REVIEW: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #31
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #31 falls back on the classics with Eclipso striking back in his first major antagonist role since Justice League vs. Suicide Squad. This Justice League threat is back with a vengeance as he wastes no time in going after them. This issue is also special because it welcomes artist Adrian Gutierrez to the fold.
Dan Mora still gives us the art on the cover, though. Eclipso, like the Spectre, is an ancient spirit embodiment of godly power. Whereas the Spectre is vengeance, Eclipso is wrath – making him one of the more powerful Justice League villains. The monster only comes out of his host when there’s an eclipse and its often his goal to make one last forever. The first cover in this arc wastes no time in breaking him right out of the gates.
This year marks the 85th year since Batman was introduced in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. Dave Johnson illustrates the commemorative variant for this series and pays homage to Batman in the 80s with both the proper heading from the then-Batman series and Joker and Batman inspired by Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson from Tim Burton’s 1989 film.
Hispanic Heritage Month variants are planned for several DC comic series. Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez’s variant for World’s Finest features Green Lantern Jessica Cruz. There’s something Dan Jurgen-esque about Garcia-Lopez’s art which makes it feel like a high-definition piece from the 90s. Like the Cowardly Lion, the story of Jessica Cruz is one about finding courage that was inside all along which is why her ring picked her. The space setting and background are something seldom seen on World’s Finest covers and Garcia-Lopez keeps the colors consistent yet vibrant.
Other variants for this issue are illustrated by Ian Churchill, Edwin Galmon, Nicola Scott, and Marco D’Alfonso.
Superman and Justice League members Green Arrow, Black Canary, Elongated Man, Atom, Red Tornado, Flash, and Green Lantern were at the Satellite watching an eclipse unfold when several of the heroes become possessed. Dr. Gordon is currently working on a solar city project –advanced solar energy gathering technology installed directly into buildings with a power grid capable of providing sun-fueled electricity for hundreds of miles. The technology is reverse engineered from Dr. Light’s equipment which Dr. Gordon was directly working with when Eclipso was released.
It’s issue like this that will hype readers up for Waid and Mora’s upcoming Justice League series after Absolute Power. From this story, we can expect light and dark to be the main theme with Eclipso and Solar City, those must tie in at some point. Letters are done by Steve Wands.
Artist Adrian Gutierrez couldn’t be more excited for his first major illustration assignment on a Superman and Batman project having gotten his DC start and recognition for his work on Blue Beetle: Graduation Day. He does a great job picking up where Mora left off. In fact, his art style has that same contemporary flare as his so the realization of a new artist may not hit the reader until more pages in. A villain attack on the Justice League base leaves a lot of action and chaos to showcase, especially when heroes fall under his control and everyone’s powers have to be showcased. While the use of silhouettes in some panels feels like censoring, Gutierrez shows he has major potential as not just a World’s Finest artist, but a Justice League one. Colors are done by Tamra Bonvillain.
(8/10) Eclipso has returned and has Batman, Superman, and the rest of the Justice League in his sights. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #31 has everything that makes a DC comic easy to pick up and read with its big hero cast beyond just our two protagonists and immediate attack from Eclipso with no game of cat and mouse. Plus, it’s always inspiring to see the rise of a new artist.
