Why does Superman/Batman still sell?

[Winghead]

It doesnt have name writers/artists. It is out of continuity, and has nothing to do with whats going on in the DCU. Why does it sell better than Batman Confidential, and even Trinity which has major talent involved with it. Just curious if anyone knows. I understand why it was huge when Loeb wrote it, but why now?

[choptop]

It is out of continuity

its not out of continuity its just self-contained.

[Lester C.]

It doesnt have name writers/artists. It is out of continuity, and has nothing to do with whats going on in the DCU. Why does it sell better than Batman Confidential, and even Trinity which has major talent involved with it. Just curious if anyone knows. I understand why it was huge when Loeb wrote it, but why now?

I don't think it does sell. At least not very well.

[ScottyQuick]

Because now it's awesome, and I think the only non-Simone title I pick up.

[Mac]

I buy it....
I love it simply because it's a good book with stories about Batman and Superman.
You don't need to buy 5 other titles to understand everything that's going on in Superman/Batman. It doesn't matter that Batman's lost in a cave, or Supe's is temporarily out of the orbit; we still get an awesome adventure with two legendary superheroes, regardless of whateverthehell's going down in the current DCU.

[DonC]

It doesnt have name writers/artists. It is out of continuity, and has nothing to do with whats going on in the DCU. Why does it sell better than Batman Confidential, and even Trinity which has major talent involved with it. Just curious if anyone knows. I understand why it was huge when Loeb wrote it, but why now?

Why is everything about "name" talent with you? You do realize that writers not named Rucka, Busiek and Waid can produce quality comics that some people would want to buy, right?

[booziehand]

i recently started picking it up and it looks pretty darn good to me with good art and a good story

[WorstThingUS]

It doesnt have name writers/artists. It is out of continuity, and has nothing to do with whats going on in the DCU. Why does it sell better than Batman Confidential, and even Trinity which has major talent involved with it. Just curious if anyone knows. I understand why it was huge when Loeb wrote it, but why now?

I don't think it does sell. At least not very well.

It does sell well and the art, names or not, has always been gorgeous. The stories, however, have been crap since Loeb and haven't gotten any better (characterization? what's that?).

But I'd think the answer was obvious. Let me put it this way: when Kyle Baker first started at Marvel he was given the new Spider-man book, Web of Spider-Man under the logic that "It's Spider-man. It'll sell no matter what, so what does it matter who's drawing it?" Same here. It's the two most famous successful superhero characters on the planet (sorry, Spidey). How could it not sell? In fact, I'm surprised Marvel hasn't seen the writing on the wall and doesn't have a Spider-Man/Wolverine out-of-continuity monthly. It'd be a license for printing money.

[eggie]

I buy it because the current writers have been crafting some fun and interesting stories. I can't think of the writers names (Green/Johnson I think) but that doesn't matter to me...if I know the writer or not, as long as I like the story...everybody starts out as a "no name".
As for "no name" artists...Ethan Van Sciver, Shane Davis, Rags Morales, Whilce Portacio, Francis Manapul, Scot Kollins (annual), and Chris Batista (annual)have all done or are doing upcoming arcs and I don't consider any of those artists to be no names.

[Thok]

Superman/Batman is one of the few unashamed Silver Age titles around. Basically, it's a chance to see Batman and Superman do ridiculous things together.

If you're down with Superman hallucinating to Magic-Kryptonite, or Batman and Superman switching powers, or the idea of the amalgam city of Gothamopolis, then Superman/Batman is the book you want and nothing else will do.

(They also do a good job following up those premises: in particular S/B 51 legitimately made several "Top 10 DC issues of 2008" lists. That would be the meet up with the Lil' Leaguers, with the "My parents were shoved!" origin of Lil' Batman.)

[sandgrounder]

I've bought it from issue 1 and on the whole enjoy it. Sure, some arcs are better than others but that's the case with ALL books.
For me personally, I like it because it's not related to any other books, the stories can be a bit more weird and fun and it usually has a fair few guest stars.
It's a good book for new comic readers as picking up the regular Batman or Superman books nowadays may confuse them slightly! (i.e. "Where's Batman??")

[numberONE]

I like it because it's a story in it's self - no tie-ins or crossovers - which makes it easy to follow. Plus, it's Superman AND Batman! Like others have said, it's really good for new readers.

[Spiffy]

Superman/Batman is one of the few unashamed Silver Age titles around.

Actually there appear to be a ton of Silver Age influenced titles around these days. Marvel's got more of them than DC (the entire Marvel Adventures line, plus the continuing occasional presence of titles like Marvel Team-Up--which is technically a decedent of a Bronze Age title but is closer to the Silverish aspects of Superman/Batman than most), but even DC has stuff like The Brave & The Bold, and well... All-Star Superman might qualify too.

[WorstThingUS]

(They also do a good job following up those premises: in particular S/B 51 legitimately made several "Top 10 DC issues of 2008" lists. That would be the meet up with the Lil' Leaguers, with the "My parents were shoved!" origin of Lil' Batman.)

That remains the only good story ever told in this book and its acclaim is well deserved. I'd love to see a Lil' DC mini from these guys. I mean, they have to bring Lil' Superman back, right?

[HopeLantern]

I think the book sells because the stories are self contained. They break away from all the heavy stuff going on in the other books (world of new krypton, battle for the cowl) and just hearken back to "The World's Greatest". The stories and writing has a "light" feel to it. And just overall cool.