Superman/Batman by Jeph Loeb (Review)

Citizen's Grade: Awesome.

The Superman/Batman series is AWESOME!! How; if you are a fan of either character...or even more if a fan of both, can you not love and collect this great series? I find myself asking that question more and more as I see sales dwindling every month to the point that the "cancellation" whispers have begun....the only answer I can come up with is that Jeph Loeb is no longer writing the series. He IS that good!!

Loeb wrote the first four Volumes of the Superman/Batman series that generally sold around 80,000-100,000 issues per month (compared to the 30,000-40,000 that it is selling now under different writers).....making it one of DC's best sellers. The "out-of-continuity" series was in a universe all it's own, with Loeb as mastermind of this universe, and include the following volumes:


1. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. This is one of my Top 5 graphic novels to own, as Loeb tells a story of loyalty and friendship between the two unlikely heros. As President Lex Luthor tries to bring down the Man of Steel; using all of the government's resources and superpowered beings to do it, Batman and Superman try to clear his name and save the world at the same time. Artwork by the great Ed McGuinness.

2. Superman/Batman: Supergirl. This volume just misses my Top 5, but is definitely a top 10! Batman discovers a strange vehicle at the bottom of Gotham City Bay, which leads him to find a teenaged girl bent on destroying his city. Soon...Superman, Wonder Woman, & Darkseid are drawn to the girl...who is she, and what is her connection to Superman? Whose side will she choose to be on? Artwork by mega-superstar Michael Turner. Turner's art is phenomenal, especially his scenes of Darkseid "beating down" Batman.

3. Superman/Batman: Absolute Power. Wake up to a World with a New World Order....Superman's and Batman's! Humankind has only one choice: Obey the Iron-Fisted rule of the two....or die. How did this happen, and who can possibly stop them? Follow the World's Finest Duo as they travel through alternate Earths, and endless adventure. Artwork done by the fan-favorite team of Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino.

4. Superman/Batman: Vengeance. In this tale of non-stop action, Superman and Batman travel to an alternate earth to avenge the murder of Lois Lane! The mightiest heroes from infinite Earths cross dimensional barriers to seek out and punish the two for the death of their comrade. Guest stars Bizarro, Batzarro, several Supergirls, Supermen, and Batmen. Artwork by the amazing Ed McGuinness.

It's a "toss up" over whether McGuinness or Turner is the top artist of this run, but overall the artistry is great in all these volumes! The stories are original and crazy & the art is top notch.....these four Volumes are a "must-have" if you are at all interested in either or both of these iconic characters.