Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #10
Scheduled to arrive in stores: December 20, 2022
Cover date: February 2023
“Strange Visitor” – Chapter Four: “Secret Passages”
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora
Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Dan Schoening and Luis Delgado, Brandon Peterson, A.L. Haplan, Dan Mora
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
At The Joker and Key’s hideout, Joker is interrogating David, trying to get the secret identities of Superman, Batman and Robin out of him. Key’s special lock keeps David trapped and electrocuted whenever he even thinks of using his powers, but David refuses to spill the beans. Joker’s hallucinogens begin to take effect however, and David hallucinates his friends all turned into Joker versions of themselves, himself included.
Back in Gotham City, Superman is busting into any lead lined building he can find to save David. Batman tries to reassure him, informing him that he and Robin are digging a lead from Key’s safe house from last week, the Titans are turning Gotham upside down, and Commissioner Gordon has the GCPD on full alert. Plus, Batman is the World’s Greatest Detective. Robin and Batman discuss Superman’s struggles with anger strewn from grief, with Batman admitting that like Superman, he too is angry at himself for allowing David to get into such danger. The dynamic duo then find the clue they need, a barely rubbed off identifying mark of Lexcorp Equipment.
Soon enough, the heroes arrive at the vacant Gotham building that received the delivery: 1720 Andru Street, north of the Financial District. What they find, however, are a ton of floating doors.
At the hideout, while Joker cleans his crowbar, Key talks to David, relating to him his backstory: Trapped in an insignificant town, too smart for any of this, Key attempted to unlock the rest of his untapped brain power. However, that was an old wive’s tale. Instead, he changed his experiment to remove his ego and self image, and satisfy his urges. Panicking and begging for safety, David reveals to Key that he’s from a parallel earth, exciting the villain, who believes he may now have found the key to the multiverse.
At the hall of floating doors, the heroes struggle with the seemingly random arrangement and fluctuation of the doors, but Batman finds the pattern: The Key only used one door, and he doesn’t wear gloves. Superman uses his microscopic vision, and the heroes burst through.
They interrupt Joker’s attack on David, and the villains attempt to escape. Key unleashes multiversal monsters at the group while David alone chases Joker, desperate for payback. The heroes seal the door, but find David losing his cool, trying to kill Joker, and seemingly turning into someone else…
To Be Concluded…
Story – 3: The story didn’t perhaps have much emotional strength, but it was still an enjoyable penultimate chapter to this arc. We got some looks into The Key’s backstory, revealing why someone like him would work with the Joker, we got more of David’s anger problems, and we got to see Superman and Batman’s struggles with guilt for letting David get into such danger.
Outside of that, this is mostly an action issue. We have investigations, puzzle solving, monster battling, quips, and electrocutions of the Joker. It’s a fun issue, even if it’s a little lacking in, say, more character exploration.
Still, this story has been really good so far, and a little action is more than allowed! So enjoy this romp, cause the heavy stuff is about to commence at the end of this, in my opinion, standout surprise arc of the year!
Art – 5: The usual Dan Mora brilliance, with some added flair! We have the amazing door splash page, the Key’s psychedelic transformation, the most haunting Joker face I’ve seen in years, and some excellent use of harsh bright purple light! Mora keeps hitting out bangers with this one!Cover Art – 5: I love a playing card cover, it’s one of my favorite ‘unique’ tropes, and this one is no different, great poses, great liberal use of blood, and great mood!Variant Cover Art – 5: This one is just cute, what can I say? Superman singing, Batman and Catwoman chatting, some DickBabs for the soul, happy Supergirl and Krypto, Alfred dancing, good stuff! Very cheery, and I’m in a Christmas mood, so yeah!
Variant Cover Art – 2: A Donner-Burton cover, and while I do love Superman’s design, everything else is just kind flat, Mad Magazine-esque (in a bad way). Lex looks like a baked potato, Joker looks fat, Batman looks plasticy. Not a fan of the Burton movies anyway, so that didn’t help. Outside of the great Reeve Superman, this one’s a dud.
Variant Cover Art – 4: A very nice trading card throwback cover! Interesting choices, some excellent poses (Superman, Supergirl, Batman, Harley especially), plus a nice blank spot in the middle, perhaps for one’s own sketch, or for imagination!Variant Cover Art – 2: Meh. Joker riding Doomsday, slightly manga I guess. Nothing to write home about.
Check out the Mild Mannered Reviews contents page.
