If you’ve been following World’s Finest, issue #50 is the big payoff we’ve been waiting for. Mark Waid, Dan Mora, and Adrian Gutierrez team up to celebrate the 50-issue mark with a story that feels both nostalgic and fresh. You’ve got Dr. Destiny causing chaos, a stunning wrap-around cover, and guest spots from favorites like Zatanna and the Doom Patrol. It really captures that classic DC magic without losing any of the modern emotional weight.
- Title: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50
- Creative Team: Mark Waid (Writer), Dan Mora (Artist), Adrian Gutierrez (Artist), Tamra Bonvillain (Colors), and Luis Guerrero (Colors)
- Characters: Batman, Superman, Zatanna, Robin, Boy Thunder
- Villain: Dr. Destiny
- Format: Milestone / Anniversary Issue
- Our Rating: 8.8/10 Stars
The Legendary Dan Mora Wrap-Around Cover and Zatanna’s Magical Cameo
First of all, that wrap-around cover by Dan Mora is absolutely legendary. Basically, every character that has shown up in this series is there, from Supergirl and Bat-Mite to Mr. Mxyzptlk and the Doom Patrol. It even squeezes in Magog and Metamorpho. It’s a poster that definitely needs to be blown up and posted on every comic shop wall.
The story opens in the Balkans with a high-stakes crisis. Dr. Destiny has used the Dreamstone to plunge the world into Global Insomnia. People get cranky when they can’t sleep. Luckily, the World’s Finest are on the case with help from Zatanna. I love seeing her pop up for a cameo. She’s charming and provides a fantastic, magical lightshow that sets the stage for the chaos to come.
A Super-Vette and Dream Logic
Once Zatanna sends the duo into a dream state, the visuals get wild. We see a perfect 1967 Corvette Stingray Split-window coupe with the Superman symbol on the hood. Batman cracks a joke about Clark being jealous of his rides. It’s a hilarious moment. Bats is the biggest hater in comics, so of course he’d take an affront to being upstaged by a Super-Vette.
The fun is cut short when Elasti-Girl from the Doom Patrol punches the car to smithereens. Dream logic takes over, shifting the scene to Catwoman in her classic purple outfit and green cape. She looks tantalizing. Mora uses the shifting reality to change her appearance and the model of the car ever so slightly between panels.
The Debate Over Selina Kyle and Boy Thunder
Things shift when the duo starts bickering over Batman’s perspective on Selina Kyle. Superman points out she’s a criminal and a bad example for Robin. Batman retorts that while she belongs behind bars, his real priority involves killers. He argues for using judgment since some villains could actually use rehabilitation.
The disagreement escalates into a debate on redemption for heavy hitters like the Joker, Eclipso, or the Devil Nezha. Batman says no. Superman thinks, “maybe.” They even touch on the sensitive matter of Boy Thunder, Superman’s retroactive continuity sidekick. Things get really tense here. Superman bristles at the insinuation that he failed his first sidekick.
Tamra Bonvillain’s Colors and the Dr. Destiny Showdown
Mora’s art gets monstrous from here on out. He draws Batman as a giant, terrifying bat creature with orange fangs and glowing eyes. Superman retaliates with red heat-vision eyes, calling Batman a “sanctimonious zealot.” They’re clearly being played by the villain, but the drama is so infectious you can’t turn away. I usually hate seeing them fight, but this feels like a real disagreement between friends where the words get ahead of the heart.
When Dr. Destiny finally reveals himself, he looks like a metal version of Skeletor draped in black. Tamra Bonvillain makes the colors pop with striking golds and deep blacks. The eventual resolution uses a trippy double splash page showing the many times these two have beaten the villain. It’s one of those moments where Mora’s art somehow goes from great to spectacular.
Batgirl, Supergirl, and a Durlan Quest
The second story features Adrian Gutierrez on art, Luis Guerrero on colors, and Steve Wands on lettering. It involves a disagreement between Supergirl, Batgirl, Robin, and Jimmy Olsen. They decide to settle who the best duo is via a fetch quest for an Egyptian statue of Dhur-La. Jimmy Olsen still doesn’t know Superman’s secret identity in this era, which always feels a bit weird to me. How are you his best pal if you don’t know the big secret? Regardless, Jimmy tells tall tales while Robin brings the Batplane to pick him up for the trip to Egypt.
Gutierrez’s renditions of the heroes are kinetic and fun. Seeing Barbara Gordon back in her classic grey-and-black costume with the yellow symbol is a treat. I wish DC would stick with that look. We learn Supergirl finds Robin annoying, probably stemming from that one awkward date they had. Meanwhile, Babs apparently finds Jimmy cute. Jimmy just can’t leave the house without girls fawning over him. The quest ends with them finding a “Durlan” shapeshifter from the Legion of Super-Heroes lore. I loved Steve Wands’ creative approach to the alien lettering here. You have to squint a bit at first, but once you lean in, you realize the symbols are actually cleverly disguised English letters. While the secondary story doesn’t pack quite the same punch as the lead, its sheer charm more than makes up for it.
Verdict: Should You Buy World’s Finest #50?
Ultimately, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 nails the milestone issue. It’s a vibrant, stunning celebration that reminds you why these icons have lasted nearly a hundred years. Mora and Bonvillain are easily the best art team in the business today. Do yourself a favor and go grab a copy.
