Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
Writer: Jeph Loeb, Pencils: Ed McGuiness, Inks: Dexter Vines, Colors: Dave Stewart
Collection 2005, Issues originally released 2003

Premise: Collects Superman/Batman #1-6. It's business as usual for The Man of Steel and The Dark Knight, until Metallo's attack forces them together. They'll have to stay a team to deal with Metallo's mysterious plans, a Superman from the future and a giant Kryptonite meteor! And that's before President Luthor takes matters into his own hands, first putting a price on Superman's head, then sending a troop of other heroes to take Superman and Batman into custody!

This series is ridiculously fun. It plays up the relationship between Bruce and Clark using my very favorite version of their partnership: two heroes who are sometimes at odds, but fundamentally respect and trust each other. After all, 'best friends and comrades in arms' is one of my very favorite relationships to read about. And honestly, I'm just a huge sucker for the 'guys can't talk about their feelings but they really care about each other' vibe that permeates this book. The rhythm of how they work together is well established by the time of this story.

This is the beginning of the Superman/Batman title, and it establishes the convention of dual narration that runs through much of the series.

I do think the constant parallelism is fun to read, although I can see why some find it corny. Or more than corny...

I like the format of this trade paperback: each issue starts with a color page which highlights a quote from the issue. This breaks up the story into narrative chunks and adds a touch of foreshadowing.

The action is fast and furious, but the writing constantly layers in nice character moments and humor. The art is clean and sharp, with a fun style that lends itself well to the high-action pace. Other characters who get a moment or more to shine in this volume: Power Girl, Katana, Nightwing, Steel (Natasha Irons), Captain Atom, and more!

If you, like me, are a little discouraged by the grimdark tone of the New52, jump back into the zany world of Superman/Batman. It's a really fun ride.

5 Stars - An Awesome Book