REVIEW: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #29

It seems all has been exhausted trying to stop Doom-Mite, but the grand finale this week in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #29 begs to differ. This threat truly has taken on so much more than just Batman and Superman and the gauntlet is nearly run. But there’s still a group of heroes that have yet to try their hands.

Dan Mora goes abstract with a hint of surrealism for the cover. Forget being torn apart, being artistically deconstructed as the title says is the neatest way to go out – literally with how symmetrical and puzzle-like the pieces are. The plain yellow background captures anyone’s attention while the falling-apart heads of Batman and Superman turn it upside down.

Bjorn Barends did an amazing job on the Action Comics: Doomsday Special cover, so it’s cool to see his take on Superman, as well as Batman. His covers are often dark, and this one is no exception with its setting in what could be industrial Gotham City. Batman and Superman’s costumes are simple briefs, belts, and capes like they were originally intended and brought to near photo-realistic life. The only light here is the faint glow of the moon and that of Superman’s heat vision.

Jerry Gaylord brings us the last of the imp-centric variant covers – who isn’t going to miss these little guys? Gaylord’s art style fits them wonderfully, like something out of MAD. You have to love the little easter egg of the imps riding in their respective hero’s vehicles inspired by their classic Kenner toys. This cover is absolutely for all the Mxyzptlk, Bat-Mite, and toon fans.

Another variant is available from David Lafuente – a traditional Batman and Superman juxtaposition cover complete with rogues’ galleries.

The Justice League, Jimmy, and the Imps couldn’t stop Doom-Mite. Also, Batman has been turned into a puppet! Needless to say, things aren’t anyone’s way and options are running out. However, “pull” escapes his wooden lips and Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite rush off to find the magical heroes of Earth. They’re planning a last-ditch assault, and it involves a whole lot of pulling. Of course, there’s the question of distracting Doom-Mite while they get their aces in the hole. This is a job for Superman – a fight where only getting hit is going to win the day. Continuing the series’ tradition of mass character inclusions and Silver Age deep cuts, the magical lineup does not disappoint and even surprises. This story has also been about a certain Silver Age character –one who after admiring a hero for so long must become one himself.

That was perhaps Mark Waid’s intention all along and has been with all the previous arcs in this series. These are the comics and characters that inspired him to get into writing them in the first place and it finally all makes sense now. This series is his love letter to it all. At the same time, he gives Bat-Mite, often seen as a gag character, a truly heartfelt episode that will go down as one of his greatest moments ever. Letters are done by Steve Wands.

The greatest visual show in this issue is Doom-Mite. Because apparently, we haven’t even seen the rest of him yet. He’s a big, multi-armed galoot with the inspiration of chubby-faced villains from 80s and 90s cartoons – that had to be what Mora was going for with him. He does it all – warp reality to his whim, bat Superman around for miles, and has a true form that could compete with Parallax. This arc has been the series’ biggest visual treat and Bat-Mite gets a whole page to wrap it up properly. Colors are done by Tamra Bonvillain.

(10/10) Batman/Superman World’s Finest #29 is a magical finale to what has been a magically fun story, and that is meant literally. Coming in a close with “Return to Kingdome Come,” “Impossible” is one of the best and must-read arcs in Mark Waid’s and Dan Mora’s Eisner-snubbed series.