In this review of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48, Owlman and Ultraman wreak havoc over on Earth-3 as the deadly duo track down a mystery acquisition of immense power. These two do not play well with others.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48 main cover by Dan Mora (DC Comics)
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #48
Written by MARK WAID
Art by MARCUS TO
Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: MARK SPEARS, ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ, MEGAN HUANG
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 2/18/26
This review contains spoilers
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48 begins decades ago in Gotham City as the familiar origin story involving Bruce Wayne and his parents unfolds, only with a dark twist because they are on Earth-3. Twenty years later the citizens of Metropolis run for cover as Ultraman enjoys some sick thrills by shooting heat vision down at them. Cut to Gothamforge Steel where Owlman chases Riddler to his death. A grumpy Ultraman arrives and Owlman fills him in on a quest for power from S.T.A.R. Labs that will allow them to take over the other crime syndicates and go global.
Ultraman’s in, but inquires about the source: it’s Owlman’s protégé Talon who died after giving him the information. With S.T.A.R. Labs no longer in possession, the duo meet up with the newest Talon who has set up a meeting with Niles Caulder and the (Doom Syndicate) and provides them with an offering. Caulder doesn’t appreciate the trinkets they offered and the syndicates clash. The duo make short work of the Doom Syndicate and follow Caulder’s information to Doctor Will Magnus.
At Magnus Robotics, the Metal Men fare better than the others, but an assist from Superwoman (Lois Lane) turns the tide and Magnus loses his head.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48 ends as Ultraman tears open the lead lined vault door and discovers that the prize awaiting them are the incapacitated forms of Batman and Superman: World’s Finest.
Wait… this isn’t how the story goes. (DC Comics)
Analysis
Whew, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48 flips the script on Mark Waid’s typical fun World’s Finest tale, as the deadly duo tear up Earth-3 in search of what ends up being their imprisoned Earth-1 counterparts. Ultraman and Owlman have all of the power and none of the charm or character. No compassion, no friendship and every alliance up for grabs if the whim suits them. Waid’s dark bent on Owlman’s origin (Thomas Wayne, Jr) is only the start of this dark odyssey.
Mark Waid explores Earth-3 as the antithesis to Earth-1(remember this takes place years ago), but as always the writer finds a way to include a love letter to Silver Age DC Comics. In this instance, Niles Caulder, the Doom Syndicate, Will Magnus and the Metal Men are pretty much the same, just a little bit darker (an out of their depth). Owlman’s chillingly casual request for Alfred Pennyworth to retrieve another disposable child from captivity and become the newest Talon is par for in this darkest timeline.
The new Talon recruit brings a small amount of levity as they fawn over Ultraman (who couldn’t care less if the kid was on fire). Waid has explored variations of Batman and Superman in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest before (Kingdom Come for example), but this alternate reality is still a shock, despite Earth-3 not being a new concept. It’s tricky to not make Ultraman sound too much like Homelander from The Boys or Owlman from Mark Millar’s Nemesis, but Waid accomplishes the task.
The easy rapport and camaraderie shared by the World’s Finest duo is absent in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48, replaced by an icy and uneasy pragmatism between two dangerous individuals whose goals align more often than not. Owlman’s blunt response to the (hero) Riddler would be funny if it weren’t so cruel. Ultraman zapping random Metropolis citizens with heat vision for kicks is also unsettling.
Longtime artist Marcus To fills in on Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48, and the results are impressive. To’s crisp, sleek linework and facial expressions maintain the high bar of quality set by Dan Mora and Adrian Gutierrez. To provides enough details to the city scenes, while providing devastating action sequences for a pair of villains who aren’t shy about targeting non-powered, non-combatants. The designs for the Metal Men and Doom Patrol of Earth-3 are reminiscent of their Earth-1 counterparts.
Final Thoughts
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #48 takes a walk on the dark side (no not that one) of the DCU, with a disturbing but engaging World’s Finest team up. The twists on classic Silver Age DC Comics are still present, only darker. The writing is sharp enough to draw blood, while the art is cooler than a heart of ice. That final reveal raises some pertinent questions and promises some excitement down the road.
