Sales Review: March 2016

#Rebirth is right around the corner so DC has been trying their best to wrap things up on some titles and tee things up on others. So March, April, and May will be interesting months to watch form a sales point of view. Will people jump off the 'lame duck' months? Will people jump on when the stories will 'matter'?

Well the first month of this trifecta is in the books and ICv2 covered sales in their usual excellent way. Here is a link to last month's top 300 books:
http://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/34194/top-300-comics-actual-march-2016

Amazingly, DC improved in sales this month after what has to be considered a horrible couple of years for them overall. And, surprisingly, a Superman book did well.

Superman #50 was the end of the over-bloated, 'oh so serious', 'this isn't your father's Superman ... heck it isn't your Superman' arc called The Truth. Gene Luen Tang had come on board with a Superman story that was supposed to forever change the dynamic of the Man of Steel, a dynamic that his longtime fans actually liked. And, given that #Rebirth is happening, it looks like it didn't change things forever, or for even a little bit.

I was glad to see this direction fade away.

So I was flabberghasted to see that Superman #50 was the 4th best selling title last month, selling 91K.

I don't recall their being any super-exclusive variant covers that may have driven up store purchases. So could stores have ordered that many thinking the end of the story might draw twice as many readers? Or that the impending #Rebirth might get people intrigued?

Anyways, we are moving on. And that is the truth.

As for the Supergirl books that were out, sales held steady.

DC Bombshells continues to delight me as a reader. I wish I could know the sales digitally for this book. That might add some information.

It seems like this book will finish when #Rebirth comes around. And that is a shame. I'd love to read more about these characters.

It is relatively healthy in sales, coming in just under 20K. That has to be considered a success for a digital first book based on a merchandise line and not in the main continuity.

Thanks to Marguerite Bennett and all the artists for this book.

Justice League 3001 is definitely living on borrowed time. It isn't on the #Rebirth slate. It is struggling in sales. But it stars a great supergirl and is a great melange of all sorts of DC continuities. This book has been another delight for me. I would have missed it if Supergirl hadn't come on board. So glad I got it.

The book has hovered around the 12K mark on sales for a while. This book reminds me of the REBELS book from a few years ago. The people who like it tend to love it. It is a loyal audience. But it just isn't large enough for a DC book.

We have a couple more issues. Everyone should be reading this.

I can't wait to see the sales figures with #Rebirth.

Review: Superman #50

Superman #50, the finale of the 'ground-breaking' storyline The Truth, came out this week. And like an untrained runner finishing a marathon, this book wheezes its way to the end.

I have been critical of The Truth over the last year. The idea of an exposed, powerless, brooding Superman was never embraced. It was never written well enough to make me want to explore this version of Superman. Superman was aloof and angry. He pushed his friends away. He wrestled for money. He battered shackled villains. It wasn't Superman.

On top of the premise, the arc seemed to lose its way about 4 months ago. It was clear than an ending was looming closer than expected. So suddenly, diverse plots were woven together into something that made little sense. The characters changed motivations and personalities quickly. And other plots ended crazily. Suddenly Smallville being razed is forgotten. Suddenly Wrath, an avatar of ire, became a sympathetic character trying to find her family. Suddenly

As a result, the ending is Superman and Vandal Savage having a philosophical debate, contemplating if might makes right. I doubt that writer Gene Luen Yang had this as the final act when he pitched it to DC. He wanted this Superman to be the new baseline.

But Superman fans want him interacting with his supporting cast. They want him to be powerful but restrained, an inspiring figure of hope. And the character in this arc was none of those things. The monster in Doomed isn't that guy. The jerk walking across the country isn't that guy. The guy who left Earth to head up the military guild on a New Krypton isn't that guy. None of the recent mega-arcs have leaned on Superman's strengths. Instead, the creators are trying to make Superman into something he isn't. And maybe those creators aren't the right people to be on these books.

The art on this book is lovely. We have Howard Porter, Patrick Zircher, Adrian Syaf, and Jon Bogdanove bringing great images.

Sales Review January 2016

Are you a DC fan? Do you want to be depressed? Do you want hard data to prove the sinking feeling you have about our favorite heroes? Well head to ICv2 and see their coverage of January's sales:
http://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/33653/top-300-comics-actual-january-2016

DC had about half of Marvel's sales.

They have 2 books in the top 25, one of which is Batman/TMNT.

And Rebirth is right around the corner, resetting a universe that right now seems lost.

