Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #16: Gearing Up

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #16 is pure fun cover to cover and really does have something for everyone. Despite the title only displaying Batman and Superman’s names, issue #16 is packed with mainstays and fan favorites of the DC Universe. Waid obviously knows these characters, and for some is synonymous with the characters in some form or another. It is even mentioned that Superman would be able to save the day easily. Superman being out of commission for the escape is well-thought-out and logical to the story and leads to some really great team action between Batman, Oliver Queen, Ted Kord, and even Toyman, Dr. Cyber, and Bertram Larvan. The unlikely crew quickly scrambles to complete Batman’s plan: having Oliver use a makeshift bow and arrow to shoot Ultramorpho in a small opening in Ultramorpho’s chest and the rest of the captives to immediately cover the body with lead sheeting so Superman can recover. Though this is easily the highlight of the issue, a lot is happening elsewhere with plenty of heroes, like Hawkman, Plastic Man, Flash, and Wonder Woman doing their part. These sequences are well executed and an excellent opportunity to see that Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain should be on every DC title. 

You don’t see art like this often, but you really should be. Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain’s work on this series, and every series they work on together, has been absolutely top-notch and worth the price alone. Bonvillain’s colors are unlike anything else on the shelves today. A great instance displaying this is in the closing panels, where Batman is set against a purple sky. This is one of the books that will have you lingering on every page taking in every detail. Steve Wands’ lettering continues to be the cherry on top of the art. A great example of the superb work Wands brings to the issue is a sequence where Batman, Oliver, and Ted are talking but in hushed voices. The lettering in these panels is a much smaller font, which seems so simple but works so brilliantly. It doesn’t hurt that Mora is excellent at showing emotion on the faces of the characters.