Post by blinker on Mar 6, 2006 14:30:50 GMT -5
Just like the my JUSTICE (which no one has went to for a while!) I decided to do a review topic on Superman/Batman, another one of my favorite titles.
To start off, I decided to review the first three arcs as a whole before going on its current arc; With a Vengeance. On that arc though, since its last issues for be released this month, I think I'll review that arc the same as the others.
Arc 1: PUBLIC ENEMIES
The World's Finest, we all that name. No, not the website. I'm talking about THE World's Finest: Superman and Batman. Before the new title, we saw either their team ups in either the Batman books, the Superman's, JLA, or etc (since theres alot). Now, the great Jeph Loeb gives us a title that has that team up in goo stories. Simply titled Superman/Batman.
The first pages tell it all:
"The dream always begins the same. My parents... Jor-El and Lara put me in the rocket as the planet Krypton breaks apart."
"The nightmare always begins the same. My parents... Thomas and Martha Wayne take my hands as we leave the theatre."
"I can only imagine how difficult it was for them sending their only son into outer space... as their world died around them."
"I can only imagine the fear that gripped them when the gunman stepped out of the shadows... never knowing that these were their last moments alive."
This explains how light Superman is and dark Batman is. By comparsion, I can't even think of them being friends Pre-Crisis 1986. It feels better here with them seeing the other as an ally and trust each other while not really agreeing with their actions.
One of the good things about this book, if not the whole series, is that this doesn't focus just on Superman & Batman. Here, we're given the JLA, JSA, and Outsiders with Robin and Batgirl joining. And a new Toyman, ally mind you and his...well you would have to see it. If you never got JLA, like me, this is your replacemnt 'til Vol. 3 launches. And like HUSH, this is important since Luthor says "there will be....a CRISIS!"
Now, the bad: theres good action moments but this leads to character development is at a minimum. If you haven't been getting Superman, you may be at a lost by the previous Supergirl. Since she's only featured here and never again. Your choice is either
a) Ignore it.
b) Get SUPERMAN: THE 10 CENT ADVENTURE #1, SUPERMAN VOL. 2 #190, & SUPERMAN VOL. 2 #200 to have the beginning and end to THAT Supergirl.
c) Or...since Power Girl doesn't appear once this Supergirl does. Put in you brain and pretend that THAT Supergirl is actually Power Girl with a costume change because she wanted to change.
There are others but the main one: in the infinite expanses of space this asteroid just so happens to be on course to hit the earth? Drawn by Superman. Let me say this: this is better resolved in the nexr arc: Supergirl of Krypton. So you need both.
Overall, this was a great read or readers who haven't gotten, at all or in the long time, or ones who have gotten in their lives: Superman and Batman.
Rating: 8/10
Arc 2: SUPERGIRL
The previous arc on the asteriod continues and is resolved here with the appearence of Kara Zor-El, Supergirl. And a fight of sorts between Superman and Batman. Supes thinks she's the real deal, Bats however says she could be an impostor and they should be careful. And he's right, why did Superman let her in the Fortress when he waited a long time to do the same to Superboy.
How Superman feels is directly due to the fact that in this book, he explains why he's alone. Once Supergirl appears, he goes out of his way to bring her in, literally. And he's not gonna let Krypto (the dog is here) keep on barking at her, Batman saying she may not who she is, Wonder Woman (yes, SHE's in here too) just kidnap her and take her to the amazons, and Darkseid lay a finger on her.
Now thats cool.
Since the reboot, the rule was Superman was the ONLY survivor of his planet. Superboy appeared but was a clone. Many Post-Crisis Supergirls appeared too each with differernt origins. And Krypto appeared in his 2000 appearecne created from a Krypton trap to lure SUperman, the sog followed him home after.
With this Supergirl, I thought they were braking their own rules set in 1986. I guess her being the second and only second survivor was fine when she appeared. And she was cool so I had no beef as no one else did. (Her current Supergirl series does explain her more complete detailed origin but I'll review that as a special on a later date)
Wonder Woman, Big Barda and the whole DC superheroes and teams appear in this arc as since this series gives us more characters than just the World's Finest. Wonder Woman and Big Barda are the important ones too as they are important to the plot of the story. At first, I thought WW was a little evil at the Supergirl kidnap, like Batman. I didn't like it at first, nor them. But when I realized that they were helping her since she was inexperienced I cleared that up.
