Superman/Batman: World's Finest the Movie

Superman/Batman: World's Finest is an upcoming DC Universe Animated Original Movie which are the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st episodes of the third season of Superman: The Man of Steel. It features the first meeting of Superman and Batman facing of against Lex Luthor and the Joker and rest of Gotham's Rogues. When The Joker steals a solid Kryptonite Dragon statue and travels to Metropolis to makes a deal with Lex Luthor to destroy Superman in exchange for One billion dollars. It is the altered extended rewritten version of Bruce Timm's original World's Finest.

Part 1
On a dark and stormy night in Gotham City's Chinatown, a Chinese Antique shop owner is out to close up when a mysterious woman walks in, allegedly to trade in a music box, it then springs up o reveal a jester's head spraying the shop keep with some sort of gas and the owner starts laughing uncontrollably. The Joker walks in to unmask the woman revealing to be Harley Quinn as the owner continues laugh until he passes out. Joker sets his sights on an ominous green dragon statue as he plans for further use as he takes it and placed in a lead metal box with Harley carrying it and the two take their leave. Harley tells Joker it would've been easier if Punch and Jewel were there to help but Joker reminds her that they're on their three week honeymoon and they already have the "hired help" they'll need.

Gotham Police arrive at the shop hours later as Ambulance medics take the shop owner to the hospital while Commissioner Gordon and Detective Bullock investigate the crime scene inside. Harvey was confused of why would the Joker steal just one statue instead the rest of the valuable antiquities, Gordon claims that's desperate for money these days all of a sudden and Batman emerges from the shadows claiming that things are never what the seem with the Joker as he examines the statue's pedestal, Gordon informs that it was made of Jade, probably worth more than 100 grand. Batman takes a small fragment for further study and leaves, Bullock reacted and tells the Commissioner that Batman can't leave a crime scene with evidence but he disappears for a split second and another man walks in to take another sample for himself for examination.

Back in the Batcave, Batman runs a test on the sample, Alfred reports to him that the Laughing Dragon has an infamous reputation for being cursed, since all of the previous owner who had possession of it died mysteriously. Batman knows why: the "Jade" is emitting low levels of radiation. Now knowing what the Joker is up to, Batman makes preparations for Metropolis, where, incidentally, Bruce Wayne has business to attend to and Tim Drakes walks in and ask if he can come with him and Alfred but he refused. Tim tells him that it'll makes things much easier to track down Joker and Harley Quinn and cover more ground. He also tells him that Barbara will took after Gotham while they're away. Batman then acknowledges and allows Red Robin to come with him but tells him to stay vigilant and discreet while they're in Metropolis.

Meanwhile, out over in Metropolis, a group of terrorist seize control of Air Force One where the President of the United States is on board with his wife and daughter. One of the terrorists tries to makes an example of a woman who tried to reach for the phone to the press, the woman was revealed to Lois Lane, the man asks if it's the same exact reporter that Superman always saves and she corrects him. This virtually guaranteeing the Man of Steel's prompt arrival. Superman easily defeats the terrorists and saving the passengers. On the ground, the President gives Superman his heartfelt thanks for saving him, his family and everyone else and leaves in his limo. Lois collapses claiming to have her ankle sprained and Superman carriers her off, knowing that her leg isn't sprained at all and they land near a small building alone where Lois thanks him personally and just before Superman flies off, Lois asks him that it'd be nice to see him sometime whenever she's not in danger and Superman understands then it was interrupted when he hears robbers attacking a national bank nearby and flies away to action while Lois smiles and blushes.

