REVIEW: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #41
Bizarro World is great because it’s so stupid, yet profound in “what if everything was backwards including the people?” Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #41 is the start of one of those stories. If the planet wasn’t sick enough, there’s a plague going around that is driving them even crazier. The question is, can they and do they even want to be helped?
Series regular cover artist Dan Mora sets us back on Bizarro World and presents the return of several Bizarro variants – including fan favorite Batzarro with a revamped suit with more of the details of Batman’s suit flipped upside down. The only thing that could make this cover more immersive like being from Bizarro World is inverting or flipping it.
Michael Cho’s variant cover screams classic Golden Age with the art style and suit variants of Superman, Batman, and Robin. It looks right out of the pages of The New Frontier. The key is all bold lines and making the colors pop. At the same time, you get a rare picture of Batman smirking.
Kevin Maguire’s variant is part of the series commemorating DC Studios’ Superman’s release. If you haven’t seen it already – wait no longer! Superman and Krypto hold a special place in our hearts and now on the silver screen and David Corenswet joins the ranks of the best Superman actors. Not too many of the Superman variants are set in space, so this one is unique in that regard.
Other variants featuring Batman and Superman this week are available from Adrian Gutiérrez and Doaly.
Robin finds himself in a horror-show version of Bizarro World with an old, dark house and all. Superman and Batman are able to save him after being chased by Bizarros. This is Bizarro World in the most literal sense with all the inhabitants donning their own stitched-together costumes – then proceeding to beat the stuffing out of each other. The good news is that Superman and Batman know how they were brought to Bizarro World – someone or something snatched them from the Fortress of Solitude.
Bizarro Jimmy Olsen reveals that some of the planet’s population are infected with a virus that is making them think backwards – forwards, that is. This causes them to go mad in the insane world that they are living in. If anyone knows anything, sanity and Bizarro World aren’t meant to mix. It doesn’t help that Bizarros are naturally inclined to infect themselves rather than protect. In order to purge the virus, they’ll need a cure. But what would work on an entire planet of backward Supermen?
Mark Waid gets the appeal of Bizarro World. Problems there aren’t going to be solved the way they are here – this is the planet known to baffle Superman. To solve a Bizarro problem, he often has to think like one – in some cases, be one. Waid also breaks down the lore of Bizarro – actual Bizarro No. 1. He was created when a duplicator ray that creates inverse copies was used on Superman. Bizarro No. 1, the first one made, used the ray further to create what we know as Bizarro World. There’s some fun problem-solving in this issue in that regard. Letters are by Steve Wands.
Adrian Gutiérrez was never an acquired-taste artist when he came onto this series while Mora stepped away. He brings Bizarro back to his old school horror roots in the first couple pages – Bizarro was influenced in some ways by Frankenstein. The idea of a cube-planet full of inverse Bizarro versions of yourself and everyone else is scary. The idea of one full of Bizarro Supermen is even scarier – they could conquer the universe if they were smarter. Seeing a sea of them punching and kicking each other is a cool visual. Of course, the highlight of the issue is the Superman stunt. This one is for the Superman Returns fans. Colors are by Matt Herms.
(9/10) It’s time for inverse and backwards problem solving in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #41 as Bizarro World faces a crisis of its own. Stories like these are why the demented Superman Wonderland keeps coming back.
