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Batman: Miniseries
Legends of the World's Finest
In this haunting painted tale of redemption and damnation, Bat male and Superhero must overcome destructive nightmares of each other's pasts as they battle against a pair of demonic villains. Plagued by visions of his parents' murders at the hands of a lone gunman, the Man of Steel becomes a vicious force for justice. At the same time, the Dark Knight loses his mental and physical edge as his dreams of life on Krypton make him fearful of the night. Now up against the possessed Man-Bat and the merciless Silver Banshee, the world's greatest heroes must rise above these psychological manipulations to once again become the men they were or risk losing their souls forever.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
4 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Walter Simonson
1,263 books174 followersWalt Simonson is an American comic book writer and artist, best known for a run on Marvel Comics' Thor from 1983 to 1987, during which he created the character Beta Ray Bill. He is also known for the creator-owned work Star Slammers, which he inaugurated in 1972 as a Rhode Island School of Design thesis. He has also worked on other Marvel titles such as X-Factor and Fantastic Four, on DC Comics books including Detective Comics, Manhunter, Metal Men and Orion, and on licensed properties such as Star Wars, Alien, Battlestar Galactica and Robocop vs. Terminator.
He is married to comics writer Louise Simonson, with whom he collaborated as penciller on X-Factor from 1988 to 1989, and with whom he made a cameo appearance in the 2011 Thor feature film.
He is married to comics writer Louise Simonson, with whom he collaborated as penciller on X-Factor from 1988 to 1989, and with whom he made a cameo appearance in the 2011 Thor feature film.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 29, 2020
Superman kontra siły nadprzyrodzone - to nie może się dobrze skończyć. Bromance BatSup w akcji. Fabuła średnia, a artystycznie jest nierówno. W najładniejszych kadrach cieszy oko, w najbrzydszych śmieszy. Tu i ówdzie fanserwis w postaci tyłka Banshee.
July 3, 2021
Superman/Batman: Legends of the World's Finest is a peculiar comic book: its art style is grotesque, its storyline strange and convoluted, and its characters misrepresented. In it, Superman and Batman are plagued by nightmares as the tortured soul of Tullus escapes Hell.
The art style compliments the dread atmosphere of the book, but the storyline's twists and turns sometimes make light of the situation. An example: Batman cannot sleep due to nightmares of Kryptonians dying as his parents did. As he surveys Gotham's streets waiting for a criminal to appear, he is startled by a few rats. When he has calmed down, the criminal shows up, to which Batman tries to apprehend him. Instead of actually succeeding, Batman... trips over some boxes and lets the criminal get away. It is comedic, to say the least, but also not in line with how Batman would usually operate. Similar can be stated about Superman, who turns into a coldblooded, violent vigilante due to his nightmares. It is part of the story that Batman and Superman “switch” personalities because of the demon’s influence, but making Batman afraid of the night is not character development or interesting when his moments of doubt are off-panel.
The villains of this tale, Tullus and Silver Banshee, have an interesting lineage and understandably try to employ Superman to do their dirty deeds, but otherwise offer nothing of substance. Superman turning completely evil under Tullus also does not seem to make sense: because Superman has bad dreams, he becomes evil? Seems like an incredibly large Achilles’ heel.
The resolution of this tale is also rushed and does not seem to resolve the actual problems posed in this comic: what are the implications of Batman and Superman, clear opposites, switching personalities? Do not bother: the question is not answered.
The art style compliments the dread atmosphere of the book, but the storyline's twists and turns sometimes make light of the situation. An example: Batman cannot sleep due to nightmares of Kryptonians dying as his parents did. As he surveys Gotham's streets waiting for a criminal to appear, he is startled by a few rats. When he has calmed down, the criminal shows up, to which Batman tries to apprehend him. Instead of actually succeeding, Batman... trips over some boxes and lets the criminal get away. It is comedic, to say the least, but also not in line with how Batman would usually operate. Similar can be stated about Superman, who turns into a coldblooded, violent vigilante due to his nightmares. It is part of the story that Batman and Superman “switch” personalities because of the demon’s influence, but making Batman afraid of the night is not character development or interesting when his moments of doubt are off-panel.
