There’s a little movie that came out recently called “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Kind of a big deal, maybe you’ve heard of it. It’s the first time the World’s Finest have graced the silver screen together. Also, it kind of sucks. The film is arguably a Frankenstein’s monster cobbled together from various iconic stories. The obvious ones, “The Dark Knight Returns” and “The Death of Superman” are at times recreated shot for shot. After going back and checking out “Public Enemies,” the first arc of Loeb and McGuinness’ “Superman/Batman,” I was surprised to see just how much of that story’s DNA made it into the film, though more subtly than the previously mentioned stories. With that in mind, let’s take a look back at this iconic pairing of the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight.
Written by Jeph Loeb
Illustrated by Ed McGuinnessA tale of loyalty and unlikely friendship featuring two of the most recognizable and popular super-heroes on the planet, SUPERMAN/BATMAN: PUBLIC ENEMIES pairs the Man of Steel with the Dark Knight. The iconic super-heroes unite when longtime Superman enemy Lex Luthor, now president of the United States, accuses Superman of a horrible act against mankind, and assembles a top-secret team of powerhouse heroes to bring Superman in — dead or alive. But after the Dark Knight Detective proves Luthor’s accusations to be baseless, the “World’s Finest” duo prepares to topple the corrupt president’s reign once and for all.
First up, the point of this piece isn’t to BvS-bash, but rather to lift up an important comic at a point where it’s extremely relevant. While it hasn’t quite held its clout over the last decade, “Superman/Batman” was a hugely important book in it’s time. The book paired DC’s two biggest characters under the oversight of Jeph Loeb, author of some of both characters most iconic stories and a particularly hot commodity at the time. Equally hot is Ed McGuinness, one of the finest Superman artists to ever put pencil to page.
McGuiness’ work channels the times, with a cartoonesque animation that mimicked the tone of the popular “Timm-verse.” The story also bears notes of the then recent “Smallville,” with quaint references to “meteor rocks.” It’s nesteled in the fascinatingly bizarre era of DC history between the real world crisis of 9/11 and the upcoming “Infinite Crisis,” before “Batman Begins” or “Superman Returns” left their marks (or lack there of) on their respective mythologies. It’s a story that feels both comfortably familiar and oddly alien, lacking the evergreen status of Loeb’s other works, i.e. “Superman For All Seasons” or “Batman: The Long Halloween.” I mean, this was a time when Lex Luthor was president and Supergirl was a time-traveller created by Brainiac. It’s not quite Electric Superman, but it’s still pretty wacky.
Wacky, but special. The book’s plot, ironically, is as scattered and haphazard as the film it later influenced. The similarities run deep, with a nonsensical Luthor (that Waller kiss tho) driving the conflict, a mistrusted Superman, portents of doom delivered via time-travel, allusions to Apokaliptian influences and heroes acting rather unheroically. Where the two stories differ drastically is in the casting of the lead characters. There’s no doubt who the heroes are in this story.
Beginning with a contrasting recap of their respective origin stories and continuing through mirrored internal dialogue, Loeb establishes not only the dichotomy between these characters but also the intense bond between them. While the technique is fairly on the nose and heavy handed (especially as the arc progresses), the result is quite refreshing now in an era where Clark and Bruce have been at odds as much as, if not more, than they have been allies. Seeing the duo overcome the odds through teamwork, using brains more often than brawn, is a delight. The relationships on display, not only between the two, but through their respective extended families and the greater DCU as a whole, highlight just what makes good super hero stories fun, enjoyable, and worthwhile.
The story itself is a fun romp through the DCU bringing in all manner of heroes and villains, true to the book’s high profile. It’s very much a “who’s who in the DCU” of the time, lending even more credence to its place as a historical landmark for this era of DC. The book ultimately resolves in the purest of cape comic ways, involving a giant robot, heroic sacrifice, and superhuman fisticuffs. Don’t approach the book expecting high literature, this isn’t Morrison we’re talking about. However, those looking for a fun, well-crafted Superman/Batman team up can look no further. Oh, and if you grant me one moment of snark, no one murders anyone.
While Batman has been in fine hands for years now, it’s been a while since a creator has really, truly nailed Superman in any medium. While “Public Enemies” is far from the perfect template, it is proof that perhaps “Batman AND Superman” works better than “Batman VERY VERSUS Superman.” Take note Snyder, and perhaps be more mindful of your source materials. *Mic drop*
P.S., what would it take to get McGuinness back on Superman for Rebirth?
