In Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #35, Batman, Superman, Robin, and Aquaman are summoned beneath the sea to stop a plague.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #35 main cover by Dan Mora. Image: DC Comics
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #35
20,000 Leagues Part One
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Adriȧn Gutiérrez
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Steve Wands
Main Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Frank Cho, Sabine Rich, Chris Samnee, Mat Lopes, Ethan Young, Kris Anka
Release Date: January 15, 2025
This comic book review contains spoilers.
After December’s Krypto-centric detour in Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #34, this issue plunges into a new arc. Down beneath the sea, Mera, Queen of the Atlanteans, sends out a psychic message to her husband, Arthur, and the Justice League. Two neighboring cities that make up the lost continent of Atlantis, Poseidonis and Tritonis, often steer clear of one another, save to harvest kelp that is mutually shared. However, some sort of disease has infected Tritonians, transforming them into monsters.
This is all told in a prologue before the issue starts, with Adriȧn Gutiérrez on art and Tamra Bonvillain on colors. The colors match the tone and feel of Batman / Superman: World’s Finest that we’ve come to expect since this title relaunched over a year ago. Gutiérrez is newer to the title, having replaced series regular artist Dan Mora starting in Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #31. His art has a smoother, more manga-inspired look and feel to it, and it’s a style that might resonate with a younger audience, which is appropriate for this title. Personally, it feels a little too cherubic, especially with the design of Aquaman, who has a very angular, elf-like quality.
Right as Mera sends her message, Aquaman and Robin are hanging out atop the bleachers at a baseball stadium in Metropolis. Superman dropped them off on his way to bring Toyman back to jail. When he returns, Batman summons them all to the Batcave, so Batman and Robin can suit up and head to the ocean floor.
The heroes spare no time in joining the fight. Batman and Robin use motorized batarangs to take down plagued Tronians. Superman quickly deduces that a fungal infection is the cause of the disease. Arthur summons a killer whale to help him stop the attack on Poseidonis, but he’s accosted by his own people, who demand he stop defending air breathers more than them and respect the throne.
The action is lightning-fast, colorful, and full of beautiful undersea imagery. That’s what really shines in this section, and Gutiérrez’s backdrops, paired with Bonvillain’s colors, are quite eye-catching. It’s the character designs that fall a little flat, particularly those whose faces are seen. Batman and Robin look great in their underwater gear, but Aquaman looks unlike any Aquaman design we’ve seen, and when King Ronal is introduced, it’s very hard to decipher between Ronal and Arthur.
Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #35 variant cover by Chris Samnee. Image: DC Comics
As Superman heads to Tritonis, he reunites with Lori Lemaris, an Atlantean he once dated long ago. She pulls him aside to show him that Ronal is building an army to attack Poseidonis with. He’s convinced that it’s the Poseidonians that have been infecting Tritonians. Superman intervenes, but he’s no match against the magic that Ronal wields.
The fight between Superman and Ronal is electric! In a few short panels, Gutiérrez creates an intense, luminous display that takes Superman out of the picture. Elsewhere, Batman and Robin are trapped, and the real villain unveils himself. It’s none other than The Floronic Man.
The issue ends there, and one wonders if this is going to be a simple two-parter, or if Aquaman being seen as “abandoning his oath” will take centerstage, turning this into a three-part or longer storyline. That might be preferable, as it would add some meat to the bones of the story.
As an opening salvo to a new story, this issue fits in with the tone and action-focused nature of the Batman / Superman: World’s Finest series. But that’s about it. The thread of heart we’ve come to expect from many arcs in this series isn’t quite there, and much of the hook is left to the visual displays of undersea galavanting. Letterer Steve Wands really helps sell the dialogue though, making it stand out in colorful and creative ways this issue.
