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Eric Filemyr

Mar 18, 2004, 02:03 am

<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0304/SupermanBatmanCVR8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0304/SupermanBatmanCVR8t.jpg" align=left alt="Superman/Batman #8"></a>Reviewer: Eric Filemyr, ericrocksmyworld@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Great
Story Title: Supergirl from Krypton Part One: Alone

A new Supergirl! Again.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Michael Turner
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Colorist: Peter Steigerwald
Associate Editor: Tom Palmer, Jr
Editor: Eddie Berganza

In this issue of Superman/Batman, super-star artist Michael Turner makes his mainstream comics debut (and I debut as a reviewer). And as the title “Supergirl from Krypton” reveals, he is still drawing what he draws best: beautiful women. However, he also does an excellent job telling Jeph Loeb’s action-packed story.

Turner’s art is a huge draw for this issue, as it should be. Jeph Loeb is known for writing to his artists’ strengths, and he makes a great choice by having Turner’s arc focus on an attractive woman. However, Turner’s skill has really evolved, and he can do more than just draw pretty girls. As a designer, for example, he made Batman in scuba gear look realistic, and not like a rejected prototype for a Kenner action figure. Also, he handled the intense action scenes in issue very well. The coloring on this issue is amazing, as well, and it really adds to Turner’s art, especially the Kryptonite's glow and the lighting. My biggest gripe with the art was that Turner drew Supergirl with the same sexuality he used in the past for Witchblade and Aspen, but since I believe Supergirl is supposed to be about 16-years-old, it just came off icky, especially since she’s naked most of the issue.

As for Loeb, he did an excellent job as usual of portraying the relationship between Superman and Batman. Most notably in this issue, he masterfully showed their friendship. Batman pokes fun at Krypto, the canine from Krypton, and while Batman is not known for his sense of humor, it is totally believable that he would find the concept of Superman having a super-powered pet dog so absurd, that he would have to tease him about it. The scene with Batman threatening to call Superman’s wife if he didn’t behave was priceless, as it showed a humorous side of Batman that only his best friend could bring out.

In fact, one of the strongest elements in this issue is Loeb’s ability to show us sides of Batman and Superman we are not used to. In this issue, Loeb almost has Superman and Batman do a role reversal. While Superman is monitoring and communicating from afar over Comm-link, Batman is out fighting in the field. This is the complete opposite of the usual dynamic between these two, but Loeb makes it work. Another example of this switch occurs right off the bat on the first page, with Superman being alone and Batman feeling sympathy towards him. Loeb knows these characters so well, that he can pull of using them in ways no other writer could.

Loeb’s writing is not without flaw though. He is obviously a fan of old continuity, and is bringing the DC Universe back to it. Several years ago, he was involved in the “Return to Krypton” story that reintroduced a happier, more retro Krypton. Also in that story, he reintroduced Krypto. In this issue, not only do we get a return of a Kryptonian Supergirl, but Batman investigates different colored Kryptonite. All of these elements are great for nostalgia and fun to see again, but there is a reason that DC got rid of them. In the process of ret-conning these components, DC ended up with the confusing continuity it has now, and I fear that reintroducing them will only make things worse in the long haul.

An additional problem I had with Loeb’s script was that it seemed so light. I feel that the entire story could have easily been told in half the number of pages. While I already said I enjoyed the banter between Batman and Superman, from interviews with Loeb I know that some very interesting guest stars are coming up in this story, and I would like to get to them and get on with the story. Basically, everything that happens in this issue is summed up in the name of the story, and that’s disappointing after last issue, which was essentially a fill-in, wrapped up so much comparatively. The script this issue just seemed to be missing something, especially compared to how good Loeb has been in the past with this title.

All in all, this issue was pretty good. Loeb’s script let Turner show that while he’s good at drawing beautiful women, he’s more than competent in other areas as well. Furthermore, Loeb excellently captured Batman and Superman’s friendship, showing the reader underexposed sides of both heroes. However, Loeb’s light script and reintroduction of retro concepts were turn-offs.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/sbfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/sbfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/sbfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/sbfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/sbnone.jpg

Buy this issue online now from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=768&cat=SUPERMAN%2FBATMAN)

Patrick James

Mar 18, 2004, 03:14 am

Um...you may want to reconsider the way you space and format your reviews from now on so they are less impossible to read.:crazy:

Zachary J. Morrison

Mar 18, 2004, 03:48 am

Great review, Eric. I definitely enjoyed reading this ish and thought it turned out to be a great ish to pick up and read. I hope it's like that for the rest of the creative team's run. There was one section, which made me crack up in laughter when Batman told Superman if he didn't play with his dog, Krypto, Batman would tell Lois on him, and I found that hilariously funny. I can't wait to see how this arc continues. The agony :eek:

Wolverine

Mar 18, 2004, 04:54 am

damn I can't wait to pick this up

D4773T

Mar 18, 2004, 09:34 am

Its good to read a super hero comic that actually doesnt try to be a crime drama. We dont have to read through twenty pages of Batman and Superman discussing what happened last arc. You can have them have good dialogue with each other but it doesnt seem like a stretched out conversation.

sto110

Mar 18, 2004, 10:18 am

I am really starting to love this book. It is turning out to be a great "buddy" or "team up" book. There is a great friendship between these two that comes through in thier normal conversations that is suttle and real.

