REVIEW: Batman #37: Worldâ€™s Finest Double Date

If Tom King thought it would be a great idea to tell a story about Clark Kent and Lois Lane going on a double date with Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, then he was 100% right.Â Batman #37 is part 2 of theÂ SuperFriendsÂ arc and one of the best Batman/Superman team-ups I“ve read in a long time.

King doesn“t need super villains to make this team-up interesting, instead he has written a character driven fun story about what happens when there isn“t a super villain to fight. The interactions between the characters are a perfect example as to why the two iconic heroes mesh so well together. Lois and Selina seemed to hit it off quite well also and had some great banter about their significant others and their relationships. The story felt very authentic, you believed these were two couples out on a double date and it did not feel like a plot device, but natural with a great flow. I“m not ashamed to say I literally laughed out loud a few times at some of the back and forth between Bruce and Clark.

But what do two literal power couples do on a double date? Â After much debate they settle on a carnival, but there is a slight road block Â with getting in. Â It“s superhero night at the carnival and nobody can get in without a costume. Â Lois points out that they do have costumes. Clark is concerned they will look too much like themselves and Lois suggests they switch costumes. Bruce flat-out refuses, but seems to have learned what it“s like to be engaged as Selina overrules him stating she is tired and hungry and he is going to make this plan work.

Bruce and Clark“s back and forth reminded me of a good friend of mine I“ve known for a long time and some conversations we“ve had. This was a great example of true friends, which is very refreshing. Â Since the death of the New 52 Superman and the return of the pre New 52 version there has been a rift and mistrust present between the characters. That rift seemed to slowly fade, giving us some great stories like Super Sons and less suspicion. This story sets the iconic friendship back on track and makes it feel solid again.Â The subtle things also gave me the biggest laughs, like Clark wearing his glasses over the Bat cowl or Bruce“s insistence that he could hit Clark“s fastball. Â The World“s Finest team is back and not even the brief interruption of a purse snatcher can derail this date.

Clay Mann does a great job of keeping the characters looking like who they are, not who they are dressed as. Bruce looks like Bruce even in the Superman costume and the same goes for everyone else. The only real criticism art-wise was a two page conversation that was just repeats of the same headshots of everyone as the conversation jumped around amongst them.

Jordie Bellaire takes a nighttime setting and manages to make it colorful and fun without losing the darkness of the night.

I really enjoyed this issue and if you are a fan of either Batman or Superman (or both) I highly recommend picking up a copy and checking out the World“s Finest double date.

Story: 4.5
Art: 3.5
Overall Rating: 4

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Tom King (A) Clay Mann (CA) Mikel Janin