Justice League Unlimited/World's Finest: We Are Yesterday

Batman/Superman: World's Finest

by Mark Waid, Christopher Cantwell, Morgan Hampton

The current-day adventures of Justice League Unlimited meet the past heroics of Batman/Superman: World's Finest in the first crossover of the DC All In era, We Are Yesterday!

The sinister psychic powers of the devious Gorilla Grodd have the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight in their sights, but all is not as it seems to be! There’s something strange going on here...some monkey business that the World’s Finest can’t quite put a finger on. It’s almost as if this Gorilla Grodd has...knowledge of the future?

A brand new, six-part event storyline brings the Justice League Unlimited face-to-face with some of their most infamous enemies in a time-bending showdown! Legendary writer Mark Waid and superstar artists like Clayton Henry and Travis Moore have teamed-up to tell an event story like none other, bringing super villains like Gorilla Grodd, the Cheetah, Lex Luthor, and the Joker into the spotlight in a brand new way, and up against a brand new incarnation of the Justice League!

Collects Batman/Superman: World's Finest #38-39, Justice League Unlimited #6-8, and Batman/Superman: World's Finest 2025 Annual #1.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Batman, Superman, Graphic Novels Comics

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very ambitious time travel story that halts both series' flow in order to bring new characters into the mix for the League and set up the new event. At times, it's hard to understand what's happening. From the plethora of duplicated characters to the unclear timeline, Waid juggles far too much, to the point where you have to wonder if he is following what is happening himself. By the end, the identities of various versions get lost as it's just one huge blob of very similar looking variants standing together. A shame for World's Finest which has been pretty consistently decent up until now, and a huge spanner in the works for Justice League Unlimited as it still fails to find its footing.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crossover with most of the DC Universe in support of the All In titles.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 stars

[Colin Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cool ideas, bringing together versions of characters from across time, but the execution is all over the place. The prospect of having past villains band together was not capitalized on - for the most part, villains like Joker and Captain Cold are caricatures rather than characters in the story. The annual that Cantwell penned as part of this took the fullest advantage of the cast, and it would have been cool to see that vibe throughout the whole story. Ultimately, this seems like a stepping stone to DC KO, which will be fine if that delivers as expected.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

DC oddly decides to follow in Marvel's footsteps here by jamming a crossover event into essentially the second volume of their Justice League Unlimited series... yet it works out just fine! Whew!

The mystery of "who is Inferno?" is unpacked in predictably confounding fashion: Grodd (gifted Martian Manhunter's telepathic powers by the Absolute Power event) time travels to the World's Finest era to pitch those Legion of Doom members on a wacky plan to travel to the future to confront the new Justice League Unlimited. In the present, the Legion becomes Inferno - or did, briefly, since they're now unmasked and battling the JLU.

A key component to all this is Airwave, the silly young hero who has been tragically manipulated by Grodd. I really did feel for the kid! Which is impressive considering he's really only existed in the DC universe for like, six issues. Also time-traveling: World's Finest Batman, Superman, and a few others, who have swapped places mostly for silly shenanigans reasons.

Ultimately, it's a pretty silly crossover that's fairly easily settled. But it has the wonderful "comic book fun!" feel that Mark Waid has been so successful with in World's Finest. I'm always happy to have a good time with my reads, even if it's because they feature some of the wackiest plotting this side of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the scenes between the past and present versions of Superman, Batman, and Robin/Nightwing. Otherwise, this felt too long, with Grodd and his crew mostly seeming like empty caricatures. Grodd's ultimate goal is unimpressive, and I'm genuinely disappointed that the Airwave as mole storyline is getting brought to end so very quickly.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Something I've realised as I read "World's Finest" is that the bigger the stakes, the more characters involed, the more complicated the plot... the less I'm invested.

I love seeing Batman, Robin, and Superman just doing their thing without the fate of the world always being in the balance.

I get that Mark Waid has to up the stakes, but I'm just not into massive crossovers and never have been. It also doesn't help that I'm not reading "Justice League Unlimited".

As usual I love Dan Mora and Travis Moore's art.

[Arianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange volume. Swings wildly between standard egomaniacal supervillain fare (not very hard to pull off with the Legion of Doom) and childish fanservice moments.

The writing randomly goes from edgy to again, very childish. I would have liked the death of Air Wave a lot more, for example, if it didn't become a whole thing, leading to Mr. Terrific saying out loud that he can't accept it, because "he's a problem I couldn't solve, and that's unacceptable." Okay then...

The volume is messy from the start and it becomes messier as it goes on. In the two last fights, time distortion leads to random characters appearing out of nowhere during fight scenes that were already confusing. Is it cool to see all the different iterations of Supergirl on the same page? I guess. Does it serve the story in any way? You know it doesn't.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hats off to the artists, but this is way too many characters and MAN I can't stand Grodd - one of the dullest villains. Only decent parts were with Batman and Robin.

