Whether you love or hate it, there’s no denying that Superman and Batman are among the most popular ships in the DCU fandom. Though they’ve never been romantically linked in canon, countless comic moments between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight have fueled fans’ imaginations. Now, readers have been given yet another moment to inspire even more SuperBat fanfiction and fanart.

With a release date set for January 15, 2025, Mark Waid and Adrián Gutiérrez’s Batman/Superman: World's Finest #35 is already shaping up to be a highly anticipated issue. Gutiérrez continues as the new ongoing series artist, and the new story arc, 20,000 Leagues, begins. In this arc, the duo responds to a distress call from Atlantis, where they will come face to face with the king of Atlantis himself.

While fans await the issue's release, they can enjoy Kris Anka’s Batman and Superman-centric art, part of the 'Sweater Weather' variant cover series, which presents bold, steamy interpretations of fan-favorite characters embracing the winter chill.

...Millennials and Gen Zers will likely find even more hilarity in this cover due to their shared appreciation for Vine.

Superman & Batman Get Steamy, Winter-Themed Cover Art

Cover D Sweater Weather Card Stock Variant by Kris Anka for Batman / Superman: World's Finest #35

Anka’s variant cover depicts the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight enjoying a small pool of glacial water outside the Fortress of Solitude. Clark is shown wearing Superman-themed swimming trunks while Bruce lounges beside him in the water, donning his Batman cowl. Notably, Superman heats the frigid water with his heat vision, transforming it into an impromptu hot tub and causing steam to waft off the surface, literally making this the steamiest moment in comics between the two heroes. However, pun aside, this scene explores a rarely seen dynamic: both characters relaxing together outside of their superhero work, with the added bonus of both being stripped down to their swimwear.

While there’s inherent humor in Batman and Superman hanging out in their swim trunks—especially with Bruce refusing to remove his cowl—Millennials and Gen Zers will likely find even more hilarity in this cover due to their shared appreciation for Vine. The platform was known for its six-second looping videos that defined the humor of both generations. The scene in Anka’s art evokes an iconic Vine featuring a blurry video of two men lounging in a hot tub as ridiculously far apart as possible while an unseen narrator sings, “Two bros, chilling in the hot tub, five feet apart 'cause they're not gay.” Hence, this association only adds to the humor of the scene.

Is The ‘Sweater Weather’ Variant Cover a Win For SuperBat Shippers?

Cover C Card Stock Variant by Chris Samnee for Batman / Superman: World's Finest #35

While Anka’s variant cover likely depicts just two friends hanging out in their bathing suits together in a glacial pool, it remains a notable moment for SuperBat shippers. It’s rare to see Bruce and Clark depicted completely alone outside their heroic escapades, so witnessing them enjoy each other’s bare-chested company at the very edge of the world can undoubtedly be interpreted as romantic subtext with a little imagination. This scene will likely inspire at least one fan to create fanart or fanfiction based on it, ultimately benefiting the entire fandom that enjoys shipping Batman and Superman together.

BATMAN / SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST #35 will be released on January 15, 2025, from DC Comics!