Customer Reviews

Superman/Batman Vol. 3: Absolute Power

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I usually have to read Loeb's work twice to really like it myself, and I've only read this once so far, but it felt really loose the first time through, and I didn't really like some of the changes it made in the characters lives (without giving too much away, by the end both Superman and Batman have memories of having lived more than one life, and (especially for Batman's character,) I don't think that's a good thing -- nor do I expect the ramifications to ever be addressed.)

Getting back to the story, the climax especially seemed weak and not fully explained. I think Loeb often writes very loose and with large brush strokes, but this story didn't really seem to make as much sense as it should have. Why were Batman and Superman bouncing around from alternative reality to alternative reality every time one of them died instead of simply being dead? Never explained. Why, when they jumped into an alternate Gotham, were they being attacked by a bunch of DC's western hero's like Jonah Hex and Scalp Hunter (characters that existed about a hundred years earlier in the DC timeline)? Never explained. And considering how well the scheme of the stories main villains was working, why had no other villain ever tried it? Darksied makes some cryptic remark about the consequences of playing with time travel, which is why he never does it, but that throwaway remark seems more like a way of saying "I don't really have any reason why no other villain has tried this, so I'm just going to say they all realize it's not a good idea, but I won't actually explain why it isn't a good idea." Much of the book seemed to me like Loeb saying "wouldn't it be cool if I could put Superman and Batman in this or that situation, have them fight these certain people they'd never normally fight, and have them die in these dramatic ways -- I don't know how I could logically tie it all together, but it would be cool anyway, and maybe that's good enough."

I'll probably read this volume again, as I have with the first two, both of which I enjoyed quite a bit the second time through, but after one read, I think Loeb was a little lazy with the story in this one. The art is fantastic (without it, this story would only get two stars from me,) but there isn't much depth or characterization to go with it (the characterizations in this definitely seem the weakest of the three story arcs so far), there's a lot of things that don't make a lot sense, a lot of things that aren't explained really at all, an ending that seems very deus ex machina, and little emotional impact because so much of the story seems so arbitrary and throw away. Loeb says he's trying to write big summer blockbusters with these, and he manages some of that feel, but I'd prefer a deeper story with fewer holes to go along with the action.

Absolute Power, the third storyarc from Jeph Loeb's run on Superman/Batman, finds the DC icons in a different light. Through a time traveling sabotage, Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne still grow up to become their respective alter-egos, but they take a far less heroic route, and become rulers of the world. It's interesting, seeing how things could have been different if Johnathan and Martha Kent didn't raise young Kal-El to believe in truth, justice, and the American way, and if someone would have been there to tell young Bruce Wayne that his parents' death wasn't his fault. In this alternate world, we see other DC icons, including Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, and even Uncle Sam, face off against Superman and Batman, and the surprisingly grisly deaths that Loeb and artist Carlos Pacheco orchestrate are reason enough to check Public Enemies out. There's even cameos from Jonah Hex and a final battle with Ra's Al Ghul, and luckily this arc ends before it's premise wears even thinner. All in all, if you enjoyed Loeb's two previous volumes, this is worth checking out as well.

This is the third hardcover edition of the "Batman/Superman" series and I must say that I am not disappointed. It's a great cautionary tale of "What If Supes and Bats ruled the world?" What would the world be like if the Justice League or any other hero were not around to oppose them?

In a word: SCARY!! Especially when they've been influenced by "parents" from the future who teach them values like "Obey or Die" and "Be brutal and swift in taking your revenge".

The story reveals that some heros are still around to form a resistance and rise up against Supes and Bats. The conflict sends them hurling through time and various realities with the goal of setting things to "The way things ought to be".

Supes and Bats finally get to the reaity where they are supposed to be; where all the heroes are alive and well; but the price they pay is that they remember everything they've done (including all of the heroes they've killed throughout time).

Great Story. Excellent Art. Looking forward to the next edition.

