Binker
10-30-2008, 08:53 PM
By Nathaniel Ruff (also known as Binker, Binker2 and Nate on many forums)
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #53
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Rags Morales and John Dell
Cover by Kevin Nowlan
Edited by Eddie Berganza
PLOT:
Superman's powers leap into the body of The Dark Knight! Now Batman contains the incredible abilities of a Kryptonian while the Man of Steel stands powerless. How will they adjust physically and psychologically to these bizarre changes?
REVIEW:
The debut arc by Michael Green and Mike Johnson, entitled "K", proved that these two guys did one hell of a job on the title and also proved that "Superman/Batman" was, indeed, back in all of its glory. Now, we enter the next arc entitled "Super/Bat". Since I've been enjoying this book again from a long time, I wanted to see what they would do next. Even if they are using an overused plot idea (which I will dive into), I still wanted to check this out. Here is issue #53!
During interviews, Michael Green and Mike Johnson together admitted that this storyline has been done to death. The whole story idea that one super-powered being, or non super-powered being, gets superpowers from another, has been done as way back since comic book superheroes were on the rise back in the beginning. But they also pointed out that the only reason why they decided to do that again, and any reason why anyone should reintroduce old ideas again, is because they want to bring in new depth and layers that those old takes on the same idea either didn't do or even failed to do. Now, we could go back and do research on those old stories to see what they did here and what they did there, but the important part going into this issue was to see if what they wanted to do...happened. Well, and I shouldn't say the word "sadly", because that would make it appear that something bad happened, and there wasn't. But because the ending of this issue has Superman & Batman figuring out the situation they are in, what Green and Johnson want to do is not in this issue, and therefore not brought into the story...yet. But, what this issue does do is that whereas I know for a fact that when the powers are switched, the characters know instantly what just happened. Here, it is dealt with a mystery that leaves Superman confused, but on Batman's side, it is treated like normal. He hears something miles away, he treats it as normal, not as an indication that he has super hearing. That would be probably what this issue has that could be consider what Green and Johnson either did, or actually did not, bring to the table as something new. But, was this issue bad? Not in the slightest. I did enjoy it, though the art could've gone either way. Fine on the action scenes and costumes, but Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent looked weird. I know Rags Morales from "Identity Crisis" and "Wonder Woman", to I have which read, but it felt like he lost his touch somewhere. For example, Bruce Wayne is supposed to look attractive, right? Well, in some of these pages, that idea doesn't even register. Something just seems a little off.
Overall, while this issue did not start with what Green and Johnson wanted to do, it did not ignore the fact that this issue was still good, and it had a bit of a new take toward an old idea in the second half of it. Just like "K' was, the first issue alone is enough for new readers to jump onto. Then again, "K" as well as issue #50, and maybe if you want fun to start out with issues #51-52, this arc falls under the category with those other issues of stories that new readers can jump onto. Now, while this issue did not have Green and Johnson's new take on the old power switch idea, it is not like it won't start happening soon. That is why I want to see the next issue. The cover of Batman holding up Bane, a reference to the Bat-breaking "Knightfall" saga, is a clear sign of this arc and these writers plans coming into fusion. But so far, so good.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Has the Caped Crusader let his new abilities go to his head?
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #53
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Rags Morales and John Dell
Cover by Kevin Nowlan
Edited by Eddie Berganza
PLOT:
Superman's powers leap into the body of The Dark Knight! Now Batman contains the incredible abilities of a Kryptonian while the Man of Steel stands powerless. How will they adjust physically and psychologically to these bizarre changes?
REVIEW:
The debut arc by Michael Green and Mike Johnson, entitled "K", proved that these two guys did one hell of a job on the title and also proved that "Superman/Batman" was, indeed, back in all of its glory. Now, we enter the next arc entitled "Super/Bat". Since I've been enjoying this book again from a long time, I wanted to see what they would do next. Even if they are using an overused plot idea (which I will dive into), I still wanted to check this out. Here is issue #53!
During interviews, Michael Green and Mike Johnson together admitted that this storyline has been done to death. The whole story idea that one super-powered being, or non super-powered being, gets superpowers from another, has been done as way back since comic book superheroes were on the rise back in the beginning. But they also pointed out that the only reason why they decided to do that again, and any reason why anyone should reintroduce old ideas again, is because they want to bring in new depth and layers that those old takes on the same idea either didn't do or even failed to do. Now, we could go back and do research on those old stories to see what they did here and what they did there, but the important part going into this issue was to see if what they wanted to do...happened. Well, and I shouldn't say the word "sadly", because that would make it appear that something bad happened, and there wasn't. But because the ending of this issue has Superman & Batman figuring out the situation they are in, what Green and Johnson want to do is not in this issue, and therefore not brought into the story...yet. But, what this issue does do is that whereas I know for a fact that when the powers are switched, the characters know instantly what just happened. Here, it is dealt with a mystery that leaves Superman confused, but on Batman's side, it is treated like normal. He hears something miles away, he treats it as normal, not as an indication that he has super hearing. That would be probably what this issue has that could be consider what Green and Johnson either did, or actually did not, bring to the table as something new. But, was this issue bad? Not in the slightest. I did enjoy it, though the art could've gone either way. Fine on the action scenes and costumes, but Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent looked weird. I know Rags Morales from "Identity Crisis" and "Wonder Woman", to I have which read, but it felt like he lost his touch somewhere. For example, Bruce Wayne is supposed to look attractive, right? Well, in some of these pages, that idea doesn't even register. Something just seems a little off.
Overall, while this issue did not start with what Green and Johnson wanted to do, it did not ignore the fact that this issue was still good, and it had a bit of a new take toward an old idea in the second half of it. Just like "K' was, the first issue alone is enough for new readers to jump onto. Then again, "K" as well as issue #50, and maybe if you want fun to start out with issues #51-52, this arc falls under the category with those other issues of stories that new readers can jump onto. Now, while this issue did not have Green and Johnson's new take on the old power switch idea, it is not like it won't start happening soon. That is why I want to see the next issue. The cover of Batman holding up Bane, a reference to the Bat-breaking "Knightfall" saga, is a clear sign of this arc and these writers plans coming into fusion. But so far, so good.
RATING: Yay
Next Issue: Has the Caped Crusader let his new abilities go to his head?