At LexCorp tower, Lex Luthor agitatedly reads the news of the President thanking Superman, Metropolis's new favorite son and calls Mercy to start the limo. Suddenly, Mercy & Otis are knocked out unconscious by a mechanical boxing glove. Lex enters the limo and tells Mercy to take him to the office at LexCorp after they pick up Rafe from School, but the driver revealed to be Harley Quinn while Mercy is gagged and tied up next to her. Luthor attempts to escape, but Harley locks the doors and speeds off, driving recklessly. She then notices a "cute hitchhiker" on the edge of the street, which is the Joker lifting his pants leg. She brakes to a halt and the Joker enters the car and tells Lex that he has a deal for him. At Metropolis High, Karen was talking to Jimmy about how Superman saving the President this morning and wished he was there with Lois to make good pictures for the Planet but Rafe Luthor obnoxiously scoffs saying it was big deal and as they walk out of school, Ignatius was waiting for Rafe in a tree where he was hunting for squirrels. They notice Lex's limo making a sudden Halt which makes Rafe curious that his uncle is earlier than usual and he and Ignatius enter the vehicle only to notice The Joker with his Uncle as he's heard so much about him from the news in Gotham and more surprised that Harley Quinn is also driving the Limo. Much to his excitement, Rafe asks Joker what brings him to their fair city of metropolis, Joker explains to him that he's broke and turns to Lex that they're somewhat alike; as they're both entrepreneurs, when see an opportunity, they take it. Unfortunately he's been having bad luck on his end, thanks to his hated foe Batman, his operations in Gotham have shut down and offers a proposition to Luthor: One billion dollars if Joker kills Superman. Lex became skeptical and asks how can Joker destroy Superman when he couldn't defeat a mere mortal like Batman. Joker reply's that there's nothing "mere" about Batman, he's looked up on Superman and knows his weakness. Rafe asks of what was in the metal box and it's revealed to be the Laughing Dragon jade statue, which was actually of pure solid Kryptonite. This changes Luthor's mind and Joker assures him that he wont have any involvement in this whatsoever and Lex accepts. Rafe speaks up of offering Joker with a small bonus fee of disposing Supergirl should she get involved.

At the private airport, a group of reporters, including Lois, Clark, Jimmy and Karen are awaiting for the arrival of Bruce Wayne, who's staying in Metropolis to oversea cooperative deal between Wayne Enterprises and LexCorp. Lois has heard of Bruce a rich spoiled trash, However, Lois has immediately taken with him as he steps off the plane followed by Tim Drake and Alfred. Lois checking herself when Bruce coms up behind her referring she the famous Lois Lane. Flustered, Lois accidently bumps into him while dropping her belongings. Lois then begins to pick up her belongings while introducing Clark to Bruce. Tim came up to help Lois with her belongings and introduced himself to her, Clark, Jimmy and Karen. Lois then asks him what brings him to Metropolis, however they are interrupted by Mercy who informs Bruce his car has arrived. Bruce then invites Lois over dinner to discuss the news and Lois happily accepts Bruce's invitation, much to Clark's displeasure when Karen jokes him that if he's getting jealous. In the car, Tim reminded Bruce, who was thinking about Lois of why they're in Metropolis, to find Joker and Quinn.

That night, a local crime boss, Rafael Santini was enjoying a meal with his lieutenants when the Joker bursts into the restaurant to set up his base of operations. He gassed Santini with Joker Toxin and taking his hideout and his cowered thugs for his own. A phone was ringing and Harley grabbed to ask the caller and gave to Joker that it was for him. Joker asks the anonymous caller if he's ready, the familiar voice over the phone informs him that he and his men will arrive in Metropolis tomorrow morning and will meet up at the rendezvous location on the next night after. Meanwhile Supergirl was patrolling the city when she stumbled Rafael Santini, laughing hysterically in the city dump, and took him to the hospital with Dan Turpin, alerting her and Superman of The Jokers presence in Metropolis.

To be continued...

Part 2
The next morning Tim Drake was walking near the airport, he sees a group of Santa Priscian insurgents inside an open hanger offloading their munitions and equipment when a helicopter comes in for a landing and two men (Bane and Bird) dressed in trench coats and fedoras step out. The taller man tells Bird to remain at the hanger to oversees continue unload their munitions for he's in charge while he will be in the city until he returns. Tim changes into Robin and attempts to follow the mysterious figure when suddenly Supergirl hovers behinds him. She questions Robin of what he was doing in Metropolis. He tells her that he is just sightseeing, taking a little vacate from Gotham, Supergirl didn't bought it as he as heard of Robin and his partnership with Batman in Gotham. Robin cuts her off that she's wrong about Batman that he's not what she believes him to be. Using her x-ray vision, Supergirl peaked behind his mask and sees that Robin is Tim Drake. Before he throws a smoke bomb, Tim tells her that if it weren't for Batman, he'd still be an orphan and warns that she and Superman have no idea who their dealing with.

