Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #26
Scheduled to arrive in stores: April 16, 2024
Cover date: June 2024
“Impossible” – Part One
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora
Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Salvador Larroca and Christopher Sotomayor, Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz and Elmer Santos, Scott Godlewshi and Alex Guimaraes, Jim Lee with Peter Seigerwald, Maria Wolf and Mike Spicer
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite go to the Batcave and warn Superman, Batman and Robin of a terrible thing coming that attacked their other mite friends.After Superman explains to Robin who Mxyzptlk is, and the team learn that villain worshiping imps are the cause of the crisis, they get calls from Flash and Green Lantern about Kadabra and Sinestro having obtained their own imps. They head out to deal with the mayhem (a pissed off Batman with scared Mxy and Robin in tow, Superman with a mournful Bat-Mite).
Coast City is in ruins, Hal Jordan is torn apart, and Sinestro and Sin-Mite seem virtually unstoppable. Team Batman rushes to save the Emerald Knight, who is alive but badly concussed. Mxy decides to level the playing field by giving his powerless allies abilities. Batman rejects, but Robin excitedly takes the offer up and uses Superman esque powers to battle Sinestro and Sin-Mite.
Meanwhile, in Central City, Kadabra forces the citizens to clap over and over as he and his imp torture Flash with swords. Team Superman tries to fight back, but the magic is too powerful, especially for Superman, who’s weak to it of course. Kadabra decides to make them disappear.
While Robin handles Sinestro, Batman and Mxy interrogate Sin-Mite, who reveals that earth’s heroes are being tested by a being that mortals are incapable of speaking his name. He wishes only to face the greatest hero of all time, but so far, is not impressed.
Superman and Bat-Mite are struggling. Bat-Mite suggests they run away with Flash, but Superman insists on not leaving Kadabra free. Bat-Mite isn’t sure what to do, however, until Superman proposes he build him a magic resistant armor, similar to the lead glass kryptonite resistant suit. The suit looks mostly like Batman because of course it does. Superman fights back against a desperate Kadabra.
Robin beats Sinestro with a might punch, but the boy wonder can’t handle the overstimulation of Superman’s powers, and Mxy takes them back (after Batman suspects foul play). While they try to figure out who’s being targeted next, Bat-Mite poofs Kadabra back to the future, which annoys Superman a tad. He tries to explain to Bat-Mite that Batman’s life full of high stakes requires an asset more than a fanboy, but it doesn’t seem to get through. The duo decide to head to Metropolis with the Dynamic Duo.
Meanwhile, a mysterious foe (who, dear readers, I did not recognize, so if it’s some obvious villain, do forgive my lapse in knowledge) constructs more Imps in the Fifth Dimension and muses on who he will eventually battle.
In Metropolis, Jimmy and Lois manage to summon the team, as Parasite and Paras-Mite drain everything, including said team. However, Parasite is so strong that he sucks out the third dimension out of the World’s Finest, plastering them on a wall as 2-D. Bat-Mite finally realizes that this isn’t fun and games, but is it too late?
TO BE CONTINUED…
Story – 5: You could very well argue this is a ridiculously high rating, or at least, a slight bit too high (and a 4 is probably the correct score), but I give it a 5 because of what this story (and arguably, series) represent.
World’s Finest‘s core message seems to be “Hey, the Silver Age was kinda fun, no?”, and while that’s obvious, I think that among all the space gorilla’s and Beatles music playing romans, a core appeal was lost, as comics grew darker and darker.
Are the imps ridiculous? Absolutely. Mxy kinda works as a Superman villain, to be fair, but Bat–Mite is far too absurd for the serious Batman, isn’t he? (I personally think he works best for stories like this, Batman can be more sci-fi when he’s teaming up with people).
But isn’t that thinking reductive? Isn’t it ignoring WHY all these concepts exist? Yes, the comics code imposed much censorship. But it also let the Silver Age bolden what is THE most important aspect of superheroes. They are kind, caring, thoughtful, loving, brave and, well, heroic. It doesn’t matter if the problem is serious or absurd, they step up every time and battle for ideals we should all strive for.
Does it matter if it’s decorated in gray or rainbow colors?
All that to say that this story might not be the best the run has to offer, but it will arguably be its magnum opus (and potential last story, to be honest, seeing as books never run this long when they aren’t a consistent staple. I hope it keeps on running, but just saying, it’s not necessarily staying on).
Comics are fun. This story is fun (though, as Bat-Mite realizes, it also isn’t). Check it out if you wanna remember that wonder you felt as a kid.Art – 5: Look, anyone who can make those Parasite and Paras-Mite panels pop like that deserves an award. No one destroyed a city like Mora and no one quite captures wonder and horror quite like this man. This silly book has some downright terrifying visuals. If I ever get to write a comic and he wants to draw it, I might just achieve nirvana.
Cover Art – 4: Fun throwback cover to the Silver age, good stuff!
Variant Cover Art – 3: Eh. It’s neat, I guess, but nothing that special. Competently meh.Variant Cover Art – 3: Nice style but not much else.
Variant Cover Art – 2: Again, nothing to see here. Moon is nice, I suppose.Variant Cover Art – 4: Jim Lee Aquaman for artist spotlight, it’s pretty cool to be honest!Variant Cover Art – 5: MONKEY. KRYPTONITE MONKEY. NUFF SAID.
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