One of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe just revealed Batman’s biggest weakness — and greatest strength.

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32 finds the eponymous duo wreaking untold havoc after falling under the evil spell of Eclipso. Fortunately, their allies, specifically the Spectre, know exactly how to snap at least one of them out of Eclipso’s control. That doesn’t make the sight of Robin’s neck snapping any less horrifying, however, so much so the illusion cast by the Spectre is more than enough to break Eclipso’s hold over the Dark Knight in an instant.

Written by MARK WAID Art by ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ Colors by TAMRA BONVILLAIN Letters by STEVE WANDS Main cover art by DAN MORA Variant covers by STEPHEN SEGOVIA, DANNY EARLS & TRISH MULVHILL,

Before the Spectre stood as the literal embodiment of the divine Wrath of God, there was Eclipso. The original, Pre-Crisis version of the character was introduced back in 1963’s House of Secrets #61 in Bob Haney and Lee Elias’ story, “Eclipso: The Genius Who Fought Himself.” Created to punish those who committed wicked deeds, Eclipso was soon consumed by the anger that was at his core as an entity, twisting him against God’s image and leading to the villain being cast out of Heaven for his own crimes.

When the Spectre took up the role of God’s Wrath, with a nuanced consideration for genuine justice over sheer retribution keeping him from following the same dark path as Eclipso, this second iteration of the same divine concept defeated his malevolent predecessor. In doing so, the Spectre trapped Eclipso within the Heart of Darkness, a potent black diamond mined on Apokolips and uniquely attuned to Eclipso’s hatred. Through the Heart of Darkness, Eclipso has lived on and found a variety of unwitting hosts to possess.

In the current primary DC Comics continuity, Eclipso’s Heart of Darkness has been more simply defined as the Black Diamond, though the character’s powers and origins are still just as epic as before. Apart from his more ordinary human hosts, this version of Eclipso has inhabited the bodies of numerous iconic DC heroes and villains, including Deathstroke, Catwoman, Maxwell Lord, and now both Batman and Superman. Fortunately, few of Eclipso’s plots have proven to do any lasting damage, whereas the vast majority have been dashed without worry by the likes of the Justice League.

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #32 is on sale now from DC Comics.

Source: DC Comics