And sales bear all that out.

Superman #48 started the fast-paced rush to end The Truth.
It was a crazy issue.
It made no sense in the context of all The Truth stories we have read before.
It had great art by Howard Porter.

It sold just under 38,000 books.

The flagship character is mired in the low 40s in sales.

And Action Comics is even worse, selling just above 30K.

The Superman books are a mess.

Justice League 3001 #8, the bold new direction issue showcasing an all-female League led by Supergirl, came out last month.

This title is a fun mishmash of continuities. It is smart. But it is clearly a niche book. And a company drowning in their own failures probably can't support niche books.

This book sold about 13K.
Those are worrisome numbers.
There was no bump from the new direction. The new direction was barely covered.
Rebirth was the death knell for this book. It will be missed.

I should stop doing these posts.

They depress me.

I am sure that Rebirth will fix everything!!!!

Review: Superman #48

Superman #48 came out this week, the next chapter in The Truth.

I have been complaining about The Truth almost since its inception. This isn't the sort of Superman I necessarily want to read. And with this mega-arc working through 4 titles, each with a different timeline and sometimes a very different Superman, it has been hard to embrace this vision. Outside of a depowered Superman, even outside Clark being exposed, it is more the characterization that has bugged me. The overly angry Superman in Superman/Wonder Woman. The sometimes stupid Superman in this title. The one quick to jump into a fight and endanger others in Batman/Superman. The whole thing has been something of a mess.

Now, with the end of The Truth coming up, somehow the four books have to intertwine and bring this thing to an end. I should be happy that we might be coming up on a Rebirth of Superman in his books. But, much like when World of New Krypton sprinted to its ending, I think I am going to be just as unhappy with the ending.

And so I read this issue and felt this was a giant step forward towards wrapping this up. But such rapid and ill-defined plot progression felt forced and therefore unsatisfying.

The art on the book is split between Howard Porter and Adrian Syaf. They each have a distinct style which makes the book feel a little disjointed as well. I prefer Porter's art and wish he had done the whole issue. It isn't that Syaf's stuff isn't good. I just think Porter has really done wonderful work here.

The book starts with Superman stopping a criminal named Kingslayer from blowing up a political debate. Steve Trevor is also on hand to try to protect the proceedings. I like seeing Superman helping Trevor and working as a hero.

But this is the beginning of where the four distinct times of the books come crashing together. Superman says that he has been made mortal by the Olympian gods.That means this is after last week's Superman/Wonder Woman. We don't know how long has passed from last month's Superman issue. Days? Weeks?

I've never heard of Kingslayer before. He seems delightfully goofy.

Kingslayer has been apprehended and placed in what sounds like a technological version of Wonder Girl's old pain lasso. Trevor begins to torture the villain for information.

Superman takes the high road, as he should, telling Trevor to stop.

But remember, this is the same Superman that we have seen batter and bash a tied up Parasite just a couple of months ago. How can he take the high road when he was doing the same thing?

That is the problem of The Truth.

One of the political candidates is J. Wilbur Wolfingham, a charlatan and con man from old DC Comics. After bad mouthing Superman in the opening scene, he tells everyone to listen to the Man of Steel and calm down. Because he's 'still Superman'.

But remember early in the series when everyone hated Superman. Where his friends cast him out? Where he was being shunned, even on the run from police? Where did all that hatred go?

Meanwhile, we meet another member of Vandal Savage's children. This one is a the Puzzler.

Working with Hordr_Root, Puzzler's human consciousness is downloaded into a robot. Then, much like with Hordr_Root's origin, the human body is killer. Only the data model, inside an attack mecha survives.

This origin is so similar to Hordr's and this character is so banal, I don't know if we needed him introduced. If the ending is so close, do we need another villain?

Now things get even more rushed.

Superman says a layer of his cells have been mutated blocking his ability to absorb solar energy. Unless I have blanked, I am pretty sure this is the first time that we have heard this. So suddenly we have an answer. But to drop it as one line in the middle of this book and not have it be more of a reveal feels off.

Even crazier, Superman has figured out that Kryptonite will kill those cells and therefore cure him. That also is one line dropped in the middle of this issue. Shouldn't that have been a bigger deal? Maybe an end of an issue bombshell? Clark has sought out Trevor because he knows ARGUS has Kryptonite.