The villains of this tale, Tullus and Silver Banshee, have an interesting lineage and understandably try to employ Superman to do their dirty deeds, but otherwise offer nothing of substance. Superman turning completely evil under Tullus also does not seem to make sense: because Superman has bad dreams, he becomes evil? Seems like an incredibly large Achilles’ heel.
The resolution of this tale is also rushed and does not seem to resolve the actual problems posed in this comic: what are the implications of Batman and Superman, clear opposites, switching personalities? Do not bother: the question is not answered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
Very cool premise to this series - magical foes give Superman and Batman opposing dreams. Coping with Bruce's losses push Clark down a darker path, while memories of gleaming Krypton cause Batman to lose his edge.
Simonson's script is over-written and prose-heavy at times, but he still has a clear sense of where the story is going and he balances the dynamics of Batman and Superman very effectively. This story is more of a Superman story, but Batman's role is absolutely essential, and Simonson creates a believable sense of comraderie between two long-time allies. Both characters are manipulated in interesting ways, and it's fascinating to see Superman taken so far down a dark path. The final conflict between Batman and Superman, while Silver Banshee confronts her "ally" Tellus, shows how both Superman and Batman, in their own ways, inspire great deeds in us all.
Brereton's art has never been a favorite of mine. His storytelling is inconsistent and clumsy, but his sense of character design and color is definitely unique and powerful. He doesn't seem like the first person you'd expect to illustrate a story with Superman and Batman, but he really takes the characters.
Simonson's script is over-written and prose-heavy at times, but he still has a clear sense of where the story is going and he balances the dynamics of Batman and Superman very effectively. This story is more of a Superman story, but Batman's role is absolutely essential, and Simonson creates a believable sense of comraderie between two long-time allies. Both characters are manipulated in interesting ways, and it's fascinating to see Superman taken so far down a dark path. The final conflict between Batman and Superman, while Silver Banshee confronts her "ally" Tellus, shows how both Superman and Batman, in their own ways, inspire great deeds in us all.
Brereton's art has never been a favorite of mine. His storytelling is inconsistent and clumsy, but his sense of character design and color is definitely unique and powerful. He doesn't seem like the first person you'd expect to illustrate a story with Superman and Batman, but he really takes the characters.
March 20, 2019
It is always a treat to discover a gem of a story that had otherwise passed me by. Walter Simonson has crafted a compelling tale of two heroes and what makes them who they are. He takes us inside their respective psyches and tinkers with what enables them to do what they do. By gradually making them face each others 'demons,' they have to deal with their opposite halves and endure different natures. This story is superbly told and kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The art work of Daniel Brereton was an excellent choice for this volume as is captures the shattered nature of both Batman and Superman as they descend into their respective pits. There is one panel of Superman that is just plain scary. Superman. Scary. Weird. And great!
The art work of Daniel Brereton was an excellent choice for this volume as is captures the shattered nature of both Batman and Superman as they descend into their respective pits. There is one panel of Superman that is just plain scary. Superman. Scary. Weird. And great!
November 23, 2019
An intriguing beginning led me to expect good things - but then the story lost the plot even before the midway point. The "dreams causing Batman and Superman to swap personalities" thing was ridiculous. And I have very little tolerance for villains becoming romantically obsessed with heroes and then suddenly doing a good deed at the end which supposedly redeems them (and all this after a seduction that I would class as rape). Nope. Hard pass.
January 11, 2020
Je tu spousta fakt dobrých nápadů + příběh je hodně zaměřený na charaktery Batman/Supermana, což mám rád. ALE... malba je strašně hnusná, díky ní sem se nedokázal do příběhu vůbec začíst a měl jsem ho rozečtenej snad měsíc + zápletka je divná a boj v pekle mi k těmhle hrdinům nesedí.
