Batman/Superman: World's Finest (2022-) #38

Batman/Superman: World's Finest (2022) (Single Issues)

by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry (Artist)

“We Are Yesterday” part one of six. The sinister psychic powers of the deviousGorilla Grodd have the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight in their sights, but all isnot as it seems to be! There’s something strange going on here...some monkeybusiness that the World’s Finest can’t quite put a finger on. It’s almost as if thisGorilla Grodd has...knowledge of the future?

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman, Superman, Comic Book

Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 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

[Roland Baldwin]

I’m very excited to see where this goes. It has a grand scale. Nice to see Solovar.

[Cybernex007]

This was such a pleasant surprise when I found it in my pull list today, I had 0 clue that the first part of this crossover was already coming out. And even though I’ve heard so many good things about this series, this was my first time reading world’s finest. Based on this issue I would definitely like to change that in the future, but this was a really good starting point for this storyline, it really encapsulated the beginning of it all and reaffirmed what we have seen in JLU. But until I saw Barry’s flash suit, I had 0 clue how far back in the past this series takes place, lol, that is pretty cool.

This issue starts out like any normal day, Bruce Wayne has Clark Kent over in Gotham at his airport doing a story on his new reconnaissance aircraft which can circumnavigate the globe in 8 hours. Pretty standard and cool stuff of course, which means you have to get a cool guy to fly it. So who else would be better than Hal Jordan!! And if anything goes wrong he can just use his ring to save himself and the plane…except if Bruce stayed around at the end of JL meetings he would know that Hal takes his ring off while flying because it “dampens the thrill.” Hahahahaha. The flight was going smooth, until Hal noticed a light radiation that messed up all of the systems. Not wanting to become the next negative man, he bolted from the crashing plane and pulled his chute…only for Hal to disappear from the radar completely only moments later. When they are finally able to receive a transmission from his flight suit, they are shocked to discover that Hal has been taken down and captured by Gorilla Grodd and his army of apes as they officially declare war on the human race!! Like I said…just a normal day.

Doesn’t take long for them to get connected with Flash who knows all about the secret gorilla city and King Solovar. he is able to give them the run down in Grodd and is able to phase Batman and Superman through the physical cloaking field outside the city…only to walk directly into a group of heavily armed apes. But while they have weapons…we have Superman and flash who are able to quickly take them all down. While Superman stays behind to finish them off and get answers, flash takes Batman ahead to find the prison. But they made a huge error in leaving Superman behind, it seems that Grodd planned for this and brought Titano along just in case!! That’s right, Titano the giant ape who apparently has Kryptonite eyes?! When did this happen?! I read his original appearance in Byrne’s Superman annual not too long ago and I know for a fact he didn’t have it then lol.

When flash dropped Batman off to investigate the prison, he ran ahead to try and find Grodd. Only to find him in a secret chamber sitting motionless while protected by a force shield. Batman was able to get Hal and King Solovar out of prison and as Solovar told them of their situation and Flash radioed in to report his…the pieces started to click together. Grodd doesn’t have the resources to take on the entire human race, and he is currently sitting motionless in a machine…that’s because he didn’t have the resources to take on the world until they delivered the means to his doorstep. With Superman being weakened by titano this left Superman weak enough to be mind swapped by Grodd!!

And sure enough they arrive just too late as Grodd transfers his mind into Superman’s body!! It’s an immediate worst case scenario situation, especially as military fighters begging to show up and escape the situation more. Grodd immediately goes to deal with his oldest enemy, flash, first…while Solovar works on awakening Titano to weaken Superman’s body again. This very intentionally reads like an older self contained story and they are able to successfully wake and weaken Superman’s body with titano. But Grodd isn’t giving up that easily, he has nothing to lose and they have everything to lose by killing their friend. But you know who doesn’t care about that…Solovar! He knows the extent to which grodd will go if then don’t stop him now, and he works hockey to knock Batman away and order titano to take down Superman’s body. Batman is forced to act fast and immediately comes up with a plan for Flash to get Grodd’s body, with Superman’s consciousness, and race it over to jump start a new swap and get them back. Flash runs into action and is able to do just that, swapping their minds back to the same place.

As the issue comes to an end the problem is solved and the day is saved. Grodd is behind bars and Gorilla city is now on the world stage…but not without Justice league help to guide them. But you have to remember this issue was just meant to showcase the start of it all. As the issue comes to an end a portal opens within Grodd’s cell, as his future self appears to him and takes over his body completely!! He has come back to get the proper legion of doom and make their greatest wishes come true and reign supreme until the end of time!! Hahahah, this is gonna be a wild ride.

[luciddreamer99]

While I'm glad the original plot-point introduced in this comic wasn't drawn out, I was a little concerned the conceit was unoriginal. Time travel elements eventually here, and body snatching (the plot point I found a bit trite), this issue is the beginning of a crossover with Justice League Unlimited. This story seems a good enough intro to the crossover with some room to grow into something better. I recommend this issue to fans of Flash's rogues, as one prominent member appears.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez]

No sé si el afán de querer conjugar esta cabecera con la nueva de la Liga de la Justicia no será un golpe fatal precisamente para World´s Finest. Que, si bien mucho de lo contado o presentado aquí puede aprovecharse y desarrollarse en el "canon de actualidad" DCita. No creo que el que esa actualidad defina este "pasado" le funcione tan bien.

[Raymond Paquette]

Good beginning. I’m actually surprised Superman was taken down so easily.

[Chris Loan]

Great start to this awesome crossover event!
A fun story honestly from start to finish!

[Andy Waldron]

love me some ape based action

[Richard A]

Good story though it feels as if it was all a misdirection perpetrated by Grodd.

[Ryan]

4.5

[Jason Holtzman]

Will post cumulative review of crossover on JLU #8

[AJ Easterday]

Solid start to the new crossover! Lots of fun banter between the Justice Leaguers.

[victori_]

me arrependi de ter comprado isso

[Jason]

4.5
Excellent start.

[Agnes Garcia]

Todo destaque aqui vai pra arte que é lindíssima. De resto, irrelevante.

Lido em Inglês.

[Paxton Holley]

We Are Yesterday Part 1.

Grodd tries to take over the Earth and loses. But does he?