Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #48

Batman/Superman World's Finest #48 came out last week, the first part of a new arc focusing on Earth-3. There is a lot to love about this issue as the story unfolds. First, this book has done such a great job of riffing off the idea of World's Finest duos, so why not an World's Un-Finest? Focusing on Owlman/Ultraman makes perfect sense in this book. 

I have commented on how Mark Waid seems to be able to take classic DC ideas and freshening them up. Here, he moves beyond the classic Earth-3 idea that the Crime Syndicate rules the whole world and instead expands it wonderfully. The unholy Trinity is one syndicate. But other hero groups form other syndicates running their turfs. It opens up the world for way more stories, showing us evil versions of other heroic teams. This issue gives us a little bit of a quick tour of a few of these groups.

But in what I love as a meta take, Waid is looking back at this book and having teams that aided our World's Finest now fighting this World's Un-Finest. This has to be intentional. And as a fan of the book I love it.

Marcus To is on art for this arc and he brings an inkier, more shadowy style than I am used to seeing for him. This makes sense for an evil world. In places, and perhaps appropriately, it reminded me of Richard Case's work on Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol. 

I have read many Earth-3 stories. This one felt completely fresh. Kudos to the creative team! On to the book.

We start years ago witnessing the murder of the Waynes. So much is similar - walking down the alley, Thomas and Martha Wayne gunned down, the pearls.

But so much is different. Thomas is packing. Gets the jump on the crook. But the gun isn't loaded, something that makes Bruce grin. And then we see the deal. Bruce arranged their death so he could get the inheritance. Fantastic! This isn't our usual Earth at all.

I also love that To gives us a panel extremely reminiscent of the classic shot from above, Bruce kneeling by his parents. Only to then give is this panel. He isn't mourning.

What a tremendous scene to open the book, setting the table for what this place is like.

Now in the present, we see more of this world.

Waid again updates this world, now showing us how villains might try to be heroes. Owlman takes out a new hero, The Riddler!

Ultraman and Owlman discuss how a new 'weapon' materialized on this Earth and could allow them to take total control of the planet. A dying Robin clues them in that Niles Caulder has stolen this weapon.

In perhaps the most chilling look into this evil world, we see that Owlman has a cage of young people he keeps as Robins, replacing them as they die. Brrrr ....

(I will say that the 'new' Robin wants to shake Ultraman's hand and might be become a good guy.)

The World's Un-Finest head to the Doom Syndicate's headquarters. 

The panel needs to be dissected. The Brain as a planter. Monsieur Mallah stuffed and mounted. General Immortus' head under glass. This Doom Patrol is filled with Killers.

But a reminder that Waid had the Patrol as big guests in the first arc. So there is a little resonance for the title, bringing them in our 'first' adventure with this World's Finest pair..

Of course these groups don't team up. They fight.

To add more resonance, Negative Man uses red sun radiation to fight Ultraman, not cure him like he did on our world way back in World's Finest #1.

This scene really made me think of Richard Case's art, especially that shot of the Chief in the first panel.

In the end, Owlman and Ultraman win only to learn that the Patrol had but lost this new weapon. Now Will Magnus has it.

Magnus has his own Syndicate, running some other turf. He is just as creepy as the Chief, keeping Platinum as a willing love slave (so different from the Prime Earth team). And he has his Metal Men ready. Mercury tries to drown Owlman. He has Blue K powered robots that weaken Ultraman.

I really like how Waid is showing us a bigger landscape of Earth-3. Evil teams based on our heroes. Each like a mob family running their area. Each vying for more power.

It seems like the Metal Men right have the upper hand but the World's Un-Finest call in their third member, completing the Unholy Trinity. Lois flies in as Superwoman and basically cleans house.

To really shines on the pages shining the spotlight on Lois. Really great fight sequences and energy.

At last we see what the 'weapon' that could upset the world balance is.

It is our World's Finest heroes.

This is a very solid cliffhanger. I wanted to read more immediately. And my guess is our Superman and Batman will inspire this new Robin to be something more.

I totally loved this issue. I have been reading Earth-3 stories for a long time. This felt both classic and fresh, the tightrope Waid has walked on this book since it came out.

Overall grade: A+