Superman/Batman, Superman/Batman Annual

I’m getting way ahead of my reading, so time for some shorter reviews.

Superman/Batman 51-52

DC’s version of the X-Babies.  

There’s a lot to like here.  Michael Green and Mike Johnson write the perfect blend of irreverence and innocence into these kid heroes.

Rafael Albuquerque’s work is adorably hilarious.

Yes, those are hearts.

All of which serves to make the death of Kid Superman all the more surprising.  I didn’t see that coming, and it’s a sobering downer to a fun two-parter. (It’s also unfortunate that Mxyzptlk has to be the cause of these shenanigans.  I’m so sick of him.)

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Nice

Superman/Batman 75

A super-sized issue headlined by a pointless story involving the Legion of Superheroes.  The two-page follow ups by random contributors aided in my decision to cut this issue, right up until I read an out-of-the-blue epilogue to the Superkids story.

Innocence restored, as it should be in this world.

That plus a nice Adam Hughes piece convinced me to keep this around.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Didn’t suck

Superman/Batman Annual 1-2

Joe Kelly writes great Bruce/Clark sniping.  This Re-Imaginary Story (think Elseworlds, but with less drastic alterations.  Basically out of continuity issues.) has some great banter between the two, at a time when they haven’t figured out each other’s secret identities yet.

The rest of it is so-so, with a random Deadpool clone, Deathstroke, Ultraman, and Owlman.  

The second annual has an intriguing villain, one who forces people to face their deepest, innermost internal conflict.  It’s an idea I haven’t seen executed in this manner before, and it leads to an unpowered Superman and the following training sequence:

It’s a nice illustration of Superman’s grit, showing that he’s more than his powers.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Nice

Superman & Batman: Generations 1-4

John Byrne writes an Elseworlds where Superman and Batman age normally from their first appearances in the 1930s.  Along the decades, they get married (Superman to Lois, Batman to a faceless mystery woman a la Wilson from Home Improvement), have kids who follow in their footsteps, and go through their fair share of tragedies.  Dick Grayson dies brutally at the hands of the Joker and Clark’s son kills his sister Kara before being murdered by Lex Luthor. (Lex also snaps the neck of a cancer-ridden Lois.)

Pretty dark.

Byrne does a great job on both writing and drawing duties.  Unhampered by the editorial need to leave these characters as he found them, he’s able to let his imagination take these classic heroes wherever he wants.  It’s a really fun journey through across the years. I never read the two sequel series, but I’m tempted to check them out.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty good