Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #56: Boiling Point

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #56, written by Mark Waid, with art by Adrián Gutiérrez, colored by Luis Guerrero, and lettered by Steve Wands, is another fantastic issue that shows just why Batman and Superman are called the World’s Finest. This issue is a great example of what makes the series work so well, especially through Mark Waid’s writing and genuine love and appreciation of these characters and this medium. 

One of the issue’s standout sequences revolves around Clark’s article on the science behind a nuclear meltdown. The scene intertwines the newspaper cuttings with Superman working to contain the disaster, leading to some powerful imagery that reinforces Clark’s commitment to protecting life in all its forms. Plus, Superman taking down Tokamak, who caused the meltdown, is the cherry on top. It’s funny, satisfying, and just feels like classic Superman. While this is a Superman-heavy issue, Batman gets his own clever moments, too. Recruiting Mirror Master to reverse engineer an antidote to the plague is a surprising but brilliant move that inspires Batman to do something even more exciting at the end of the issue. Waid has a knack for finding unexpected uses for DC’s vast cast of characters, and this issue shows how well he understands the world these characters exist in. 

Adrián Gutiérrez is firing on all cylinders. His artwork feels larger than life, giving every character an incredible moment. As previously said, this is a Superman-heavy issue, and Gutiérrez does him justice and then some. The action is impressive, but the expressive character work and interesting panel layouts are just as effective. Luis Guerrero’s colors complement the pencils beautifully, adding depth and massive impact to Gutiérrez’s art without overpowering it. Steve Wands’ lettering is equally strong, working with the panel layouts and keeping the action and dialogue flowing smoothly.