DC Round-Up: Heroism in Reverse in BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #43

THIS WEEK: The team-up between the greatest heroes of two worlds concludes in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #43.

Note: the review below contains spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendation on the comics in question, check out the bottom of the article for our final verdict.

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #43

Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: Adrián Gutiérrez & Sean Izaakse
Colorist: Matt Herms
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: Dan Mora

The main reason I enjoy reading Batman/Superman: World’s Finest is writer Mark Waid‘s ability to make an anthology of stories so charming. Every new adventure puts a smile on my face, and the series’s current storyline, “Bizarro World Tour,” is no exception. Waid has an innate understanding of the characters he writes, especially Superman and Batman. Setting these heroes next to their warped counterparts in a world designed to be the very opposite of the regular DCU gives readers a deeper look at what truly makes the world’s finest tick.

Waid does this so well that you can’t help but feel an attachment to the lumbering brutes that are Bizarro #1 and Batzarro. Infected by the alien intelligence virus that has ravaged their world, they are forced to embrace their newfound intellect, working with their counterparts in order to give their world a better chance. Robin’s role here also shines, acting as the outsider who sees what even Superman and Batman can’t. He stands out for the same reason he does in the main universe: as the light in the darkness, bridging the human with both the dark and the alien. It leads to a standout moment between Batzarro, Batman, and Robin that lingers long after the issue is done. 

Its great to see that even in an alternate reality, the idea of hope that surrounds Batman and Superman still exists with their counterparts, albeit in its own distorted form. Bizarro #1 and Batzarro do not hide from that truth, and instead embrace who they truly are, choosing to become normal (i.e., bizarre) again after their super-ordeal, because they see their normality as something to embrace. In a way, Waid is saying to all of his readers that there isn’t anything wrong with being you, with being seen as bizarre to others. Let me tell you, it hit home in all the right places. 

The story comes to life visually thanks to artists Adrián Gutiérrez and Sean Izaakse, with colors by Steve Wands. Together, they sell Bizarro World in a way that feels both absurd and grounded. The gadgets, set pieces, and overall world building across these three issues are some of the most inventive I’ve seen in a long time. The art bursts with Saturday morning cartoon energy, bright, exaggerated, and unashamedly fun, but it’s balanced with strong layouts and dynamic character work that give the story weight. Gutiérrez, Izaakse, and Wands create a world that’s as captivating as it is bizarre, and the story is all the better for it.

It’s also worth recognizing just how consistently strong Batman/Superman: World’s Finest has been. To be at issue #43 and still maintain this level of quality is a feat in itself. Across its run, the series has delivered stories that never shy away from being creative, goofy, or deeply affecting. It layers heartfelt moments among wacky or even dangerous adventures, showing exactly why Superman, Batman, and Robin endure as icons. In a market where many superhero comics lean darker, denser, or more self-serious, World’s Finest is a reminder of the joy and imagination that drew people to these heroes in the first place. Waid, Gutiérrez, Izaakse, and Wands aren’t afraid to embrace the goofy, the heartfelt, and the spectacular all at once, and that’s exactly why it works.

Waid and his collaborators have turned what could’ve been a simple gimmick into something that celebrates both the absurdity and the heart of superhero comics. “Bizarro World Tour” is proof of why World’s Finest remains one of the most joyful, dependable books on the stands. With Batman Day coming this Saturday, I’m glad to know this is one of the newest issues ready for pickup.

Final Verdict: BUY

Round-Up

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  For a story set in the Great Depression, I expected the opening sections of The Bat-Man: Second Knight #1 to focus on a grim but grounded look at one of America’s darkest eras. Safe to say, writer Dan Jurgens had other plans. Before long, I found myself watching someone dragged up a clock tower, strapped to the inside of a bell, and literally rung to death. And that’s just the beginning as we’re thrown into the sadistic killings of a new serial killer haunting Gotham, while Lois Lane makes her debut in the First Knight universe. Consider me hooked. First Knight was already a standout when it first dropped, and while this continuation could easily feel like a way to cash in on that success, it doesn’t read that way at all. Instead, it feels like a natural expansion of the world. A big part of that comes from Mike Perkins’s phenomenal artwork. There’s a two-page spread here that will leave Batman fans in awe. For those looking for more noir-inspired Batman pieces, they’re going to have a blast. I can’t wait to see what the next issue has in store.

•  Absolute Flash’s art has probably been the main reason I’ve stuck with this series for so long. To be fair, the focus on Wally has also been a highlight; it’s been a joy seeing him front and center in the Absolute Universe. That said, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t starting to feel the slow burn. The series has thrown a lot of storytelling at us, but without much real expansion, it sometimes feels like I’ve been held in suspense without the payoff. Thankfully, this week’s Absolute Flash #7 gives the sense that things are finally starting to pick up. Another reveal drops here, one that has me genuinely curious about how the next chapter will unfold. The idea of Flash’s rogues gallery stepping into the role of his allies is a fun, unexpected twist, and it’s enough to keep me excited about where the series is headed next. I have faith in writer Jeff Lemire and artist Travis Moore, and for that reason, I am willing to see what crazy ideas they come up with next.
• Just from the opening pages alone, The New Gods #10 issue feels like something worth owning. Writer Ram V and artists Evan Cagle, Francesco Segala, and Pye Parr know how to deliver emotional gut punches with very little, and the way they take us through flashbacks of Serifan’s youth, showing how those moments shape who he is now, is nothing short of extraordinary. Seeing our world through the eyes of someone who is essentially an omnipotent god left me with a real sense of emptiness. The final panel, where he sits looking depressed with a gun in one hand and a TV remote in the other as he watches the aftermath and current state of the world, is nothing less than fantastic. Apokolips is so close and yet so far, I can’t wait to see what this series has in store next.

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