In Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #37, Batman, Superman, and Robin unite Atlantis and put a halt to The Floronic Man’s plans.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #37 Main Cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #37
20,000 Leagues Part Three
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Adriȧn Gutiérrez
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Steve Wands
Main Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Adriȧn Gutiérrez, Matt Herms, Dan Panosian, Yasmine Putri & Dan Mora
Release Date: March 19, 2025
This comic book review contains spoilers.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #37 opens at Superman and Lori Lemaris’ kiss. Though the last issue saw tensions heading toward a conclusion, Lori, who has been feeling adrift and distant from her husband Ronal, kisses Superman. Unfortunately, Ronal, as well as Aquaman, sees this, and all bets are seemingly off in stopping the war between two Atlantean cities.
We open on a beautiful panel focused on the eyes of Superman and Lori. There’s a love between them, a longing gaze, and a pull that draws close the gap between them. It’s beautifully drawn by artist Adriȧn Gutiérrez with colors by Matt Herms. In the next panel, we flashback five seconds to the kiss. Lori’s eyes are closed, but Superman’s are in shock. He pushes away, reminding Lori that she’s married.
Before either of the two characters, who have a history together that is referenced in Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #35, can react, Ronal impales Superman with his trident. While Lori pleads with her husband, Superman is summoned by Batman and Robin, who are dealing with a Swamp Thing that has been infected by The Floronic Man.
We jump to arguably one of the most exciting panels in this book, a full-page collection of mangled vines and leaves. Swamp Thing’s face is one of terror and anger as The Floronic Man’s flowers sprout all over his body.
Swamp Thing calls for aid, and Batman battles the thrashing greens, giving Dr. Alec Holland a pep talk all the while. Robin gets whipped out of the way, his breathing tube cut as he is blasted off into the expanse of the ocean. Superman intervenes, sealing Robin’s breathing tube with his heat vision.
The action here is intense and absolutely colorful. Whereas Gutiérrez struggles a bit in making Ronal distinctly different from Aquaman (I get that the two kings are supposed to look similar to embody a kinship between Atlanteans), his action panels are cleanly defined, cinematic, powerful, and pulpy. Herms’ colors masterfully balance a delineation between swampy muck and a beautiful ocean bed.
The Floronic Man is dispelled from Swamp Thing’s body, and he uses his powers to teleport elsewhere. The heroes seek him out. Ronal, meanwhile, lingers behind Lori, staring off in a state of disillusionment. Aquaman arrives to give him the pep talk he needs, reminding Ronal that he’s a fine leader and has been juggling a lot.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #37 Guy Fieri Variant Cover by Dan Mora. Image: DC Comics
The heart and intention behind this scene is good, and it harkens back to the idea in this arc of having to juggle responsibility and image while still being a person beneath all the pomp and circumstance. However, this pep talk just doesn’t quite resonate and feels more of a way to move the plot along than a true connection between Aqauman and Ronal. In the last issue, Aqauman soundly defeated Ronal’s army, which Ronal admits here. This loss, paired with the betrayal of his wife, would cause Ronal to double-down and lash out even more, would it not? Why would he just stand here and let Aqauman give him a talking-to while in the throes of losing everything?
Before we can fully meditate on what is happening between Aquaman and Ronal, the issue zips ups back to Floronic Man, who is now a colossal monster. Superman, Batman, Robin, and Swamp Thing battle him. After a few blows, Aquaman and Ronal join in, defeating Floronic Man once and for all.
After the battle, Lori and Ronal reconnect. She admits her mistake, noting that she was lonely and felt distant as Ronal’s duties consumed him. When he expresses doubt at not being able to compare to Superman, she assures him that she still loves him. The kiss was made out of loneliness on her end, but it was met with no intentions to pursue anything from Superman. He has a new love, too, and her name is Lois.
The issue ends with Ronal and Aqauman working out their differences, Superman and Lori saying goodbye, and the heroes returning to the surface world. A new day is dawning, one with peace between two Atlantean cities.
There’s hope and spirit in this ending, two ideas that have defined Mark Waid’s epic run on Batman / Superman: World’s Finest. In the case of this specific arc, it’s not enough. We’ve had plenty of stories thus far that pulled at heartstrings and engaged us to reflect on who we are and want to be. This idea feels forced and inorganic. It’s a beautiful issue to look at, but when stacked against the powerhouse that has been this series, it’s easily one of the weaker stories in the bunch.
