It’s just another day in the DC Universe. The Justice League of America have helped Adam Strange defend the planet Rann from a bigger-than-usual threat.
‘Two’ would be Batman, already on Earth and ready to pair up with the Man of Steel when there’s a big problem. And one is coming, with Ra’s al Ghul having broken Poison Ivy out of Arkham Asylum.
And Pamela Isley isn’t the only member of his new gang.
A week later, in Gotham, Batman and Robin are trying to stop an unusually killy Killer Moth.
While the self-proclaimed anti-Batman proves not the biggest threat, the sudden appearance of a batch of alien bees is a cause for concern.
Superman’s been tackling similar attacks all over the world and, sadly, hasn’t got to Gotham in time to stop Robin falling to what turns out to be theoretical ‘mirror science’ coming true.
Batman knows who’s behind the robotic bees, courtesy of daughter of Ra’s, Talia, having dropped by the scene the way she does – a bit of information, a kiss to keep Batman’s interest, and gone.
So Superman is able to track down the Queen Bee, longtime JLA foe, and confront her. Unfortunately, she’s not what she appears to be.
And there’s more, as writer Mark Waid and creative colleagues begin a new World’s Finest adventure, set as ever in a plastic DCU past that incorporates all the best bits. If I had to put a date on it publishing wise, it’s somewhere between late 1983 and mid-1984 – Tokamak has debuted in Firestorm, but Dick isn’t yet Nightwing. Then again, Dick never wore this Robin costume, and who cares, let’s just enjoy the fun.
And it says something about modern comics that a threatened apocalypse sits at the lighter end of the reading spectrum. Waid gives us a very plausible set up, Ra’s and Ivy make sense together, Zazzala fits the theme nicely, while Ocean Master and Tokamak are plausible plug-ins.
I do enjoy that as well as the main business, we get a mini-adventure with Killer Moth (presumably not big enough in the insect stakes to be offered Pestilence by Ra’s), while the aftermath of a JLA team-up with Adam Strange is a happy puff of Silver Age nostalgia. It’s also good to see Mera here, and Kid Flash. Talia, I could do without, though, she’s so obvious with her femme fatale bit that she makes Batman look stupid.
The pencil art by Adrian Gutiérrez as as great as ever – exciting layouts, dynamic effects, convincing emotions, all finished off by inker Vincent Cifuentes, with cherries on top provided by colour artist Luis Gerrero and letterer Steve Wands. Amidst a bunch of great visuals, I especially like the way Superman has Zazzala all wrapped up in his cape. And Superman being slapped in the kisser by robot bees is all kinds of splendid.
The one titchy quibble is that we have Mera contact our heroes…
… implying Aquaman is off with the JLA. But he’s nowhere on page one. Maybe he’s down the shops.
I love the film poster style cover from Dan Mora; it’s odd, I’m sure he’s done the ‘Superman zooming up towards the logo’ thing previously on this series, but I can’t see it. His Talia is so gorgeous it may well justify her inclusion in the issue.
All in all, a thoroughly entertaining issue, I look forward to seeing how the story continues.
I’m not the biggest fan of this issue. I cannot stand Ra’s al Ghul or Talia. Honestly, my strong dislike for all things Batman related created by Adams and O’Neil comes in to play but the dastardly daddy and daughter are just weak. Ra’s has lived for centuries yet is a failure every time. Epically. Talia? Wanting to have sex with Batman is not a saving grace. She does the minimum in one appearance because of her lust and is a homicidal maniac in the next . Talia is just a homicidal bitch with a libido problem. I also prefer the old Poison Ivy, Tokamak is a non entity, any version of Queen Bee is C level, and they can’t decide what lane to put Orm in. And how does one men take over the Atlantean military in a short span of time? He’s tried to kill them and no one deep sixes his attempt? I can call this well dialogued and drawn but the villains aren’t the interesting threat they think they are.
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Amen to everything bar the Queen Bee comment, I’ll always love her for the bewitching introduction by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. I didn’t like the Bialya bint at all.
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I enjoyed it. I, too, did a double-check about Aquaman.
I think Talia’s inclusion is worth it just for Robin’s snark.
Why does Batman say it’s just the two of them when Kid Flash and Mera are both shown in this issue? Not to mention the other heroes of this time that have popped up. Clearly the other Titans, the Doom Patrol, Metamorpho, etc. are around. As well as a certain Nuclear Man (if Tokamak is involved, I hope this adventure will re-introduce the Bronze Age version of the character).
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I sometimes get Talia confused with the Phantom Stranger’s witchy girlfriend Tala. Talia is worse.
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