Warning: Spoilers For Batman/Superman: World's Finest #37 (2022) ahead!
The Batsuit is an integral part of Batman's war on crime, and as such, he has different suits and upgrades for any possible occasion. That's why it's so disappointing for DC to have teased a Batsuit upgrade with tech from a major DC villain, only to utterly fail to deliver.
Dan Mora's cover for Batman/Superman: World's Finest #37 (2022)–by Mark Waid, Adrian Gutierrez, and Matt Herms–promises a thrilling conclusion to Batman and Superman's underwater adventures in Atlantis, with the pair following Aquaman into battle. Both Superman and Batman have donned new armor for the occasion, with Batman sporting a particularly snazzy suit that draws clear inspiration from Aquaman's nemesis, Black Manta.
Unfortunately, none of this thrilling action takes place in the issue: no war actually breaks out, the supervillain of the week is swiftly dispatched, and the armor depicted on the cover never appears.
...DC absolutely needs to make this badass Batsuit a reality.
Readers Have Been Robbed of What Could Have Been the Greatest Batsuit Ever
Black Manta’s Suit May Hold the Key to Batman’s Future Tech
Over the years, Batman's Batsuit has evolved from a simple cape, cowl, and utility belt into a highly sophisticated suit of armor. Common contemporary components of the Batsuit include holographic displays and communication systems in the cowl, reinforced body armor plating, and a variety of hidden weapons. Batman has also custom-developed more specialized suits for the occasions he needs to operate in extreme environments, such as deep space or underwater. Batman's most highly developed suit, the Beyond suit, even allows for full flight through a combination of booster rockets and snap-out glider wings.
Black Manta is arguably one of the few people whose super-suit rivals Batman's. While primarily a diving suit, Black Manta's gear functions as power armor that lets him match Aquaman's enhanced speed and strength underwater. Black Manta's helmet offers the same visual aids and communication systems as Batman's cowl, while also boasting incredibly powerful optical lasers. Should Batman and Superman ever be forced to stop an all-out underwater war, as the premise of Batman/Superman: World's Finest #37 suggests, it is entirely feasible that Batman might turn to Black Manta's technology to turn the tide.
The Batsuit's Most Extreme Ability Gives Bruce Wayne the Superpowers of 1 Marvel Hero
Batman hasn't just matched a Marvel hero's powers; he has completely sured them, embodying the phrase, "Anything you can do, I can do better."
When Do Misleading Covers Go Too Far?
We're Not Mad, Just Disappointed
"Covers always lie" is a well-known expression; it's generally accepted that as the primary visual for pushing sales, covers will often exaggerate certain elements or promise story beats in the hopes of drawing in the customer. The problem here, however, is that the premise offered by the cover–Batman and Black Manta combining suit technology–is a legitimately interesting story element that promises a unique combination of two DC characters who rarely interact despite being very similar. The Batsuit on display has a stronger story hook than the actual story, leaving exciting avenues unexplored for the sake of what some might consider gimmickry.
Cover art is some of the most coveted real estate in the comics industry, promising maximum visibility for artists to express themselves and their favorite characters. It's one thing for variant covers to be more exploratory and abstract, but it becomes problematic when the main cover of an issue has little to do with the contents of the book itself. Batman’s incredible Black Manta suit remains nothing more than a fantasy to sell more issues... which is a shame, because DC absolutely needs to make this badass Batsuit a reality.
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #37 (2022) is available now from DC Comics!
