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SUPERMAN/BATMAN: THE ENEMIES AMONG US
Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Ethan Van Sciver, Matthew Clark, Andy Lanning, Marlo Alquiza and others
Edited by Adam Schlagman and Eddie Berganza
PLOT:
In the arc of issues 28-33, the JLA's Martian Manhunter attacks Batman! The villainous Parasite and Titano return! Superman's allegiances will be tested in this story involving the Green Lantern Corps and more!
REVIEW:
When Jeph Loeb left the Superman/Batman series, fans were wondering who would take over the series and if that person would live up to Loeb's writing of the first 25-26 issues. When Mark Verheiden was named, readers wondered if this man who had done scripts for movies like The Mask, Timecop, and shows such as the popular Smallville could do well on this series. When #27 came in featuring an Earth-2 throwback story with Power Girl & Huntress, it happened to be a good enough story in my taste and it did bring back memories to those who read the Earth 2 adventures in the pre-Crisis DC Comics. But after that issue was done, it was time for the arc. Now we were going to see how Mark Verheiden's writing would hold up for a longer storyline.
The story begins when Batman is trying to shake off an uncertain feeling he had at a social function. Alfred lets him know that Martian Manhunter had arrived and they both meet. Things get strange when Jonn accuses Batman in a betrayal and he attacks both him & Alfred. Afterwards, Batman meets with Superman in the Secret Sanctuary (the first JLA HQ) and tells him of J'onn's behavior. When Batman wonders if that feeling he had before is connected, a distress call from Gotham takes Superman & Batman to find a rampaging Titano. While fighting it, it tells Superman to let Batman die. The fight ends, but Batman has to deal with the evacuation at the Gotham Aquarium where Superman sees Parasite, informing that he will die if he helps Batman. The idea that te villians are Jonn is dismissed, and Batman fights off another villian; Dr. Phosphorus this time. Superman helps and Phosphorus, or that posing as him, disappears and the two leave. Superman believes that it must have changed its form again, which means it could be anywhere. End of part 1 (#28).
Looking back on this arc, I believe that this arc was pretty well done. While I do know that the human heroes vs the alien heroes has most likely been before, for me, reading this for the first time, it had a good positive feel. Even when it dealt with those who are alien in origin, and the creepy what-ifs between them and the humans were good. There is an obivious difference when it comes to Loeb & Verheiden. As seen in this whole arc, Verheiden's style and choice depends on which characters he uses. But Loeb's own over-the-top action, popcorn movie style is still there. Superman/Batman is like our beloved team books: it has to have a big feel. But in its arcs, as single story issues can be small.
In this arc, the storyteller is not either Superman or Batman. But Alfred. The reason is because since Superman does get himself under our mystery villian's control, Batman becomes our main and only hero to stop our main villian and save the controlled alien-origined heroes. So thats the good reason. Alfred's focus is on Batman himself, and how he views and works with other heroes who aren't normal. How Alfred talks about him, and in turn the story's focus on him, shows us not only is Batman the main focus character, but how he is not that dark, that he knows everything about his JLA partners that aren't just to combat them just in case, and how important he is that goes right back to this storyline. And how that despite the differences between them, how Batman still considers Superman a true friend.
The continuity shown here does have the things that are now common in our post-Infinite Crisis DC Comics books. However, while that maybe the case, there are certain things that kinda make it a mess in continuity. Like you could consider this an out-of-continuity tale. For instance; to mark down things that are the case in today's comics: Superman's Fortress from the movies? Check. Martian Manhunter's Brave New World appearence? Fine. An old charcater from the Silver Age by the name of Zook? Okay. Lex Luthor is controlling his company: wait a minute. See? Luthor still the head of LexCorp is not the case today, and I already back-tracked from recent comics to see if it still was, still isn't. So that might kinda affect you wanting to read this arc if you care ALOT about continuity.
Overall, this arc of "Enemies Among Us" happened to really very interesting. The focus more on Batman was welcomed (then again why wouldn't it?) because the "Public Enemies" & "Supergirl" arcs focused more on Superman, while "Absolute Power" & "With a Vengeance" focused on both. So doing an arc now with Batman as the main and only lead was a welcomed changed so there could be more balanced between stories about Superman, Batman, and both. The art team did changed twice first in #31 and in the last issue of #33 and while it was noticeable and it was the art went from very good to mushy to simple, it wasn't like I focused more on the art so much than story. The story still kept me in. So this arc was a good one, and I say you should get it.
The Trade Paperback of Superman/Batman: The Enemies Among Us will be released in book stores on May 9th. If you don't want to go abck and get the back-issues.
RATING: 8/10
Next Issue: Starting in #34, a three-part story where the Metal Men are unleashed onto the Man of Steel & the Dark Knight. But first; the horror that Metallo has become.
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
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