Batman/Superman: World’s Finest by Mark Waid and Dan Mora

[Frontier]

I don't mean the comic itself fails, I mean the story ended up as an episode of Brave and the Bold.

But then again the WF brand has always leaned closer to Batman imo.

That doesn't sound like a bad thing to me, although I guess it depends on how you look at it .

[Kuwagaton]

Right, I think it's gorgeous and entertaining for many, but I simply read these books for Superman. And if Waid figured that Superman looking too prominent would be a turn off then I imagine he was right for a lot of readers.

[Frontier]

Right, I think it's gorgeous and entertaining for many, but I simply read these books for Superman. And if Waid figured that Superman looking too prominent would be a turn off then I imagine he was right for a lot of readers.

I feel like Superman's been used fine in the first few arcs, especially arc 2.

[exile001]

Right, I think it's gorgeous and entertaining for many, but I simply read these books for Superman. And if Waid figured that Superman looking too prominent would be a turn off then I imagine he was right for a lot of readers.

I think by this logic you can argue that the book doesn't feature enough Batman or Superman, but is constantly off with Robin or Supergirl or Metamorpho.

Waid sold this as B/S World's Finest but he is actually just writing a massive Silver Age love letter Brave and the Bold story. Funny enough, he tried (and IMO failed) to do something similar in the 10's with George Perez.

For me, admittedly a fan of DC in general, I find this book to be an absolute blast.

I'll agree that Waid does sometimes struggle to make Superman (at full strength) integral without using him to prop up the villain's strength, which is honestly a problem for most writers, but I think it's a bit overstated and at least his character is spot on. We're only 3(?) arcs in, there's plenty of time for Superman to shine.

[Kuwagaton]

Funny enough the only B&B issues I picked up from then were the Nightwing/Hawkman and Superman/Catwoman stories.

I wouldn't know how any of these Duo comics land with others, "primarily Batman" readers in particular, but I'd argue that the premise of Superman requiring non powered help on a permanent basis is already a great deal for Batman in itself. By the time you have Robin saving Superman from kryptonite you've done a lot to establish the equality of the two heroes.

[exile001]

Fair, if Superman were to be written to fit the established character, there is absolutely no need for a Batman/Superman team up. Ever.

"Batman is the world's greatest detective," yeah? Well, Superman is not only an excellent investigative journalist in his own right, but also has a million powers and fortress full of futuristic sci-fi toys that make basic detective work utterly obsolete.

"Batman is a great fighter" Superman literally cannot be harmed by anything that Batman could reasonably tackle.

"Batman is a scientist" as is Superman, who also has a cute little robot dude in his fortress that could, in seconds, whip up things Bats couldn't even imagine.

"Kryptonite?" Superman has been dealing with it, one way or another, for decades without help.

"Batman.. has a cool black cape?" Superman has arguably the most recognisable cape in the world, one that prominently features his own logo like an absolute boss, as well as a popularised phrase "do not tug on Superman's cape."

I absolutely agree that smarter writing is needed to make a pairing viable, it's a Justice League problem too*, but it's not a deal breaker for me. I enjoy this book a lot and don't really see it as Superman being excessively nerfed to fit the plot (again, we're just a few arcs in. That may change).

Also, Dick carrying a poisoned Supes was fricking adorable. But then I've always really liked that pairing for some reason.

*it's largely a Batman is DC's most popular character problem, so the "weakest" guy power-wise has to be front and centre for the biggest threats.

[Frontier]

I think by this logic you can argue that the book doesn't feature enough Batman or Superman, but is constantly off with Robin or Supergirl or Metamorpho.

Waid sold this as B/S World's Finest but he is actually just writing a massive Silver Age love letter Brave and the Bold story. Funny enough, he tried (and IMO failed) to do something similar in the 10's with George Perez.

For me, admittedly a fan of DC in general, I find this book to be an absolute blast.

I'll agree that Waid does sometimes struggle to make Superman (at full strength) integral without using him to prop up the villain's strength, which is honestly a problem for most writers, but I think it's a bit overstated and at least his character is spot on. We're only 3(?) arcs in, there's plenty of time for Superman to shine.

I loved the Waid/Perez Brave and the Bold revival myself .

[magha_regulus]

Looks like they are going to be building off of the seeds planted in 2021's Action Comics Annual.

[Vordan]

PKJ was building up an Aethyr and Phantom Zone plotline and now Waid is setting that up to be continued in Action? Either they’re working together or Waid is taking over the book. Pretty basic and bland ending honestly, Jax was a one note mustache twirler bad guy which again just begs the question of why Waid used him. I’m just not feeling how regressive everything is with Waid, it’s all about going back to the Silver Age in every way, from the corny designs to the storytelling. PKJ was setting up Aethyr to be a Lovecraftian god in the same manner as Gerber, Waid’s Aethyr is definitely not that.

I guess the only upside to Waid potentially taking over is that it does seem like Waid might be building on what PKJ set up.

[Thor-Ul]

Is Waid using Jax-Ur because he didn't want to do another Zod story?

Who knows. But at least he had made the reasons and motivations for Jax different from Zod. Zod never would had do the same what jax did in the issue.
And also I must say I liked than Waid is using the isolated Krypton than lacks a proper space program. I never understood why some writers want to write Krypton like an space empire and then have to invent complicated explanations why only one child escaped the planet when it blew up.

[Thor-Ul]

Batman will met the only person he can't defeat: Old Batman.

[HsssH]

Aethyr the messiah? I understand that he was not well defined before but this sounds very random.

[Robotman]

PKJ was building up an Aethyr and Phantom Zone plotline and now Waid is setting that up to be continued in Action? Either they’re working together or Waid is taking over the book. Pretty basic and bland ending honestly, Jax was a one note mustache twirler bad guy which again just begs the question of why Waid used him. I’m just not feeling how regressive everything is with Waid, it’s all about going back to the Silver Age in every way, from the corny designs to the storytelling. PKJ was setting up Aethyr to be a Lovecraftian god in the same manner as Gerber, Waid’s Aethyr is definitely not that.

I guess the only upside to Waid potentially taking over is that it does seem like Waid might be building on what PKJ set up.

Yeah I was really disappointed that it was Aethyr.

I was hoping that he would be presented as a giant demon god not just some guy in green robes out for revenge on behalf of the Phantom Zone prisoners.

[Vordan]

Since I railed on Waid I should say that this was a good moment.

Yeah I was really disappointed that it was Aethyr.

I was hoping that he would be presented as a giant demon god not just some guy in green robes out for revenge on behalf of the Phantom Zone prisoners.

It’s a very boring look. Waid is the kind of guy who would demand Mr. Freeze look like he did in the Silver Age before the DCAU made him cool. It’s a bummer because I’m sure someone like Federeci or Sandoval could absolutely deliver a killer looking redesign for Aethyr.

[Knightsilver]

Since I railed on Waid I should say that this was a good moment.



It’s a very boring look. Waid is the kind of guy who would demand Mr. Freeze look like he did in the Silver Age before the DCAU made him cool. It’s a bummer because I’m sure someone like Federeci or Sandoval could absolutely deliver a killer looking redesign for Aethyr.

Yeah...I was hoping for a frightening/monstrous look for Aethyr. I remember reading a Phantom Zone trade years ago...and loved how creepy the PZ was. It seemed that was the route the story was headed...but now it feels rather disappointing.