DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #6

The World's Finest, Part Six:  Final Countdown

March 2004

Written by Jeph Loeb

Pencils by Ed McGuinness

Inks by Dexter Vines

Cover by Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines

Synopsis

In Tokyo, Batman and Superman have contacted Hiro Okamura (aka Toyman) to help find a way to stop the Kryptonite meteor hurtling towards Earth.  Hiro creates a spacecraft designed for Superman to fly into space and destroy the meteor.  Before he can initiate the plan, Captain Atom appears and tells the duo that this is the mistake the future Superman referred to:  if Superman pilots the ship, Earth will be destroyed.  Instead, Captain Atom decides to pilot the ship.  As he races to stop the meteor, Superman and Batman confront Luthor, getting him to reveal his dastardly plan to America, forcing him to abandon the presidency and go into hiding, where he states a crisis is coming. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

In parts, this was a very good wrap to the final issue of this storyline.  I really thought the crosscutting between Captain Atom heading out to stop the meteor with Superman and then Batman’s battle with Lex Luthor worked well and gave the issue a thrilling conclusion.  But, the constant narrative thoughts of Supes and Bats took the entire suspense and thrills and muted it, so that it became less thrilling and suspenseful.  In an earlier review of one of the issues in this storyline I commented that the narrative boxes felt like an extra to a DVD; like when actors or director sit down and discuss the movie.  The narrative boxes feel like Batman and Superman rehashing the events.  As such the dry comments from the two of them rob the book of its narrative impetus.  I think from now on I will read the story first, then go back and read the narrative boxes. 

Like the issue itself, there are som touches that Loeb adds that I liked, but thought it could’ve add a better impact if explored more fully.  For instance, I liked how Batman indicates Luthor’s flaw was that he thought Batman would be more concerned with the Wayne murder than helping his friend.  Good idea.  Bad execution.  I would’ve liked to see more conflict within Batman, more musing about Corben, perhaps even trying to do both at the same time.  Instead, the mystery was introduced and then dropped without much fanfare.  I also liked how Captain Atom arrived at who he picked for his team.  But frankly, the team didn’t anything at all and their appearance was wasted.  I would’ve liked to see more of Luthor’s meta-human team. 

One other thing that bothered me, but I was thankful for was the answers to the all of the questions that Loeb had left unanswered (such as what was Luthor injecting himself with, did Corben kill the Waynes).  I like that there were answers.  But it also felt like the entire issue was strictly exposition to explain the previous five issues.  I do not like exposition.  But I do like answers.  So, it’s a wash.

 

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