DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #29

The Enemies Among Us, Part Two

October 2006

Written by Mark Verheiden

Pencils by Ethan Van Sciver

Inks by Ethan Van Sciver

Cover by Ethan Van Sciver

Synopsis

In the batcave, Batman relates to J’onn J’onzz (aka Martian Manhunter) of the attack by the shape shifter who happened to look like Martian Manhunter.  J’onn leaves without providing any additional information.  At STAR Labs n San Francisco, Green Lantern John Stewart examines his power ring because he has sensed something off with it.  Suddenly, STAR Labs is attacked and Stewart is knocked unconscious.  At the Daily Planet in Metropolis, Clark Kent is approached by shape shifter in the form of Lois, who then turns into the caveman from Krypton.  In the middle of fighting him, Green Lantern Hal Jordan arrives to help.  With the caveman captured, Hal flies him to Edwards Air Force Base where Batman is waiting for him.  However, it was a set-up; Hal attacks with the intent to kill.  The World’s Finest are able to defeat Hal, who claims it was the ring that did it.  Where Hal failed, however, Kilowog will not. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Heh.  This issue was really just more of the same from the previous issue.  Someone or something is attacking Superman and Batman, but we don’t know who they are because they can assume whatever shape they want.  Granted, it was interesting that the unseen attacker can also control a power ring, but beyond this little tidbit, the issue does not do much else.  Verheiden has kept up the pac with the action scenes but at this pace he is going to kill any momentum with the plot.  There needs to be something more to hang these admittedly cool action scenes on other than an anonymous attacker who wants to kill Batman and Superman. 

I really liked the first few pages with the Martian Manhunter.  At first it seemed strange that J’onn would be so cold to Batman, but then I realized that Van Sciver had drawn the Martian similar to his new look in the mini-series.  To go with the new look is the new attitude and I can see how J’onn would be pissed at Batman’s paranoid greeting.  I am not saying Batman is wrong, given all that is happened, he has a reason to be paranoid.  I would even argue that J’onn should’ve been more understanding, but really I can’t fault him for acting like he did. 

I am also noticing a silver age feel to the shapes that that shifter has taken.  From the original look of Martian Manhunter to the pill box hat that Lois wears to the various villains that just scream silver age, it all just points in that direction.  Given that Verheiden started his run on this book with a story that that occurred (albeit in a dream) on Earth-2, I am beginning to wonder if there is a connection. 

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