DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #51

Li'L Leaguers, Part 1 of 2

October 2008

Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson

Pencils by Rafael Albuquerque

Inks by Rafael Albuquerque

Covers by Ryan Sook

Synopsis

Li'l Superman and Li'l Batman sense that something is wrong with the world.  In Gotham, the Li'l World’s Finest are battling the Floronic Man when they come face-to-face with larger versions of themselves.  They  don’t believe the larger duo are Batman and Superman.  A fight breaks out, which brings the rest o  the Li'l Justice League to help out and they fight the larger versions.  Big Superman tells the Li'l leaguers they just want to talk, which is confirmed by Li'l Wonder Woman’s lasso.  So, Li'l Zatanna transports them to the Batcave.  There, Li'l Batman and Li'l Superman recount their origins, which differ from the big versions.  It becomes apparent the Li'l versions are from a different Earth.  Suddenly, Mr. Mxyzptlk appears.  He was the one to transport the Li'l versions to New Earth to spice things up.  And to further spice things up, he transports the Li'l villains.  

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“I’m the goshdarn Batman!”

This was fun.  And amusing.  I loved it.  I loved the way the Lil’ versions were introduced and the single page of the big and Lil’ versions talking to each other was amusing to no end.  The appearance of the rest of the Lil’ league was also fun and I chuckled here and there as they fought the World’s Finest or when they pounced on the big Robin.  All of this was good entertainment and enjoyable, but nothing special beyond just being an amusing diversion.  Don’t get me wrong, the material is fresh and funny and Albuquerque’s art, especially the expressions on the faces, works wonders for the story and creates and new level of amusement to the proceedings.  But then we got to the origin stories and I think it was this moment that I really, really started to dig the book.  I loved the way Green and Johnson took the iconic moments of Batman and Superman and managed to make them as we know and love them while at the same time turning it on its ear and making it kid friendly.  The decision just seemed so … right.  The Lil’ characters are fun and delightful and I think by keeping with the death of the parents storyline it would upset that balance, but by changing it enough, it works.  And ultimately, this entire issue works and I am eager to read the next issue.

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