“Heir to the Kingdom” – Part One
Artist: Dan Mora
Color Artist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Steve Wands
Review by Bryant Lucas
It’s multiversal madness, as the Dark Knight and Man of Steel travel to Earth-22, in this month’s Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #20.
While navigating the intricacies of the multiverse, the Flash uncovers the whereabouts of David, Superman’s erstwhile sidekick, also known as Boy Thunder. Our previous encounter with David saw him vanishing into the multiverse, leaving our heroes concerned about the fate of the lost youngster.
Intriguingly, his trajectory landed him on Earth-22, the backdrop for the legendary “Kingdom Come” saga. This revelation isn’t entirely unexpected, as previous issues have hinted at David’s identity as Magog, a central figure in the “Kingdom Come” narrative.
Motivated by the longing for his former companion, Superman, accompanied by Batman, embarks on a voyage to Earth-22 to retrieve him. Utilizing the Flash’s Cosmic Treadmill as their vehicle through the multiverse, they face unforeseen temporal hiccups. This misadventure gifts them a fleeting glimpse of Earth-22’s destiny shaped by the aftermath of “Kingdom Come”. Their journey is further intensified when they’re unexpectedly teleported to the past, leading to an encounter with a more youthful version of the young hero.
Kingdom Comes Again
Since the introduction of Boy Thunder, I’ve been eager to see where the story would go next. Mark Waid’s “Kingdom Come” is a well-loved part of DC Comics’ history, so seeing Waid come back to this saga after so long feels pretty cool. He’s been careful about revisiting his popular story, showing that he values the fans’ connection to it.
This issue feels like a trip down memory lane. With this return, Waid has given more depth to the legendary tale, especially the character of Magog. By connecting David to the villain, we learn more about Magog’s issues with both the Joker and Superman.
The Mora Magic
After a two-month break, Dan Mora has returned to World’s Finest. There’s something to be said about the old adage, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Seeing Mora’s work again feels incredibly refreshing and, as usual, the man brings his A-game (I mean… does he even have a B-game?)
Particularly striking this time around is his depiction of inter-universal voyages. Mora’s visualization of the Flash piercing through the veil of multiverse is a visual spectacle. His ingenious paneling effortlessly captures the Flash’s dynamism and the grandeur of the multiverse. This artistic feat ignites a longing in me to witness Mora’s rendition of these various universes
Conclusion
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #20 delivers an excellent start to a highly anticipated arc. Waid’s writing is great, leaving the readers on a gnarly cliffhanger, and Mora does his usual thing (i.e. the book looks stunning). Overall, I’m eager to read the next issue, which usually means that creators did their jobs well.
Final Verdict: Buckle up y’all… this is gonna be a wild ride!
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment