid’s JLA run; most notably, an issue where Batman and Superman’s trust in each other was strained following the “Tower of Babel” storyline and the rest of the Justice League battled Destiny. Here, Waid lays the World’s Finest fears at each other’s feet, revealing that Batman somewhat resents Superman for being able to operate in the light while Superman grows angry at the implications that he didn’t do enough for Boy Thunder. It leads to what could have been yet another trite battle between the two, laced with emotional weight and a surprising payoff.
Mora also pushes his artwork to the limit, which is fitting, given that Batman and Superman are trapped in a dream realm. When the two wake up, they’re in the “Supermobile,” which is basically the Batmobile with a shiny coat of paint and the Superman shield. During their fight, Superman’s muscles swell to impossible proportions and Batman transforms into the monstrous figure that Gotham’s criminals probably see him as. Further highlighting the dreamlike state are the vivid colors by Tamra Bonvillain, which start off bright before descending into a kaleidoscope of maddening swirls.
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“Sturm und Drang” is a fun story, contrary to what its title might have you believe. That’s especially transparent in the way Waid writes the bickering between the Robin/Jimmy and Supergirl/Batgirl pairings; he also gets to draw on his encyclopedic DC knowledge for the story’s main threat. Backing up the lighter tone of the story is Guiterrez’s work, which features plenty of exaggerated expressions that help bring Waid’s script to life. It’s enough to make you want more issues of World’s Finest that are dedicated to this dynamic.
The best part of World’s Finest #50 is that it’s a purely standalone issue. While there’s brief references, both in dialogue and visuals, to past story arcs, you could pick this up and get a complete story from beginning to end. Few comics do that nowadays, especially with an anniversary issue, so this is a welcome change of pace. Whether you’ve been with this title since its beginning or are just hopping on now, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 delivers a supersized story that properly celebrates its superhero duo.
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