By J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Eddy Barrows (pencils), J.P. Mayer (inks), Rod Reis (colors) and John J. Hill (letters)
The Story: Superman continues his flat-footed journey of reconnection with the common man, but is interrupted first by Batman, and then by a common man who has quite suddenly gained some very uncommon powers…
What’s Good: The first good news to report is that the dialogue has been toned down quite a bit, and that’s for the better. Instead of being completely over the top aw-shucks-gee-whizz-jes’ folks hokey, the corn factor has been reduced to more manageable levels. Not soon enough, either. It’s all well and good to watch Supes interacting with everyday people; it’s quite another to watch him interact with a bunch of stereotypes.
The art team is doing some very nice work here as well. I especially love the bright, energetic colors Reis uses to bring Superman’s world to life. They’re warm without being sappy or overly saturated, and inviting without being saccharine. More even than the (quite cool) heroic poses Barrows gives Superman to strike, it’s the colors and the balance between them that sets this world’s tone and give it a smattering of verisimilitude. In the same way the right dark and shadowy art can make you believe (at least momentarily) that, yes, maybe someone like Batman could exist, Reis’ vibrant palette builds a world that allows for someone as good and pure-hearted as Superman to exist.
What’s Not So Good: Speaking of good and pure hearted…why is Superman dangling a boy in the air by his ankle, and demanding promises from him? Now granted, from what Supes makes clear, the kid was repeatedly harassing a waitress, but…shouldn’t he be turned over to the police or something? Anything? Getting the guy to leave the waitress alone is one thing, but I really felt like JMS took it a step or two too far in this instance. It felt…almost mean, which isn’t exactly the case since the buy deserved some comeuppance, but it didn’t sit well with me regardless. It seemed very out of character—the extent to which he punished the boy did, anyway.
As long as we’re talking out of character…did Bruce Wayne return a little early, and without telling anyone? Because the Batman who confronts Supes in this issue does not sound like the Dick Grayson we know from the other Bat-books at all. Obviously every writer is different, and some license will always be taken, but Batman’s dialogue here is so very un-Grayson like that it’s very difficult to reconcile. Perhaps he’s just trying to channel a bit of Bruce to help emphasize his point to Superman, but that’s never hinted at, and would be a pretty absurd explanation anyway. One characterization flub I can forgive; but two in a row, and with DC’s two biggest heroes? That does not bode well.
Conclusion: This is not a bad issue, and in spite of the characterization flaws noted above, the scene between Superman and Batman is very good and helps elevate the rest of the book. Still…nine issues left to go with this arc feels like quite a lot, and unless JMS can kick it up a notch, I’m going to have a hard time justifying the expenditure to keep up.
Grade: C+
-SoldierHawk
Grade
Conclusion