DC is Bringing Batman/Superman Series to an End | Screen Rant
Batman/Superman will soon come to an end, as Gene Lueng Yang’s run has been scheduled to conclude in September. While the World’s Finest won’t share a title for much longer, details have been released for the final issue.
When it was previously announced that Yang would be taking over Batman/Superman in March with Batman/Superman #16, readers were interested in what he might bring to the iconic duo’s adventures. The series was formally headed by Joshua Williamson and David Marquez, with more typical Superman and Batman tales. When Yang came on with artist Ivan Reis, the title shifted to alternate universe-based storylines, following the Archive of the Worlds. The Man of Tomorrow and the Dark Knight became past versions of themselves homaging their real world roots in the DC Universe. With such otherworldly stories that can only be compared to comics from the Silver Age, the series has drastically stood out from past creative teams.
With the announcement that Gene Lueng Yang and series artists Reis and Danny Mik would be departing the title, DC has released the solicitation for Batman/Superman #22. Releasing on September 28, the finale is set to feature the fifth-dimensional imp Mr. Mxyzptlk, as he resurrects Calendar Man from the dead amidst A-Day. Yang’s run has seen several stories dealing with an altered reality, making Mxyzptlk’s appearance a fitting way for the series to come to a close. Batman and Superman will be recruiting the help of villains to help correct the timeline and bring order back to reality. In a divergence from Yang’s time on the book, Paul Pelletier will be stepping in as the artist for Batman/Superman #22.
- Writer: GENE LUEN YANG
- Artist: PAUL PELLETIER
- Cover: IVAN REIS and DANNY MIKI
- Variant Cover: GARY FRANK
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- Mr. Mxyzptlk resurrecting Calendar Man from his death during A-Day is causing some reality-rattling consequences. If Superman and Batman are going to prevent a fifth-dimensional god-being from compartmentalizing all of existence, they’re going to need to turn to some unlikely allies.
Although series artists Reis and Miki won’t be returning, they will be illustrating the finale’s cover, with Gary Frank set to illustrate a variant. Before Batman/Superman ends, Yang will also be teaming up with Pelletier for Batman/Superman Annual #1 a month ahead of time in August. The fact that their creative partnership is ending almost just as it has begun only makes the series’ closing feel more abrupt. Their first story together is said to tie up the story of the Archive of the Worlds, freeing up their second issue together to be a proper farewell.
Since the series had explored the consequences of Dark Nights: Death Metal with its multiverse-centric storyline, it makes sense that things would soon be wrapping up. With DC’s Infinite Frontier meant to pay tribute to the past and set course for a refreshed future, Batman and Superman’s adventures could be more traditional the next time that fans see them together. However, Gene Lueng Yang’s time on the book will stand out as a fantastical and appreciated era, in which Mr. Mxyzptlk showing up out of the blue feels like a natural conclusion.