DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #54

Super/Bat, Part 2

January 2009

Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson

Pencils by Rags Morales

Inks by John Dell

Covers by Rags Morales

Synopsis

In the Fortress of Solitude, Superman helps to train Batman to use all of his newly acquired super powers.  Zatanna arrives to provide information on Silver Banshee and the brooch that caused Superman and Batman to switch powers, but she can’t find either one.  In Gotham City, Batman tells Robin to stay home.  With his new powers, Batman can take care of the city by himself.  At the Daily Planet, Lois and Clark talk about his lost powers.  In Gotham City, Batman confronts Bane.  The two fight.  Batman drives his fist right through Bane’s stomach.  In Metropolis, Clark and Lois are walking through the streets when Clark witnesses a robbery.  When he runs to stop it, the mugger shots him in the stomach.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This.  This was just so wrong.  I am probably one of the most liberal people when it comes to interpretations of the DC characters.  I understand (and respect) the fact that different writers have different views of the same characters, so therefore there will be inconsistencies depending on whoever is in charge of writing (and/or editing).  But, this take on Batman is not it.  Not even close.  In my view, Batman would not succumb to the power he has been given.  He would fight against those powers and spend all of his time trying to find a way to give that power back to Superman.  Oh, the opening training scene made sense because I believe Batman would try to understand the powers, both on an intellectual level as well as to suppress them.  But Batman would not use the powers nor would he become enthralled by them either.  To read what is happening here doesn’t work; the story doesn’t work. 

The other problem I have is that Batman killed Bane.  His fist went right through Bane’s stomach.  There is no way that anyone could live through that.  I suppose there will be a comic book explanation (Venom spared his life because it heals the blood or some such nonsense), but really reading this issue my first reaction is that Batman killed Bane.  There needs to be reckoning for that moment, even if it didn’t actually happen.  There needs to be remorse, guilt, self-flagellation for thinking he violated his one rule, even if he didn't. 

It is interesting to note the reference to events in Identity Crisis (with regards to Zatanna and Batman), but there is no mention to Superman losing his powers during 52.  However, the story doesn’t work if Superman is comfortable with his lost powers so I guess this title is using selective continuity.