REVIEW: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32 sees Eclipso live up to his name as one of the Justice League’s most dangerous rogues as he has completely put them out of play for this issue, along with Batman and Superman. It’s up to Robin and the Justice Society to free the World’s Finest from Eclipso’s control and free the planet from eternal night.
Like Starro, it’s not hard to tell when someone is possessed or controlled by Eclipso – just look for the red eyes and purple faces. Dan Mora puts this twist on the traditional Batman and Superman cover with Robin in the background as the Boy Wonder will have to pick up the pieces left behind. It would appear that this series isn’t part of DC’s All-In initiative based on the cover, still has the new, or rather old, DC stamp though.
The variants for this issue are largely Superman and Batman juxtaposition covers with all the usual – the heroes, the cities they represent, and light and dark all arranged like a yin yang. So, what makes these covers stand apart from each other is the artist and how they make this image their own. Stephen Segovia does this with a very appealing style, like a coloured pencil illustration with its textures.
Francesco Tomaselli shakes up the cover dynamic a bit with the inclusion of Wonder Woman for the full DC Trinity. Even though she isn’t in this arc as a Justice League member, covering with all three of DC’s biggest heroes just feels powerful in your hands, second to only the whole Justice League. Tomaselli’s simple handling of suits is for old-school fans of classic superhero suits, which were worn before the time of complex and armored suits.
Another great Superman and Batman juxtaposition variant is available from Danny Earls. This one is all about location.
Eclipso has trapped the Justice League of members Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Elongated Man and taken control of Batman and Superman after falling from the ruins of the Watchtower. What exactly Eclipso is going to do isn’t clear, but it appears that he is using Batman and Superman to try and find something.
Name your favorite classic Justice Society member, they’re all here. Sandman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Sandman, Hawkman, and even the Spectre go with Robin to Gotham City where the controlled Batman is answering the Bat signal. Meanwhile, Dr. Fate and Flash (Jay Garrett) go into orbit to free Superman from Eclipso. To fight and beat an enemy that can be in so many places and people at once seems impossible, especially if it’s the literal wrath of God.
Mark Waid keeps the stacked cast coming, relying only on DC’s past and not present. Fans of this series got their wish, Waid will be writing the new mainline Justice League series for DC’s All-In. This whole series did feel like it was warming up for something. He puts the Justice Society in the spotlight on this issue though as they work to free our heroes. They’re not fighting them, just freeing them and unlike fighting them no solution is going to be the same and must be unique to them. Waid makes it fun. Letters are done by Steve Wands.
Adrian Gutierrez is shaping up to be a good illustrator in Mora’s place for this arc. Even though Eclipso is the big bad here, he’s not lifting a finger for these fights. Every character seems to float in combat in this issue with no one touching the ground (though there is no ground for Superman, Dr. Fate, and Flash to touch in space). Again, it’s not about hitting them hard but working around them the action and poses convey that well. Colors are by Tamra Bonvillain.
(9/10) You get two whole super teams for the price of a team-up in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32 in the battle against Eclipso. Batman and Superman haven’t been in unwillingly antagonist roles in this series yet and who better to get them back than DC’s original team the Justice Society?
