DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #65

Sweet Dreams

December 2009

Written by Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson

Art by Federico Dallocchio, Brian Haberlin, Kelley Jones, Joe Quinones, Brian Stelfreeze

Cover by Dustin Nguyen

Synopsis

Superman attempts to save a plane carrying Lois Lane from crashing, but he can’t get to her and she dies.  Meanwhile, Scarecrow stands above Superman, Batman, Joker, and Lex Luthor as his dream gas affects them all.  The Joker is at a circus.  He kills everyone and the audience laughs.  He tries to tell them it is not a joke.  Lex Luthor is in an elevator, ready to kill Superman.  When he emerges in the offices of the Daily Planet, everyone thinks he is Jimmy Olsen.  Meanwhile, Scarecrow prepares to dump the bodies into fresh graves.  Batman finishes his morning workout and then joins his wife and kids fro breakfast.  Suddenly, Alfred appears and shoots everyone.  He then forces Batman to shoot his father.  That act wakes Batman to reality.  He then defeats Scarecrow.  Later, Batman and Superman agree not to discuss their dreams.  They do wonder, however, what Scarecrow dreams about.  He dreams about being in the land of Oz. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I think this was an interesting idea, but I am not sure the execution served the idea.  Yet, I am not really sure what could’ve been done to overcome the basic problem that plagues the story.  That problem is the repetition of the dream sequences.  The first one with Superman was shocking and it worked extremely well because I can see Superman having that type of nightmare.  The rest, however, are variations on the same theme and by the time we get to the Batman sequence the surprise value is gone and it becomes somewhat of a chore to get through.  We know what to expect.  Combine the repetition with the fact that these character’s fears and nightmares have been examined before so that this story doesn’t really break new ground.  Superman will always be afraid to lose Lois and Batman will always be afraid to lose the happiness of being with his family.  Eventually, the issue lacks vitality, starting off okay, but ending on a lackluster note (except for the Scarecrow nightmare which was amusing). 

As I said, the Superman sequence was easily the best because it seems like the type of nightmare he would have, not being able to save the ones he loved despite all of the power and abilities that he has.  The next best is the Joker sequence but that may be because it fits into my interpretation of the character, which is that of someone whose sense of humor doesn’t match anyone else’s.  So to have people laughing at the jokes he finds funny would be a nightmare to him.  The Luthor sequence is the weakest.  I understand what the writers were going for, presenting someone like Luthor whose ego believes he is near God-like to becoming some mild and mannered.  But why Jimmy Olsen and why this would bother Lex, I am not sure.  It strikes me that Lex would use it to his advantage.  I like the idea of presenting Lex as invisible.  No one sees him or listens to him, which I think would be a nightmare for someone with his ego.  The Batman sequence started strong with the family breakfast, especially since we know it is a nightmare, but the gun sequence with Alfred seems out of place.  Alfred had nothing to do with the Wayne murders, so I am not quite sure what the writers are going for. 

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