Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #42 review

Last month I said that the strongest parts of the story were less about the plot and more about the fun Bizarro premise. Well this issue seems to have taken that to heart, as it almost entirely leans into exploring the different aspects of the Bizarro world. It gets to the point where it runs the risk of having the central conflict fall into the background, but at the very least the backwards Bizarro logic continues to be a fun time.

The actual story is thrown at you in such rapid succession that it’s almost easy to miss. Over the span of only a few pages, the issue jumps from explaining the plague, to “Brainzarro” attacking, to meeting with Bizarro Lex. At times it feels less like a a structured plot with a building action, and more like an excuse to show off as many new Bizarro characters as possible. This isn’t wholly a bad thing, as it seems intentional enough and uses that to show off some creative and fun ideas. Its simplicity is also much easier to follow than last issue, which was so hectic that it became disorienting.

Matching the frantic pacing of the story is Adrián Gutiérrez’s lively and cartoonish art. Along with Matt Herms’ bright colors, the simplistic style and expressive faces are a good fit for the tone that a planet of backwards Supermen needs. It’s also detailed enough that the action sequences are still exciting and vibrant.

So if the comic is more focused on the Bizarro gags than the rest of the story, how does that aspect hold up? Well not every one’s a home run, but it’s certainly more hits than misses. Waid plays with some of the fun ideas that can be had at the expense of “opposite” versions of established characters. My personal favorite was the revelation that Robinzarro is in jail for murdering Bizarro Joker with a crowbar. Despite the comedic tone, we do still get a surprisingly poignant moment with Batzarro on the nature of what it means to be a Bizarro creature, which was nice to add some depth to an otherwise lighthearted story.

Once the story draws to a close, The plot returns with a big exposition narration of both the history of Bizarro World and how the plague came to be. In a way this sort of ties together the two approaches that the comic has taken so far. It quickly addresses the plot necessary for the story to function, and also gives yet more focus to the Bizarros themselves. If you’re the kind of person who can’t get enough of the backwards, cube-shaped world, this is for you.

Recommended If

• The best version of Bizarro is where the opposite gimmick is taken to the extreme
• Plot is less important than comedy
• You like your superhero stories light and fantastical

Overall

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #42 continues the trio’s adventure through Bizarro World and all the ridiculous characters that entails. The larger narrative is mostly an excuse to have fun with these absurd reverse-caricatures, which mostly still works because they’re delightfully goofy and deliver some solid gags. That’s not to say the story doesn’t matter at all, as the “serious” plot still delivers some exciting action and even a few emotional moments.

Score: 7.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review