Tom King throws us a curveball w/ a delightful detour to the series’ larger story. WW & Superman go on a quest unlike any they’ve faced before: finding the perfect birthday present for Batman in a giant alien mall (which has VERY strict parking rules).

Seeing these two longtime friends traverse the mall’s 594,838 stores in search of a gift for the brooding billionaire is a fun way to explore their dynamic & throw in some fun Easter egg jokes along the way. The dialogue highlighting their genuine friendship adds a layer of humanity to these god-like heroes. I’m loving King’s characterization for Diana & it continues here even in a lighter situation.

However, Superman’s portrayal felt a touch off. King injects a dose of goofball humor into the Man of Steel that goes a tad too far IMO. His jokes come across as overly juvenile, a strange fit for the typically stoic hero & his facial reactions don’t look like natural for the character. Though it was hilarious to discover he enjoys a good self-care day.

Guillem March does an admirable job filling in for series regular Daniel Sampere. March’s style is a good fit for a story w/ so many classic references, but there’s no denying that Sampere’s sharp lines & detailed action panels have become a hallmark of this WW run. I definitely missed him here.

Overall this was is a decent slice-of-life story, but its placement in the larger narrative is questionable. While the glimpse into WW & Superman’s friendship is enjoyable, I wonder if now was the right time to show it w/ WW’s showdown against The Sovereign awaits.

Rating: 8/10