Customer Reviews

Superman/Batman: Finest Worlds HC

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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Unlike the last two solid and certainly recommended Superman Batman trades, Torment and The Search for Kryptonite, this latest entry is not one complete arc, but a compilation of three different short stories. The first is an expanded single issue taking us on a "what if" journey, or is it, to Krypton and a possible first meeting between Thomas Wayne and Jor-El. That's followed up by a witty and quite amusing two part tale guest starring the L'il League, and concludes with a four part account of the mysterious swapping of powers between our intrepid heroes and the dire ramifications that arise from it. All stories work well and feature what we have come to expect and enjoy from this title; slightly over the top buddy adventures highlighted by their unique differing viewpoints. The whimsical opener is a good example of this, showcasing the dueling internal monologues of Messrs. Wayne and El. In this remarkable instance however, we are referring to Thomas Wayne and Jor-El, not Bruce Wayne and Kal-El. One critique of this intriguing account worth mentioning though is the somewhat disturbing implication that Thomas Wayne benefited from the arguably unethical misuse of Kryptonian tech to further his company's destiny. This may be tempered in part by the contention that his main motivation was the concern of others and of Gotham as a whole, but that line of reasoning is unclear. The level of quality displayed throughout is a welcome surprise, considering that most trades employing the multiple story approach tend to exhibit inconsistency, which is further compounded by their lack of import vis-à-vis lengthier tales. Graphic novels usually work best by either featuring that one major saga or conversely being comprised exclusively of single issue stories ala the Detective collections. In this case, despite the format's normal limitations, the book's proficient melding of escapist adventure, imaginative interpretations, plus a few chuckles along the way succeeds in making this yet another satisfying reading diversion starring these two illustrious icons.

I'll just skip past the first two stories, although they're good, are not the central story in this collected edition of Superman/Batman issues #50-56.

The final story, "Super/Bat," is a really fun read and, personally, I think it should be one of DC/Warner Bros' direct to DVD features. Superman's powers are transferred to Batman and we really get to see how obsessed Batman is with stopping crime.

The other two stories are just a bonus, in my opinion. "Lil' Leaguers" is just a nice fun (and funny) break from the normal serious tone. "Fathers" is interesting, to say the least.

For my money, "Super/Bat" is worth the purchase, alone.

I've bought each of these Superman/Batman hardcovers, but the storylines have been getting weaker and weaker...