Action. Adventure. Mystery. Intrigue. These are the ingredients for a successful comic, and luckily, this new arc promises plenty of each. One of the biggest appeals of this series from the beginning has been the "back to basics" approach Mark Waid took, focusing on straightforward superhero adventures as opposed to the continuity-laden mega plots of many modern stories. It doesn't always manage to hit that target, but when it does it's an incredibly fun time. Batman, Superman, and Aquaman teaming up to fight mind-controlled merpeople and prevent an Atlantean civil war is exactly the kind of stakes that make for the right kind of heroics.

The issue opens with a bit of expositional narration explaining what the cities of Atlantis are and how they're connected. Normally I'm opposed to these sorts of exposition dumps, but I think it's handled about as well as it could be here. Unlike with something like Metropolis or Gotham, the story can't assume that the readers know about Aquaman's world, and it's over in only two pages. In that short time, it manages to set the stage, introduce the threat, and plant a hook to get the reader excited about what might be coming.

Most of the page count is devoted to battling undersea foes, and it's a great way of starting off on an exciting foot, er, fin. Even without much context of what is happening or why, the fights themselves are varied enough to keep your interest. Between the menagerie of sea creatures and a full utilization of the three dimensional subaquatic space, the action stays lively and exciting. It wouldn't be enough to sustain a full story, but it gets this one off to an action-packed start.

A big part of what makes these scenes so visually impressive is Adrián Gutiérrez's artwork. The way the characters move throughout the water is a joy, and the new underwater suits for Batman and Robin are fun. Although, the texturing on Aquaman's outfit often looks more like fur than scales, and character's faces sometimes look off. As always, colorist Tamra Bonvillain is a major asset to the series and manages to bring everything to life in a spectacular way. Pretty much all of it look beautiful with the undersea lighting and all the spectrum of colors that come along with it.

Towards the end of the issue we start to get a sense of what the actual plot of the arc is going to be about. The infection driving the merpeople of Tritonis is being blamed on the two-legged people of Poseidonia, which is causing unrest and anger. There's a clear growing tension that is boiling over and promises plenty of drama as the rest of the story unfolds. Personal grudges and jingoistic senses of honor clash in the face of the crisis as the threat of war grows. It's all so theatrically over the top in its presentation that you can't help but revel in the melodrama.

To make matters worse, there is a general dissatisfaction with how much time Aquaman has been spending with the Justice League as opposed to fulfilling his duties as king of Atlantis. This is honestly the part that seemed weakest to me, as it doesn't feel properly set up. We're introduced to it as a problem that's been going on for a while but not given enough time to get invested ourselves before it comes to a head.

Recommended If

• You're interested in a team-up with Aquaman
• The art and action make for an exciting story
• You like operatic political struggles

Overall

With exciting action and a straightforward yet dramatic plot, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #35 feels like a return to form for the series. The battle under the sea between the warring factions of Atlantis is small enough to keep the stakes personal, while still grandiose enough to make for a theatrically engaging story. All of this with excellent artwork by Adrián Gutiérrez and Tamra Bonvillain that makes the most of the underwater setting.

Score: 8/10

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