Batman/Superman: World's Finest, Vol. 9: The Merger

Batman/Superman: World's Finest (2022)

by Mark Waid, Adrián Gutiérrez (Penciler), Mark Russell

The World’s Finest heroes take on their deadliest foes in the latest volume of the hit series from the fan-favorite team of writer Mark Waid and artist Adrián Gutiérrez!

Lex Luthor and the Joker have joined forces once again, but this uneasy alliance hinges on a crucial outcome: the final defeat of both Batman and Superman. Why else would the most brilliant criminal mind of our time and the Clown Prince of Crime team up? Well, the answer will surprise you… and them! Betrayal abounds, terror intensifies, and a major surprise is in store for the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel in “The Merger.”

Also, the World’s Finest Duo travels to Earth-3 to meet their villainous counterparts!

Collects Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #44-49.

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

176 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2026

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

[Nana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit repetitive, but a fun, solid volume nontheless!

Issue 44 is really special to me because it is one of my absolute favourite issues; it was also the first World's Finest issue I ever read. I'm glad to finally see it included in a trade paperback! #44 is an issue I reread periodically and I hold out hope that we get to see more of Supergirl and Robin in the future.

I did enjoy the Lex Luthor/Joker merger story, although I wish they had explored the consequences a little more. Like what happened to everyone who gained the knowledge they shouldn't have had? Did they just forget everything at the end? What happened to Lois? In addition, I'm a little on the fence about how Mark Waid brought back the SuperBat merger from volume 1. On one hand it is very cool and I do like it, but on the other hand, I do prefer my SuperBat as two separate people lol.

Finally, I much preferred the two-part Earth 3 story to the merger story. I'm a complete newbie to Earth 3 and the Crime Syndicate, so I was very much bamboozled by all these characters (in a good way!). I wish we got to see Batman and Superman hanging out with the heroes in Earth 3 a little more, and I wish they each got time to be fleshed out better.

My only other gripe is the lack of Robin in the two main arcs. I suppose he got a whole issue at the start that's just about him and Supergirl, but I'm always happy to see more of Dick Grayson hanging out and quipping with Clark and Bruce. It's a pity he wasn't around for the two later arcs, because I can already picture his reactions to the SuperBat merger, and evil Batman and Superman, and I think he would have been hilarious.

Say what you want about World's Finest, but we're now about 50 issues (and 9 volumes!) in and still going strong. Obviously some arcs are better than others, but overall I think it's been such a welcome addition to all the Superman and Batman stories DC is currently putting out. Its vibrance and family-friendly humour makes World's Finest my favourite DC ongoing, and I love how contemporary comics are increasingly putting the spotlight on more lighthearted and silly reads.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

read in singles.
the art is fantastic.
three stories here.
one is the supergirl and robin infiltration team up. I loved this. they'd be a great couple.

second story, title story, wasn't very engaging besides the fusion superman batman conversation qith Lois about not lying by omission and deflecting questions about his true identity. It was well meaning but is still gaslighting. fusion luthor joker with a brief hawkman appearance.

third story, first issue is all owlman and ultraman teaming up seemingly their pre CSA days also. I like the art and idea of the series if these team ups but im not interested in thw stories when they try to be 'important' i like the one off more comedic stories or character based tales.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puede ser que ocurra que cualquier cómic escrito por Mark Waid ya me parezca bueno per se, pero lo cierto es que este volumen me ha entretenido horrores: la cita de Robin y Supergirl, encantadora; la fusión entre el Joker y Luthor, de lo más divertida; y, por último, el Sindicato del Crimen de Tierra-3, que siempre me ha encantado. Entretenimiento sin más, es cierto, pero bien hecho, para todos los públicos y con unos protagonistas y situaciones que son pura Silver Age modernizada y remozada para los lectores actuales. Bravo por Waid, por lograrlo de nuevo; una única pega: aunque todos los dibujantes son bastante cumplidores, preferiría un artista fijo, como lo era Dan Mora al principio de la serie. Pero vamos, también es verdad que en la variedad está el gusto...

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lex Luthor and the Joker team-up, which goes about as well as you'd expect, and then Batman & Superman find themselves trapped on Earth-3 against the Crime Syndicate!

I did enjoy this volume - there's a solid quality to this series even after nearly 50 issues. My only problem is that the stories feel a little too familiar. The Earth-3 story doesn't add much to the Crime Syndicate that hasn't been done before, and Joker & Lex's team-up is basically just the flipside of the Composite Superman/Batman story from earlier in this run itself.

The book's fun, and I don't want to say that it's coasting, because it's not, but it doesn't feel as revolutionary as it did even ten issues ago.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whoops, forgot to review this!

This comic is consistently fun and warms my little heart. Though, for some reason, it's also weakest when dealing with Lex Luthor and the Joker. Waid writes both perfectly, but the stories attached to them have yet to do much for me. I'm never going to NOT enjoy this series but I think I enjoy it more when it takes weird swings that we don't normally see with Batman and Superman.

But, also, Batman telling Superman he's his best friend?? WARMS MY LITTLE HEART!

[Molly™☺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun collection of standalone shorts that sees the dynamic duo take a backseat to side characters and villains for the majority of the panels. It isn't amazing storytelling, but it is nice to have something that is able to stand alone, free from tie-ins. After almost 50 issues, it is still fun and readable, despite there now being a lack of any real depth or flair. If you want a series to pick up and have a complete experience in a few issues, this will certainly do the job.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to the fun of these old school stories...

- Dick Grayson and Supergirl as an Oscar/Felix partnership? (plus smooching?!?!) WIN
- The hybrid is back? Um, why? I didn't need to see a melded Joker/Luthor. ICK
- Earth-3 origins, with the first visit by Clark and Bruce? SCORE.

====
Bonus: Only low point would have been that while Power Ring, Johnny Quick, and others are different from their Prime Earth counterparts... Catwoman and the others are just the SAME AS BEFORE?!

[James De Leon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A return to form. My main complaint is that Waid could have dedicated the 6 issues to either story- the Luthor/Joker merger or the Earth 3 light touch. But I’m guessing we’ll see more Earth 3 soon enough.

[tee (rin's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

batsy and supes admitting being bestfriend, i know what you are

[Coco Chen · Rating 2 out of 5]

just the absolute MOST happening

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and pulls on a lot of old threads…so that means Waid will pull on the threads he leaves right?

Nice contrast between two super personalities.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening story featuring Robin and Supergirl again is a lot of fun. A really great "filler" issue. The 3 part story "The Merger" was a bit "meh". Lex and The Joker merge together into one creature. It's formulaic and the art isn't all that great, probably due to bringing in multiple inkers at the last minute. The two-parter at the end where Supes and Batman discover Earth-3 was excellent. Really good stuff. I'm all for Marcus To taking over the art after seeing him work on the book here.

[Astrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

read in single issues

thought this volume was just fine; fun but the writing wasn't spectacular. very gimmick-y over all which isn't necessarily a bad thing. issue 50 was of course the highlight of the volume; although it's pretty obvious that waid cut off the earth-3 storyline prematurely for the anniversary issue which is a shame because i thought it could have been a compelling arc.

in terms of art, very mixed throughout the issue. issue 50 was great and I thought the coloring in that issue fitted gutierrez's style better. it was nice seeing dan mora's art as well. the other issues were just alright, but i thought some of the compositions were really odd and disruptive at times.