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Warning : Spoilers for Batman / Superman : World ’s Finest # 29 !
Summary
There ’s a new supernatural magic team in the DC Universe , and they ’re so brawny , not evenJustice League Darkcan compare to them . For all design and purposes , Dark basically serves as the supernatural division of the main Justice League . While the official squad dole out with spheric , intergalactic threat , Justice League Dark centre on the mystic art and moody magic from transcendental realms .
ThoughJustice League Dark is nowhere in sight , a new supernatural squad is up to task inBatman / Superman : World ’s Finest#29 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora . When a new threat loom over the horizon that not even the World ’s Finest can handle , it ’s up to Bat - Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk to find reinforcer .
Reinforcements arrive in the form ofZatanna , Doctor Fate , Johnny Thunder ’s Thunderbolt , Dr. Occult , and Prince Ra - Man . Not Constantine , though , as Bat - Mite has a " no drunks " rule . Though their debut include some truly more unnoticeable members , it ’s potential there ’s a hereafter for them in the DC Universe .
Justice League Dark has worked in the shadows of the Justice League for years , but now they ’re quick to mistreat into the spotlight .
How DC’s Newest Supernatural Squad Came to Be
Featuring Obscure Magic Users
In the currentWorld ’s Finestarc , Superman , Batman , and their superintendent - supporter have been force to confronta Doomsday - level threat name Doom - Mite . whacky appearance aside , Doom - Mite is nothing to be piddle away with , and he makes that unmortgaged when he makes gentle work of the heroes . Most notably , he outfox Superman to a bloody pulp andtransforms Batman into a nightmarish puppet . While Superman and Robin stall , Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat - Mite are task by the Man of Steel to pull in every magic - user they canto help them pull the Sixth property from underneath Doom - Mite .
The new team is unfeignedly a strange bunch : Bat - Mite first swoop into Los Angeles in the middle of Zatanna ’s wizardly show , while Mxy pay a personal sojourn to Doctor Fate in Salem . Bat - Mite travels to a bar in New Orleans , only to reconsider after takinga puff of John Constantine . Meanwhile , Mxy find out Johnny Thunder trekking through the frigid mountain of Badhnesia with his old acquaintance , Thunderbolt . Without hesitation , the two magical imps ditch Johnny to poof aside . Finally , Bat - Mite and Mxy bump Prince Ra - Man and Dr. Occult in Cairo"settling a difference,“but typeset those differences aside to sharpen on more important matters .
Zatanna fans should n’t miss the fashionable newfangled DC Black Label series , Zatanna : take Down the House . The first exit , by Mariko Tamaki , Javier Rodríguez , and Hassan Otsmane - Elhaou , is usable now from DC Comics .
Who Is Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt?
Golden Age Allies to the Justice Society of America
Johnny Thunder dates back to the Golden Age of Comics , intend Bat - Mite and Mxy ’s search took them to the outskirts of chronicle , which itself means they peggedJohnny Thunder as being one of the best magic users in DC history . create by John Wentworth and Stan Aschmeier , Thunder and Thunderbolt first debut inFlash Comics#1 .
Born the seventh Word of a 7th son on the 7th day of the seventh calendar month of the year 1917 , one might think Johnny Thunder a lucky chap . Unfortunately for Johnny , that was n’t the case when he was kidnapped and sold by wizardly user who prophesy that someone born under his circumstances would inherit incredible power on their seventh birthday . After a series of rituals , the Badhnisians indue the boythe Zodiac Belt that holds the Thunderbolt djinn , Yz , hop they could fake him into granting them world supremacy .
unluckily , Johnny failed to unlock its powers at eld seven because he did not know the magic words . After get out the magic cult , Johnny experience a normal aliveness until one day , the windowpane automatic washer unexpectedly uttered the wizard words , CEI - U ( marked " say , you " ) and at long last summon Thunderbolt . finally , Johnny used Thunderbolt to thwart crime , earning himselfa situation on the Justice Society of America , becoming one of their most powerful and underrated member . In old eld , during modern times , Johnny ’s jinnee was pass down to ayoung boy named Jakeem Thunder .
Who Is Doctor Occult?
Private Eye, Public Sorcerer
Doctor Occult is not only another lesser do it name from classic DC lore , butanother grapheme who has roots in the JSA . Doctor Richard Occult made his debut inNew Fun Comics#6 . Richard , along with his next crony Rose Psychic , was one of two infants rescued from a cult that had intentions of sacrificing them to Satan . Of the two , Richard seemed to be the most adept witching use , and as such , the cult afflicted him with the Mystic Symbol of the Seven .
Doctor Occult was create by Joe Schuster and Jerry Siegel in 1935 . If those names sound conversant , they should : Schuster and Siegel also created Superman .
As Doctor Occult , the Ghost - Detective , he used his magic skills to combat immorality . He and Rose traveled to 1920s New York City to practise their craft , along with studying for a science level to truly earn the title of Doctor . He soon began his own private probe practice with Rose Psychic as his assistant . His skills were especially put to use asa appendage of the All - Star Squadron and as an affiliate to the Justice Society of America . He has also made appearing forboth Justice League Darkand the official Justice League .
Who Is Prince Ra-Man?
Hero or Villain?
ultimately , that institute Prince Ra - Man to the forefront . Some readers may be confused about where his loyalty lie , as he fights Doctor Occult in his first appearance . Their kerfuffle aside , Prince Ra - Man is a hero , and his origins have always rooted him on the side of champion . His first appearing comes in 1965’sHouse of Secrets#73 in the story " The Death of Mark Merlin " by Bob Haney and Bernard Baily . Before he was Prince Ra - Man , he was Mark Merlin , who debut separately in 1959’sHouse of Secrets#23 .
Merlin was , like Doctor Occult , an occultist detective investigating the supernatural — until he was attacked by his old enemy , the Gargoyle , in his home . The supernatural sleuth is relegate to the Ra attribute . He ’s not allow to retort to Earth in his own soundbox , so instead , his nous and life are transfer into the long - utter torso of a hotshot diagnose Prince Ra - Man , the Logos of a sun god . He advance new power that allow him to defeat the Gargoyle upon his return . Although he ’s killed off duringCrisis on Infinite Earthsby Marv Wolfman and George Pérez , Prince Ra - Man continues to make sporadic returns to DC lore .
John Constantine does n’t look much like a superhero , so it ’s understandable that the Justice League ’s young member might misidentify him for something else .
How Did the New Supernatural Squad Do in Their Debut?
Could There Be More to Come?
Together , the occultists have an telling debut as a team inWorld ’s Finest#29 , wee comparatively quick oeuvre of a catastrophic scoundrel . While the issue offers no hint of their income tax return as a unit , it would for certain be a miss opportunity for DC not to revisit this team . They arrive at a sentence when the Justice League Dark are n’t very combat-ready . With a hole in the supernatural department , it would be perfect timing and even fitting for it to be filled by a team compiled of the hard magic user from DC ’s past and present .
If Zatanna ’s fundamental interaction with Prince Ra - Man is anything to go off of , these magician belike have chemistry on and off the battlefield , making for some interesting type moments . Speaking of character , it ’s also a great mode to see DC ’s apart hero sandwich like Johnny Thunder , Prince Ra - Man , and Doctor Occult , who are all rich in history , but otherwise do n’t have a place in modern DC traditional knowledge . Putting them within aJustice League Darkreplacement squad avert the potential of both the characters and their team run to emaciate .
Batman / Superman : World ’s Finest#29is uncommitted now from DC Comics .
BATMAN / SUPERMAN : WORLD ‘S FINEST # 29 ( 2024 )