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This suffers a bit from not having enough lead up. Prior to this we had five issues of JLU where Inferno was an issue. So having this big climactic clash just feels a bit unearned. If it’s meant to be a start to a larger story that's alright but it feels like an awkward middle ground (that and I’d like to keep this DC All-In and the separation of mainline and Absolute for as long as possible). It’s too long to be an intro to JLU especially considering its given event treatment. But it’s too short to be some first arc or saga. Overall its not bad but I didn't feel like it was managed well. Not much happens. The Legion of Doom doesn’t feel particularly menacing here. The time displacement to get all these fun past versions is cool but they don’t do much. They barely bounce off of each other (sparing Gorilla Grodd and Pythoness and maybe one-liner slinging Joker) let alone the heroes. It feels rambling with little happening. The outcome of some past versions of heroes is fun but didn't have much happen here. Maybe it'll be cool in JLU where its continued but here its basically untouched as a plot point. As a plot vehicle to continue JLU this is fine but as an event it's sort of a flop. The art was nice at least. Gorilla Grodd's personality here was nice but again, I wish there was more here or beforehand to let readers really soak it all in instead of barely showing us Inferno for five issues and then having the bombastic finale in an event.

[Edward Salinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after reading DC KO and it gave me a bit more context I gotta say. I really love how they wove in Worlds Finest for this book. The legion of doom is always fun and having grodd at the forefront was super cool. JLU just reminds me how much I love DC and their characters.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A time travel crossover prompted by Gorilla Grodd who upgrades his World Domination plans by being God Grodd....which doesn't quite sound right .....

[Andrew Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really neat idea! Unfortunately, at the very end, things kind of got too weird with all the time travel and people being trapped in a time without rationale. Plus, the next comic in the series doesn't continue the story.

[Khurram · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say I am getting sick of all these time travel/jumbling books. The plot is way over done. The artwork just okay. Everything else is just disorganised chaos.

The world finest defeat Grodd in the past, however a visit from future/present Grodd starts a plot to destroy the present Justice League Unlimited.

Just please enough of the time travel stuff for a while now. Enough is enough. This book finishes with an awesome variant cover gallery.

[Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Рішення зробити кроссовер між "Justice League Unlimited" та "World's Finest" Марка Вейда так-то не було чимось дивним, що змушувало припідняти брову так це те, що кроссовер став одразу другим сюжетом у Необмеженій Лізі, яка тільки но розпочалася. Нагадаю, що в першому сюжеті Ліга боролася із загадковою злочинною організацією Інферно, яка у кінці виявилася Легіоном Фатуму, а також виявилося, що здібності Марсіанського Мисливця опинилися у Горили Ґрода і що на нього працював молодий супергерой Ейрвейв.

Основний же сюжет кроссоверу розповідає про те як Ґрод після того, як отримав здібності Марсіанина, вирішує повернутися назад у часі, притягнути у теперішнє ще молодих лиходіїв, напасти на супутник Ліги та дістатися до омега розлому який там залишив Дарксайд після своєї смерті.

На жаль при досить цікавій зав'язці з тайм-тревелінґом кр��ссовер мені не дуже сподобався. Більшу частину часу він просто відчувається як підготовка до якогось грандіозного моменту, який вроді і настає, але на нього так пофіг, що аж не зручно. Частково я думаю на мене вплинули обкладинки до історії, які показували героїв з різних епох та злом часопростору, і воно тут є, але тільки у самому кінці. В усьому ж іншому ми в основному спостерігаємо або за тим як Бетс, Робін та Супс з минулого борються з поганцями, що саме по собі не є чимось поганим і з цього виникають прикольні моменти, але як частина кроссовер не чіпляє взагалі. Плюс перша частина кроссовер, яка відбувається в номері Файнестів практично ніяк не пов'язана з подальшим кроссовером, у ній нам розповідають про першу сутичку дуету з Ґродом, і у вакуумі він не поганий, але як частина більшої історії має зв'язок лише у кінці в моменті коли Ґрод з теперішнього прийшов до Ґрода з минулого, але в наступних номерах про це взагалі не згадується.

Щодо номерів Ліги то хотілося би виділити персонажа Ейрвейва, який стає одним з персонажів, якому найбільше приділяють уваги, нам покажуть і те як Ґрод обманом змусив його працювати на себе і, те як він в результаті допомагає героям загубленим у часі зібратися.

Щодо малюнку то над історією працювало декілька художників, Тревіс Мур малював перші номери Лігу і у нього загалом вийшло непогано, фінальний же номер був від Дена Мори і там як завжди все чудово, мені особливо подобається як художники показали телепатичну ауру навколо Ґрода. Звичайні номери Ворлдс Файнест малював Клейтон Генрі, чий малюнок є доволі простуватим, але зі своєю роботою справляється, а от стиль малюнку Дена МакДейда у щорічнику Файнестів мені взагалі не сподобався.

