Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #24
Scheduled to arrive in stores: February 20, 2024
Cover date: April 2024
“Heir to the Kingdom” – Chapter Five: “The Man of Tomorrow”
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora
Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Dave Wilkins, Mahmud Asrar and Tamra Bonvillain, Sweeny Boo
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
DARKSEID is.
The two Supermen, knowing what this means, immediately warn the rest to run and that they will do what they can. Meanwhile, Batman warns David to run too, stating that keeping DARKSEID away from Gog is all that matters and that only the Supermen can.
DARKSEID of course takes the Supermen down with one omega beam strike, then gets attacked by the 22-Flash, despite Batman’s protests. DARKSEID deflects him without looking and quietly asks for what he desires. Batman tries to get others to go, but 22-Shazam gets struck, and 22-Wonder Woman and 22-Green Lantern seemingly get killed by the chillingly calm lord of Apokolips.
The two Batmen try to hold some sort of protective wall, but also get struck away easily, as David watches in horror. Rising to the sky, DARKSEID seemingly has won, as he begins to extract Gog’s piece of the Anti-Life equation.
David cannot watch any longer. He challenges DARKSEID, who laughs off his insane plea. But David has an ace in the hole: He kills Gog. As the heroes stare in shock, DARKSEID… Leaves. He cares not for David’s “victory”, knowing that when they meet again, he will be the victor. He will just have to wait for another day.
Unfortunately, David’s “victory” truly is hollow. The Supermen and Batmen chide him, stating that there were other options, that he had taken the easy way, that he is a weapon, not a hero. Furious, David walks off, perhaps now truly Magog. Superman, pissed, turns on 22-Superman, accusing him of failing at his job once more. Batman tries to calm him down, reminding him this isn’t their future. Suddenly, The Spectre appears. He offers to take Superman and Batman home, but Clark demands to know what happens to David. Spectre recounts to him the events of Kingdom Come. Batman explains to Superman that it isn’t his fault after all, that every world needs a Superman.
And suddenly, they are in the future, post Kingdom Come, and a broken David lies at a grave, lamenting his guilt. Superman offers him a loving pep talk and a hug, telling him to do better because he truly can, and David tearfully vows he will.
And he does, leading a new Justice League to the future.
Story – 5: Do I even need to say why? Truly? The David/Magog arcs have easily been the best of this run, and this was a final issue that truly delivered in every way, with an instantly iconic DARKSEID battle, truly effective emotional moments and twists, and even as a man who hasn’t read a single page of Kingdom Come, offered an ending that could warm even the frostiest of curmodgeons. There’s something truly special about this issue, Waid managing to capture the essence of both Superman and superheroes in general. This is a story that understands what this is all about, offering thrills and chills and in my humble opinion, one of the best characters (or I suppose reinventions) of a character in a long, long time. I don’t know how Magog is in Kingdom Come, but David is an all time great in my eyes, and I truly hope that one day, a sequel with this redeemed Magog could be made my Waid and Mora.
Is this the best arc so far? Perhaps. I think that the first Lightning arc was a mite (ha) better, but both are truly highlights of the DC stable, and I highly recommend them. Now here’s to hoping that this book keeps on delivering with the Mite war arc! Either way, it’s the best I’ve reviewed in the past 4 years of working on this site!Art – 5: DARKSEID. Okay okay, besides that, the Spectre looked so good I thought they brought in Alex Ross to draw him. If that isn’t proof of Dan Mora’s current untouchable status, I don’t know what is. May he really enjoy drawing mites!
Cover Art – 4: Wonderfully evocative, the skull is brilliant, the portal is graphic, I love the poses, the dialogue balloon straight out of the bronze age, some really lovely stuff! Just wish David was on there as well for that 5 star rating!
Variant Cover Art – 2: Looks like an action figure box. Not great, if at least thematic.Variant Cover Art – 2: Another fitting if underwhelming cover in terms of art quality.
Variant Cover Art – 3: A little more stylistic at least but again nothing that special. Also why is Batman taller?
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Man, you really need to read Kingdom Come!