In Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #28, Batman, Superman, and Bat-Mite struggle to get back to the third dimension in order to help Jimmy Olsen overcome Doom-Mite.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #28 main cover by Dan Mora
Title: Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #28 – Impossible: Part Three
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora & Travis Mercer
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Steve Wands
Main Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Felipe Massafera, Nathan Szerdy & Matt Taylor
Release Date: June 18, 2024
This comic book review contains spoilers.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #28 opens right after the cliffhanger ending of Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #27. Jimmy Olsen, having been bestowed with powers from Mr. Mxyzptlk, is the last champion standing. Doom-Mite, the imp master behind this fifth-dimensional catastrophe, reveals himself, ready to face Earth’s mightiest contender. Some of the heroes come to Jimmy’s rescue, but Doom-Mite sends them away. All but Jimmy, Robin (Dick Grayson), and Mr. Mxyzptlk remain, and Mxyzptlk tries to bolt. Robin grabs the imp and forces him to do something. Mxyzptlk’s solution is to bestow all of his powers on Jimmy and call it a day.
The art opening this issue is wild, which isn’t unexpected. This whole arc has been nothing but a Silver Age explosion of zany color. It’s as if Tamra Bonvillain, Dan Mora, and Travis Mercer got together and committed to Lisa Frank-ifying every page. The result is eye-catching, dizzying, and akin to the sweetest sugar rush.
Jimmy, who is now an imp, takes the form of Superman, flies toward Doom-Mite, and is crushed by Doom-Mite’s gargantuan fist.
Elsewhere, in the sixth dimension, Batman, Superman, and Bat-Mite find themselves trapped at the temporal convergence of all time. Behind them, black and white panels canvas this dimension, as the heroes try to figure their way out of here. For the art team, this adds a creative outlet to reference familiar storylines, including a fantastic nod to Batman: Year One, among other favorites.
Whereas Batman threatens Bat-Mite, Superman uses a gentler touch, convincing Bat-Mite to help them get back to their home dimension. What follows is a series of fourth-wall-breaking, as Bat-Mite literally tears the pages until they arrive in the third dimension, their home dimension. Unfortunately, Bat-Mite goes too far, and the three of them end up in the first dimension, which is mostly a blank canvas.
Before Batman can go off on Bat-Mite, Superman tries to intervene. However, Batman realizes what he must do. As the art reappears, showing our heroes and Bat-Mite in an ever-growing bubble, Batman empathizes with his number one fan. He realizes that Bat-Mite misses going on silly adventures with Batman and Robin, but as Batman points out, the world isn’t like that anymore. Batman isn’t an idol, he’s a man trying to prevent trauma and loss, and that there isn’t that zany silliness anymore. However, as Bat-Mite’s eyes well up with tears, Batman asks for one last team-up, so they can stop Doom-Mite.
This is the emotional heart to this story we didn’t see coming. The last couple of issues have been devoted to good, old-fashioned fun. They were comics that harkened back to a seemingly simpler time, bringing back a blast of fun with characters that aren’t often used anymore. Then writer Mark Waid, artists Dan Mora and Travis Mercer, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letter Steve Wands hit readers with the feels. It almost creeps up out of nowhere, with everything going white, then images of our heroes slowly growing bigger as Batman removes his mask to reveal the human face behind the Dark Knight.
It’s a work of genius. It’s only a few pages, but the paneling makes it feel like this moment drags out time, slowing down the pacing of this otherwise pulse-racing adventure. While Waid, speaking through Batman, confesses that the world isn’t like the Silver Age era anymore, that classic, empathetic, and so very human Batman shines through. He convinces Bat-Mite with soft-spoken words, with an appeal to emotions. It’s a Batman we haven’t seen in a while, but it’s an incarnation that is timeless, a depiction that has and always will be synonymous with the character.
Maybe that’s the subtext behind this scene. Or maybe I’m reading too much into this? Either way, it’s a beautiful moment that lands as we enter the final act of this storyline.
Jimmy Olsen gets imp-ed! (Credit: DC Comics)
Meanwhile, Robin buys time by taunting Doom-Mite, who tries and fails to blast the gymnast. It’s enough, as Jimmy Olsen, who said his name backwards to escape his destruction, arrives from the fifth dimension with an armada of imps who idolize the Justice League. The imps team up to fight Doom-Mite just as Batman, Superman, and Bat-Mite arrive. Batman has a plan, but before he can enact it, Doom-Mite zaps the Dark Knight, transforming him into a scrawny little imp.
If that heartfelt moment between Batman and Bat-Mite was a surprise, the ending certainly was an even bigger zag in this arc. Right as readers are comfortable and expecting a resolution, the creative team swerves as Doom-Mite makes quick work of Batman’s plan (or does he?). Part of me wonders if everything is going according to plan and Batman wanted to be blasted. The other part of me wonders if that’s just wishful thinking on my part.
Regardless, the ending is colorful, grotesque, and a little bit horrifying as Batman face stretches and eyeballs bulge as he’s transformed. Our final shot is of Doom-Mite blowing the smoke off his finger gun, with a smug look on his putrid face.
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with an advanced copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