"We Are Yesterday" вийшов досить дивним кроссовером, який мене розчарував, з одного боку якісь події тут вроді і присутні, але по відчуттям більшу частину історії він просто топчеться на місці, тут вроді і є якісь окремі фанові моменти, але  як цілісна історія він вганяє у нудьгу. Ретроактивно він навіть для мене дещо псує першу арку, частина якої була присвячена Інферно. По завершенню сюжету у нас відбувається два кліфгенґера. Перший це те, що на супутнику Ліги тепер знаходяться герої з різних часів, через поламану часолінію, а другий це зустріч Коваля Світів та Таймтрепера (яким зараз є Думсдей), які тизерять, що наближається якийсь івент.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Por mucho que me duela, Mark Waid, mi adorado Mark Waid, no ha estado fino con este cruce. Es confuso, deslavazado y... simplemente, no funciona. La parte correspondiente a World's Finest no está tan mal: es fácil de seguir y presenta el siempre estupendo arte de Dan Mora, pero la de Justice League Unlimited resulta bastante absurda. El hecho de que Grodd engañe a un crío con una mentira absolutamente estúpida... venga, tiene un pase, pero que un puñado de gañanes como los que junta el gorila parlante logre vencer a los mayores héroes del planeta no tiene pies ni cabeza. Venga, Sinestro y Luthor son una amenaza real, pero el Capitán Frío, el Espantapájaros, Manta Raya y el Joker no tienen ni media hostia. Bizarro es, simplemente, un cretino, y la tiparraca esa que no sabemos muy bien qué poderes tiene parece una Madame Xanadú de segunda. Por su parte, Grodd puede tener los poderes amplificados por los del Detective Marciano, pero sigue siendo el eterno perdedor que recibe paliza tras paliza de Flash. Nada, que no me lo trago.

Además, el plan de Grodd es un ñordo. ¿Qué quiere exactamente? ¿Convertirse en un Darkseid de tercera? Pues le sale como el culo. En dos páginas lo revientan. En fin, que lo único interesante de todo este embrollo es ver a Jonah Hex como miembro de la Liga de la Justicia. Ojalá no lo devuelvan nunca a su época y continúe en el presente forever and ever.

En fin, que hasta los mejores se equivocan alguna vez. Como decía el sabio, que en paz descanse: «una mala tarde la tiene cualquiera».

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the 3 stars go towards the 'Batman Superman: World's Finest' series...

That's where this should have stayed. Keep this thing contained with clues that it's connected to Darkseid's 'Absolute Universe', and not klaxons sounding off the tie-ins.

Grodd, now with Martian Manhunter's telepathy added to his own, (thanks Amanda Waller) finds a fresh idiot...this time it's the child hero Airwave...and convinces the naive super that the JL is soooooo bad and needs to be infiltrated. Meanwhile, Grodd hatches a plan to go back to the 'World's Finest' era and grab his teammates from the Legion of Doom. Bringing them to the present will cause chaos and get everybody in place for Grodd's true plan...

BECOMING A THIRD RATE DARKSEID?!?!

Ugh. This is why it should stay as a 'World's Finest' title. Too much time jumping in that series already. It's clearly a tip of the hat to Silver Age comics, but do we really need ONE MORE plot thread in an already tangled web of Darkseid stuff?

----
Bonus: Airwave guns? Seriously??
Bonus Bonus: No 'Boy Thunder' cameo besides the one mention? C'mon now...
Bonus (the third): if The Batman who Laughs or Perpetua make cameos...we riot...

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

DC sure love smashing their timelines, don't they?

We Are Yesterday brings Inferno to the fore, revealing the truth behind the group that's been menacing the new Justice League Unlimited for the last...five issues (I wish these mysteries lasted longer these days).

This is a Mark Waid story, so it's well told, and it's got some excellent artwork on it too thanks to Dan Mora, Travis Moore, and Clayton Henry. I think the only real issue I have with it is that it feels a little inconsequential. There's some fallout that leads into DC KO, but I think JLU should have been given a little more time to breathe under its own steam before getting launched into a crossover so quickly.

The best part here for me was what they did with Airwave, because for a character who didn't really exist before a few years ago, I cared a lot about that little guy.

[Nevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is billed as a big crossover event that plays a vital role in DC's big storyline this year, but it's kind of just nothing. A confusing, hard-to-follow nothing. It was especially frustrating from my point of view, as someone who had been only reading World's Finest. This spun entirely out of the PLOT of Justice League Unlimited, and World's Finest's contribution was pretty much that it's disconnected from the main continuity, so... the bad guys reached out through time to them? I was confused for a couple issues in the middle, and completely uninvested once I got caught up again.
This could have been a bland, forgettable story. But by making it a hyped-up crossover, it became a cynical, extra-expensive one.

