World Famous Comics: Superman/Batman Vol. 6: Torment
Superman/Batman Vol. 6: Torment
By: Alan Burnett Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 160 Publication Date: April 02, 2008 Release Date: May 06, 2008
Product Description: Comics most iconic characters come together in this hardcover collection written by Alan Burnett, producer of acclaimed animated series including BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, THE BATMAN and more. This volume presents an epic tale that takes the Dark Knight and Superman from the streets of Gotham to the outer reaches of Apokolips in a quest that pits them against the terrifying galactic villain Darkseid, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and more!
More like a lead-in towards things to come Since its inception, the Superman/Batman series has had it's up's and down's, and in this installment, writer Alan Burnett gets his turn on the title. This time around, Superman and Batman are headed to Apokolips to take on Darkseid and his minions, with ramifications that lead into the Death of the New Gods mini-series, Countdown, and of course, Final Crisis. Yes, it's a long road to these mega-events indeed, and while Burnett manages to provide a thorough and sometimes entertaining narrative, the story as a whole just comes off as more of a lead-in to the aforementioned events than anything else. That being said, Torment is a lot better than the past few installments to come before it, so fans are lible to get more enjoyment out of this too. Dustin Nguyen provides some nice pencil work to boot; all of which adds up to Torment being worth a look if you're a fan of either character or are following the road to Final Crisis.
A prelude of things to come It is currently quite in vogue to bash this comic just for its' very existence. "Do we really need a Superman/Batman teamup book?" is the litany voiced ad nauseum on internet messageboards. The chorus of complaints has reached an even higher pitch with the recent announcement of the new weekly series Trinity. Fortunately not all fans dance to the beat of the same drummer, as some of us prefer to judge stories on their own individual merits and not just by their premise. On this particular trade we welcome the writing talents of Alan Burnett, well known for his work on the DC animated universe. His intriguing tale takes our intrepid heroes on a perilous journey to Apokolips to battle Darkseid and Desaad, whose conclusion will set the stage and have severe ramifications for the DCU in the upcoming months. The story encompasses much of the New Gods lore, including the recent loss of Darkseid's Omega powers and the relationship that the Source Wall and Highfather's staff have to that. Along the way Batman is introduced and unintentionally seduced by Orion's beautiful wife Bekka, who is literally a sex goddess with some very powerful pheremones. This subtext is explored further as he reflects on his life and the sacrifices of love and passion that he has made for the sake of his full time mission as Batman. We also see the long overdue pairing of Desaad with the Scarecrow, a match truly made in Hell, although the Scarecrow is once again reduced to being someone's punching bag. Will DC please finally remove the kick me sign from behind his back. The trade ends on a tantalizing cliffhanger which directly leads into the Death of the New Gods storyline that is currently concluding. On the artistic side Burnett is ably assisted by the increasingly growing in stature presence of Dustin Nguyen. In a previous review of his work, I compared his illustrations to Jack Kirby's, so it is fitting irony that he would be involved in a story featuring many of Jack's greatest creations. Paul Dini has successfully made the transition from the animated DCU to the comics medium. After reading this solid effort, here's hoping that Alan Burnett does the same and has a lengthy and stellar run himself.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
