Superman/Batman #37 review

Superman/Batman #37

By Ken
Rating: 1.5

"Torment"

Writer: Alan Burnett
Artist: Dustin Nguyen (p), Derek Fridolfs (i), Randy Mayor ( c)

Synopsis: Killer Croc steals a kryptonian artifact from Lex Corp. His beneficiary is a generic monster villain named Schrocken, who turns on Croc. Clark and Lois’s lunch with their friend is interrupted by Batman summoning Superman via the communicator. Croc is found on a boat and battles Batman once the boat reaches shore. Superman then feels some tremors and flies outside the Daily Planet just to see he is not in Kansas anymore. Okay, he's not in Metropolis anymore.

Comment: Being part of a creative team blessed to work on DC's two flagship characters’ team-up book should be an honor, which is rarely received by creative teams. This honor should have the creative team produce their best work, whether it is their monthly routine or a fill-in issue. Why? To work on Superman/Batman is not just for money. It is not just for glory. It is for honor. You bring out your very best, and you put it down to show respect to these icon. Giving nothing but your best is how these defining characters of DC and comics in general should be handled. Unfortunately, the work on this issue puts a stain on that honor.

I read through the whole comic book and re-read it a second time. I dropped a quarter on the floor and the sound can be heard blocks away. I am still at a loss for words. Superman/Batman has been suffering from a lethargic effort from its creative teams lately. The negative comments towards this series will not affect it's selling power. Having a strong hunch the story and art will be below standard, I still purchased the book on the basis of The Man of Steel and The Caped Crusader being the central characters on this premiere team-up book.

Dustin Nguyen's art started with a lackluster cover. The generic monster villain is something concocted without much creative installment. The characters were drawn with a lack of details. The faces come across as if they were unaware of how they were supposed to look like. In a book showcasing DC's Big Two, that is a travesty of justice. If the art was a meal, the reader just had a couple of slices of lima beans pizza. It doesn't sound appetizing, the same can be said of the art on this book. I know Dustin Nguyen is talented. The scenes where Batman fought Killer Croc were cutting edge pencils. His creative juices must have been 100 percent from concentrate instead of all natural, when it came to drawing civilians. On page nine, the rendition of Lois and Clark seemed to come from an amateur with a lack of penciling experience who just self-published an independent comic book. Sometimes the art can carry the book, even with a lackadaisical story. But the art in this issue is very spotty.

Alan Burnett's script could have used more tweaking to bring it to average. The first mistake was Lois and Clark having lunch with an old friend which took up two pages wasted forced dialogue. Those two pages could have been summed up in two panels. One panel with lunch and simple dialogue, and the next panel Batman summoning Superman. Then Alan could have added two more pages worth of tweaking other parts of the story that could have used those space to move the story forward or develop plots from mediocre and transforming them to above average. Superman/Batman is not about little moments with friends hardly seen in their alter ego's life. Superman/Batman is about dynamic action, and unearthly plots that shows the gravity of the situation where only the World’s Finest can save the day. Quiet moments are limited to loved ones the readers are familiar with, who can appreciate the feel good moments. These are Bruce's wards, Alfred, and Lois. Other non-entity civilians can go visit Superman's or Batman's individual series titles. The plot could put Rip Van Winkle to sleep. The monster acquired the kryptonian artifact, the reader will infer it will head towards Metropolis to use it on Superman. Okay no problem. The big problem is he gets there by car? Come on, that has been done hundreds of times in the past. Alan could have made the entrance to Metropolis more sinister. Dangle a carrot to the reader. Create something that will suck the reader in, not have him or her close the book and toss it in the plastic bag and backboard within five to ten minutes. Now if the reader does that, the only honorable thing to do, is to have exerted 110 percent effort for Superman/Batman #38.