The bad news is that this is not as good as volumes one and two of the Superman/Batman series. There is a considerable dropoff here from what came before it.

The good news is that this is still a really good read. It's darker than the "Public Enemies" or "Supergirl" storylines due to the theme, but not drab or dreary by any means.

The chemistry between Clark and Bruce is still there in Loeb's writing. The premise here makes for some confusing moments, but nothing too weird.

The art is better than just good, though not outright great.

Overall, this is still better than most trade paperbacks out there by a long shot. Like volumes one and two, this is fun, fast-paced, and easy to read.

I cant say that i care much for the art in this third book, but i totally dig the story. It is engaging , while at the same time filled with mystery and jaw dropping scenes. Overall, i like this book for the story, but feel that the art should have been done by Michael Turner, no offense to the current artist. I am looking forward to the next book with a new artist.

Jeph Loeb is hit or miss for me. Usually, his stuff is either great or just competent. The competent stuff is good, but it's nothing that sticks with me days or even months later. It doesn't bounce around in my head like Watchmen or Return of the Dark Night or Runaways. It's just good.

The first two story arcs in this series were competent. Having Superman/Batman stories is a cool idea and the dueling narrative can be interesting. Sometimes it can be overly repetitive and even distracting from the rest of the story. But sometimes it's dead on. The first story arc, Public Enemies, was solid. Fun at times, a little contrived at others. A good superhero story. The second story arc, Supergirl, was better. I can't tell if that's because of Turner's artwork (God can that boy draw women) or Superman's whole off-balance and anger that made this a better story arc. Maybe both.

But the third story arc, Absolute Power, was the best of them all. To see Batman and Superman as duel-rulers of the world was very cool. Taking down fellow heroes, even cooler. I really liked how when things went to hell, the changes in timeline made things even better! And then we get to Batman and his parents... that was great!

This was a well-done story arc and a collection that has been sticking around with me for the past couple of days. I like the idea of a hero who knows the love of his parents when he's 20 even though they were murdered in front of him when he was 10. I think that it makes for very interesting characters. And this collection made for a very great read!

What would happen if Batman and Superman ruled the world? "Absolute Power" gives us a glimps of what the DC world would be like if 2 of the big 3's lives were altered and they ruled the world with iron fists. But it doesn't end there, what would the DC world be like if Bruce Wayne's parents hadn't died that night in the alley? This terrific hardcover collection weaves a fabulous tale no fan can afford to miss.

Very, VERY enjoyable (kind of) multiverse story.

What if Superman and Batman are not heroes but dictators?.

The story is a bit confusing in some parts but fear not. Everything is explained in the course of it. It have great WTF moments. Some of them really made me gag.

Anyway, the price is good and the art is cool. Is not as beautiful and magnificent as Dupergirl storyline was but is a very much enjoyable book.

Jeph Loeb has always had really big ideas when it came to comics. Here he offers many different "Elseworlds" where we get to see what would happen if certain events never happened. While the story doesn't actually have any ramifications it was fun to follow. As enjoyable as the story was, the art by Carlos Pacheco, was incredible. I have always been a big fan of his and this reads like the DC version of his work in Avengers Forever. Overall, while the story itself is clichéd, the book was a good ride.

This is the first Batman/Superman story I have read and I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it. Superman and Batman are taken from their origin point by time travelers and brainwashed to be evil. There are times when you see both Batman and Superman murder people. Both heroes end up traveling through different time currents and meet up with different characters throughout the DC Universe. Some well known like Lois Lane or members of the JLA and others that weren't as well known like Jonah Hex, Hush, Sgt. Rock or Uncle Sam. It seemed to be more of an Elseworlds story but it is part of the main story line. I own about 130 graphic novels and I must say that this has been one of my favorites in the DC Universe. I would rank it up there with stories such as JLA: Pain of the Gods or Green Lantern: The Power of Ion. Overall, it is a great read and I would recommend it to anyone.