Batman/Superman #4 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Ben Oliver (art), June Chung & Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: Batman vs. Batman vs. Superman vs. Superman.  And Wonder Woman…

The Review: There are certain tropes that most comic book writers, especially the ones who make their living from the superhero genre, end up using (and re-using) at some point in their careers: the tragic loss of a loved one; the vendetta that pits a hero’s morals against his sense of justice; a character’s greatest doubts and fears manifesting in a psychic/magical/spiritual delusion.  As overdone as these scenarios are, writers never seem to tire of them.

As someone who reads comics for a living,* I can’t say I enjoy any of these plot devices very much, but my least favorite has to be the obligatory battle that ensues whenever two heroes meet.  The fights and preceding conflicts always seem contrived, no matter the context: alt-universe counterparts, time-traveling doppelgangers, or the simple meeting of two characters who don’t usually share the same title.  In Batman/Superman’s first arc, we’ve ended up with all three.

Justice League #23.2: Lobo – Review

By: Marguerite Bennett (story), Ben Oliver & Cliff Richards (art), Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: Once again, Lobo ruins the party spirit.

The Review: I know he’s got his fans, but for my part, I’ve never cared very much for Lobo, except for his li’l incarnation back in the Young Justice days.  Gratuitous violence has always made me feel every so queasy, nearly as much in fiction as it does in real life, and Lobo rarely did anything without excess.  With little in the way of self-reflection and the most mercenary motives, Lobo didn’t have much substance to offer as a character.

So what drew me to read a whole issue featuring the unkillable killer?  Well, if you must know, I hopped on mostly because out of extreme curiosity as to a woman’s approach to someone so oozing with machismo as Lobo.  I hoped that Bennett could offer a little more nuance to the Czarnian than we’re used to, if not as a female writer, then as Scott Snyder’s latest protégé.*  Maybe it’s misguided to expect Lobo to be anything other than what he is, but surely he has room for a little more dimension, no?

Action Comics #23.1: Cyborg Superman – Review

By: Michael Alan Nelson (writer), Mike Hawthorn (artist), Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: The Cyborg Superman wrestles with what it means to be perfect and what it means to be alone.

The Review:  Spinning out of the dramatic reveal of last month’s Supergirl, this Villain’s Month one-shot shows us how the rivalry between two brothers created a monster.

Gone is the Fantastic Four pastiche and lovable, death-seeking Hank Henshaw and instead Michael Alan Nelson has tied the Cyborg much tighter into Superman lore. I expect that this choice will be a somewhat controversial one, however, let it not be said that he doesn’t make a good showing of it.

Unlike old standbys like Two-Face or the Joker, the Cyborg Superman can get by on a showcase issue. Though the story isn’t terribly complex, the two timelines of the issue are each engaging enough to hold a reader’s interest. Those who favor the archetypal power of comic book plots will particularly enjoy this one; however I wouldn’t blame anyone who prefers complex character work that feels that this issue is just a bit shallow. To those readers, I will merely say that while the issue favors the broad strokes of the Cyborg’s story, Nelson’s skillful writing backs it up and makes it feel alive.

Batman/Superman #1 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Ben Oliver (art), June Chung & Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: Batman and Superman bond over their blind spots with kids.

The Review: I don’t know which genius came up with the idea of writing DC’s two biggest icons together, nor do I know the context, but it’s safe to say that he probably had no clue how writers since then would run away with the pairing.  Certainly he couldn’t predict that Batman-Superman adventures would eventually become less a contrast of skill sets and personalities, but one of moral ideology.

That’s what really sets the Batman-Superman relationship apart from all other superhero pairs.  Because both characters represent much more than the sum of their physical or personal traits, they’re perfect for exploring some of the more interesting philosophical dichotomies.  Pak taps into this material very quickly in this issue, which immediately sets Batman/Superman apart from its eventful but relatively meaningless predecessor Superman/Batman.*