Meanwhile, Bruce is pleased at how well his and Luthor's companies have collaborated in developing the robots for space exploration. Later on that day, Rafe and Ignatius were throwing soda cans in the canals when they saw a large shadow in the water, appears to be a very large alligator or a crocodile swimming in the darkness. While at the Gotham PD, Gordon was approached by a scientist from the Gotham STAR labs to tell him that the mineral he examined isn't actually jade, after a further analysis the other night, he sent the sample to a colleague in metropolis for confirmation that the statue is made of pure kryptonite.

Later that night, Bruce and Lois are enjoying their date, where Bruce is asking about Superman. Lois then teases him saying does she need to fix them up together. Lois always says that Superman seems to be always looking out for her. Wanting to take her mind off and enjoy the rest of their date, Bruce and Lois enjoy a lovely dance. Meanwhile, Clark and Steve Lombard were at Ace O'Clubs where Clark later paid Bibbo to be an informant about The Joker in Hob's Bay. Bibbo agreed, but he then asked "Which one? There's lots of jokers here." Then he suddenly sees Batman in the distance running through the rooftops and Clarks notices too and leaves without Steve who's carelessly enjoying root bear. Shortly after Clark left, Bane, dressed in a black leather trench coat and a hat walks into the bar and over to the counter asking for a drink. Steve having a fun time he throws his favorite foot ball across the room and hits the stranger's back unhinged. He came up and asks the guy if he could give him back his ball. He slowly turned around and gives Steve a stern intimidating stare w/h his visible red eyes. He reach down, grabbed the ball and instead of giving it back to him, he began crushing it in front of him, enough to make a loud pop for everyone to hear. He got out his seat towering over Steve. He grabs and holds him up by his throat and threatens that if he provokes him again, he'll crush his head just like his ball. He viciously throws him across the room against a pool table, breaking his right arm. This resulted into a bar fight in which Bane easily overpowers every man. After the fight, Bibbo asks him to leave or he'll call the police. Bane exclaimed in spanish, paid the check and leaves the pub. Bibbo demanding to know who is going to help clean up his place and pay for the damages while Steve was still on the floor writhing and moaning in pain holding tightly on his injured right arm along with the rest the injured thugs.

Later on, Batman had a lead on of Rafael Santini's men, Gino whom he had several run-ins back in Gotham. He tracked Gino to a busy nightclub in Metropolis and hears that his boss had been "replaced". Before they could talked, he fought off a few armed thugs and bouncers. Batman begins to question Gino of the Joker's whereabouts. Gino tells him that he doesn't know that he never went back to his old gang after Joker took over, as he wants nothing to do with him. Before he could interrogate Gino further, Superman came and tells him that he doesn't approve of his methods and he has already has his answer. To his astonishment, Batman throws him across the room with a judo move. Before Batman could to continue interrogating Gino, Superman strikes back by ramming him into a wall, which allows Gino to escape. Using his x-ray vision, Superman peeks behind the mask and sees that Batman is Bruce Wayne, much to his annoyance. Superman expresses that he won't allow Batman's vigilantism in his town much to his disdain. Batman tells him they he'll leave Metropolis as soon as he finds the Joker. He pulls out the Kryptonite fragment and warns him that the Joker has 20lbs more then he disappears when Superman was distracted.

Superman returned to his apartment, taking off his cap but leave his suit on. His jealousy increases when he gets a call from Lois, who says she's taking the morning off to have breakfast with Bruce. As they talk, he notices a small, bat-themed homing device planted on his cape and picks it up. Clark goes to look out his window, as Lois hangs up. He uses his telescopic vision and spots Batman on the roof of a distant building, watching him through binoculars. Knowing Clark can see him, Batman smiles and with a boy scout salute, jumps down out of sight on the far side. Clark realizes Batman has now discovered his secret identity as well and crushes the device in displeasure.

