REVIEW: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #30

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #30 sees the latest story arc over, so it’s time for a one-shot! These stories tend to be a world of firsts, with Batman and Superman’s first adventure, Lex Luthor and the Joker’s first scheme, and now, it is the first time Superman and Batman have teamed up with Wonder Woman.

Dan Mora hands the reigns of illustrating over to Gleb Melnikov for this issue, but he always has time for a cover. Adding Wonder Woman to the usual Batman and Superman juxtaposed cover of light and dark adds a third element that is neither. Mora illustrates it simply here with Clark and Bruce on either side and Diana as the woman in the middle. Wonder Woman has had some supporting roles in past issues, now she’s finally having a major one.

Those who attended FanExpo this past weekend were in for a real treat. Not only was World’s Finest #30 on sale as a convention exclusive a few days before it hit comic shops but two special limited editions of 1000 variants featuring Mark Hamil, one of several of the main Star Wars guests this year, from Mico Suayan and colors by Hi-Fi. Of course, Hamil is also known as the foremost voice of the Joker as well and that is what these covers commemorate. The red background face revealed with the appropriately styled Animated Series Joker mask is a great celebrity headshot that never was. The other one with the blue background and him with the rogue’s gallery can capture any fan’s heart. The dance with Harley is fitting since she couldn’t have been without his Joker. These ones are special and are only available secondhand now.

Four great Superman and Batman variants are also available from Puppeteer Lee, Jorge Jimenez, Lucio Parrillo, and Daniel Bayliss.

Years before the idea of a Justice League was even thought up, Clark, Bruce, and Dick are called to Themyscira with the approval of Queen Hippolyta to investigate a murder. The victim was Dyatrine, an inventor with pretty much no enemies or secrets that she hadn’t shared already. The Amazons are restless to find the killer who very well could still be on the island. The clues point to something magic in origin, which isn’t that out of the ordinary for the Greek mythical realm. The question is what could it be?

Wonder Woman and Batman continue investigating the scene while Superman and Robin head out to the Well of Souls to investigate a lead. That’s an interesting place in itself too because it reincarnates mortal women killed in violence into what we know as Amazons.  As cool as it is, nothing is to be found on either end. At least until Batman realizes that, and it seems less a mystery and more of a ruse.

Mark Waid sets this story not too long after the events of 2017’s Wonder Woman Annual, wherein she met Clark and Bruce for the first time. At this point, their friendship is just beginning but they recognize their quest for justice brings them together. Several lesser-known characters throughout the Wonder Woman lexicon also make appearances in this story, keeping in the series trademark of often including those that have flown under the radar over time. This issue doesn’t fall into the same trap that issue #25 does wherein the story that only has so many pages doesn’t feel it pays off in the end, but this is by no means one of Batman and Superman’s more intricate cases. Letters are by Dave Sharpe.

Gleb Melnikov did a great job on an issue of Superman before House of Brainiac. Now, he levels up with the Trinity in action. His broad style is endearing. What’s great about Wonder Woman’s world is that it can be both light and dark unlike Metropolis and Gotham, so there are lots of dark dungeons and open plains to explore in Themyscira. There’s a lot to love about Greek-inspired fantasy; the ancient-inspired setting, creatures that don’t exist in our world, and battling against the gods – and Melnikov does this all. Colors are by Tamra Bonvillain.

(7/10) After the sprint, it’s time for the cool down and that’s what Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #30 delivers. It’s a major improvement from the last one-shot we had, which had the problem of having too many pages for what it was. This one may feel like it has too few pages for what it is.