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Comic Review:
Superman/Batman #1
By Buck Weiss

08.13.03

DC Comics- Jeph Loeb (W), Ed McGuiness (P), Dexter Vines (I)

You have to admit that Loeb has done some amazing Superman/Batman crossovers. He brings a certain darkness to the Bat that I have always liked. To Loeb, and amazing new Batman writers like Greg Rucka, the character is a pure detective. He is the Batman that fans like me have always wanted to see.

Loeb’s Superman, on the other hand, has never quite set comfortably with me. The writer seems to want to paint Clark Kent as an all American country boy goody-good (yes, I just said goody-good), but doesn’t seem to like the character written that way.

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Certainly, there was a lot of hype around the title’s release. Loeb himself boasted that fans of DC’s classic Worlds Finest should get ready for a “kick ass book.” I have to say he was right about ass being kicked; he just neglected to tell us that the ass in question would be the ass of Steel.

Loeb comes to terms with his problems with Superman by kicking him around and having him play second fiddle to the Dark Knight. I’m not saying I’m complaining. I find that Batman saving Superman makes for wonderful reading and I love the way Loeb parallels their back stories to make tales we’ve heard a thousand times seem fresh, but this also tells the reader of the huge differences in the two characters. Batman is a man; Superman is an alien who has the powers of a god. To see the fallen Kryptonian held up by a S.T.A.R. labs doctor was a little pathetic even if he was weakened by Kryptonite. Then Superman calls Batman by his real name in the graveyard. I know he’s got super hearing but the bad guy shows up in the same panel and “Bruce” is Superman’s battle cry. If I were Bats I’d be taking my time pulling that chunk of Kryptonite away from my good friend Clark’s heart. I guess Superman has to lose the tag line “faster than a speeding bullet.”

All this aside, this is a great book and well worth your time. Especially if like me you like seeing Batman save Superman’s butt. The last two pages left me feeling all warm and fuzzy for the future. Krytonite meteor and Luther saying he wants to save Superman. Be there in thirty, I know will.

Final Score: 3/5

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