Warning: Spoilers ahead for Batman/Superman #16 & #17!
A new preview from DC Comics explores a world where Superman never met. Batman/Superman #17 will pick up where the previous issue left off, as three very different worlds will crossover. The World's Greatest Detective and the Man of Steel could meet for the first time when their separate worlds begin to collide.
Batman/Superman #16 began a new story for the titular characters. This arc features parallel stories in which life is different for DC's most popular heroes. In one universe, Bruce's mother survived the mugging in the alley, and therefore, he never became Batman. This world only has Clark Kent as Superman. In another universe, Batman and Robin are their usual selves, but Kal-El didn't make it safely to Earth, as an accident happened with his spaceship, causing him to die as an infant and therefore, never become Superman. Their universes begin to cross, with Lois Lane falling out of hers and into the Superman-less world. Meanwhile, on Earth-0, Batman and Superman are partnered up to investigate a satellite, leading them to a new foe.
picks up where Batman/Superman #16 left off. Releasing April 27, 2021, the second issue promises to continue the cross-dimensional adventure as conflict comes to an action-packed head. The series has begun to explore the changes that occur when only Gotham or Metropolis has a hero and when opposing dimensions clash. Yang recently worked on the issues of Future State: Batman/Superman in DC's last comic event. Check out the preview here:
The previous issue introduced a few new villains: Spider Lady and Unknown Wizard. and Alfred Pennyworth fighting Superman in "The World of Tomorrow."
This is one of the biggest examples of the storytelling potential that DC has opened up since altering its approach to continuity. Earth-0 is able to interact with other worlds in new ways without the same limitations that were present before. The story here plays on the idea of vintage film serials as a means of maintaining realities, since the previous story referred to the film strip collectively as "the Archive of Worlds." Batman/Superman #17 seems to be when both heroes will meet, seemingly thanks to Lois. While Superman and Batman of the serial worlds may meet, it is still uncertain if they will end up meeting their Earth-0 counterparts, which would add another layer of intrigue to the potential the Archive of Worlds has for other stories to arise. DC Comics may have opened up new venues for Superman and Batman to meet and encounter new villains and conflicts, without rehashing stories they've already told before.
Source: DC Comics
