DCU Spotlight Review: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #17

Overview: In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #17, Batman, Superman, Robin, and a whole roster of heroes stop Newmazo from taking over Earth. 

Please Note: This comic book review may contain spoilers

Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #17 opens with a captive Batman (Bruce Wayne) at the mercy of Newmazo, the upgraded terror that has been kidnapping tech magnates and building his legion of machines. 

Supergirl and Martian Manhunter bust in, saving Batman but endangering everyone else. By engaging in Newmazo, he’s able to capture their powers and add to his nearly limitless abilities. Though Supergirl and Martian Manhunter try to hold their own, Newmazo toys with them. 

Batman rushes over to Will Magnus, creator of the Metal Men, asking if their secret plan is ready to go. Magnus says that they need more time. Meanwhile, Superman and Wonder Woman join the fight, assisting Martian Manhunter and Supergirl in their losing battle against Newmazo. 

Batman contacts Robin (Dick Grayson), who is holding Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth around T.O. Morrow, inventor of Red Tornado. He asks Robin if the Boy Wonder has learned anything, and Morrow speaks for himself, claiming that resistance is futile. Per Morrow, there is no way to beat Newmazo, and humanity is doomed. 

What follows is a brief montage of Black Canary fighting against one of Newmazo’s puppets and Plastic Man battling at a “human reclamation plant,” which, for those who read Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #16, is where humans are dissolved down to basic elements, which Newmazo uses for his army. Superman and Wonder Woman hold the line with Newmazo, withstanding his attacks while Batman and Magnus mull over Morrow’s words. 

This has been said in every review of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest thus far, and the same is true in this issue. The art in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #17 continues to be one of the greatest visual feasts for the eyes currently on the shelves. Dan Mora’s pencils are expressive and kinetic, and his paneling carries an intense, action-packed rhythm that expresses parallel storytelling in visually interesting ways. Tamra Bonvillain’s colors add a cornucopia of vibrancy and fun to the experience, creating a display that relishes in bright, loud, and maximalist comic book storytelling. Steve Wands letters put on the finishing touches, absorbing that kinetic energy and pulsing it through the word bubbles with just the right amount of emphasis. 

Captain Marvel (Shazam/Billy Batson) and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) fly into frame, but before they can join the fight, Magnus demands they stay out of it. Were they to enter, Newmazo would only become more powerful. What follows is one of the most incredible two-page spreads of World’s Finest thus far. 

Magnus and Batman’s plan has come to fruition. Because Newmazo is using satellites to control his army, Magnus has hijacked them and uploaded his own code, the one he uses to control the Metal Men. In turn, Magnus hijacks Newmazo’s army and uses it against him. 

One heroic two-page spread gives away to another. What was a hopeful image of victory is literally shattered in the next two-page spread as Newmazo makes quick work of his hijacked army. Superman gapes from afar, mustering the strength to re-enter the battle. Quick-thinking by Batman realizes there’s one last chance to stop Newmazo from taking over the world. 

Batman surmises correctly, and the original Amazo enters the fight. Newmazo and Amazo 1.0 do battle, countering each blow from the other. However, they’re replicating each other, duplicating each other’s move and power set. Batman presumes correctly once more that they are trapped in an energy feedback loop, one that keeps building and building. 

Newmazo and Amazo explode. While the heroes pick themselves up, a severely dismembered Newmazo climbs out of the rubble. Superman gives Metamorpho (Rex Mason) the final blow. Metamorpho dismantles Newmazo, save for his head, which is handed over to Magnus for studying. 

In an epilogue, Jimmy Olsen expresses his fear and frustration at falsely reporting that Bruce Wayne murdered Simon Stagg. Batman tells Jimmy that he followed the facts, so he should go easy on himself. He further elaborates that Bruce Wayne is a reasonable man who will forgive him. Superman, Jimmy Olsen, Robin, and Batman watch Metamorpho fly off, who has his own personal grudge to get back to (meaning Simon Stagg). 

The final few pages of this issue amp up the wild art as Metamorpho beats the green goo, quite literally, out of Newmazo. Even at its most violent, this issue is colorful, with the least vibrant moment being the final moments of reflection on the last page. Oddly, the finale to this story feels a bit underwhelming. At the end of the day, while Jimmy laments pointing the finger at the wrong “murderer,” there isn’t a lesson, moral, fable, or much of an emotional moment to mull over. Metamorpho gets his final punch, and the heroes go their separate ways. It’s a bit off-putting, especially with the looming threat of world domination and humans being dissolved into “elements” as just two of the stakes at play. 

That said, the climactic action was a blast, and if nothing else, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #17 was certainly dazzling. 

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 Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.