collecting issues one through six of the best-selling DC series, now available in paperback
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Ed McGuinness (p), Dexter Vines (i)
Publisher: DC/Titan Books
"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."
The opening pages of the book typify the entire experience - Batman's and Superman's interior monologues run throughout, in tandem, providing insights into these guy's feelings about each other whilst Superman is blamed for a kryptonite asteroid on a collision course with earth, and President Lex assembles a super-team to take him down.
The good things about this book - it's a good showcase for both characters, it's a balls-out action film, widescreen entertainment and definitely one for the fans. The art has a lot of energy and pulls off the (many) action moments with aplomb. For fans of Superman and Batman, this is quite frankly an essential purchase.
Now the bad news. The concentration on action means character development is at a minimum, there are a few plotholes - across the infinite expanses of space this asteroid just so happens to be on course to hit the earth? Saying it's drawn towards Superman is just hokey science. And, wow, isn't it lucky that it didn't pass near any gravitational field strong enough to deflect its course by one iota? Realise that the asteroid is just a macguffin to hang the plot around - Lex vs Supes & Bats - and don't worry about it. More bad news - the monologues irritate after a while, as if Loeb had come up with a neat idea which amused him so much he couldn't let it lie. Used sparingly, and it would've been much more effective than it turns out here.
But - the bottom line really turns out to be - are you a reader of Superman or Batman? If no, then take a bullet off the score, this would strike you as being decidedly average and contrived. If yes, then - especially considering the quality of the current Batman and Superman storylines - this is possibly the best thing since sliced Robin, certainly one of their better reads of recent years; you've got yourself a good few hours entertainment, and a book to keep.
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