To be continued...

Part 3
Thing didn't start very well between Superman and Batman after their first encounter. At the Daily Planet, Ron Troup and other reporters were talking about Batman's first sighting in Metropolis last night while Lois and Bruce flirt with each other. While she was discussing with Perry White they both talk about Joker's location but no luck so far, even for Tim. Cat Grant walk over notices that Clark seemed a little jealous that it seem Lois has fallen for another. She reluctantly tells him that she's still available, much to Clark's dismay. Before Lois and Bruce could leave, they, Clark, Cat and everyone notices a catatonic and traumatized Steve Lombard walking through the news room with a black eye, bruises on his arm and face and wearing arm sling on his right broken arm. Ron asks him of what happened, but he didn't answer as he walked passed him and stepped into Perry's office to ask to have few weeks off from the Planet. Tim became curious, he then follows Lombard to question of what happened to him last night followed by Karen Danvers.

That night over dinner at a rooftop restaurant, Bruce and Lois are getting closer, but Bruce a bit concerned asks if there is anything between her and Clark until they are interrupted by the sudden appearance of the Joker. Bruce and Lois are now surrounded by Joker's thugs. Joker leaps to Lois ad tells that she is coming with him but she slowly backs away from him when she falls over the edge. While falling Lois was suddenly rescued with Joker smiling. At first she thought it was Superman but it was revealed to be Firefly who caught her. Surprised Bruce wonders what was Firefly doing in Metropolis when the thugs begin to shoot at him and he soon falls over the edge. However, Bruce manages to save himself the saw Robin in a flying pursuit of Firefly. Jokers escapes in his Blimp and rides of. Firefly kindly asks Lois to hold on tight 'cause it's going to a bumpy ride as he deployed small drones at robin and then spins rapidly firing his lasers. After she shoots Robin down, he carries an unconscious Lois to rendezvous point with Joker.

Later the police and Superman has been alerted of the event and Dan Turpin assures Bruce that the SCU will find Lois. Bruce and Superman share a private talk, where Bruce informs Superman that Lois is merely the bait. He tells him that he'll be careful, but Bruce tells him that when comes to the Joker, expect the unexpected, however Superman dismisses his warning and flies off. Robin walks up to Bruce and informs him that Joker, Harley and Firefly aren't the only familiar faces in town.

At an deserted oil platform where many helicopters landed and below a shadow in the water swimming towards it. Inside a large chamber, Joker and Harley Quinn showed a tied-up Lois the Kryptonite statue they've stolen while Firefly makes minor repairs to the suit's wings. Lois was disgusted of joker's twisted plan when they heard heavy footsteps approaching when Joker knew that his guest(s) have come right on time. Two mercenaries came in through the entrance way followed by Bird and the tall stranger. Firefly was impressed that Joker has invited the big guy to come the party. He introduced Lois to the stranger whom was revealed to be Bane. Bane then commanded Bird to tell his mercenaries to secure the platform inside and out. Joker made a deal with Bane if he would help him exterminate Superman and Lois is shocked he was the one who attacked Steve Lombard last night. Bane bluntly tells Joker that he is unbeknownst that Batman has tracked him to Metropolis and if he does show before or after Superman arrives, he's capable of killing two birds with one stone. He then turns to Lois, says that he'll let her watch as he intends to beats the life out of Superman inch by inch. Nightwing drops in and demanded them to release Lois Lane. Suddenly something big in the shadows was behind him and swats him with it's tail. Killer Croc emerges and quickly overpowers Nightwing. Bane then commands two of his mercenaries to subdue Nightwing with chains. Croc walks up to Joker to that he followed him to Metropolis and he wants in on the money. To convince him, Croc brought a large chuck of Kryptonite which he found below the Gotham river after he escaped from Black Gate. Joker than gleefully welcomes him aboard so hell use the kryptonite statue for later. Joker then turns to Lois that she has a front row seat for the story of the century in her hands: "The Death of Superman."

At an abandoned air hanger, Batman (having secretly brought the Batwing with him) flies off into the sky to rescue Lois with Robin who briefed him of Bane. At Metropolis Police Department, Joker contacts Superman, inviting him to come alone to the abandoned Oil refinery or Lois dies laughing. Batman and Robin track his location and follows him. Supergirl then sees and follows that Batwing.

