In Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32, the Justice Society teams up with Robin to free the Justice League from Eclipso’s grasp!
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32 main cover by Dan Mora
Title: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32 – Shadows Fall Part Two
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Adrian Gutierrez
Colors: Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Steve Wands
Main Cover: Dan Mora
Variant Covers: Stephen Segovia, Danny Earls, Trish Mulvihill & Francisco Tomaselli
Release Date: October 16, 2024
This comic book review contains spoilers.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32 opens immediately after the cliffhanger ending of Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #31, wherein the Justice League watchtower was destroyed and many of the leaguers were mind-controlled by Eclipso. Out in the desert, the world reacts in horror as the watchtower is destroyed, and a meteor crash-lands back to Earth.
After the dust settles, Eclipso towers over the fallen Justice League members, with a mind-controlled Batman and Superman at his command. The villain laughs maniacally before the book jumps to the credits.
Right off the bat, Adrian Gutierrez sets a cartoonish, yet upbeat and fun tone. Tamra Bonvillain adds that familiar color that longtime readers of this book are used to, and we are off to the races.
At the Batcave, Robin (Dick Grayson) takes alert of the arrival of Batman and Superman. He watches them use the Batcomputer, logging in on his own to see what they’re up to. As Superman is sent on another mission, Robin bolts off, looking for transportation, followed by backup.
The color palette here is so appropriately Batman, clashing against the bright, arid desert feel from a page earlier. It’s dark and moody here, with Robin’s colors cloaked in shadow. These couple of pages have some creative lettering by Steve Wands, which help balance the darker tone, elevating that brightness that readers expect from a World’s Finest title.
After some exposition from Eclipso, who tells Bruce Gordon that he’s adjusting his plans for world domination, Robin is seen visiting the Justice Society. They’re already on the case, aware that the minds of the League are trapped in a crystal. Robin tells them about Batman and Superman, noting that Batman is hacking into NASA files and Superman is serving as a heavy to enact Eclipso’s plans.
The Justice Society splits up, one team for Batman and the other for Superman.
In Gotham City, Sandman, Hawkman, Mid-Nite, and The Spectre take on Batman. Up in space, Dr. Fate and the original The Flash (Jay Garrick) take on Superman. Out in the Sahara Desert, Green Lantern (Alan Scott) finds the crystal and works to free the Justice League members inside.
We then zip back to Gotham, where The Spectre goes nuclear, creating an illusion of Robin’s neck snapping to literally “snap” Batman out of Eclipso’s grip. It works, and Batman is soon free. While the colors, paneling, and lettering are incredibly nifty and cool to look at, this plot development was over as quickly as it was introduced. As a result, it falls flat, leaving readers to wonder why we’re even wasting page count on a mind-controlled Batman who is only going to be free of Eclipso a mere page or two later.
Back in space, Dr. Fate manages to free Superman, and similarly the other Leaguers are free of their crystal prison. When the Justice League and Justice Society come together to take on Eclipso, they’re all encased in some sort of diamond. And the story just ends?
That’s it?
If ever there was a filler issue for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, this issue is it. Most of the developments that were set up Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #31 are resolved, as well as a handful of developments put into play in this issue. It’s a colorful and creative comic book to look at, but from a story standpoint, it feels exhausting and a waste of time. This is easily one of the weaker stories in this otherwise monumental run by Mark Waid and team.
Editor’s Note: You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
