Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #37
Scheduled to arrive in stores: March 19, 2025
Cover date: May 2025
“20,000 Leagues” – Part Three
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Adrian Gutierrez
Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Adrian Gutierrez and Matt Herms; Dan Panosian; Yasmine Putri; Dan Mora
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
Lori Lemaris kisses Superman, but he pushes her away, reminding her that she’s married. Too little too late, as Ronal sees them and charges to attack the Man of Steel. He shatters his trident on him, then swims off in rage as Superman tries to explain and Lori weeps. Batman then calls him, asking for his urgent help, now that Swamp Thing has been possessed by The Floronic Man. Woodrue tries to possess Batman too (after knocking Robin out of the way), but Holland fights back, thus making him disappear, which is bad news for our heroes.
Aquaman and Mera do what leaders do, meanwhile, and attend to Ronal and Lori. Arthur speaks to Ronal’s heart, pleading him to be the leader he can be, and end this madness. He sympathizes with his plight, being plunged into the crown before he was ready, but explains that right now, their people need them, and they can unite against their common enemy: Jason Woodrue. Convinced, Ronal joins the fight, while Mera succeeds in comforting Lori.
While all this takes place, Superman, Batman, Robin and Swamp Thing track the now gigantic Floronic Man through The Green, and an epic bout ensues. Floronic Man seems unstoppable, able to chain down Superman, kick Batman away and swat Swamp Thing like he was a fly. His plan is soon to be complete: With 70% of the world under his control, how long does the 30% remaining have left?
But feeding into his ego and distracting him WAS the plan. Batman reveals the gambit as Aquaman, Mera, Lori and Ronal arrive, the cavalry that will take Floronic Man down. They eventually cut him down to size and freeze him, the oceans now safe.
Back in Ronal’s palace, he and Lori have an important discussion. Lori promises that it was a moment of weakness, and that Superman didn’t kiss back, but it’s not Ronal’s focus. He believes he cannot compete with Superman, when he was her first love. Using her telepathic link, Lori shows Ronal how she truly sees him, and Ronal, breaking down into tears, embraces her, finally feeling valued.
Later, Aquaman informs Ronal that the plague is handled, thanks to Mera, Superman, and Ted Kord (Blue Beetle II). He and Ronal agree to tell their people side by side, as kings. Superman then forgives Lori and the two friends move on, while Arthur bids his friends to tell the league (once they’ve contained Woodrue) that he has royal duties and a ball club to attend to, before their next adventure…
The end… For now…
Story – 4: I often find the final issues of an arc to be a mite disappointing. World’s Finest’s best moments often come at the start or the middle, when the emotional conflict is already resolved. Thankfully, this issue circumvents this, as Ronal and Lori’s beautiful conversation eclipses all.
That’s not to say I didn’t like other parts: The battles with Woodrue are fun, Arthur’s plea to Ronal was a great scene, I enjoyed Swamp Thing’s dialogue.
But this issue is rated so highly for that conversation, for the fragile emotional state we see who we thought was one of our antagonists go through, and for the mature climax to that moment, when Lori shows him how she really sees him.
There’s not much to say besides that. It’s a fun issue of World’s Finest, as pretty much all the other issues are. I do find one problem with this one though: Superman had his eyes closed and seemed to kiss back last issue, now we’re saying he didn’t. I prefer the latter, that’s far more in character, but why draw it the way you did last issue? Not okay.
Anyway, I still recommended this issue, another fine arc from a fine book in DC’s stable. Next time, we deal with a time travel crossover with Justice League Unlimited, which is reviewed by my colleague, JP Rocha. I shall catch up on it for this crossover, and I highly recommended you check his reviews out too!Art – 4: Gutierrez doesn’t make me long for Dan Mora. If that’s not high praise, I don’t know what is.
Cover Art – 2: Generic and barely representative of the story it tells. A real letdown of a cover after two excellent ones.
Variant Cover Art – 5: Gutierrez knocks it out of the park again with a stunning Dynamic Duo cover.Variant Cover Art – 2: Nothing special.
Variant Cover Art – 3: Nice poses.Variant Cover Art – 4: Guy Fieri sucks, so a point docked off, but otherwise this is a brilliant cover.
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