Superman arrives with a anti-kryptonite shield with Joker appeared confused when the Kryptonite has no effect on him, and Superman quickly gets him to lead him to where Lois is. He takes him to a dark room where Lois is being held hostage by Bird with a subdued Nightwing. Joker leaves and locks the door behind Superman where he asks Bird to let Lois go but he was blindsided by Bane on his right and punches his torso, breaking the shield and though the window down the lower area. Bane jumps down to a staged Superman and that if he wants to save Lois, he must defeat him first but he refused and then asks Bane to stand aside and surrender. Bane refuses and takes off his coast, revealing his tube system. Bird quietly tells Lois to watch and see what Bane does next as Bane juicing himself on Venom, increasing his strength and size. A shock to a speechless Superman and Lois. The lights immediately turn one with some of Bane's mercenaries cheering for him while Joker and Harley are in the control room watching the fight on the monitors. Above high the chamber, the second Kryptonite chunk was hanging by the chain and Harley turns on the winch and the chain begins to slowly lowering to the kryptonite to the bottom. Aware that the situation has gotten dire, Superman must stay on lower part to avoid the radiation as Bane begins to fight him. As he could fly to save Lois, Bane grabs Superman by the cape and yanks him down to the floor and tackles him. Just as Superman has gotten the upper hand, Killer Croc and Firefly join in and he begins to be faintly weaken by the effects of the kryptonite. Croc attacks fiercely both on land and in water, Firefly flings a thermite grenade at Superman, temporally blinding him. Bane then jumps up and grabs him by the leg and slams him down and Crocs joins in to beat him down. Joker on the monitor ask Lois if she is taking notes. Batman jumps out of the batwing and lands on the platform and makes his way inside as he gets through patrolling mercenaries with Robin finding Lois after he and Batman split up to cover more ground and fights mercenaries in their path. A weakened Superman fights off Bane, Croc, Firefly and later Mr. Freeze comes in out of the shadows and joins in.

Cast

 * Brandon Routh - Clark Kent/Superman
 * Roger Craig Smith - Bruce Wayne/Batman
 * Catherine Taber - Lois Lane
 * Kevin Spacey - Lex Luthor
 * Troy Baker - The Joker
 * Tara Strong - Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
 * Lisa Edelstein - Mercy Graves
 * David Faustino - Rafe Luthor
 * Crispin Freeman - Garfield Lynns/Firefly
 * John DiMaggio - Waylon Jones/Killer Croc, Bane's Mercenaries
 * J.B. Blanc - Bane
 * Oded Fehr - Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze
 * Alastair Duncan - Alfred Pennyworth
 * Summer Glau - Kara Zor-El/Supergirl
 * Will Friedle - Dick Grayson/Nightwing
 * Jesse McCartney - Tim Drake/Robin
 * Tom Kane - Commissioner Gordon
 * Fred Tatasciore - Perry White, Harvey Bullock,
 * Josh Keaton - Jimmy Olsen
 * Patrick Warburton - Steve Lombard
 * Bumper Robinson - Ron Troupe
 * Dee Bradley Baker - Ignatius, Star Labs scientist
 * Cristian Lanz - Angel Vallelunga/Bird
 * Robin Atkin Downes - Bane's Mercenaries
 * Dan Navarro - Bane's Mercenaries
 * Carlos Alazraqui - Bane's Mercenaries
 * Philip Anthony-Rodriguez - Bane's Mercenaries
 * Eric Lopez - Bane's Mercenaries
 * Eric Bauza - Bane's Mercenaries
 * Eric Bauza - Bane's Mercenaries

Crew

 * Director & Producer - Sam Liu
 * Executive Producer - Sam Register
 * Cast and Voice director - Wes Gleason
 * Lead Character designer - Steven Choi
 * Character designer(s) - Seungmin Kim, Bryce Collins, Jeff Wamester, Nick Lombardo
 * Storyboard artists - Lauren Montgomery, Jeff Wamester