Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #40
Scheduled to arrive in stores: June 18, 2025
Cover date: August 2025
“Late Night on the Town”
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Adrian Gutierrez
Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Tirso, Adrian Gutierrez and Matt Herms, Shylaa Patridge, Dan Mora
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
In the Galaxy Building of Metropolis, Jim Gordon is about to take part in a podcast with notorious jerk Frank Rotsler. Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne try to encourage him, while Perry White offers his support too. The interview is meant to defend Gotham after vile comments by Rotsler, but Gordon is nervous about the whole thing. Lois promises Perry she and Clark will write it up (after some teasing between Clark and Bruce).
The podcast is going exactly as expected, with Perry and Gordon losing their patience with Rotsler, when suddenly, a giant monster tears through the building and attacks them. Gordon and Perry try to keep the people safe, but Rotsler thinks this is gold and demands they all stay to film this or they’re fired. Clark, Bruce and Lois are locked in, but when Lois Lane is denied something, she doesn’t let it stop her for long. As the World’s Finest rush out to get their costumes, Perry reports the attack and encourages people to leave, while Gordon begins to suspect something is up with Rotsler.
And then, a gigantic Batman Mech appears (Superman appreciating it quite a bit).
Batman tackles the monster, removing him from the buildings, while Superman rescues any civilians nearby, but the monster proves impervious to pretty much anything in the mech’s arsenal. Perry and Lois continue to inform people of safehouses while the World’s Finest struggle with the attack, Batman’s mech falling into the river. Superman punches the beast and saves him, the two trying to figure out what’s going on, where the monster is from, at least.
But that’s what friends are for: Lois and Gordon have already found a sketch of the monster designed by Hollis Jackson, whose sister, Melinda, works in the building. Gordon interrogates her while Superman and Batman try and slow down the monster, and soon the truth is revealed: Hollis has powers that let him create monsters from his imagination. Rotsler and Melinda asked him to make something, but he went overboard.
Gordon asks Perry for his help in tracking the madman down, and Lois is handed coverage of the attack, while Superman and Batman take the monster to the arctic. After freezing it up, the two return to save Gordon and Perry from Hollis, after they find him and he explains that he’s a fan of Rotsler and the latter gave him power enhancers to help him become the number one news source, replacing The Daily Planet. As the trio are arrested, Perry and Gordon decide to track down Clark and Bruce, who they say couldn’t possibly handle the craziness. Superman and Batman smirk at each other.
Next time… Bizarro World!
Story – 4: Often, it’s the one shot stories of this book that work best, as we get a fun team up between Perry White and Jim Gordon, as the two tackle an incredibly annoying podcast dudebro, while Superman and Batman fight a kaiju. So, you know, pretty exciting stuff.
As is customary of “Batman/Superman: World’s Finest” by Mark Waid, it’s all about the action and character interactions. Bruce and Clark feel more united than ever, their banter as sharp as their teamwork, while Perry, Gordon and Lois form a fun trio, each one getting a moment to shine as they solve the mystery behind the attack. I especially enjoyed Lois’ moments, Waid is great at writing her sassy attitude. Gordon’s nervousness about the podcast replaced with sheer drive to get the job done was also a great touch.
I also enjoyed the commentary on incel podcasts, a problem that plagues our society quite intensely. Showing how far this kind of audience is willing to go marks a great commentary issue without going too preachy.
And the battle with the kaiju is excellent, the Batman Mech a highlight of this run, up there with the Composite Batman/Superman with Green Lantern powers, as were all the fighting moments, such as the punch to the jaw by Superman, and the freezing in the arctic.
A standout among the run, far better than the Batgirl/Jimmy/Krypto/Ace teamup, in my opinion. What’s next, though, an Alfred/Kents team up? Actually, I’m not against that.
Art – 5: Gutierrez continues to impress, with a blaring red monster design, Mora esque purples with Hollis’ powers, and an incredible Batman mech. Whole fight felt like a neon nightmare.Cover Art – 5: Genuinely perfect, comic books at their finest.Variant Cover Art – 4: Funny Wolverine Fastball special parody.Variant Cover Art – 5: Hang this on my wall.Variant Cover Art – 4: Quite a beautiful one here, very bold.Variant Cover Art – 4: Decent Celebrity cover.
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