Also, we learn this takes place after the Superman Annual. Vandal Savage has brought the Stormwatch satellite into orbit. The JLA is trapped. Wonder Woman is free. So Superman is doing this side mission while his friends are being drained? And what is Savage doing during all this? Just sitting back?

The time line is so crazy. I don't know what has happened when any more.

There are two good moments in the book worth reviewing.

One is Trevor saying that he was sad when Diana broke it off with him. He was sad that she went with Superman. But it is hard not to imagine the two together. They 'seem' perfect together.

Maybe Trevor is the voice of DC's leadership? Or maybe he is supposed to be saying that while they might appear perfect, they aren't. Seeing Steve voice his feelings was appreciated.

Superman does expose himself to Kryptonite and does feel the effects.

Wracked with pain, he says 'tell her ... that my last thoughts were with her'. He doesn't say Diana. So in my mind, he is talking about Lois.

Maybe when this is over, he'll tell Lois about this moment. But I doubt it. I bet Yang let's that moment stay like this ... vague.

Of course, the Puzzler, now the Puzzlr, shows up to try to kill Superman.

I have no idea what his powers are. But it seems like he shoots puzzle pieces at technology which allows him to get control. It's crazy. But visually he and the flying puzzle pieces are pretty grabbing. Porter has always drawn mecha like this well, starting (for me) with Armek of the Hyperclan. I had to include this splash of the robot towering over a withered and green-tinged Superman. Beautiful.

Superman is pulled out of this sure death situation by Trevor. But the K-treatment seems to be working. Superman feels hungry and somehow that means he is being cured. So Clark jumps into a huge vault stuffed with Kryptonite.

Okay, this issue was hard for me to wrap my head around. This Superman acted like Superman should, fighting crime, stopping senseless violence, thinking of Lois, using his head, trying to be a hero. Unfortunately, it feels almost incongruous from what we have seen before in The Truth.

Worse than that, the understanding of his condition and the K-cure seem to have come out of nowhere. This was dropped in our laps, never hinted at in any other place.

I have said it in other reviews and I'll say it here. I am ready for this mega-arc to be over. And, given some snippets I've seen, I am interested in seeing Yang on a more classic Superman. Thankfully we'll get there soon.

Overall grade: C

Review: Action Comics #48

Action Comics #48 came out last week, another chapter in The Truth, another issue closer to the end of this mega-arc, another chapter that I feel like I don't understand exactly what is going on, why it is going on, and why I am supposed to care.

Maybe I am just so fatigued about this arc that I am not invested.

And it is a shame, because like many of the Greg Pak/Aaron Kuder Action Comic issues, there are some things to like. In particular, it was great to see Kuder back on pencils for most of the issue. His stuff is really visually engaging, quirky and hypnotic.

But I can't get over the fact that I still don't understand the motivations of Vandal Savage, the 'big bad' of this mega-arc. What is he trying to accomplish? How does he think he is going to do it? Why was draining Superman so key? And why does he need his kids?

In the Superman Annual, Savage had taken over the Stormwatch satellite and has returned to Earth, crashing it into the JLA watchtower and suddenly in orbit.

Why?

We learned in the Annual that Savage is trying desperately trying to get back in contact with the Kryptonian Comet. He now has control of a massive mobile space fortress. Why come to Earth? Why fight the JLA? Why not just use this ship to find the comet and get the power?

Unless that isn't what he is trying to accomplish? But then what is he trying to accomplish? World domination? Then why bring up the comet at all? I'm confused.

One thing I do like is that Superman, still on the ground, is trying to save as many people from the destruction of this Savage attack as possible. That sounds like Superman.

We never learn just how Savage got control of the Stormwatch ship? Did he defeat them?

And somehow, almost off screen, Savage and his kids are able to defeat the entire JLA, hooking them up to energy draining devices. Savage, Frankenstein, Hordr, Wrath, and troops defeat Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and the Flash.

Savage then says he wants to change the world for the better, something Superman should be doing if he was a hero.

But how is Savage going to save the world.

One of the ways seems to be firing Black Mass bombs into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Superman is on the ground stopping buses from falling off bridges and grabbing people in danger of dying. Luckily, another League is around to help out, the recently cancelled Justice League United.

I include this panel just to showcase how great Kuder draws a team shot. Great stuff.

The League, Superman, and Steel decide to hole up and think out a plan.

The transformation of Lana from action hero to angry ex to loving ex continues. When she sees Clark, she runs into his arms. She thoughts he had died.

