Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #36 review

The villain has been revealed. Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man, is behind the disease which ravaged the Atlantean citizens of Tritonis, framing the populace of Poseidonis. And he has Batman and Robin, who have been investigating alongside Superman, under his green thumb.

As for the Man of Steel, he’s in magical chains cast by Ronal, leader of Tritonis, who has taken Woodrue’s bait and wants to get revenge on Aquaman’s people for supposedly spreading the virus.

The panicking people of Poseidonis are in an uproar, angry at Aquaman’s ongoing refusal to be their king full time, and ready to meet Ronal’s threat full on. Arthur tries to calm them down, not wishing to escalate the situation when he has Superman, Batman and Robin working to find a solution to the plague, and the raging Ronal.

There’s one other character in the picture, Lori Lemaris, wife of Ronal and Superman’s college sweetheart.

Oh dear, what a minx that mermaid is… one of the reasons Ronal is an angry man has to be that he realises Lori has settled for him – it’s Superman she wants. And good on writer Mark Waid for remembering this bit of Silver Age comics lore, because without something to make Ronal a bitter soul he’d likely not be so quick to pick a fight.

I enjoyed this issue a lot, I loved having Aquaman and Mera share the spotlight with Superman and Batman; there’s one especially good scene in which Superman learns that while he’s always No1 on the call sheet above water, in Atlantis he should perhaps take a step back. And Mera gets a spectacular showcase moment.

Robin’s reaction to Jason Woodrue is fun, though it’s disappointing he never calls him the Moronic Flan – it’s right there! Weirdly, when Batman gives Robin Woodrue’s backstory, there’s no mention of his actual arch enemy.

Who’s missing?

An angle I really like is that Woodrue is attracted to Atlantis because it has magic vegetation; OK, I don’t think we’ve ever seen that in Aquaman stories, but we know the civilisation has had magic running through it from the days of Arion right through to Tempest.

The art is, once again, deserving of an award or three – the pages are eye-poppingly gorgeous. As envisioned by illustrator Adrián Gutiérrez the heroes look strong, noble, determined; Woodrue looks delightfully goofy, yet somehow scary; Ronal is a time bomb ready to explode; Lori is the classic siren; and clock those giant seahorses!

There’s a fun integration of dialogue into the art, making for some big moments, though the biggest moment in the issue is likely the arrival of Swamp Thing… something I might not have mentioned had the surprise not been spoiled by the cover.

Speaking of Dan Mora’s beautifully coloured cover, am I imagining a homage to Swamp Thing’s debut issue back in the Seventies? Boxed logo, looming creature with a curved frame, figures looking towards it, tree branches, swamp water… OK, there’s always swamp water. Forget it!

As for the interior colours, they’re a big part of the overall success of the art; Tamra Bonvillain’s talent for choosing story-appropriate hues that look utterly gorgeous together is second to none.

The only aspect of the art I don’t get is what’s going on as Batman escapes Woodrue’s death vines on the story’s second page – we see him reach into his utility belt, and then…

Laser arrowhead? Suggestions welcome, it’s probably obvious to everyone but me.

At issue’s end Batman and Robin, and Superman, are still fighting their separate battles, but Guttiérez does bring the situations together on a delightfully intense splash.

I don’t know if the story ends next month, but I do know I’ll be entertained – World’s Finest never lets me down.