DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #15

Absolute Power, Part 2:  What Price Freedom...?

early February 2005

Written by Jeph Loeb

Pencils by Carlos Pacheco

Inks by Jesus Merino

Cover by Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino

Synopsis

Diana and Uncle Sam uncover the skeletal remains of a green lantern.  Uncle Sam takes the ring and recites the oath, taking full control over the ring.  Later, Diana and Uncle Sam visit Phantom Lady, The Ray, Doll Man, and The Human Bomb.  On the watchtower, Saturn Queen senses something is wrong.  In Tibet, Batman and Superman are taking care of business when suddenly Superman becomes possessed by Boston Brand (aka Deadman), who then attempts to kill Batman.  The Dark Knight chants a spell and locks away Deadman forever.  Moments later, Diana, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters attack Liberty Island, which is protected by soldiers from the 31st Century.  Superman and Batman join in the battle.  Diana kills Batman.  In his anger, Superman kills Diana.  Meanwhile, Phantom Lady and Doll Man have found the time machine and activate it.  At that moment, Superman incinerates the Human Bomb and the world explodes.  Elsewhen, Superman tells Metron he has to go back and try again...

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was not at all what I was expecting.  I think the last couple of pages really helped this issue a lot; I really like it and I like what Loeb is attempting.  In my last review I stated that Loeb follows a certain formula and basically this issue sticks to it.  There is a lot of fighting and a lot of “oh wow” moments, especially when Superman twisted the neck of Wonder Woman.  I also liked the look into the lives of heroes who never got the chance to be heroes and seeing Uncle Sam with the green ring was just plain wild (although it still doesn’t explain why a ring wasn’t deployed to the sector and where are Guy Gardner and John Stewart).  But it is the ending that did it for me.  I was not expecting at all to see the world completely explode or to see Superman goes nuts when Batman dies.  At first the brief scene with Deadman seemed to be just filler, but I liked how Batman’s use of magic from Zatanna helped to further establish that the duo had destroyed all heroes in the conquest of the world. 

I do have a question:  why bury the green lantern ring next to the power source?  Why not bury the two items separately or even keep the power source on the watchtower so that if someone (in the case of some accident or patriotic old man) happens to find the remains, the ring can’t be used. 

Is the ending a lead-in to the Superman from Kingdom Come?  Is this in anyway connected to the Superman that came to visit the duo in one of the earlier issues?  I think these questions help to elevate the story; I am not sure where Loeb is headed with this story, which could be in a dozen different ways.