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bloodravenlib's review
4.0
See my short note on it here:
[http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/08/short-booknotes-on-graphic-novels-5.html]
[http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/08/short-booknotes-on-graphic-novels-5.html]
ubalstecha's review
3.0
Nice comic book that tells the tale of when President Lex Luthor blames an asteroid on track to hit earth on Superman. He turns superman into Public Enemy number one. Batman also becomes hunted when he chooses to help out his best friend.
Read this for the scenes of Batman and Superman taking on all (and I mean all) the villains of the DC universe and then move on to some of the most powerful superheroes. To be quite honest, the direct to DVD movie makes enough changes that the story is much stronger. And how often can you say that?
Read this for the scenes of Batman and Superman taking on all (and I mean all) the villains of the DC universe and then move on to some of the most powerful superheroes. To be quite honest, the direct to DVD movie makes enough changes that the story is much stronger. And how often can you say that?
virginiaduan's review
4.0
Initially, I thought this was a Batman VS Superman type of series. *sigh* Imagine my surprise (and chagrin) when they were actually working together!! No matter. This was an excellent start. I loved the opening chapter and the juxtaposition of Batman and Superman's childhoods and origins. I have always loved Batman, of course. Superman has always been sorta "meh" to me. But, there were times in this story that Superman was not the Boy Scout, and I must admit. I kinda liked him. Any story that makes me like Superman must be well-written.
just_fighting_censorship's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this one, but it was bad, painfully bad. It had a moment or two of hope and it held my interest, but ultimately I was left hugely disappointed. First off, this is by far the most homoerotic comic I have ever read. The relationship between Batman and Superman surpassed the “Odd Couple” and dabbled into the very strange territory of secret love affair. I’m sure this was not the intention of the author but the constant secret admiration and worship of one another is uncomfortable and odd at best.
Second the writing is just awful, clunky and forced. The whole purpose of a graphic novel is to see more than tell, but the author was constantly stating the obvious…. I hate when Batman does that, it makes me angry, I am so mad! The constant switching between the internal monologue of ‘B’ and ‘S’ (yes they actually refer to one another with these nicknames) is distracting, annoying, and unnecessary. We get it. We can understand the differences and similarities between the two without you hitting us over the head with it.
Thirdly, the interpretation of some of the characters, especially the women is terrible. Lois Lane looks like a tranny and Power Girl is supposed to be one of the sexist superheroes out there and she looks like a cross dresser who ate Power Girl.
Finally, the plot seems very poorly constructed with quite a few plot holes and the most absurd resolution I have ever seen Lex Luthor convinces the public and most shockingly members of the JLA that Superman needs to be taken out due to his ties to Krypton, um what about the several other ‘Super’ characters?? Supergirl? Superboy? The fricken dog Krypto! Not to mention that this story has the absolute worst treatment of time travel that I have ever seen!
What a huge disappointment. Read it if you must, but don’t expect much.
Second the writing is just awful, clunky and forced. The whole purpose of a graphic novel is to see more than tell, but the author was constantly stating the obvious…. I hate when Batman does that, it makes me angry, I am so mad! The constant switching between the internal monologue of ‘B’ and ‘S’ (yes they actually refer to one another with these nicknames) is distracting, annoying, and unnecessary. We get it. We can understand the differences and similarities between the two without you hitting us over the head with it.
Thirdly, the interpretation of some of the characters, especially the women is terrible. Lois Lane looks like a tranny and Power Girl is supposed to be one of the sexist superheroes out there and she looks like a cross dresser who ate Power Girl.
Finally, the plot seems very poorly constructed with quite a few plot holes and the most absurd resolution I have ever seen
Spoiler
a humanoid rocket that is half Batman half Superman, really! WTFWhat a huge disappointment. Read it if you must, but don’t expect much.
ipacho's review against another edition
4.0
Although the characterization of Luthor was very poor, almost back to its 80’s era, it was a dreadful premonition of the politics of our times: mean, corrupt, self-serving. But the ending discourse of Superman also remind us of what we need for tomorrow: better understanding of the other people outside out circles, reading more, so we can choose wisely. Provocative without delving too deep, all well disguised with traditional superhero smashing.
ipacho's review
4.0
This follow-up to Superman/Batman Public Enemies bring us the reason the meteorite came to Superman, as Luthor predicted: Supergirl. This modern take into that old plot is amazingly good, and gives us two of the best battles against Darkseid ever. The cons? In my opinion some oversexualized depiction of women, but nothing over the top.
captwinghead's review
4.0
Honestly, this is my second favorite Batman/Superman story.
