Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #56

Batman/Superman World's Finest #56 came out last week, the second part of the Ra's Al Ghul arc in which that villain forms his Four Horsemen to achieve his ecological goal.

Mark Waid has used this book to write a more classic feeling DCU, bringing in so many characters to team up with the big stars. Here we get to see his take on Ra's and Talia. But also the Horsemen include some C and D listers like  Queen Bee and Tokamak. Waid always shines when he dives into these deeper ends of the DCU. 

This story feels fairly standard with Ra's trying to eliminate a huge percentage of humanity to achieve a new eden. But there is a moment with Superman, hinted at on the cover, that stood out. And the ending cliffhanger is definitely fun. But this story can only happen because the rest of the JLA are on a rescue mission in deep space. Mix that all up and you get a fine story.

Adrian Gutierrez is on art and his style seems to be changing from his earliest work, getting sharper and more energetic. There is a kinetic feel to the work here that I really like. I wonder if artists like working on this book given the side characters they have to learn about to draw. 

On to the book and some details.

One of the horsemen is Poison Ivy who will use her toxins to help Ra's goal. He tries to pitch woo. Wrong target.

The breakdown of the second panel is interesting to me, a nice artistic touch. I am trying to decide if that is a visualization of Ra's being turned down by Ivy? Or if it is a subtle hint that Ivy's loyalty to Ra's is splintered. Perhaps she isn't going to do his bidding? Or back stab him?

Anyways, the map of Ra's attacks is a great representation of his goals. Chilling.

We learn he wants to kill 87.6% of the population.

I was struck by this panel. Nice touch.

As I guessed last issue (this time I was right!), Batman brings the Mirror Master in to create a mirror antidote to Queen Bee's mirror-DNA viral infection.

I really liked this moment when the more sunny Silver Age-y Batman we usually have in this book becomes a bit more Dark Knight Returns. Mirror Master will do the work so he won't die.

Yes, I am sure that Batman means that Mirror Master will die from the virus otherwise. But the face in shadows with thin white eyes gives the impression that maybe he is threatening to kill Mirror Master. Obviously Batman doesn't kill. But he is quite foreboding here.

I was tickled when Waid brought back Tokamak as a Horseman. Tokamak was a sort of one-off villain in the Fury of Firestorm in the mid-80s. 

But that does mean he is a 'jobber' who shouldn't be able to fight Superman. Waid throws some red sun nonsense to explain how he is still upright against the man of steel.

I'll buy it!

As I have said, this book often feels like a book I would read as a kid. And one of the things about comics back then was they would teach you things. I could go to my parents and drop a fact or a vocabulary word to show them how comics were a good thing.

Here, Waid explains what a nuclear meltdown is (Tokamak overloaded a nuclear reactor) and how only someone like Superman could actually stop it from happening. 

Things like this are why I like this book so much.

Ivy shows up in America's midwest with the plan to destroy all the crops.

But Talia is there to try and stop that plot. I love this panel as an example of Gutierrez kineticism, blurring the kick leg to add some motion to the blow. And you know Ivy feels it!

But Ivy has powers and is up to the task of starting her part of armageddon.

Superman decides to bring the fight to Ra's and we get a scene like the cover where it seems like Superman might just end the villain. (I guess threatening Kansas might ruffle Clark's feathers.)

But ultimately Superman doesn't kill and our hero has to head off to continue to fight the threats.

But I loved this panel, my favorite of the book. Superman in the moonlight, high above Ra's. The 'camera' down low looking up at Ra's looking up at Superman. It highlights Ra's defiance and Superman's high ground. But the chess pieces scattered over the ground is a nice touch, hinting at the strategy and plotting happening. 

Great panel.

With the JLA gone and Ocean Master about the bring the army of Atlantis to the land, Batman needs troops. Who better to tag in than the Flash's Rogues.

Mark Waid writing Flash villains! That is a great cliffhanger! Made me want more.

This is a good story peppered with great moments. That Batman moment with Mirror Master. The Superman/Ra's confrontation. This cliffhanger. They elevate the book above the standard plot.

Overall grade: B