Batman/Superman World's Finest #46 came out last week, the second part of the Luthor/Joker team-up arc and basically a issue-long brawl between our main characters ... but with a twist.
This is a standard Mark Waid story, digging into some old DC concepts like the Thanagarian Absorbascon while giving it a nice updated feel. Last issue, the Joker and Luthor fused into one body. This issue we get to explore what that mind is like, with two completely dueling mindsets trying to work one body. Through some plot shenanigans, we get a fusion Superman/Batman being (harkening back to World's Finest #4 ). So we then get to see what two minds thinking together sound like as opposed to the villains. It is a nice little writing trick, giving us a nice dive into the thoughts of our main protagonists and antagonists.
But the real joy of this issue is the art by Adrian Gutierrez. It probably isn't the best word but there is a frenetic feel to his art. There is a wild energy to it. And in this issue where two fused beings are just throwing down, the art just sizzles. This just feels like a Dragon Ball episode with overpowered fused-form beings are zipping around the skies trading blows. I don't mind a brawl issue now and then.
I don't know why this issue got a Chuma Hill variant cover with Supergirl and Catwoman but it is an interesting composition.
As said, last issue the Joker and Luthor were using decorporalizing tech to steal the Absorbascon and somehow ended up fused.
A side effect of that effect was that Superman and Batman were struck by the decorporalizer and now are basically intangible. However if they discover that if they mirror their movements, they are tangible enough that the overlap allows them to act in the physical world.
Definitely comic book science. But a needed plot element to push our heroes into merging too.
One fun thing about the book is that Lex and Joker seem to verbalize their thoughts out of this fused version. It means I needed to pause and figure out which mind - Lex or Joker - was saying the line.
And a simple example of the Gutierrez art energy are those lower panels with the Joker basically spinning around on the desk chair, doing a sort of insane dance as travels the floor. Really caught my eye.
Realizing they aren't good at half-tangible and their arch-enemies have an incredibly powerful device, Batman and Superman call in hall to use his ring to fuse them. Love seeing that Mora designed costume done by Gutierrez.
And yes, it means fusion forms are going to throw down.
Let's get ready to rumble!!!!
The Joker/Lex form is still in Lex's Lex-o-suit which has Kryptonite weapons.
While it hurts, this hero form is only half-vulnerable to Kryptonite. Painful? Yes. Debilitating? No.
But here is our contrast. Unlike the warring personalities in the villains, our heroes are working together. And we get separate, differently colored text boxes.
And I love that Batman is put in charge of the hand-to-hand fighting. That makes sense. But he also isn't used to Superman's strength and just launches Joker-Lex with a punch. Also, I really like that Batman now knows what Kryptonite feels like. This shared experience can only make their teamwork stronger.
Gutierrez gets to cut loose as the combatants just rain blows down on each other.
I'll say it again and I mean it as a compliment. This issue of fused-form super-beings brawling in hyperbolic and ultra-powerful ways just feels like Dragon Ball in the best way!
I loved it.
One side element of the fight is that the villains learn how to use the Absorbascon to not only absorb knowledge but also transmit it. The Joker makes the city go insane.
And then, a foregone conclusion given how the Absorbascon absorbs all knowledge. The villains learn our heroes secret identities and then transmit that to their friends.
I was tickled by this issue probably more than others. I really thought the minds of the fusions being different, the massive brawl, and the Bronze Age-iness of the Absorbascon all were great. But it was Gutierrez' art that just elevated the whole thing.
Overall grade: A
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