The last time I was reading Greg Pak material, he was doing some of the best work on Incredible Hulk in years. Now, jumping to the other side, Pak is working his magic for DC with Batman/Superman. The original run of this title became a tent-pole series for DC. It was only a matter of time before they brought it back. Pak takes few cues from the older series, he’s telling his own tale and, based on issue #1, it’s going to be a good time.
Gotham City, five years ago, right when all the capes were first making the scene. Naïve farm boy Clark Kent is stomping through Gotham, looking for Bruce Wayne. Kent needs comments on three Wayne Industries bigwigs getting violently murdered. Stopping to try and help a bullied kid, Kent stumbles upon Wayne in disguise. Their first confrontation is tense, but not as bad as the next. Catwoman, obviously possessed by something, is trying to kill a Wayne employee. The Dark Knight arrives and attempts to stymie the attack. Suddenly, Superman shows up, the early one that Grant Morrison envisioned with work boots and jeans, and tries to end the siege, though he views Batman, whom he has never seen before, as an enemy.
From here, Greg Pak really makes it weird. Without warning, Superman is teleported to the present, where he and Batman are standing in a cornfield in Kansas. Problem is, Superman still doesn’t recognize Batman. He attacks. Batman stops him with a bit of kryptonite tech, but not for long. Unable to defend himself, the Dark Knight is beaten savagely by Superman. Just as Batman is about to receive a neck-snapping from a man who was once his ally, the ghost of Jonathan Kent appears. Oh yeah, it’s getting weird right from the start.
Pak leaves clues that something is amiss throughout the entire issue. His bread crumb trail is fun to follow, but does little to alleviate the confusion of the issue. Not confusion in the idea of bad writing, but more a bizarre mystery that we have to solve alongside our two heroes. I hope Pak continues this kind of smart, layered writing. Even as only a number 1, this is the most excited I’ve been about a Bat-Book since Scott Snyder’s Batman run.
Jae Lee’s art is staggering. I was floored by the grace and beauty behind Batman/Superman. Lee’s art has a flow to it, a combination of solid pencils and paintings. The work has an old school, Golden Age feel, but its completely modern, a crossing of styles that is unique to Lee. Tying his great movement, action, and ability with human faces together is an elegance most comic book art doesn’t have. Batman/Superman is spectacular work.
Great writing, gorgeous art, Batman/Superman #1 is everything you want in comic book.
CRAVEONLINE RATING 9/10 (4.5 Story, 4.5 Art)