I can remember gushing about how Lana was portrayed when Pak first reintroduced her waayyyy back in the Subterranea storyline. I had an idea of who she was as a character then. Now, she has been through a bit of a blender of emotions such that I don't know what to expect anymore.

While together, Steel reveals plans for a new super-armor, based on original Metallo armor and powered by Kryptonite. With no other choice, Superman decides to don it, though it may kill him, so he can help out more.

And then for the absolute oddest twist in the story for me. So I am hoping someone can explain it to me.

The Black Mass bombs are killing people, making them wrathful. Suddenly Wrath is upset at Savage's tactics with her black power. She didn't think it was a killing device. She suddenly has some ethics and her father wants nothing to do with that. He wants to kill off people so only the Savage bloodline will persist.

So first off, when did Wrath become good. Remember her first appearances, grinning seductively in the mayor office as she sends monsters to attack neighborhoods. She was all about wrath and anger and destruction. She was not into saving people or finding survivors. So this makes no sense to me ... none.

Second, didn't Savage suck all the shadow out of his daughter and everyone and tuck it back into the box just a couple of issues ago??

The JLU and Superman storm the Stormwatch ship and Superman is able to free Diana.

She notices that his armor is killing him.

Beautiful art here.

Hordr is somehow able to capture all of the JLU and hook them into energy draining machines. That also seems a bit fast, no? If these guys are that tough, that they can defeat two Justice Leagues so easily, how can I ever buy that Superman in armor that's killing him can win?

And, to further be confusing, Wrath turns on her father because he is evil.

This turn also seems odd given how evil Wrath has been this whole time. She hasn't been worried about people or trying to do good ever.

And so there are only two heroes left who can save the day, Superman and Wonder Woman.

But they seem defeated already while Savage prepares his final strike.

Can anyone tell me, succinctly, what Savage's plan is? Get to the comet? Use Black Mass to kill people? Why all the energy draining? Why the Nazi gunship in Batman/Superman? Why Uranium and portable suns when he clearly is powerful enough to capture and drain superpowered beings?

Is all of the Truth and all the arcs in the books supposed to all be tied into Savage? And how am I supposed to rectify all these plots into something cohesive?

Thank goodness Kuder was on art for the bulk of the book. The visuals are the only thing that propped this book up. Because it seems like things are happening fast and loose so this thing can come to an end.

Overall grade: C-

Review: Superman #47

The Truth started about half a year ago and has run its course through all the Superman books. It has had a few high moments, lost in a sea of brooding, depowered, angry Clark stomping around. It hasn't been  groundbreaking to me and I have mostly been unimpressed. Now with the 50th 'anniversary' issues ahead of us, it seems as if The Truth will come to a close. We have seen a repowered Superman, in his old suit, flying on future solicits. And so, the time has come for the plots of this over-arching story to come to a close. 

Superman #47, written by Gene Luen Yang with art predominantly by Howard Porter with some pages by Raymund Bermudez and Tom Derenick, starts to bring some plots to a close. The immediate physical threat of Hordr_Root is dealt with. The Sand Superman is defeated. The Mythbrawl arc is closed. And more meat is put on the bones of the Vandal Savage thread. Some of these seem to close quickly, maybe faster than might have been initially anticipated.

But I am happy. Because I think I am running out of patience. While I will admit that the last issues by Yang have been interesting to read with some good ideas and some decent hooks, I am ready to have a 'real' Superman back.

So onto this issue.

Last issue ended with Jimmy Olsen taking a full on heat vision blast to the chest.

It is hard to understand how he survives this. Why isn't there a plate-sized hole in Jimmy's chest? I honestly don't get it. But I guess I just have to roll with it.

While Superman battles the Sand Superman and Yurei, Condesa uses her powers to get a lift out of there and to a hospital.

One of my problems with this story is that the degree of Superman's strength and powers has varied as needed by story details. In Superman/Wonder Woman, he is a bruised and battered mess from gunshots. Here he wrestles a powerful Sand Superman clone and somehow remains alive. In fact, the Sand Superman uses the Solar Flare power which only buffets rather than incinerating Clark. Again, seems wrong.

What I do like is that Yang comments on Superman's needless reliance on the flare power earlier. I didn't know why Superman would use it for fighting tanks, robots, etc. It shouldn't be a default. But I like that because of that crutch, the Sand Superman also defaulted to it.

The flare turned the Sand Superman to glass, easily shattered. Nice to see Sand Superman again. I would have no qualms (or Quarrms) seeing him again.

Jimmy is brought to the hospital to recover. Superman still is hearing the distrust from many.

Sigh.

I hope that goes away. How about an inspirational Superman??

After months of cat and mouse, for some reason, Hordr_Root decides to take the battle to Superman directly. Knowing Clark was at Mythbrawl, Hordr and a squad of energy drainers decided to throw down.

Superman seemed to be waiting for this because he had the gods of the fight site ready to assist. Realizing Hordr must teleport out via Wifi, Superman has Mayari create a RF signal-free globe. Because, after all, it would make sense for a Tagalog lunar goddess to have this power. Right?

Okay, I guess I have to roll with this too. That's three rolls in the opening pages.

Because of the globe, Hordr is trapped in this body.

The robots are destroyed. Hordr is thrashed. And the gods tell Superman to end it completely. They tell him to kill Hordr. And for a second, it seems that Superman is contemplating it. After all, Hordr has not only injured Superman but also Perry. And Jimmy.

Love this panel. Nicely drawn. Great angle. Powerful.

But there is another way to deal.

Condesa has made a human hard drive. Using her powers, she downloads Hordr into a device where he is trapped. There is no escape.

We have heard that Condesa was a programmer and can communicate with electronics, I suppose it makes sense she could tinker a device like this.

But there was one last turn. Hordr had been controlling Jimmy. In fact, when Superman is thinking of killing Hordr, Root tries to goad him into it. Because of course that would be a major blow to Superman.

What I do like is Jimmy saying that he was worried about Superman. Despite everything, Jimmy has remained a believer in Clark. I like that loyalty and belief in his hero.

And another nice panel construction here. The busted Hordr mask in the foreground is a bit cliche but it works.

With Hordr trapped and dropped off at Mr. Terrific's for safe keeping, there isn't anything left but the wrap up.

After hearing Shahrazad tell a skewed version of Superman's origin last issue, I was glad to hear her say something more traditional here. It almost seems like this shows that Superman is regaining his own belief in himself. He isn't bemoaning his fate anymore. He is embracing it.

This was a nice moment. Thankfully.

We get some backstory of Hordr via memories that Jimmy has gained.

Hordr's human form was Vandal Savage's son but Savage had no use for him. To prove himself, the son used his tech know-how to create the Hordr program. Unfortunately, it became sentient, created an android form, and killed the human creator. I like this sort of Frankenstein's monster aspect to this origin. Or maybe it is like The Great Danton in The Prestige. But this brings some heft to the character that I like.

As the electronic Hordr, Savage now has respect. In fact, so much respect that Savage breaks his 'son' out of Terrific's stronghold.

So what to think?

Well, this issue certainly moved things along briskly and that makes me happy. Howard Porter's pages are just fantastic. And there are a couple of nice moments, helping smooth over the rougher aspects of this chapter.

We are closer to the end of The Truth as well.

Overall grade: C

Review: Batman/Superman #27

Since its inception, I have had worries about The Truth. A depowered Superman story can be interesting. Having Clark be revealed as Superman can be interesting. But most of my concerns about the overall arch has been the coarsening of Superman's character, making him angry, a monster, a loner. It is as if the creators have forgotten that Clark is Clark, the lessons learned from his parents creating the man he is.

I have been saying that this has been going on too long.

Batman/Superman #27 came out this last week and maybe there are signs that The Truth is coming to an end. There are plot points that come to a pretty fast ending in this issue. Almost too fast. Perhaps I am the worst type of comic reader, complaining about pacing being too slow and then too quick? Also, this is clearly a Batman and Superman issue. The Bat-family, featured so prominently in the last issue, are barely seen.

But, to be honest, I was able to look past some of this sprint to the finish in this issue mostly because there is plenty of very good characterization in the issue. In most of the issue, Superman read like Superman, sounded like Superman. Pak uses a flashback told several times through the issue to have the heroes reflect back on who they are and what they represent.

I very much enjoyed the art in this issue. Cliff Richards provides the 'current' art with the heroes fighting Vandal Savage. Richards brings a very clean look to those scenes. I love his interpretation of Batgirl. The flashback scenes are done by Jack Herbert who brings a more thick-lined, rougher feel which works with this being a memory. The cover is done by Yannick Paquette and while beautiful, that scene does not appear anywhere in the book.