Oh, the art. This is Michael Turner. When he does women, you go geeky. K? k.
Overall; while I did not explain any bad parts because...I couldn't find any, this gives you another good story and should be bought along with Public Enemies.
RATING: 8.9/10
Arc 3: ABSOLUTE POWER
When you talk about Superman or Batman, or even both, you have to talk about their origins. They're widley known by all. This story firasts bring you that. We see the familar elements of the Kents seeing Kal-El and the murder of the Wayne parents. But then, something bad happens: the Kents get killed and so does the murderer of Bruce Wayne's parents. The people take the baby and 8-year old child to their care. Now, Superman/Batman are the world's mightiest rulers with an iron fist.
This breaks away from the other two arcs as they are about the current continunity. This is parellel universes and what-ifs. And what I said, that ain't it. Theres more universes with differenr settings/actions, etc. It was cool and interesting on these what-ifs, even what would happen if Batman got the killer and save the parents of his.
Uncle Sam, Wonder Woman once more, the resurrected JLA, and Selina Kyle (I like what she was wearing) appear in this. Including the return of Kingdom Come Superman after his apperence in Public Enemies. Including a cameo of the Legion of Superheroes and their villians.
I don't wanna spoil but I have to say this: when Batman stopped the killer and saved his parents' lives which caused a great reaction (of course) and the world would end up being ruled by Ra's Al Ghul. When you think about it, and the great possibilites if Krypton never exploded. Are these tragidies really tragidies? I quote Batman in War on Crime "...my parents deaths were the best thing to ever happen to me..." BEST THING. With what these heroes face, and we face and the endless possibilites of both, are these bad stuff actually great?
I don't know.
Before I go, here's some bad points: the climax was fine by me and others see it as weak and not fully explained. Why were Batman and Superman bouncing around from alternative reality to alternative reality every time, and why were they being attacked by a bunch of DC's western hero's like Jonah Hex and Scalp Hunter in alternate Gotham? I'll leave that to you. Doesn't mean you can't get the book.
Overall; this was another exciting arc of Superman/Batman.
RATING: 8/10
Coming soon: the regular issues and the entire fourth recent arc.
To start off, I decided to review the first three arcs as a whole before going on its current arc; With a Vengeance. On that arc though, since its last issues for be released this month, I think I'll review that arc the same as the others.
Arc 1: PUBLIC ENEMIES
The World's Finest, we all that name. No, not the website. I'm talking about THE World's Finest: Superman and Batman. Before the new title, we saw either their team ups in either the Batman books, the Superman's, JLA, or etc (since theres alot). Now, the great Jeph Loeb gives us a title that has that team up in goo stories. Simply titled Superman/Batman.
The first pages tell it all:
"The dream always begins the same. My parents... Jor-El and Lara put me in the rocket as the planet Krypton breaks apart."
"The nightmare always begins the same. My parents... Thomas and Martha Wayne take my hands as we leave the theatre."
"I can only imagine how difficult it was for them sending their only son into outer space... as their world died around them."
"I can only imagine the fear that gripped them when the gunman stepped out of the shadows... never knowing that these were their last moments alive."
This explains how light Superman is and dark Batman is. By comparsion, I can't even think of them being friends Pre-Crisis 1986. It feels better here with them seeing the other as an ally and trust each other while not really agreeing with their actions.
One of the good things about this book, if not the whole series, is that this doesn't focus just on Superman & Batman. Here, we're given the JLA, JSA, and Outsiders with Robin and Batgirl joining. And a new Toyman, ally mind you and his...well you would have to see it. If you never got JLA, like me, this is your replacemnt 'til Vol. 3 launches. And like HUSH, this is important since Luthor says "there will be....a CRISIS!"
Now, the bad: theres good action moments but this leads to character development is at a minimum. If you haven't been getting Superman, you may be at a lost by the previous Supergirl. Since she's only featured here and never again. Your choice is either
a) Ignore it.
b) Get SUPERMAN: THE 10 CENT ADVENTURE #1, SUPERMAN VOL. 2 #190, & SUPERMAN VOL. 2 #200 to have the beginning and end to THAT Supergirl.
c) Or...since Power Girl doesn't appear once this Supergirl does. Put in you brain and pretend that THAT Supergirl is actually Power Girl with a costume change because she wanted to change.
