A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #5 Micro-Review – Too Chummy?

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman Superman World's Finest 5, cover, 2022, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #5
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS:
Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)

RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Mora and Bonvillain’s art is what’s really selling this book. What’s more, Waid has given them no shortage of exciting stuff to draw.

Question: How chummy should Superman and Batman be? Waid might be writing them a little too friendly for my taste. They should have a healthy respect for each other, and there’s nothing wrong with there being a friendship between them. But there should also be a certain something in the air when they’re working together. Tension? Weight? It’s tough to describe…

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A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #4 Micro-Review – More of Mora’s DCU

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman Superman World's Finest 4, cover, 2022, variant, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #4
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS:
Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)

RELEASED: June 21, 2022

While I’m not a fan at all of other heroes popping up in a Batman/Superman book to pull focus away from our titular heroes, I can’t deny that the big selling point of this book so far has been Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain’s rendering of a variety of different DC heroes. In this issue alone we get more of the Doom Patrol, plus Green Lantern, Black Canary, a couple Teen Titans, and more. It’s a real treat.

As the cover illustrates, we get a new take on the Composite Superman/Batman here. It’s a decent design. Very slick.

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A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #3 Micro-Review – A Show-Stopping Duo

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman Superman World's Finest 3, cover, 2022, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #3
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS: 
Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)

RELEASED: May 17, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue opens with Batman scared and in trouble, and Superman has to save him. That doesn’t sound like such a far out idea in a book about Superman and Batman. But considering how so many modern writers like to portray the Dark Knight as unstoppably smart and all-prepared, it comes off novel. As a Superman fan, it’s definitely appreciated.

I hope Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain are having as much fun on this book as I am looking at their work. Like our two titular heroes, they make for a show-stopping duo.

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A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #2 Micro-Review – Spying on Superheroes?!?

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman Superman World's Finest 2, cover, 2022, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #2
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS:
Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)

RELEASED: April 19, 2022

There’s a panel in this issue where Batman is incredulous that Niles Caulder would spy on superheroes. I’m wondering if that’s a coy little reference to Waid’s famous JLA: Tower of Babel story, in which Batman does just that.

There’s some hostile tension between Robin and Supergirl in this issue. That’s unexpected and kind of fun. I like it.

Other superheroes are popping up in this book already. We’ve got the Doom Patrol, obviously. Then in this issue we’ve get a few Justice Leaguers. I don’t necessarily mind that, so long as the focus remains on our two titular heroes. In that respect, so far so good.

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A Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1 Micro-Review – Going Old School

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman Superman Worlds Finest 1, cover, 2022, Dan MoraTITLE: Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1
AUTHOR: Mark Waid
ARTISTS:
Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)

RELEASED: March 15, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

There’s a cheesiness to some of Mark Waid’s dialogue in this issue that’s got a vintage feel. That is, it’s reminiscent of old school superhero comics.

And old school definitely seems to be part of the vibe Waid, Dan Mora, and the team are going for here. We’ve got the classic status quos for both Superman and Batman, the blue and gray Batman costume, etc.

For the time being, Mora and Tamra Bonvillain are the stars here. Their art is what really sells the issue. Their modernized version of the classic Robin suit works well too.

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A Detective Comics #1040 Micro-Review – A Classic Costume Returns!

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Detective Comics 1040, cover, 2021, Lee Bermejo variant coverTITLE: Detective Comics #1040
AUTHORS: Mariko Tamaki, Dan Watters
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Max Raynor, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Arif Prianto (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Variant cover by Lee Bermejo.
RELEASED: July 27, 2021

Dan Mora makes a very welcome return to Detective here. I’m always happy to see his work.

There’s a flashback sequence in this issue where we see Batman back in the classic blue and gray costume, complete with the yellow oval behind the bat symbol. That’s a cool little treat.

Do these Lee Bermejo variant covers get the love they deserve? I hope so…

Dan Watters and Max Raynor give us a somewhat touching back-up story about Man-Bat and the fate he’s met. Definitely worth sticking around after the main feature.

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A Detective Comics #1039 Micro-Review – Meet Hue Vile

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Detective Comics #1039
AUTHORS: Mariko Tamaki, T.Rex
ARTISTS: Viktor Bogdanovic, T.Rex, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Simon Gough (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Variant cover by Lee Bermejo.
CO-INKERS:
Daniel Henriques, Norm Rapmund
RELEASED: July 13, 2021

This issue’s back-up feature, written and drawn by T.Rex, is its highlight. It gives us a look at the origin of one of our villains, Hue Vile. I can’t say it’s the most original or captivating origin story I’ve ever heard. But the art really sells it.

As for the main story, it’s chugging along at what I might call a slightly slow pace. Slow, but still captivating in its own right.

The one thing I’d change about Viktor Bogdanovic’s art? Huntress’ mask looks string thin. Gotta fatten that sucker up.

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A Detective Comics #1037 Micro-Review – Secret Identity Blown?!?

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Detective Comics 1037, Lee Bermejo variant cover, 2021TITLE: Detective Comics #1037
AUTHORS: Mariko Tamaki, John Ridley
ARTISTS: Victor Bogdanovic, Karl Mostert, Dustin Nguyen, Jonathan Glapion (Co-Inker), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), John Kalisz (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer), Rob Leigh (Letterer), Tom Napolitano. Variant cover by Lee Bermejo.
RELEASED: June 8, 2021

There’s a weird error in this issue. Mr. Worth, a new villain, is hunting Bruce Wayne. He asks aloud, “Where are you, Wayne?” Batman then pops out and says, “Here!” Kind of gives away the whole secret identity thing, doesn’t it?

John Ridley and Dustin Nguyen do a back-up story this time around. As far as I’m concerned, both of them are always welcome in Batman’s world. Naturally, it serves as a precursor to The Next Batman.

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Weekly Comic 100s: Detective Comics #1035

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Detective Comics #1035
AUTHOR: Mariko Tamaki
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Clayton Henry, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)
RELEASED: April 27, 2021

While Tamaki and Mora once again turn in a strong effort on the main story, I was more interested in the Huntress backstory. It sees Helena make a friend, only for things to go…not well.

A little bit of dialogue I related to in a broad sense…

“Friends have never been my strong suit. Allies? Sure. Teams? Not great. But okay. … But friends–Normal everyday friends–have never been my thing.”

Some of us are just born loners.

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Weekly Comic 100s: Detective Comics #1034

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

TITLE: Detective Comics #1034
AUTHOR: Mariko Tamaki, Joshua Williamson
ARTISTS: Dan Mora, Gleb Melnikov, Jordie Bellaire (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer), Troy Peteri (Letterer)
RELEASED: March 23, 2021

Gorgeous issue, whether you’re talking about Mora’s Batman or Melnikov’s Robin back-up.

In terms of hammering home that Bruce Wayne now has significantly less money, there’s a great little scene in this book of our hero doing some manual labor to set up one of his “DIY caves.”

I’m really optimistic about Tamaki and Mora’s run on this book. There’s tremendous potential for both great storytelling and great art. Here’s hoping this is the start of something great.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.