Simply the Best: World's Finest #1

Beginning in the summer of 1941, Superman and Batman shared DC's World's Finest Comics title for the next four and a half decades. Starting out as separate features, DC's elder statesmen later teamed up to share adventures for the remainder of the title's run, remaining the best of friends throughout. 

At some point in the mid-80's, the skies began to darken. Perhaps in anticipation of their adversarial relationship in Frank Miller's influential The Dark Knight Returns (published only a few months later), the final issue of World's Finest Comics (1986) depicts the split of the Superman-Batman partnership. Their backgrounds, personalities, and modes of operation were suddenly judged to be too radically different to mesh well together, which was the same conclusion reached by the two heroes themselves...leading to a mutual parting of the ways.

Later than same year, John Byrne's reboot of the Superman titles would reinforce the alienation of the former World's Finest duo by establishing that Superman and Batman had never gotten along, beginning with their first official meeting in this restructured continuity (issue #3 of Byrne's Man of Steel mini-series). As you might have guessed, those of us who were fans of the old Superman-Batman alliance were pretty disappointed, as DC continued to hammer home the point that these guys were never going to be friends.

However, a break in the clouds came in 1990 with the publication of a three issue mini-series sporting a very familiar title: World's Finest. Written by acclaimed artist Dave Gibbons (of Watchmen fame) and beautifully illustrated by Steve Rude (one of the most under-rated artists in all of comics), the story featured a wonderful co-mingling of the Superman and Batman families of characters not seen since before the 1986 "break-up". True, there was still a chill between the stars, but by the end of the story, there was a definite hope that things could change.

Which brings me to my cover image for this installment of Simply the Best. While all three covers are "keepers", it's the cover for issue #1 that never fails to quicken my pulse. Here, check it out (minus the logo and other distracting elements):

(click on the image for a larger view)

A clever study in contrasts between the two heroes (light-dark, eagle-gargoyle, doves-bats), this breathtaking piece also evokes the Golden Age versions of the two characters. For Superman, the powerful stance and backlighting echo the classic Fleischer cartoons, while the horn-like "ears" and slitted-eyes of Batman's mask recall the eerie look of his earliest adventures.

DC also had the foresight to print a poster of this image when the mini-series was published, so I was lucky enough to nab a few of them (one of which still proudly hangs in my home studio all these years later).

As for the friendship between Superman and Batman, not much has changed in the years since. Sure, there's been some thawing of the chill, their monthly team-ups have resumed (in the Superman/Batman title), and they currently co-star with Wonder Woman in DC's Trinity series, but they've still got a long ways to go before they're as friendly as they were back in the good old days.

Comments

[Wes C]

Rude was one of the few mainstream artists who helped me make it through the "Image Years".

If you like Rude's artwork, I heartily recommend getting "Steve Rude - Artist in Motion". It's a great book filled with his sketches, penciled pages and paintings.

The book has excellent printing, it really captures the vibrancy of Rude's work.

It's really a visual feast!

[Ralph C.]

This was a good set of books. I enjoyed the story and the artwork. Rude is an excellent artist, with an uncanny ability to capture the look of older comic art without making it look dated.

He did a series for Marvel starring Captain America, too, years ago that I cannot remember the title to. There's something for someone to try to remember and post here. I'll have to go dig around for this series and read it, as well as the Cap't America one!

Rude the Dude!!!

[Pat Curley]

There was a brief period of time when Batman did not appear in World's Finest. Around 1970-1971, DC replaced Batman with a rotating crew of guest stars appearing with Superman, effectively making the book a Superman version of the Brave and the Bold. This lasted about 2 years, then they went to a Batman & Superman and guest-star concept for awhile.