Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #43: Friends Forever

Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #43 – written by Mark Waid, with art by Adrián Gutiérrez and Sean Izaakse, coloring by Matt Herms, and lettered by Steve Wands – concludes the Bizarro World Tour arc. The last issue introduced Brainzarro, a terrifying version of Brainiac, and while he is front and center on issue #43’s cover, he is absent from this issue. However, the exclusion isn’t sudden because he was defeated in the last issue, and the absence leaves room for characters in this issue to shine. Two highlights in particular are Bizarro himself and Batzarro. In addition to the usual creative team on this arc, this issue brings in Sean Izaakse, who’s style feels like the opposite of series’ regular Gutiérrez’s style. While Gutiérrez’s work feels much more contemporary akin to Dan Mora’s, Izaakse’s art feels like a pleasant throwback to the late 1980s and early 1990s. The heavy inks and flat colors are an excellent contrast to Gutiérrez’s stylized and motion-heavy work. 

Colorist Matt Herms does an absolutely phenomenal job of bridging the gap between styles and avoids any reader whiplash when the art changes. The coloring and art in general have done such an excellent job of presenting Bizarro World, which rides the line between comedy and horror. The consistency of the quality of coloring from Herms and Steve Wands’ lettering keeps the reader grounded while still allowing the chaos and backwardness of the story to come through. Some other highlights in this issue are an appearance from the Bizarro Bibbo Bibbowski, a genius chemist instead of a bartender, and some excellent moments from Robin. Like many World’s Finest arcs, Bizarro World Tour concludes with Superman, Batman, and Robin safe and sound after saving the day, but the a wholesome moment between Bizarro and Batzarro in the closing panels is what makes this one of the most fun issues to date.