[MannyLikesPie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 I’ve been keeping up with all the new DC all in storylines so I did enjoy this more than maybe people who are only reading JLU. However I don’t like multiverse storylines, it’s too much as of right now in the current comic book landscape. I’m going to start Superman Dawn of DC #1 since this is where the ending of this plus Absolute will happen in October. Fun and easy to get into for new readers but I think I’ll stop picking up the new issues of BSWF and JLU unless I see the trade. It’s cool all the interconnecting stories but just not was I was expecting for the return of the Justice League

[Subham · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was certainly something lol I wasn't the biggest fan of this story, it felt boring in parts and all but there was potential and everything.. Grodd using time travel thing to come to the present or something and bring legion of doom from the past who were Inferno all along to become god or something or conquer the world and it goes as expected as you go.. some issues were just outright boring and even with Mora's art and so many unique characters it became a bit to even finish it.. the last issue where he is like "I am gorilla god" now thats.. corny. And another crisis.. yay.. i am exhausted with it but lets see how future issues go.. this one was just bad.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it comes to Waid I do have a love/don't always like relationship. His work at Boom! was very, very good (Irredeemable, Incorruptible). When he works for DC or Marvel he, I think, he lets his nostalgia for the older stories come through and I feel like it's a retread, not a homage or pastiche. Like him, I read a lot of those older stories, and I'm not up for re-reads much nowadays.

Add to that this is a time travel story, with w few paradoxes added, and I had low expectations. While I didn't get really involve in the characters, I give Waid credit for pacing the story better than some of his most recent DC work and in the end this was entertaining.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a comic that brings together multiple members of the JLU… I don’t love a time travel story.

It had some cool ideas with Grodd messing with tachyons and time but a lot of it went over my head. Bringing in multiple version of Bats, Supes, Dick/Robin got confusing because I couldn’t always tell who was who and what time each was from.

I liked the concept but maybe not the actual story/execution?

I did like Dick & Bruce getting to see Alfred though. 🥲

(Also really confused on if this fits into the JLU series order or Batman/Superman… Mark Waid is doing both, but two different stories?! Or they’re just the same but smushed together? I’m just confused…)

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really think Grodd's plan makes sense. Sending someone from the future into the past to change the future? Sure. Good plan. Never works out but still makes sense to me! Bring some future tech with you, give yourself that advantage!

Sending someone from the future into the past to get a bunch of villains from the past to come to the future to fight a bunch of superheroes who spent years defeating those villains? Not only a bit more complicated, but it just doesn't make total sense to me. Is it really worth the effort?

The World's Finest issues were fun, though.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collects Batman/Superman: World's Finest #38-39, Justice League Unlimited #6-8, and Batman/Superman: World's Finest 2025 Annual #1

In the midst of the "All In" saga being told, this mini-event happens. While I enjoyed it, the ramifications of "We Are Yesterday" will be felt more in the specific "Justice League Unlimited" title rather than across the whole DC Universe (at least initially).

SPOILERS:

With new characters showing up from across time and the Multiverse, I'm excited to see where the story goes in JLU.

[Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Going into this, I was excited. Waid's made both of these series very good. It's just too timey-wimey though. Grodd starts traveling through time when so does Superman and Batman. Soon everyone is. I couldn't keep track at what point of time everyone was or even which version of what character was which. DC is clearly planning on this to be a lead in to the their next event in the fall which is just the Omega symbol. I'm sure it'll be some kind of interaction with the Absolute universe.

[Hanna McGehee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storyline/crossover from JLU and World’s Finest!! Gripping plot line, great character interactions, and many memorable panels. While I understand the purpose of keeping such events short, I think this could have benefitted from more (or perhaps longer) issues just to keep the pacing a bit more even and make the big moments even more impactful. Highly highly recommend this one!!

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cliffhanger at the end of the last volume seemed pretty darn big, but this second half of the story was just WAY too messy and convoluted to live up to that epic promise. Too timey-wimey, as the Doctor would say. Plus, the end credits scene literally had me saying "Oh, they're doing ANOTHER one of these, huh? Very original, guys..." out loud.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amazing artwork by Mora. Love seeing him draw all the heroes from the past and present. Unfortunately, the story is not keeping up with the artwork. Pretty confusing and all over the place as they try to tell a coherent story set in the past and in the present DCU. Was nice to see Grodd leading the villains though.

[Will Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time travel, so it's a little confusing with which iteration of characters we are interacting with most of the time. It seems like Grodd, the main orchestrator, uses the Legion of Doom just because they're there and not because they have the adequate skills to accomplish his goal. Not horrible, just feels a little sloppy. And this is from a guy who puts Waid's work on a pedestal!