World's Finest #1-3 (August-October 1990)
World’s Finest #1-3 (August-October 1990)
Or Lex Luthor v. the Joker: Dawn of JERKstice. Superman and Batman teaming up is old hat by now, but this is the first time Luthor and the Joker join forces, although they spend most of the story at each other’s throats. By the way, this is also the first time I read this story, since I just never bothered to get it before. Here’s what I’ve been missing:
I’m struggling to think of a better looking Superman story – artist Steve “The Dude” Rude even scored some character models from the Fleischer animated shorts of the ‘40s to give Superman that authentic classic look. And since the comic’s writer is an artist too (it’s Dave “The Dude Who Drew Watchmen” Gibbons), the whole thing is full of amazing visual sequences, like this one comparing/contrasting Superman and Batman’s origins.
The fact that they’re both orphans is actually a big part of the story: it’s about two orphanages in Metropolis and Gotham City that are closing down because an old guy died and left them a big mansion at the halfway point between both cities. Luthor wants to buy the abandoned Gotham orphanage so he can expand his business to the city, but it turns out it was recently acquired by the Joker. So, the two make a deal: the Joker will sell Luthor the orphanage at a discount if Luthor lets him crash in on his home turf for a while.
As a result, Luthor sets up shop on Gotham and the Joker goes on vacation in Metropolis, causing each city’s biggest heroes (Ragman and Booster Gold) (kidding, it’s Supes and Bats) to follow them. And what do you know, Clark Kent also gets a long assignment in Gotham while Bruce Wayne goes on an extended business trip to Metropolis, but no one thinks that’s too weird. However, relations between Luthor and the Joker deteriorate as they try to destroy each other’s criminal empires (there’s explosions and stuff). Superman and Batman mostly get along fine now, but there’s still a little tension, which leads to what has to be one of the greatest moments in comics:
“I’ve got a Betamax.”
There’s also a plot about some shady dealings going on in the combined orphanages (hence the fact that they sold one of the buildings to the freaking Joker), but that’s all wrapped up by the end of the second issue and the rest is about the villains escalating their war until the heroes finally do a proper team up to stop them. In the end, Luthor charges the Joker for all the damages he caused and tells him he never wants to see his face again (until he invites him to join his Injustice Gang in a few years, that is).
Plotline-Watch:
This is a fancy prestige-format miniseries and these things usually think they’re too good to acknowledge the continuity of the regular comics. However, while there are a few weird parts (like Perry White being Superman’s most trusted confidant, when I think they’ve talked like twice), there are also some noteworthy things:
Lex Luthor is spot on. I thought we’d be lucky if he had his robot hand, but the story actually references the fact that he was Perry’s friend while growing up in Suicide Slum (World of Metropolis #1) and that he had his parents killed for the insurance money when he was a teen (Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography). In fact, one of the orphanage owners is another former Suicide Slum kid who knew Perry and Lex. Also, I could be wrong, but I think the (cool as hell) sequence below is the first time Luthor utters what will become his catchphrase: “Bah.”
The Lois Lane/Clark Kent romance isn’t acknowledged in any way, and Bruce Wayne even flirts with Lois… but he also did that the last time he saw her, when she’d already started getting serious with Clark, so that’s completely in character. The Kryptonite ring Superman recently gave Batman isn’t mentioned either, but their relationship in general is pretty consistent when what we’ve seen.
Jimmy Olsen’s piece of shit car makes a stellar appearance: Jimmy actually drives Batman around in the third issue since he left his Batmobile home. Also, Bats gets angry at Jimbo for stupidly warning a criminal of their presence with his camera’s flash – I’d love to show you those delicious panels of Jimmy getting manhandled by Batman, but I’ve probably filled this entry with enough images already.
And finally, there’s a Superman-loving black orphan kid from Suicide Slum named Zack who reminds me of Keith, the other Superman-loving black orphan kid from Suicide Slum that will be introduced next year or so, but maybe that’s just me being racist.