Part of the fun of DC Comics‘ multiverse is seeing how different characters are subtly changed for different worlds. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest has explored this idea with Bizarro World, where Lex Luthor is Superman’s biggest fan, and The Joker is the sanest man alive. The current issue finds Superman and Batman joining forces with a wildly different superhero team, who are the Justice League of their Earth.
Written by Mark Waid and Mark Russell, with art by Marcus To, Batman/Superman World’s Finest #49 finds our heroes trapped on Earth-3. A dark mirror of Earth-Prime, Earth-3 is a twisted world where vice is virtue and good is evil. All the superheroes are villains and, conversely, all the supervillains are heroes. This fact comes into play when Superman and Batman are captured by their evil counterparts, Ultraman and Owlman.
Thankfully, escape is close at hand, thanks to the Earth-3 version of Edward Nygma. He is also known as The Riddler, but he had a wildly different background. In this world, he was horribly disfigured after Owlman threw him into a vat of acid. However, the experience unexpectedly enhanced his already considerable intellect. It also led him to form a group that is, in action if not in name, the Justice League of Earth-3.
Who is in the Earth-3 Justice League?
Riddler’s team consists of Mad Hatter, Toyman, Scarecrow, Silver Banshee, and Catwoman. It is also revealed that their team includes Two-Face, whom they want to rescue from Arkham Asylum. At first, the vigilantes are fearful of having anyone resembling the most dangerous villains on Earth in their hideout. However, Batman wins them over by pointing out that if he and Superman were villains in disguise, they’d already be dead.
It is curious that this team so closely resembles their villainous counterparts on Earth-Prime. All the variants on Earth-3 usually have different codenames and gimmicks. Ultraman, for instance, is made stronger by consuming Kryptonite and weakened by sunlight. Sadly, the issue does not go into detail regarding the backgrounds of the Earth-3 Justice League.
However, their heroic natures are confirmed repeatedly. Scarecrow uses his fear gas as a means of non-violent pacification, paralyzing the enemy into being unable to fight back. And the entire team acts to defend a weakened Superman, despite the odds being against them in a fight with Ultraman.
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #49 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
