Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #45
Scheduled to arrive in stores: November 19, 2025
Cover date: January 2026
“The Merger” – Part One
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Adrian Gutierrez
Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Jorge Fornes; Adrian Gutierrez and Matt Herms; Dani and Tamra Bonvillain
Reviewed by: Tony Parker
In the middle of watching a big game between the Metropolis Meteors and the Gotham Goliaths and engaging in some playful banter, the World’s Finest (Clark Kent/Superman and Bruce Wayne/Batman) overhear an alarm from S.T.A.R Lab’s Gotham Branch, alerting them of a theft by none other than Lex Luthor. As they go to stop it, however, Lex is instead teleported somewhere else, by none other than The Joker (using Dr. X’s de-materalizer).
While the World’s Finest try to figure out where Lex is, and whether or not The Joker’s breakout from Arkham is connected, the World’s Vilest confront each other. Lex wants no association with the Clown Prince of Crime (especially after their failed team up in issue #25), but Joker insists on showing his plan, as they reconvene in the Joker house from Detective Comics #365. There, he shows him an Absorbascon, a Thanagarian device that allows whoever uses it to read minds or psychic imprints. Despite his reservations, Lex concedes he’s interested, and a shaky alliance is forged.
At Midway City Museum, Lex and Joker break in, alerting the curator, Carter Hall, a.k.a Hawkman. A fight breaks out when he finds them, but both Joker and Lex manage to distract the winged hero long enough to grab the device and escape, even when Superman and Batman intervene. However, the villains argue while they escape, causing the device to merge them into one being.
What’s worse? The World’s Finest were also affected by the rays and they can’t touch anything or anyone!
To Be Continued…
Story – 4: It’s nothing that amazing just yet, mostly because this story is all about the buildup, but what saves it is the Lex and Joker dynamic. For two such opposing characters with two flagrantly opposing ideals (say what you will about Lex, but there’s a kernel of heroism in him when encouraged; Joker could never change), they always bounce off each other well. I think it’s a lot because Joker does what pretty much no one can: make Lex Luthor feel sympathetic. The poor guy can’t handle Joker’s madness, and who can blame him?
I really enjoyed all the references in this one too. The House That Joker Built, Dr. X, even Hawkman fans got some action (though it must be said that poor Hawkman getting so easily beaten is kind of annoying). Best of all is the cliffhanger ending: It’s one thing to merge those two villains, but to also add such a debilitating weakness to our heroes? It adds such fun tension to the rest of this arc!Art – 4: Gutierrez does a great job as ever, especially with certain panels that look of a different art style, like the panel just before Joker attacked the heroes. I love the scene where he presents the Absorbascon, the shadows were well done, plus the merged Lex-Joker looks really off in the best way. The opening with Clark and Bruce watching the game was also fun. Somehow, though, my favorite drawing was Carter looking at his wings in the dark. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a hero staring at his costume.
Cover Art – 5: A handshake cover like that is always going to be top notch.Variant Cover Art – 5: Very cool cover, I’m not sure how to describe it, it just looks great.Variant Cover Art – 5: Classic cover in the best way, feels like a merger of the animated shows and the ending of Batman Forever/Batman and Robin.Variant Cover Art – 4: I wanted to give a 5 so all the covers had perfect scores, but that weird Robin face in the background killed it.
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