There are others but the main one: in the infinite expanses of space this asteroid just so happens to be on course to hit the earth? Drawn by Superman. Let me say this: this is better resolved in the nexr arc: Supergirl of Krypton. So you need both.
Overall, this was a great read or readers who haven't gotten, at all or in the long time, or ones who have gotten in their lives: Superman and Batman.
Rating: 8/10
Arc 2: SUPERGIRL
The previous arc on the asteriod continues and is resolved here with the appearence of Kara Zor-El, Supergirl. And a fight of sorts between Superman and Batman. Supes thinks she's the real deal, Bats however says she could be an impostor and they should be careful. And he's right, why did Superman let her in the Fortress when he waited a long time to do the same to Superboy.
How Superman feels is directly due to the fact that in this book, he explains why he's alone. Once Supergirl appears, he goes out of his way to bring her in, literally. And he's not gonna let Krypto (the dog is here) keep on barking at her, Batman saying she may not who she is, Wonder Woman (yes, SHE's in here too) just kidnap her and take her to the amazons, and Darkseid lay a finger on her.
Now thats cool.
Since the reboot, the rule was Superman was the ONLY survivor of his planet. Superboy appeared but was a clone. Many Post-Crisis Supergirls appeared too each with differernt origins. And Krypto appeared in his 2000 appearecne created from a Krypton trap to lure SUperman, the sog followed him home after.
With this Supergirl, I thought they were braking their own rules set in 1986. I guess her being the second and only second survivor was fine when she appeared. And she was cool so I had no beef as no one else did. (Her current Supergirl series does explain her more complete detailed origin but I'll review that as a special on a later date)
Wonder Woman, Big Barda and the whole DC superheroes and teams appear in this arc as since this series gives us more characters than just the World's Finest. Wonder Woman and Big Barda are the important ones too as they are important to the plot of the story. At first, I thought WW was a little evil at the Supergirl kidnap, like Batman. I didn't like it at first, nor them. But when I realized that they were helping her since she was inexperienced I cleared that up.
Oh, the art. This is Michael Turner. When he does women, you go geeky. K? k.
Overall; while I did not explain any bad parts because...I couldn't find any, this gives you another good story and should be bought along with Public Enemies.
RATING: 8.9/10
Arc 3: ABSOLUTE POWER
When you talk about Superman or Batman, or even both, you have to talk about their origins. They're widley known by all. This story firasts bring you that. We see the familar elements of the Kents seeing Kal-El and the murder of the Wayne parents. But then, something bad happens: the Kents get killed and so does the murderer of Bruce Wayne's parents. The people take the baby and 8-year old child to their care. Now, Superman/Batman are the world's mightiest rulers with an iron fist.
This breaks away from the other two arcs as they are about the current continunity. This is parellel universes and what-ifs. And what I said, that ain't it. Theres more universes with differenr settings/actions, etc. It was cool and interesting on these what-ifs, even what would happen if Batman got the killer and save the parents of his.
Uncle Sam, Wonder Woman once more, the resurrected JLA, and Selina Kyle (I like what she was wearing) appear in this. Including the return of Kingdom Come Superman after his apperence in Public Enemies. Including a cameo of the Legion of Superheroes and their villians.
I don't wanna spoil but I have to say this: when Batman stopped the killer and saved his parents' lives which caused a great reaction (of course) and the world would end up being ruled by Ra's Al Ghul. When you think about it, and the great possibilites if Krypton never exploded. Are these tragidies really tragidies? I quote Batman in War on Crime "...my parents deaths were the best thing to ever happen to me..." BEST THING. With what these heroes face, and we face and the endless possibilites of both, are these bad stuff actually great?
I don't know.
Before I go, here's some bad points: the climax was fine by me and others see it as weak and not fully explained. Why were Batman and Superman bouncing around from alternative reality to alternative reality every time, and why were they being attacked by a bunch of DC's western hero's like Jonah Hex and Scalp Hunter in alternate Gotham? I'll leave that to you. Doesn't mean you can't get the book.
Overall; this was another exciting arc of Superman/Batman.
RATING: 8/10
Coming soon: the regular issues and the entire fourth recent arc.
Isn't it the one with Superwoman and Batwoman?