Superman: Tangent, Superman: War of the Worlds, Superman/Batman

Tangent Comics: Superman 1

For some reason, DC did a bunch of Elseworlds comics under a “Tangent Comics” banner.  Like Amalgam Comics, they were all first issues with no intention of follow ups. Mark Millar and Jackson Guice did the Superman one.

They strayed far from the source material, keeping only the name.  This Superman goes the Flowers for Algernon route, going from ordinary (he starts out as an everyday cop, not someone with an IQ of 68) to extraordinary with a full suite of powers - flight, immeasurable intelligence, telekinesis, telepathy, future sight, etc.  He goes through the standard “dissociation from the rest of humanity as he ascends to a whole other plane of awareness, particularly from the person he loves” syndrome. The twist that saves it at the end? Instead of renouncing his abilities, he invents a pill that grants those same powers to his girlfriend.  He makes sure that there’s at least one person in the world that he’s not above.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Fine

Superman: War of the Worlds

The title pretty much says it all.  What if Superman was around during HG Wells’ War of the Worlds?  Turns out pretty much the same as if he was not; Superman kills a few of the aliens, dies in the process, and the Martians die of Earth disease.  

Still, it’s a fun little piece.  Michael Lark does some nice work.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Fine

Superman/Batman 1-6

I don’t think Jeph Loeb has an equal when it comes to superhero internal monologuing.  He utilizes it to amazing effect in Superman/Batman.  Not only does it nail the voices of the two titular heroes, but it also highlights both the differences and similarities between the unlikely best friends.  From what I’ve read so far, my reviews of this comic are basically going to show the stuff that I liked, because there’s a lot of it.

That's so Batman.

Loeb loves using these contrasting thoughts.

They've got the banter down pat.

The supreme confidence is so badass.

Obvious, but I laughed.

Ed McGuinness kills that gauntlet design.

It's sweet how they inspire each other.  Best bromance ever.

Sadly relevant in 2019.

Where the heck did this Byrne homage come from?  So random.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? Yes

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty good