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.