Mild Mannered Reviews – Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50

Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Frank Quitely; Mark Spears; Rahzzah, Rod Reis; Adrian Gutierrez; Salvador Larroca; Vasco Georgiev; Dan Mora

Reviewed by: Tony Parker

Having been off-earth with the Justice League, Superman and Batman have avoided Dr. Destiny’s latest scheme, which has deprived the world of dreams, and thus, of sleep. 5 days of insomnia and the world is on its knees. Bravely, the World’s Finest go into the dreamstone to find the hidden villain, with help from Zatanna.

Inside Clark’s mindscape, Bruce wakes up to find the two of them inside a Superman themed Batmobile, where Superman explains that he’s always loved cars. Suddenly, they encounter a fork in the road, one turn leading to a land of dinosaurs, the other to a city. Batman prefers the former, but Superman prefers the latter, and thus the duo get their car destroyed by The Doom Patrol. Superman complains about Batman’s insistence on always being right, while the Dark Knight is confronted by Catwoman, who he insists he has no feelings for.

This launches the two into a moral debate, as Superman believes anyone can redeem, and Batman is less so sure. However, they realise that the dreamscape is trying to distract them from the mission, and they try their best to focus. Unfortunately, they fail to, as they begin to let out their frustrations and insecurities, especially Batman, who feels like a monster next to Superman, while the Man of Steel is still reeling from the failure with Boy Thunder.

As the two fight, transforming to their most base and cruel forms, Dr. Destiny grins, presiding over his victory. But then, Superman and Batman realise their mistake, and fight back, using their dream powers to show Destiny his nightmare: how he’s always destined to lose to them.

The heroes solve the crisis and leave the dreamscape, once more established as the World’s Finest.

Story – 5: Exactly what you want from a 50th issue spectacular! The art will get a separate section, but there’s so much to love here, from incredible new fanservice ideas (no way does the Supermanmobile not get any love in some kind of game or show), to reestablished dynamics (Batman is such a simp) to excellent references to events in this run and beyond (loved all the Kingdom Come stuff). In general, it’s just a really great story about the differences between Superman and Batman, and how it honestly doesn’t matter, as both are still heroes and friends. Highly recommended, one of the best issues in the entire run! Here’s to another 50?


Art – 5: Dan Mora’s style has always been great, but there’s been a growing feeling that he’s sort of settled into an almost in-house style that doesn’t really take any more risks or creative leaps, reminiscent of how Jim Lee’s originally striking, near definitive drawings of DC Heroes were becoming just kind of how they always look. Not in this issue, where we see Mora stretch his skills to their extent, with dream visuals that are surreal, nightmarish, garish, ridiculous, silly, scary, and all in between. Never once does he seem to fear making his characters look downright absurd NOR terrifying, stretching them from every interpretation you can imagine, before settling into who they always are. Arguably the best drawn issue DC will publish all year (that isn’t Absolute Martian Manhunter).


“Sturm Und Drang”
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Dan Mora and Adrian Gutierrez

Supergirl, Jimmy Olsen, Robin and Batgirl are all angry at each other, so Superman and Batman ask for some explanations. Eventually, they reveal that it all started when the two duos (boys vs girls) couldn’t stop comparing each other and berating each other. They decided to prove who’s the best by having a race to find the lost statue of Dhur-La of Egypt.

After many shenanigans and incidents, the four find the statue and bring it back to the Batcave, where Jimmy makes a big mistake of releasing the imprisoned Dhur-La… Or, well, Durla, the shapeshifting alien. The heroes struggle to fight it, but the 4 competing teens realise they can use the dagger again, and trap the alien back in stasis. As they continue arguing despite agreeing to a tie, Superman and Batman decide to grab a bite while their friends clean up the cave.

Story – 5: An extremely fun romp, nothing more to say than it’s just a really silly story.


Art – 4: Solid, loved the alien design.


Cover Art – 5: Great throwback to the Silver Age!


Variant Cover Art – 3: Basic, but almost too basic. Really only gets a 3 cause I like how Superman looks.


Variant Cover Art – 1: I’m sorry but this one looks gross.


Variant Cover Art – 4: Extremely creative, hard not to love!


Variant Cover Art – 4: I feel so dumb for not remembering what this is a reference to, but regardless, it’s very nice!


Variant Cover Art – 3: Nice I guess.


Variant Cover Art – 4: Fun callback cover!


Variant Cover Art – 4: Exciting tease for what’s to come!


Variant Cover Art – 5: IT’S WEIRD AL, OF COURSE IT’S A 5.


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