Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Jeph Loeb's swan song, thankfully, April 30, 2007
Up until this storyarc, I pretty much enjoyed Jeph Loeb's run on the high selling Superman/Batman series, but sadly, Loeb's final arc on the title is just loaded with plot holes and hard to understand. Vengeance finds a group called the Maximums hunting down Superman and Batman because they believe the two iconic heroes murdered one of their own. Naturally, this is not the case, and soon enough Bizarro is on the scene, along with "Batzarro" (I kid you not), the Joker, and Mr. Mxyzptlk. What happens next in Vengeance is incredibly hard to follow as Loeb appears to shift things into high gear, but things never take off. His renditions of Supes and Bats are more wooden here than ever before, and the story inconsistencies and additional appearances out of nowhere just boggle the mind. Ed McGuinness, who teamed with Loeb when Superman/Batman launched, returns to lend his pencil work with Dexter Vines on inks, may be too cartoony for some, but it's undoubtedly the highlight of this TPB. This ended up being Loeb's last arc on the title before taking work once again with Marvel, so hopefully the otherwise talented and celebrated writer has had his batteries recharged.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Methinks Jeph Loeb Needs A Vacation, August 15, 2006
Don't get me wrong: Jeph Loeb, chief writer on DC's terrific "Superman/Batman" series, has done outstanding work with these two players -- the rock solid foundation of the DC Universe ... but VENGEANCE -- by its bitter anticlimax -- feels very much like a conglomeration of ideas instead of one masterful story from start to finish.
Loeb begins with a Super-opening: Superman and Batman appear from a Boom Tube (don't ask, you've just gotta know what one is to really appreciate what happens here)and kill a superhero called Skyscraper who presumably murdered Lois Lane; incensed and out for vengeance, the Maximums -- this world's Justice League -- vow to hunt the Man of Steel and the World's Greatest Detective to the ends of whatever universe they inhabit in order to have their revenge ... and right there -- at least for me -- is where this story FELT like it wasn't going to be quite right: superheroes represent the best any world has to offer, and these Maximums want vengeance. They want blood. They want to kill Batman and Superman for taking one of their comrades away. Honestly, right there, I was wondering if this was a tale for me.
Not too many pages later, I'm struggling to get through the mental and verbal gibberish of not only Bizarro but Batzarro, and I'm thinking, "Geez, Jeph Loeb really needs some time off."
VENGEANCE isn't a total loss. Loeb's a great writer with a fantastic imagination and an uncanny ability to seal himself inside the minds of these two superheroes to show the reader what makes them tick, and only from his learned hands can you find so many wonderful moments in an otherwise forgettable story. There's not only two worlds at play here; there are, quite possibly, dozens, as Supermen, Batmen, Supergirls, Batboys, and the like show up from earnest supporting appearances. Granted, it may not make a whole lot of sense, but even THAT makes sense once you find out which dastardly villains are behind this whole world-hopping, mind-blowing affair.
Yes, it's worth a read, and, yes, it's arguably worth forgetting. Remember the little moments along the way, and keep your fingers crossed for Loeb to appear in top form again real, real soon!
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Will the real Batman or Superman please stand up?, July 26, 2006
Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's a little confusing. But yes, I loved this book. In time I have learned to relax and love MXYZPTLK, and here he has our two boys in total confusion. Batzarro (who I loved), Bizarro #1, Supergirls, Maximums, boom tubes, alternate earths, and an absolutely hilarious episode with the Batman Beyond character and Bizarro. Jeph Loeb had SO much fun writing all of this and poking fun at the industry, while still managing to include some heartbreaking moments too (Batzarro's death). What is not to love?? Relax, take a deep breath, buy it, and enjoy.
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