It does such a great job showing why Bruce and Clark share a bond to begin with. Loeb did a great job with Bruce and Clark's narratives being parallels of each other. You see them reading each other's minds throughout the entire case, being on the same page, thinking almost exclusively about each other throughout the entire arc. Bruce is constantly worried about Clark's safety and going so far as to say he'd be okay with whatever punishment Clark doled out to Luthor because of what Luthor had done to Clark. Clark worries about Bruce constantly and expresses a secret wish that Bruce would stop being Batman, despite all the good he's done, because Clark worries that it will one day get Bruce killed.
They understand each other so completely and have such a storied past. It's wonderful to see and I really enjoy reading a story where their bond leads to them saving the day - not just fighting each other.
The only detriment for me was that I forgot how poorly the women were used - in the three or so pages they were present. Didn't appreciate Power Girl being told her usefulness in this plot was to distract a 13 year old with her boobs (hey, thanks) or the random kiss between Luthor and Waller that resulted in an incredibly OOC response from her. Again, in some cases, better to not feature women at all if this is how they're going to be used.
It does such a great job showing why Bruce and Clark share a bond to begin with. Loeb did a great job with Bruce and Clark's narratives being parallels of each other. You see them reading each other's minds throughout the entire case, being on the same page, thinking almost exclusively about each other throughout the entire arc. Bruce is constantly worried about Clark's safety and going so far as to say he'd be okay with whatever punishment Clark doled out to Luthor because of what Luthor had done to Clark. Clark worries about Bruce constantly and expresses a secret wish that Bruce would stop being Batman, despite all the good he's done, because Clark worries that it will one day get Bruce killed.
They understand each other so completely and have such a storied past. It's wonderful to see and I really enjoy reading a story where their bond leads to them saving the day - not just fighting each other.
The only detriment for me was that I forgot how poorly the women were used - in the three or so pages they were present. Didn't appreciate Power Girl being told her usefulness in this plot was to distract a 13 year old with her boobs (hey, thanks) or the random kiss between Luthor and Waller that resulted in an incredibly OOC response from her. Again, in some cases, better to not feature women at all if this is how they're going to be used.
the_graylien's review against another edition
4.0
This is yet another one I've read for my own little personal celebration of the 75th anniversary of Superman and also another that folks had voted as one of the best Superman stories of all time.
While I don't know if I, myself, would include it on that list, this is a pretty solid tale and a fun story to read. It's got plenty of guest appearances, plenty of action, and it really illustrates the friendship between Batman and Superman very well, touching on secrets they know about each other, how they view one another, and why they respect each other, despite being seeming polar opposites on some things.
These issues were the first story arc of a now discontinued comics series that started in 2003 and I think this was a great first outing for that series.
Despite being a bit cartoony and the fact that it's not going to be for everyone, I really enjoy Ed McGuinness' art. My opinion is no different here, as he, Dexter Vines, and all involved knocked this one out of the park art-wise.
This would be a great read for fans of either Superman or Batman or any interested in the interaction and great friendship these two seem to forge in ANY iteration of the DC Comics Universe.
While I don't know if I, myself, would include it on that list, this is a pretty solid tale and a fun story to read. It's got plenty of guest appearances, plenty of action, and it really illustrates the friendship between Batman and Superman very well, touching on secrets they know about each other, how they view one another, and why they respect each other, despite being seeming polar opposites on some things.
These issues were the first story arc of a now discontinued comics series that started in 2003 and I think this was a great first outing for that series.
Despite being a bit cartoony and the fact that it's not going to be for everyone, I really enjoy Ed McGuinness' art. My opinion is no different here, as he, Dexter Vines, and all involved knocked this one out of the park art-wise.
This would be a great read for fans of either Superman or Batman or any interested in the interaction and great friendship these two seem to forge in ANY iteration of the DC Comics Universe.
marisacarpico's review
4.0
OK this was unexpectedly great. Contrasted the titular heroes really well.