The issue starts with Commissioner Gordon remembering a battle that took place in Gotham where Superman and Batman fought the Supremacists. During that fight, Superman flings a doomsday device into space. Unfortunately, at the same time Jimmy Olsen falls off a roof. Superman makes the choice that the good of the many outweigh the good of his Pal. Luckily, Batman is there to save Jimmy.

Gordon can't help but notice that Batman and Superman clearly trust each other implicitly. In the flashback it shows Gordon smiling when he sees Superman in action. That is a far cry from the gruff distrusting man he is now.

The point being that things were better in the past when these heroes were at their best. It is a very nice contrast to where they are today.

Now the plot becomes a bit silly at this point. Batgirl discovers that the Nazi Warship we saw last issue has been rewired so that all power is going to the turrets. It is basically a giant cannon.

So Vandal Savage's incredible plan, requiring massive energy, is to power a 1940's super-gun. That seems almost silly.

After thinking with his fists for a while, Superman decides to plan more. The team has to dismantle the gun. They have to save the miners. They have to capture Savage. Then Batman says there is one more objective - keeping the team alive.

I love Superman's irritated look. That clearly shouldn't need to be said. Of course, Superman wants them to live. That is old school Superman.

That said, we haven't seen that guy in a while. He shouldn't be annoyed when last issue he was ready to storm the camp like an idiot. So I am glad to see this characterization again.

And Superman planning things makes sense too. But we haven't seen that in a while either. Just last issue, Batgirl was the one laying out the strategy.

And so a plan is made. Part of it is Superman and Batman bringing the fight to Savage, even briefly, in order to take out his teleportation device.

Again, Superman can sense that Batman simply doesn't trust him. I have to say, Superman hasn't been acting too trustworthy lately. So I don't see why Superman should be surprised. Superman tells Batman that the two are both human now. They need to work together.

But the words and art work nicely together. That first panel Superman saying that things are not what they used to be while he is holding a rifle. And the second panel with the small space that feels huge as they two seem to size each other up. That is just about perfect complementary comic panels.

The two retrofit the teleporter to bring them to Savage's flying base. It is a hit and run mission with Superman using the gun to disable Savage's guidance systems. Savage himself, much stronger than I remember him being, wades in and basically mops the floor with the two. Nearly defeated, the two heroes slip back through the teleporter to the mining site, destroying it as they leave. Savage can't just blip in to finish the job. He has to fly there.

It is a nice action sequence. Richards does a nice job keeping things lively, changing viewpoints and giving us palpable hits like this one.

Savage arrives and learns that the Batfamily and Superman are hiding miles out of the base. The villain decides he will use his Nazi Super-turret to wipe them off the face of the Earth. But the heroes have rewired the ship. Now all energy goes to the engines. The plan is the ship will head into orbit where Savage can simply be captured. Unwilling to be captured, Savage rips his way out of the ship, destabilizing it such that it explodes. It is assumed Savage escaped.

Okay. So all this energy Savage has been working on for the last year was to be used to power this big gun? That was a stretch. In this issue we learn the Wayne Tech portable sun needed to be fueled by the uranium the miners were harvesting. That doesn't sound like a self-sustaining energy source, like implied when we first learned of this thing. That seems silly.

And now the big gun is destroyed, thus snipping that plot string abruptly. That seems fast.

I don't know ... I should want all this to go away. But this seemed like a poor payoff for all I have had to live through.

What's nice is that the mission has helped close the chasm between Superman and this Batman. They can trust each other. Gordon actually tells Superman his secret identity, the ultimate sign of trust in these circles.

Hooray.

That is my Superman.

The initial flashback battle between the world's finest duo and the Supremacists was revisited in the middle of the issue, showing how Superman respects the original Batman for always being there.

After this new friendship, Superman remembers the fight once more, remembering that despite their differences the two heroes could always count on each other.

I thought this flashback again used art nicely. The two panels commenting on justice and vengeance are inked in a way that it reminds me of Frank Miller. Of course in Miller's view the two fight each other. And yet the next panel is them out of the shadows and back to back showing that the differences don't have to lead to conflict. It can lead to teamwork.

So I am of two minds with this issue. The whole plot is a bit inane and wrapped up too quickly, too neatly. And yet, this issue shows us a Superman who is a hero, who feels he wants to be trusted, who is a planner trying to save people. That characterization does carry the book for me.

But Savage needed a portable sun to power a Nazi gunship? Really?

Overall grade: B