Movie Review: The Batman Superman Movie: World’s Finest (1997) directed by Toshihiko Masuda
In Gotham City, the Joker (Mark Hamill) and Harley Quinn (Arlene Sorkin) steal a jade dragon. Based on fragments left behind, Batman suspects he knows where the Clown Prince of Crime is headed. As it so happens, Bruce Wayne has business in Metropolis; Waynetech has partnered with Lexcorp to develop space exploration robots. This puts him conveniently nearby when the Joker offers a deal to Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) to murder Superman (Tim Daly) in exchange for one billion dollars.
While he’s in town, Bruce discovers that he’s got a bit of a thing for feisty reporter Lois Lane (Dana Delaney), and she reciprocates, much to the annoyance of her fellow journalist Clark Kent.
Superman isn’t keen on having Batman (who has a shady reputation outside Gotham) operating in his city, and soon learns the Caped Crusader’s secret identity and vice versa. The two heroes clash in both costumed and civilian identities, but must learn to work together to defeat the villains’ plans.
This short movie is actually a edited compilation of a three-part story in the Superman: The Animated Series television show. It’s a good edit that doesn’t show the seams as much as some other compilation movies I’ve seen.
About the title: World’s Finest Comics was an anthology comic book series that began featuring Batman (and Robin) teaming up with Superman in every issue starting with #71 (July 1954). Thus the title became a nickname for the team-up. The story also pays homage to the first “official” Batman-Superman team-up in Superman #76 (1952) which had Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent sharing a cruise ship stateroom…for reasons…and accidentally learning each other’s secret identities. That story also featured a bit of teasing of a Lois/Bruce relationship–though she chose to grant Robin a “date” at the end! In this story, the cruise ship in danger appears as a way to get Superman out of town for a bit.
The 1990s Batman and Superman animated series were excellent, and spawned a couple decades of a “DC Animated Universe.” They used innovative animation techniques and superior voice acting, and some of the character and characterization bled back into the print comics.
Harley Quinn here is before the background reveals and character development that moved her into sympathetic territory and eventual anti-hero status with her own comic books and animated series, but the madcap antics and zany personality make her a delight in the movie. By comparison, stoic Mercy Graves (Lisa Edelstein), bodyguard of “legitimate businessman” Lex Luthor, is a bit of a lump and spends most of her time on screen getting beat up. No spinoffs for her!
Joker and Lex Luthor also play off each other well. The Joker is manic and theatrical, while Lex is trying to appear civilized but has a nasty temper underneath.
A good character moment for Lois as she learns Batman’s secret identity and keeps it safe without him needing to ask.
Content note: Comic book style violence, with Mercy suffering lasting injuries, and the Joker supposedly dying offscreen (no body found.) Some relatively scanty outfits on women, particularly in a bad guy dance club.
This is an excellent long episode of a classic animated series, well worth finding and watching again, with your kids if you have them.
