These intermission issues are very often my favorite stories in World's Finest. To this day my personal highlight of the run would have to be issue #12 where Robin and Supergirl go on a date that goes horribly. The reason they work so well (when they do) is that they allow for a breather from the high stakes action in favor of pure characterization mixed with a healthy dose of humor. That's what sets the series apart; you can get superheroes fighting the big bad villain in just about any other comic. Why, then, does this seem to fall flat?

Sad to say that the issue starts off on a bad foot with a big opening page showing off art that is less than impressive. It's a somewhat jarring transition to go from Dan Mora's gorgeous as always cover to the interiors which feature wonky anatomy and a watercolor style that isn't quite clear what tone it's meant to convey. There's a level of detail in the water color that gives it that painterly aesthetic that if nothing else sets it apart, but the underlying linework keeps it from being able to stand out. I won't say it's bad art, and perhaps the bright colors are meant to fit in with a sillier tone (more on that later), but it's almost awkward to make the focal point of a first page.

The unsure tone continues from the visuals to the writing. Based on the cover and solicit, you'd think that you're in for a Scooby-Doo-esque, hijinks-filled mystery. That's not what we get. The conceit of the story is that the alien conqueror from the beginning is launching attacks on Earth that can only be seen by animals, justifying the inclusion of Ace and Krypto in the plot. However, the pets themselves never express much personality or emotion. They simply serve to push the actual main characters, Batgirl and Jimmy Olsen, to act. This creates a dichotomy where the only characters who are able to express themselves are simply passively led around through the story. No one character feels both sufficiently motivated and with agency, which keeps the story from being very engaging.

This would be fine if it leaned more heavily into its comedy, but what's there simply isn't up to the task. The jokes seem to be split between some intentional groaners from Jimmy along with Barbara making a lot of comments about how she's tired and needs coffee. The thing about jokes that are eye-rolling on purpose is that they can definitely be funny, but it relies a lot of the "straight man" character for it to land for the audience. There isn't much of that here, so the story never establishes the comedic tone it seems to be looking for.

Once Batman and Superman are rescued, they effortlessly defeat the villain and wrap up the story. It's not a terrible resolution, but it's indicative of how the central conflict is not framed as being important. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. If the characters themselves are the focus, then the external threat that involves punching can just be a framing device. The issue where Robin and Supergirl go on a date is not my favorite because the runaway truck they stop is so exciting. But as I explained above, the character work and comedy feel relatively hollow, so without that I'm not sure what's left.

Recommended If

• You want to see more of the super pets
• The more team ups the better
• You'd like a bit of a breather between bigger arcs

Overall

While these intermission issues can often be fun romps that stand out as highlights for the series, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #34 unfortunately ends up being rather boring. The plot itself is almost glossed over, which would be fine as a framing device, but there is little interesting comedy or character moments to fill in the gaps.

Score: 5.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.