DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #21

With A Vengeance, Chapter Two:  Mistaken Identity Crisis

September 2005

Written by Jeph Loeb

Pencils by Ed McGuinness

Inks by Dexter Vines

Cover by Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines

Synopsis

In the middle of investigating bizarre murders of young couples whose death mirrors his own parents’ death, Batman receives word that the Atomic Skull has just stolen a package from Wayne Tech.  Batman heads over and realizes that the Atomic Skull has stolen something very valuable, which suggests someone sent the Skull to get it.  Batman attempts to stop the Skull and is quickly joined by Superman.  The fight, however, is interrupted by the Maximums.  Robot informs the team that the Atomic Skull is wanted; Solider then kills him.  Superman and Batman fight the Maximums, who win the fight and taken the World’s Finest back with them.  Moments later, Batzarro and Bizzarro and decide to save their counterparts. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

There was something decidedly off with this issue and I am not quite sure what it is.  It opens well enough with the Atomic Skull breaking and entering into Wayne Tech, but after that it just kind of breaks down.  Some of it could be due to the Batzarro’s attempts to help his idol and failing.  Some of it could be to the weird rendering of the Atomic Skull.  His flaming head looks puny (almost like a head shrunken by a voodoo witch doctor) in that huge suit he is wearing.  The issue’s discontent with me could also be related to the strange lead case that Batman is so concerned with.  I will assume it is related to whatever is going on with whatever it is Loeb is reaching for.  I suppose that may be the problem.  Loeb has a destination in mind and I can’t quite discern what it is.  Well, that’s nit true.  I think Loeb is aiming to explain or define the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne.  This is an area that I really wish writer’s would leave alone; it is the proverbial dead horse and I don’t think it adds anything to the Batman mythos to continue to dredge it up and use it in a plot point (see:  Broken City).  So, I guess I am hoping there is somewhere else Loeb is headed, but it doesn’t work.  Finally, some of my trepidation is related to the use of Bizarro and Batzarro, characters who work in small doses.  Unfortunately, I think Loeb is aiming for much more use than that and I am cringing at the possibility. 

The second half of the issue was much better.  I did enjoy the portrayal of the Maximums, from Robot’s observations of the situations to Monster turning into a little girl, and to the little bits of the Soldier maintaining his control on the team.  After the beat down, we knew the Maximums would get their revenge.  Now, in the next issue, we will get the final showdown.  It should be interesting.

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