In this review of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46, the heroes find a unique workaround to their unexpected intangibility, while the horrific Joker/Lex Luthor hybrid brings the clown prince of crime’s maniacal madness to the masses via pilfered alien technology.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46 main cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #46
Written by MARK WAID
Art by ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ
Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: CHUMA HILL, ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ, SEAN IZAAKSE
Release Date: 12/17/25
This review contains spoilers
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46 opens with Hawkman scouring Metropolis for the missing Batman and Superman while calling the JLA for back-up. Soon after, Batman gets Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) to help recreate the freaky “Fusion” Batman/Superman composite being from Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #4 as a temporary fix for the heroes’ intangibility caused by an explosion of an experimental weapon.
Meanwhile, after a brief power struggle, the Joker/Lex Luthor hybrid allows for a temporary truce so that Joker can wreak havoc with the pilfered alien technology called the Absorbascon. Soon, all across Metropolis, citizens become unexpectedly homicidal as Joker uses the Absorbascon to project his insanity across the city. Thankfully, one of the side effects of the Batman/Superman composite is tangibility so the composite stops every violent act.
Batman’s strategic mind deduces that Joker’s transmission can be detected by Superman’s enhanced vision, and the composite hero tracks down the Joker/Lex hybrid (who unfortunately is able to work similarly in tandem and hits the composite with a blast of green kryptonite from Lex’s power suit).
The composite hero buckles under the effects of the Green K, but as they are only half Kryptonian, the composite hero is more resilient and manages to fling the hybrid into the air. The composite hero chases after them, but are hit by a sneak attack by the hybrid who is using the Absorbascon to counter the composite hero’s fighting moves.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46 ends with a shocking revelation that not only do Joker/Lex know the World’s Finest secret identities, but they are broadcasting the information to every mind on Earth (uh oh).
Analysis
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46 continues to reimagine the Batman/Superman and Joker/Lex Luthor team-ups in clever and inventive new ways. Writer Mark Waid regularly draws inspiration from classic Silver Age DC Comics stories, but in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46, he riffs on his own work from issue #4 and the Superman/Batman composite hero (melded from will power and a green lantern ring).
Waid’s dialogue pops while distinctly identifying each part of the merged hybrids as they speak. Lex Luthor’s brilliance is subtle in this story but when it surfaces it counts, while the Joker takes the center ring (and control of the Absorbascon) to share his gift of madness with the greater Metropolis population. It’s clear that the clown prince of crime is running the show after a heated power struggle.
In contrast, Batman and Superman work in tandem as their composite hero, lending their unique skills and perspectives to assist the other (although not always in a timely manner). Joker and Lex seem to have the upper hand in this team up, but Batman and Superman use their unique partnership to their advantage, but the Absorbascon gives the villains a distinct advantage.
The final Joker/Lex reveal probably isn’t a surprise for readers, given that the Absorbascon contains all knowledge, but the heroes’ shocked response at their sudden vulnerability reveals the heightened stakes at play in this story arc. Obviously, this twist will be reversed, but Waid will also likely play out this twist to great effect.
Also, given the alien origin of the technology, it makes twisted, but logical sense that Joker’s formidable psyche would be more resistant than Luthor’s, or possibly it is only the combined minds that allow them not to succumb to the powerful effects.
Artist Adrian Gutierrez continues to impress with dazzling action set pieces and impressive compositions, while experimenting with lighting techniques for dramatic effect, while Tamra Bonvillain’s palette runs the gamut from the familiar primary color scheme to bathing multiple pages in a sickly green hue.
Final Thoughts
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46 is another satisfying issue, full of slam bang action, clever plotting, brisk and biting dialogue and gorgeous art and color. The creative team continues to reimagine classic Silver Age concepts for the modern age.