Final Words: I can only recommend this issue to diehard Superman/Batman collectors. Notice, I did not type "readers". Purchase this if you are collecting this series. If you want to read and be entertained, wait until the next creative team takes the helm on Superman/Batman.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #21 review

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #21

By Ken
Rating: 2.5

"Consuming Passion"

Writer: Peter David
Artist: Todd Nauck (p), Robert Campanella (i), John Calisz ( c)

Synopsis: Previously on FNSM #20, Eros, The Other kidnapped Flash Thompson from the bowling alley while he was on his date. After a little heart to heart talk with Betty Brant in Flash's apartment, Peter leaves her to go find Flash after concluding Midtown High Nurse Arrow is really The Other who I will call “Tee-Oh” for easy reference. Then Spidey crashes the bowling alley and does battle with Tee-Oh. Flash escapes with his date to a truck only to be thwarted by Tee-Oh and her legions of cannibalistic spiders. Spider-Man saves Flash's date, but upon reaching the truck, Flash was nowhere to be seen along with any of Tee-Oh and her horde.

Now on FNSM #21, while on the truck, Spider-Man ponders what could've happened to Flash and Eros, Tee-Oh's real name. In deep thought, Spider-Man is harassed by a law enforcement official, who has an armory in his car’s trunk that would make Frank Castle urinate in his Kevlar. Spider-Man's chit-chat with the police officer was filmed unbeknownst to the web slinger. This film will have ramifications later in the book, as it leads to Robbie Robertson yell at J. Jonah Jameson in front of the Daily Bugle staff. Spidey finds Tee-Oh and a webbed up Flash Thompson in a warehouse where Peter and Tee-Oh have a battle. Guess who won this round?

Comments: I would have given FNSM #21 a 3-bullet rating. I had to deduct a bullet point, because of a certain nuisance in the art. Now don't get me wrong. In respect to Amazing Spider-Man and Sensational Spider-Man, FNSM is supposed to be lighter in tone whether it is story or art. Todd Nauck did a good job with the pencils, and Robert Campanella's ink accentuates Nauck's pencils nicely. However, it is the drawing of the noses of every character in this issue that made me deduct a bullet point. I was tempted to deduct a bullet point and a half, but Peter David's writing offset that temptation. All the noses came out like a shortened horizontal boot with a spiky toe. Every time I looked at the panels depicting Tee-Oh, a picture of The Iron Sheik's pointed boots would pop up in my mind. I can understand rendering Tee-Oh's, nose that way to reflect her non-human status. But Betty Brant's nose on pages 3 and 4 are rendered the same way which made her face look annoying.

It is easier to find negative things to say about the art than the positive ones. However, in my mind I have a valid reason. On positive notes, the battle scenes between Spider-Man and Tee-Oh was great. You can tell her determination with her intense eyes. Nauck’s art conveys her between intensity and insanity, making her more dangerous. After all, Tee-Oh's eyes switch from rage to complete confidence almost knowing that she will win. By fighting with their stingers, the battle reminded me of the vicious ballet between Sabretooth and Wolverine. You can’t be more dynamic in that sequence. The only difference was the sound when Spider-Man's stinger came out, "SNAK". Next is the presentation of the creepiness all the thousands of spiders and that disgusting “special egg”. It makes one shiver and look underneath to make sure there are no spiders around. All in all Todd Nauck fits well with Peter David's witty-serious writing. Now, perhaps a "nose job" can be done by Todd Nauck.

Have you ever encountered a dangerous animal that was funny? Peter David's writing on this issue reminded me of the laughing hyena. This is actual praise. The story moves forward, and each new setting, results with greater danger for Spider-Man. Also, the reader cannot help but laugh with the witty dialogue that is de facto Peter David. Spider-Man's "Back in Black" storylines have supposedly darkened our superhero. However, FNSM helmed by Peter David, the fans get the classic witty-banter from Spidey during his battle with Tee-Oh, and from his encounter with the police officer earlier. Peter is the definite writer for FNSM. He fits the tone perfectly. Whether it is “red and blue” or “back in black”, Peter David captures the essence of Spidey's crackling dialogue. This is a rare benefit seldom seen by readers of Spidey today, as his dialogue by other writers fail to capture this defining characteristic of our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

Final Words: This book is for you if you are a Spider-Man fan, and want some of Spidey's other stories tie up its loose ends. If not, it is still a good book to pick up if you just want to be entertained with a genuine Spider-Man character who is witty and entertaining.