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The World’s Finest are Lost in Their Own Minds in “Batman/Superman” #13 [Review]

By | August 28th, 2014
Posted in Reviews | % Comments

Catwoman and Lois Lane upstage the world’s finest heroes in this month’s issue of “Batman/Superman”! With the beginning of a new arc, writer Greg Pak, artist Jae Lee, and colorist June Chung draw the reader into an intriguing and gorgeously rendered tale.

Written by Greg Pak
Illustrated by Jae Lee

A new arc begins following the events of “FIRST CONTACT.” The worlds of Batman and Superman come to an explosive clash as something terrible happens to the World’s Finest team, and a Dark Knight who is not quite himself must team up with Lois Lane to find a missing Man of Steel. Meanwhile, Selina Kyle encounters a person of amazing strength who has no idea who he is.

“Batman/Superman” #13 is evidence of an intricate story that Greg Pak has planned since the very beginning of this series. Despite the plot threads from previous arcs and crossovers, this issue is a surprisingly perfect jumping on point for new readers. We pick up from last issue, when Kaiyo “the chaosbringer of Apokolips” had Batman and Superman’s minds erased. With no memories of who they are and what they are capable of, we are able to experience our heroes’ confusion through their thoughts and interactions with familiar characters.

The bleak surroundings don’t deter Pak from injecting plenty of humor into his story. It’s a bit jarring to see Bruce and Clark wiped clean of all memories and Pak plays around with their confusion in entertaining ways. The humor comes through naturally in their thoughts. The reactions they have in bodies and surroundings that are alien to them are reactions that we can see ourselves having in their situation. When Batman sees his reflection in a window, he thinks, “I’m dressed up… like a bat?” After doing something that only Superman can accomplish, Clark thinks to himself, “That was… fun.” We can relate to these god-like characters because now they’re a little more like us.

Pak not only has fun with the heroes and understands their motivations, but also does the same with the female leads. If Pak didn’t already have a busy schedule, I would love to see him dig his claws into a “Catwoman/Lois Lane” book (or even a solo Lois book). He already writes Super-characters Lana Lang and Lois superbly in “Action Comics” and he brings that expertise to this issue of “Batman/Superman”. Catwoman has that perfect mix of self-confidence and eroticism (without being exploitative) that the character always has when she has a great writer bringing her to life. Lois Lane has that drive and determination that makes her a leading lady instead of a damsel in distress. These two strong characters can stand alongside their super friends anywhere and at any time.

The only complaint that could possibly be lobbed at this book is the brevity of the issue. However, that’s only selfishness on my part. Every word that Pak uses is vital to the story and he forgoes any filler that is obvious in bad or mediocre books. He doesn’t waste space. When working with Jae Lee on this book (who, sadly, will be leaving this title in a few months), Pak writes scripts that fit the cinematic and big screen feel of Lee’s art. Pak’s economy of language allows for Lee’s gorgeous art and June Chung’s breathtaking colors to take center stage.

The cinematic quality of Lee’s art is evident in his regular use of large panels and the occasional use of a powerful splash page. Although epic in nature, Lee’s art has the same minimalism that Pak uses in his writing. The seemingly disparate combination of Lee’s large panels and the economy of art within those panels makes for a powerful and unique artistic style. The lack of clutter in his panels transforms Lee’s art into scenes of compelling intimacy, whether they are solo scenes, conversations, or even action scenes. The writing and art styles are a perfect complement to each other.

Lee brings the book’s characters to life and transfers the emotion of Pak’s story into his art. Superman’s look of confusion and despair is heartbreaking. With eyes covered in shadow and a mouth expressing those powerful emotions, Superman’s “humanity” shines brightly on the page. Bruce is able to hide his confusion a bit better than Clark but still retains that hint of darkness to his personality. Lee is able to express the mischievousness and playful qualities of Catwoman through her facial expressions. In another facial expression contained in one simple panel, Lee brings out many of Lois Lane’s character traits; disbelief, an inquisitive nature, and even boldness are etched in her face.

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Chung’s colors are allowed to pop off the page even more powerfully because of Lee’s style. The earthy colors of Gotham City are appropriate for a city that reeks of garbage and grime. Even the cobblestones in an alley and the bricks on a building appear lived-in and faded in certain spots. The coloring detail of Gotham’s sky has a thick and ominous “air” to it. The swirling dark blue and green of the sky in one scene with Superman and Catwoman has a watercolor feel to it. In another scene, the bright white contrasts with the sootiness of a dirty sky as if the heavens are opening wide. Chung’s colors are just as integral to the storytelling as Lee’s art.

Although their minds have been wiped clean, Batman and Superman remain their heroic selves. Judging by this issue, it’s going to be an exciting journey to see them reclaim their minds and battle the evil that lies waiting in the (bat)wings. The portents of dastardly doings to come are enough to wrangle any reader into this well-written and gorgeously drawn and colored book. Catwoman and Lois Lane were welcome guests in this issue and were a natural addition to the proceedings.

Final Verdict: 9.0 – “Batman/Superman” #13 is proof that Greg Pak, Jae Lee, and June Chung are a perfect fit as an artistic team. Great characterization and an intriguing mystery will bring back old and new readers to this essential team book.


Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley lives in sunny Southern California and has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in English literature. He considers comic books the highest form of literature and has declared them the Great American Art Form. He has been reading comics since age eight and his passion for comic books and his obsession for Batman knows no bounds. If he isn’t reading or writing about comics, he’s usually at the gym or eating delectable food. He runs the website Comics Authority with his fiancé Don and can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

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