DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #53

Super/Bat, Part 1

December 2008

Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson

Pencils by Rags Morales

Inks by John Dell

Covers by Rags Morales

Synopsis

In Metropolis, Bruce Wayne attends a party to celebrate the Wayne collection of ancient armor.  There, Wayne is interviewed by Clark Kent.  During the interview, a tattooed woman removes a brooch from one of the exhibits, which then summons the Silver Banshee.  Both Superman and Batman arrive, but both succumb to the Banshee cry.  Batman is wounded by shattered glass imbedded in his chest.  Superman flies Batman to the batcave so Alfred can tend to the injuries.  Superman tries to x-ray Batman to help Alfred, but for some reason he can’t do it.  Alfred stitches up Batman; however, Batman’s wounds miraculously heal.  Later, Superman is flying back to Metropolis when he realizes his powers are fading.  No longer able to fly, he crashes to the ground.  In Gotham, Batman and Robin are chasing smugglers when Batman develops strange powers, including x-ray vision and super hearing.  The Dynamic Duo attack.  One of the smugglers pulls out a rocket and fires it at Batman, who survives unscathed.  In Metropolis, Lois questions Superman about his powers, when Batman arrives, flying above them, eyes glowing red; they need to talk. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I would like to give this story the benefit of a doubt and rather than condemn it off hand, give it a chance to see where it goes and what the writers intend to do with it before I form an opinion.  But I am not sure I can do it, which speaks volumes about my belief that Green and Johnson can write a compelling story.  The problem is that the story they are telling is not only a rehash of an earlier World’s Finest story, but a rehash of dozens of similar stories that have been told over the years (Freaky Friday and Switch):  two different people trade places for a defined period of time.  And for anyone to do this story, they need to have a different slant, a different take, then previous stories.  And this is not it.  Now, I have to admit that this story is competently done and I liked the opening sequence in the museum, but there is nothing in this story to suggest the writers are angling for something new.  But then again, I can be certain since this issue is all set up.  We get the events leading up to the switch; we’ll have to wait until next issue to see what Batman does with those powers.  But I am not holding my breath. 

The other problem I have with this issue is that the contrast/compare of the two heroes has been such a big part of this title since its inception, that the big ‘ol switcheroo seems like the same-old, same-old.  Original writer Jeph Loeb originated the dueling narrative captions and his stories were mostly about the differences and similarities between them and how they approach situations.  The previous two issues, featuring the Li’l Leaguers was such a (mostly) welcome diversion because of the lack of compare/contrast between the heroes.  One can hope that Green and Johnson (or whoever is writing the book) can write a story without the story device. 

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