Superman/Batman 14

[Ender]

i hope anyone can review here, because i'm gonna!

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #14
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Carlos Pacheco
Inker: Jesus Merino

First off, let me just say Jeph Loeb is the most overrated writer in the biz. Although i never read his earlier work, as many times as i read Hush, it never quite gets me. Superman/Batman has been pretty much the same.

Issue 14 definitely an intriguing concept, but would Loeb be able to pull it off? We go back in time to when Bruce and Clark begin their journies. Bruce's parents are killed, but the murderer is killed only seconds after by a mysterious figure. clark is taken away from jonathan and martha kent, and him and bruce are raised by the evil Lightning Lord, Cosmic King, and Saturn Queen.

What happens when the greatest heroes on earth are raised to rule, not defend? Excellent art and a mind-boggling story are what you get. All other super-heroes have been wiped out (Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern) so no one would be able to stop supes and bats. The pair are evil, killing machines. "Obey or Die" is their chilling slogan.

They must be stopped, and who better then Wonder Woman herself? The ONLY low point is when WW recruits Uncle Sam to help her. Why oh why, Loeb? Uncle bloody Sam? Why not just write in Jesus Christ?

One has to wonder what continuity this is in, though. Did Loeb go back in time and re-write continuity for this one arc? Is this a dream or what?

Too many questions and Uncle Sam stop this from being a five star book.

* * * * 1/2

[gotham95]

[shadow=blue,left,300]I wondered about that. Isn't Uncle Sam an elseworlds book? Maybe this'll be answered in the Crisis this summer.[/shadow]

[reideen1313]

Gotham95 said:

[shadow=blue,left,300]I wondered about that. Isn't Uncle Sam an elseworlds book? Maybe this'll be answered in the Crisis this summer.[/shadow]

The way I'm looking at this is it doesn't fit into the continuity the book has built up since the first issue, so unless there's some kind of Dallas like shower scene tie in at the end, these are out of continuity and elseworlds fodder.

That said, I think they're still telling a good story. I'm trying to figure out who the "Legion" characters really are. I don't believe they're the real Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl or Cosmic Boy.

[JotaEse]

No offense, but I fully disagree with you on Jeph's writing. The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Hush, and Spider-man: Blue are all amazing.

[HUSH]

JotaEse said:

No offense, but I fully disagree with you on Jeph's writing. The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Hush, and Spider-man: Blue are all amazing.

Absolutely. I don't know why opinions on Loeb's writing differ so greatly; I for one Think he is the best. IMO, He writes wonderfully dramatic, exquisitely complex, and delightfully appealing stories.

[/\/\att]

[shadow=green,left,300]Great review Ender. Thx for posting it up!

I'm a big fan of SOME of Loeb's work. I enjoy Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and most of Hush...but he is quite overrated. Often times his writing is juvenille, IMO. The dialogue is often mismatched for the characters.

No writer is perfect. He does have his flaws. And this new Supes/Batman arc is LAME.[/shadow]

[JokerFC]

Loebs work is excellent and I too cant understand the division about him great review though chief