Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #6 review

The Superman, Batman and Robin team-ups in the original World’s Finest Comics made me a little sad. Sure, the stories were great, but they always came with the splash page legend: ‘Your two favourite heroes together’. Couldn’t they count? Superman and Batman, yes, they had the big mastheads, but Robin makes three. Here, Dick Grayson doesn’t even get the little logo shout-out, but he’s undoubtedly the star of the show, front and centre on the cover and at the heart of the mystery inside.

Robin has found himself a job as a teen aerialist with a travelling circus… in 1892. He wound up in the past while time travelling with Supergirl – will she show up to rescue him, along with Batman and Supeman?

While waiting to find out, he’s investigating a mystery beneath the Big Top.

Fortuitously, Robin’s utility belt chemistry set has survived his time trip, meaning he knows Leo didn’t do any dastardly deeds. He works out who the true culprit is, but while he waits to prove it, our hero takes to the air. And as that daring young man on the flying trapeze reaches upwards, he’s caught by a familiar figure.

And Batman isn’t the only old friend to have decided to play Circus Boy.

Goodness.

Bruce and Clark have traced Dick after finding clues he left for the future, and here they are, ready to help Dick solve his circus riddle before heading home.

As Dick says, this is low stakes compared to most cases of the three-string World’s Finest team. But it’s loads of fun, and a lovely spotlight on Dick who, remember, adores the spotlight. Here’s he’s hooked up with Hill’s Circus which, in years to come, will birth – via death – another hero, Deadman.

But that’s not important right now. What matters is the joy of seeing the Boy Wonder entirely unconcerned by being stranded in the past, sure that he’ll be found. He makes the best of things, revelling in being the original Flying Grayson. Mark Waid’s script is breezy and confident, with riches in such scenes as Dick’s descriptions of his new circus family. And there’s a terrific Animal Fact in there, too.

Guest artist Travis Moore’s illustrations are beautifully crisp. I love little details such as one of Robin’s tunic fastenings being angled differently to imply the movement of the body, and the pride in Batman’s smile as he gets to follow Dick’s lead for once, on the trapeze. The 19th-century decor looks period perfect, while the train bringing the show to town looks marvellous. Great animals, too!

Tamra Bonvillain’s colours help evoke that sawdust and spangles feeling, and Aditya Bidikar’s letters are sharp and to the point.

And regular artist Dan Mora isn’t entirely absent from this issue, providing a delightful upside-down cover illo.

The only thing this comic lacks is a moment between Dick and Supergirl – Kara hasn’t come along because she feels guilty about losing Dick while traversing the timestream; I need to see the Girl of Steel released of a burden that was never hers.

After the epic five-part opening arc, this epilogue is a lovely breather. Don’t miss it.