By: Jeph Loeb Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 160 Publication Date: November 11, 2008 Release Date: November 11, 2008
Product Description: The original superstar team of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness return for one of the most talked about storylines of the year.
The fourth volume of the enormously popular SUPERMAN/BATMAN series finds our heroes confronting a new challenge: The Maximums, a group of super-heroes closely tied to the U.S. Government. Someone has killed one of their team, and the Maximums are on the hunt for the murderer. The trouble is, there are two names on the top of their list: Superman and Batman!
Graphic SF Reader A bizarre cross-universe game between Mxyzptlk and the Joker, it seems. Batman and Superman are harassed and kept off balance by an Ultimate Marvel Universe satire, and two Bizarros, including a Batman.
In the end, this appears to all be a plot to free Bat-Mite and release Darkseid from the Source Wall, as well as get Batman and Superman to be more trusting.
They get to through in a Batwoman, a Superwoman, and a Supermen and Batman through the ages. Lots of fun for the artists, presumably.
Somewhat incomprehensible and whacky.
Don't skip it... I'm not quite sure why so many people have a problem with this story. Sure it's crazy, but considering the main "villains" involved, it should be nothing else. I don't think a lot of people really "get" this story, which is so crazy...it works.
There's a ton of characters involved, and some twists to old favorites. I loved The Maximums as an Avengers parody, great stuff there. Bizzaro and Batzarro are great as unlikely heroes, although after awhile it can be a chore reading their text. It was cool to see Loeb handle them just as he does Supes and Bats though.
Overall this is a fun read, if you take it too seriously, you'll end up jaded like the other people who've written reviews on it. It looks very likely that Loeb and McGuinness just wanted to have a good time with their last S/B arc. It's nice to have some comics left these days that don't take themselves so seriously. It's also worth noting that this arc again builds on the relationship between Superman and Batman, which Loeb is great at. I recommend it, don't listen to the hate.
Jeph Loeb's swan song, thankfully Up until this storyarc, I pretty much enjoyed Jeph Loeb's run on the high selling Superman/Batman series, but sadly, Loeb's final arc on the title is just loaded with plot holes and hard to understand. Vengeance finds a group called the Maximums hunting down Superman and Batman because they believe the two iconic heroes murdered one of their own. Naturally, this is not the case, and soon enough Bizarro is on the scene, along with "Batzarro" (I kid you not), the Joker, and Mr. Mxyzptlk. What happens next in Vengeance is incredibly hard to follow as Loeb appears to shift things into high gear, but things never take off. His renditions of Supes and Bats are more wooden here than ever before, and the story inconsistencies and additional appearances out of nowhere just boggle the mind. Ed McGuinness, who teamed with Loeb when Superman/Batman launched, returns to lend his pencil work with Dexter Vines on inks, may be too cartoony for some, but it's undoubtedly the highlight of this TPB. This ended up being Loeb's last arc on the title before taking work once again with Marvel, so hopefully the otherwise talented and celebrated writer has had his batteries recharged.
Poor Storyline I loved the first two arcs of the Superman/Batman series - they were superb. The first of those, "Public Enemies", was made by the same team that created this, but its hard to believe by reading it. Loeb weaves a ridiculous plot that doesn't really do anything except introduce a variety of characters into an absurd storyline. The only redeeming feature of this whole thing is the artwork by McGuiness, which was excellent as usual. But it doesn't make it worth wasting time with this silly piece.
Great!!! Great addition to the series. I wasnt too crazy about the story, but the number of different characters more than made up for it.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
