In Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #36, Batman, Robin, Superman, and Aquaman race to save Floronic Man from inciting a war.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #36 Main Cover by Dan Mora. (DC Comics)
Title: Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #36
20,000 Leagues Part Two
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Adriȧn Gutiérrez
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Steve Wands
Main Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Tom Reilly, Adriȧn Gutiérrez, Matt Herms, Oclair Alberts, Tyler Kirkham, Arif Prianto, and Fernando Pasarin
Release Date: February 19, 2025
This comic book review contains spoilers.
After the big reveal at the end of Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #35, a tied-up Batman and Robin are face-to-face with Dr. Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man. He’s the one seemingly behind the plague that’s set two neighboring cities, Poseidonis and Tritonis, at war with each other.
Batman reaches for something on his belt and cuts himself free. He attacks Floronic Man, who disappears into the ether. Batman deduces that Floronic Man must be sending his consciousness through several avatars.
The book takes a quick detour to explain the scientific background of Floronic Man, with the art style switching to a more Silver Age look and feel before returning to the action. Superman is struggling to break free from his bonds, and Aquaman is rallying the citizens of Poseidonis, asking them to defend themselves but not shed blood.
As Batman and Robin help Superman break free, Aquaman confronts Ronal, the leader of Tritonis. Aquaman must lead his people, lest he look weak and lose his station as king. Superman intervenes, vying for peace, much to the dismay of Aquaman. This is all to buy time for Batman and Robin, who race to Floronic Man’s location, which was uncovered by Superman with his telescopic vision.
The Floronic Man unveils his plan to the Dynamic Duo, saying that by releasing his spore-borne plague to one city and blaming the other, he was able to foment war, which would lead to his rein over Atlantis. As he explains this, war breaks out between the two cities.
This build-up to the battle is well-paced this issue. Adriȧn Gutiérrez and Tamra Bonvillain layer a beautiful pastiche of colors and rising action between the three parties. While it’s not necessarily an original plot, it’s vivid and vibrant enough to stand on its own legs. Ultimately, the sell in this two-parter hinges on the Silver Age heroism of Batman and Superman to a palette unlike anything in the otherwise grim and heavy comics that dominate most of DC offerings, especially in the wake of the new Absolute Universe.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #36 Variant Cover by Tom Reilly. Image: DC Comics
While the war rages, Superman struggles to hold on, as he’s plagued by magic. Lori Lemaris, an old colleague, is there to aid him. Though she’s the beloved of Ronal, she still has feelings bubbling under the surface for Superman. She tells the Man of Steel that Ronal has grown cold and distant. She says this as she reaches for Clark’s hand.
Meanwhile, Batman and Superman keep Floronic Man talking, explaining his attachment to the untold powers of the flora of the ocean. While he talks, he’s given enough time for Swamp Thing to arrive. As Swamp Thing battles Floronic Man, Aquaman’s army overwhelms Ronal’s soldiers, defeating them in battle but sparing their lives.
Everything seems to come to an end, but in a final twist of the knife, readers are left with an image of Superman and Lori kissing. It’s a shock to everyone, especially Ronal, who has been defeated and now—embarrassed.
The way Waid, Gutiérrez, and Bonvillain play this issue, they subvert expectations by making the plot feel simple and more like an old-school romp that’s all “surface-level.” That analysis is wrong, and this twist comes as somewhat of a surprise. As all action leads to a denouement, the kiss obliterates the falling action. It sets Ronal up to be the true villain of this arc, one fueled by anger, resentment, and betrayal. Floronic Man, then, is just a catalyst—a fun cameo that serves to push us to see Superman upset the peace.
While it’s more of a middling issue when it comes to the Batman / Superman: World’s Finest series under Waid, there are still a few surprises left in store. Superman as the breaker of peace is one of them, and it’ll be interesting to see where this storyline goes from here.
