Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 9: The Merger by Mark Waid and Adrian Gutierrez
Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 9: The Merger pairs DC's two biggest heroes against an alliance of their biggest villains. Mark Waid writes, Adrian Gutierrez draws, and the paperback collects Batman/Superman: World's Finest #44-49.
What Is The Merger About?
Lex Luthor and the Joker have joined forces once again, but the uneasy alliance hinges on a crucial outcome: the final defeat of both Batman and Superman. DC's own description asks why the most brilliant criminal mind of our time and the Clown Prince of Crime would team up, and promises the answer will surprise the heroes and the villains alike.
Betrayal abounds and terror intensifies, with a major surprise in store for the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. The volume also sends the World's Finest Duo to Earth-3 to meet their villainous counterparts.
Preview Art
Interior preview pages from World's Finest #45. Art by Adrian Gutierrez. © DC Comics.
Creators Behind World's Finest
Mark Waid is an Eisner Award-winning writer and New York Times bestselling author whose credits include The Flash, Superman, Justice League, Spider-Man, and Daredevil. Penguin Random House notes that his earlier graphic novel Kingdom Come, with Alex Ross, is among the best-selling comics collections of all time. Adrian Gutierrez, credited as Adrián Gutiérrez in DC's description, is known for Blue Beetle: Graduation Day, Justice League, and Titans United, with dynamic compositions and high-motion panels.
Format and Details
The paperback runs 176 pages and measures about 6-5/8 by 10-3/16 inches. DC released it on August 18, 2026. A hardcover edition is listed at $29.99 by the publisher. Epic Panels Comics carries the $19.99 paperback.
Who Is It For?
Opinion: this is a natural pick for readers who want a Batman and Superman team-up built around classic villains, and who are already following the World's Finest series. As Vol. 9 of an ongoing series, newcomers may prefer to start earlier in the run.
Buy Batman/Superman: World's Finest Vol. 9
Frequently Asked Questions
What issues does Vol. 9 collect? Batman/Superman: World's Finest #44-49.
Who writes and draws it? Mark Waid writes and Adrian Gutierrez draws.
When was it released? August 18, 2026, from DC Comics.
How long is it? 176 pages.
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Sources: Penguin Random House and the publisher's product description.