DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #62

Sidekicked

September 2009

Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson

Pencils by Rafeal Albuquerque

Inks by Rafeal Albuquerque

Covers by Rafeal Albuquerque

Synopsis

In Gotham City, Linda Lang (aka Supergirl) and Tim Drake (aka Robin) meet for lunch. They discuss their “bosses” which leads them to two reminisce of the time they first teamed together.  Supergirl was brought to the batcave so Robin could instruct her on investigative methods while the World’s Finest deal with Justice League issues.  However, Robin receives priority signal from Gotham Police.  Despite asking her to stay behind, Supergirl follows.  The emergency is at Arkham Asylum.  The inmates are rioting and hostages have been taking.  The duo encounter various criminals, but working together they are able to quell the riots and save the hostages.  Now, Robin receives another priority signal.  Together, the two decide to take care of the situation. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was a decent issue, but it feels like a story that could’ve been a little bit better.  It was a great idea, telling the story of Supergirl and Robin teaming up for the first time, but the idea doesn’t quite match up in the execution of the story.  Robin and Supergirl are great characters on their own and given who they work with (and for), they should develop a relationship of some sort.  It doesn’t necessarily have to mirror the one between Batman and Superman, but there should be something between the two.  So, as you can see, a team-up in this issue makes sense.  Yet, the story doesn’t really provide much.  Actually it is not really a story so much as a series of encounters.  There is no conflict in the story.  Oh, I suppose the villains in Arkham provide conflict, but the heroes easily deal with any of the obstacles in the way.  So, there is no conflict.  As such, the story meanders from moment to moment until it reaches the end.  When you get to the end, you feel like it was a good story, but it also feels like there should’ve been something more to it than what was there. 

The true conflict should be Supergirl coming to grips with a villain she can’t physically beat up.  The very fact the story is set in Arkham suggests some sort of psychological conflict for Supergirl, one in which Robin (as a creature of the night in Gotham) can help her overcome.  Conversely, we should get a moment where Robin can’t physically overcome and is helped out by Supergirl.  But we don’t get that.  In fact, the ending sees Supergirl stopping Robin from beating the living hell out of Zsasz, which doesn’t make sense.  Robin lives and protects Gotham, I am sure he has seen some horrible, horrible things in his life.  Why would this moment be the one to push him over the top?  If anything, it should be Supergirl who beats on Zsasz simply because she is not used to it. 

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