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BATTASS is back, and we’re headed to Metropolis! Ali and Foreman, Hogan and Andre, chocolate and peanut butter, this week we’re diving headfirst into the first head to head meet up in the Bruce Timm DC animated universe of two titans of comic book history – it’s Batman and Superman in three episodes of Superman the Animated Series collectively known as World’s Finest!
World’s Finest is the 16th, 17th, and 18th episodes of the second season of Superman: The Animated Series. All three parts were originally aired back-to-back-to-back as a movie even in 1997. Batman comes to Metropolis in pursuit of the Joker, who has offered to kill Superman for Lex Luthor. Superman finds himself out of his depth when matched against the Joker’s cunning and unpredictability, while Batman has trouble with the resources Luthor provides the Joker with. Both heroes must agree to overcome their differences in order to put a stop to the Joker and Luthor.
There’s team-ups, beat downs, love triangles, death triangles, grand theft flying wing, and a top-notch off-screen fight between Harley Quinn and Mercy. As far as first crossover events go, you really can’t get too much better than this! It’s a precursor to what would become the fan-favorite Justice League series a few years later, and it sure is a banger!
Though not the only time Batman and Superman team-up, this first meeting is definitely a special one and even helps Sean and Clay understand some of the design changes they didn’t love over in the New Batman Adventures! Book your cross-town tickets, renew your favorite friendly rivalry, bust out your custom jetpack and monogrammed anti-radiation suit, and join us for World’s Finest!