November 15, 2020
You wouldn't think Batman and Superman could do a magic and hell-based story, but this is Walt Simonson, so it works perfectly. Scary and creepy and brilliantly illustrated by Daniel Brereton, this is one of the best Batman-Superman team ups ever, especially if you like the darker side of the DCU.
September 23, 2025
Historia opiera się na ciekawych założeniach, ale ostatecznie pozostawia wrażenie trochę pretekstowej. Dużą wartością tego komiksu jest natomiast nietypowa warstwa graficzna: malarska, z ciekawymi kolorami i dość oryginalnymi projektami postaci.
September 29, 2019
Interesante aventura por el mundo de lo onírico y la fantasía de horror. El estilo de Daniel Brereton, que más que viñetas crea cuadros, es fantástico.
May 23, 2020
Los dibujos están buenos, la historia masomenos
December 30, 2022
That was really bizarre in every way (story and art). I was really unsure about how I should rate this one but in the end I didn't like that much.
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October 1, 2023Not for me. Don’t care for painted art in comics nor for magic in cape stories.
August 24, 2025
average story, incredible art
July 29, 2016
This is some great reading and great artwork. It's books like this that make me question Scott McCloud's description of the ideal comic. This feels like a case of artist and writer striving for perfection in each of their fields without something being lost when they come together.
While I've read some comics that have the surreally perfect paintings that seem to freeze in time, Brereton's style is more fluid and alive while still having realistic renderings of shadow and detail. Maybe it's Simonson's experience as a comic book writer that helps bring the pages alive. There are a lot more captions with descriptive text than most comics.
There are some echoes of Simonson's famous Thor run here, especially in relation to Superman, but the story is unique enough on it's own. The contrast between Batman and Superman and the way their stories come together here is really pretty great. It was hard for me to imagine what story could possibly work to challenge them both.
And I can't say it enough. The art was just amazing. I can't imagine how much work this took to do. I'd almost give it a five, but it didn't reach out and grab me. It was just a solid story with some unique elements and great art.
While I've read some comics that have the surreally perfect paintings that seem to freeze in time, Brereton's style is more fluid and alive while still having realistic renderings of shadow and detail. Maybe it's Simonson's experience as a comic book writer that helps bring the pages alive. There are a lot more captions with descriptive text than most comics.
There are some echoes of Simonson's famous Thor run here, especially in relation to Superman, but the story is unique enough on it's own. The contrast between Batman and Superman and the way their stories come together here is really pretty great. It was hard for me to imagine what story could possibly work to challenge them both.
And I can't say it enough. The art was just amazing. I can't imagine how much work this took to do. I'd almost give it a five, but it didn't reach out and grab me. It was just a solid story with some unique elements and great art.
December 11, 2009
Gorgeous, gorgeous art! I sometimes forget to read it.. It's so beautiful to look at.
May 22, 2016
The story is meh, but the art is amazing...so split the difference.
November 12, 2016
Interesting premise but a disjointed story. The art style was unfamiliar and a bit difficult to follow at times.
February 14, 2018
Really disappointing. Walt Simonson’s clumsy, mischaracterised tale seems to fit Brereton’s mischaracterised art. Why does he draw eyebrows with crazy triangular arches? The pages don’t seem planned or balanced. Proportions wildly distorted. Superman, Batman & The Joker all look horribly deformed like Spitting Image puppets. The story is full of really bad exposition and cardboard cut out motives...The weird badly written phonetic Scottish doesn’t work if you’ve ever actually been to Scotland or met a Scottish person. I feel each panel of art is copied from a photo but often done badly like my GCSE art portraits...you know, the ones which were sort of shaded well but where all the proportions became so distorted that your face ended up looking like an angry ham. That’s really the feel you get from this art; angry ham. Super-Angry Ham man and Bat-Angry Ham man...I gave up trying to read it and picked up a recent Scott Snyder / Greg Capullo Batman; it’s like the difference between something written by an amateur and a genius...
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews