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Clever Start to We Are Yesterday Crossover in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #38

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When Mark Waid debuted “Justice League Unlimited” together with his popular series “Batman/Superman: World’s Finest,” a curiosity arose about how he would manage to intertwine these stories. However, it didn’t take long for him to find an approach. In fact, you could say that the books had already started to overlap before “Justice League Unlimited” even began! To explain this, let me walk you through the plot of “Justice League Unlimited.”

Initially in the series, there was a question about who the sinister villains were that were clashing with the newly formed super-League. Identifying themselves as Inferno, these villains seemed to embody the opposite of the Justice League, aiming to destroy Earth on a global scale while the League focused on protecting it.

However, once the possibility of Inferno being the Legion of Doom was dismissed by the League, the big twist came to light – Inferno actually turned out to be the Legion of Doom! This surprise revelation not only connected “Justice League Unlimited” with previous DC storylines but also set the stage for future crossovers.

And that’s how we get to how the story BEGAN in the past in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #38!

In issue #38 of “Batman/Superman: World’s Finest,” Mark Waid serves as the writer, Clayton Henry handles the artwork, Tamra Bonvillain takes care of the colors, and Steve Wands does the lettering. This installment initially appears to be a classic DC superhero team-up story, but it subtly lays the groundwork for an upcoming crossover event.

Mark Waid explores the humor of the Batman/Superman pairing

Typically recognized as the leading author of superhero team-up comic book tales is Bob Haney, who penned Brave and the Bold for a long period, and also wrote stories for World’s Finest Comics. Haney’s works were renowned for their unconventional nature, as he often created fresh characterizations for the characters to suit the story he wanted to tell (such as Superman and Batman vying for the affection of Catwoman, or Supergirl and Wonder Woman competing with each other). However, these tales were also acclaimed for the multitude of offbeat ideas Haney could squeeze into a single issue. Readers were generally willing to tolerate the bizarre elements in exchange for the creative and imaginative storytelling they provided.

In essence, Mark Waid’s work in “Batman/Superman: World’s Finest” appears to capture the essence of the Bob Haney team-up stories, but with a modern twist. It maintains the sharpness and consistency expected for these legendary superheroes, yet manages to keep things fresh by combining unlikely hero pairings and exploring intriguing aspects of established characters.

Furthermore, since Waid began working in comics, he’s consistently shown a keen sense of humor. This comic starts with a familiar joke: Bruce Wayne discovers Hal Jordan leaves his Green Lantern ring behind when testing experimental aircraft, which turns into a significant issue when the Waynetech jet he’s flying gets shot down because Jordan didn’t have it with him.

This throwback adventure cleverly leads to a whole new crossover

Hal has been defeated by Gorilla Grodd, who unveils Gorilla City while proclaiming war against humanity. With the Flash being Gorilla Grodd’s primary adversary, Superman, Batman, and the Flash team up to confront Gorilla Grodd. Being unfamiliar territory for both Superman and Batman, they journey to Gorilla City, a place that is also unknown to the world at large. In this story, Waid incorporates his extensive knowledge of the DC Universe by introducing Titano into the mix, and Titano’s Kryptonite eyes pose a significant challenge for Superman.

However, although Haney penned some witty tales throughout his career, I believe Waid surpasses him in this instance with the shocking revelation that this entire scenario was orchestrated to lure Superman to Gorilla City. This clever trick allowed Gorilla Grodd to seize control of Superman’s body. My blog series, titled “Always Kind of Wondered,” delves into authors daring to explore unconventional ideas that fans may have pondered as kids, and Waid’s storyline involving Grodd using his mind-transference powers on Superman is undeniably a top contender for that list!

Later, Waid skillfully employs the observation that Solovar, ruler of Gorilla City, is prepared to eliminate Superman, unlike Batman, which gives the appearance of a victory in an old-fashioned adventure for our heroes. However, things take a turn when Gross receives a visit from future Grodd, proposing Inferno. This sets us squarely in the heart of the crossover!

Henry consistently demonstrates remarkable skill in storytelling as an artist, and this comic is no exception. His work, along with Bonvillain’s, is packed with top-notch storytelling throughout the adventure. I particularly appreciate the intricate facial expressions that are showcased, such as when Clark playfully teases Bruce, but also when Solovar compels Grodd to retreat due to his readiness to kill Superman to prevent Grodd’s actions, which leaves Batman understandably displeased. Overall, it’s truly impressive work.

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2025-04-25 02:25

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