…or should that be Dimensions’ Finest, as a gaggle of imps drop onto Earth Prime? Before that happens, the cliffhanger from last issue is picked up as Jimmy Olsen, having proven himself Earth’s Mightiest Warrior, must face the unnamed Imp-Killer. Unfortunately, the powers Jimmy had last time are gone.
But, good news! While Mr Mxyzptlk is too yellow to jump into the fray, he is willing to lend a hand – or rather, powers.
Meanwhile, Bat-Mite isn’t being a great deal of help to Superman and Batman as they bid to escape the Sixth Dimension.
This is part three of ‘Impossible’, five if you count the two prologues we had in the 2024 World’s Finest Annual and issue #25, and it continues next month. Which is fine with me as writer Mark Waid, artist Dan Mora and special guest co-artist Travis Mercer bring us another chapter that’s chock full of goodness. As a lifelong fan of the strange transformations of Jimmy Olsen, it was a total treat to see a brand new one. And it’s impossible for me not to hear a fanfare when he does lead a 5th Dimensional cavalry of sorts.
My favourite scene this issue, though, see Batman help Bat-Mite see that he needs a change of direction.
There follows a delightfully meta sequence as our heroes traverse dimensions, which I shan’t spoil.
Not every aspect of the story worked for me – the opening of the Sixth Dimension sequence was a headscratcher. I get that it’s where everything is happening at once, but the Batman: Year One moment apart, it all went over my head.
Ah well, I got the big picture.
Something I did love was how well Robin steps up while Batman and Superman are elsewhere, chivvying on Jimmy and standing up to the Great Oz-like figure menacing everyone for no good reason.
Mark Waid remains one of the best writers of mainstream comics, blending Silver and Bronze Age ideas with modern sensibilities. And always with criminally good dialogue.
And the art of Messrs Mora and Mercer complement the words perfectly, bringing the big moments – that’s basically the whole issue – to glorious life. I think Mora draws the Jimmy and Co sequence, while Mercer looks after the Bat-Mite dimension hopping, but I stand ready to be corrected. I especially like the logical detail that when Mxy gives his magic to Jimmy, and Jimmy shrinks to imp size, Mxy grows to human proportions. The dynamic layouts and authentic emotions add up to a great-looking comic book.
And the visuals are made all the better by the electric colours of Tamra Bonvillain and snazzy letters of Steve Wands. The cover, by Mora, is nuts and I love it.
This book is so good it makes me believe Waid and Mora really can make the upcoming, distinctly unpromising, Absolute Waller, sorry, Absolute Power event sing. How about you?
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
Entertaining issue. . .but my main criticism with this series, and it has been this way for a while, is that Superman is just along for the ride. He doesn’t do anything dynamic, unless being hit with Kryptonite counts. It’s definitely an imaginative part of three of what has been a trippy tale, but Superman seems to have fallen out of favour with Waid. Pity.
P. S. I have no faith in “Absolute Waller”, but I will be reading it nonetheless.
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Hmm, I wonder if Waid will give Superman a better showing in Absolute Waller.
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Waid and Mora are geniuses. I love their work on this series. It just is everything I have ever loved about DC’s Comics distilled into its purest form. The only possible criticism of this series I can think of is that its excellence makes the rest of DC’s output seem lesser by comparison. Even with that comment though, I suppose I’m ultimately just reflecting on the problems that come with an embarrassment of creative riches. Bravo to Waid and Mora. May DC’s management be smart enough to let these guys keep giving the readership more literary jewels after they’ve concluded their run on this series.
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As criticisms go, that’s a lovely one. I’d love to see the rest of the DC creatives raise their game. I wonder what the heck this rumoured DC Absolute is, perhaps we’ll get some great stuff from that.
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