The supergirl angle is nice but the only problem i have with this issue is that they should have translated the kryptonian language. (you can find it on the web) but it would have added a lot to the issue.

Great issue!:D

PoWerSurge

Mar 18, 2004, 01:14 pm

This is how I wish JLA would be. It's a group comic that can be about relationships between the people, not just who the people are pummeling this week/month.

JLA is all action, no story. The reader doesn't get any insight on the relationships between the individuals within the group. There isn't any growth to the relationships of the characters, that's reserved for their invididual titles. The only exception I've seen with it was the brief Batman/WW storyline.

I'm seriously on the edge of canceling my JLA subscription because THIS comic is giving me what I want out of it

Eric Filemyr

Mar 18, 2004, 03:56 pm

Originally posted by Patrick James
Um...you may want to reconsider the way you space and format your reviews from now on so they are less impossible to read.:crazy:

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip.

Steve

Mar 18, 2004, 05:10 pm

I thought this issue was amazing. Turner's art and the coloring were really works of wonder. As usual, I love Loeb's writing. It's good to have him on a book with Superman still.
I had two small concerns with the issue. The first one is all the different colored Kryptonite. I hate Kryptonite in stories as it is. I think it is way too abundant. But I shudder to think at all the different colored Kryptonite ore. Looks like I'm going to have to have faith in Loeb on this one.
I also wonder why Kara had to be naked all through the issue. At first it seemed like a nod to the Terminator movies. But then it quickly became gratuitous. I am a big fan of naked women but I don't need to see them all over comic books, you know? I am hoping that Supergirl will be given the same amount of respectability she had during Crisis. I don't want to see this character turn into some kind of Vampirella-style "bad-girl". Once again I will trust that Loeb will make everything work out.

Umm, I don't have Christopher Reeve's character from Smallville handy. So can anyone please post a translation to all that Kryptonian?;)

PoWerSurge

Mar 18, 2004, 06:03 pm

Kryptonian Translations

http://www.coliseumofcomics.com/

Cannonball1138

Mar 18, 2004, 07:57 pm

This was the first issue of Superman/Batman I have ever bought, and honestly it was only because of Turner's art. But when reading this I loved it. The banter between Supes and Bats was well paced and there is a level of mystery surrounding our new girl. I'm sure there's more to the story than already revealed. I may just have to stay on this book after Turner leaves....

Oh, by the way, Turner's art didn't disappoint. ;)

jbl3101

Mar 18, 2004, 09:14 pm

I really liked this issue as well. Michael Turner's art is AMAZING.

I thought that the story dragged on a lil bit. I could have been done in prolly 3/4 of the pages but those pages contained Turner's art so I cant really complain too much.

Josh B

Steve

Mar 18, 2004, 09:31 pm

Thank you for the link, PoWerSurge!

Jon Hancock

Mar 18, 2004, 11:52 pm

Zachary J. Morrison

Mar 19, 2004, 01:53 am

Originally posted by PoWerSurge
This is how I wish JLA would be. It's a group comic that can be about relationships between the people, not just who the people are pummeling this week/month.

JLA is all action, no story. The reader doesn't get any insight on the relationships between the individuals within the group. There isn't any growth to the relationships of the characters, that's reserved for their invididual titles. The only exception I've seen with it was the brief Batman/WW storyline.

I'm seriously on the edge of canceling my JLA subscription because THIS comic is giving me what I want out of it
I don't know how to put this, but I have to agree and disagree with the choice you're possibly making. Although you think JLA should instead have relationships with the characters, it's not what it's suppose to be. I haven't read the whole series from the beginning, but I did just start with Chris Claremont and John Bryne's return to the book, and I enjoyed the ish. It's suppose to have action with the JLA being the heroes of tomorrow and protecting the city from evil forces of darkness, and it should also have humor added to it, but JLA doesn't, because it's not suppose to. I'll stick around after Claremont and Bryne's run to check out returning JLA scribe Joe Kelly's run on the book.

Kryptonian Translations

http://www.coliseumofcomics.com/
Thanks a bunch for the Kryptonian Translations ;) I was wondering what Supes and his cousin were talking about.

Eric Filemyr

Mar 19, 2004, 02:13 am

Originally posted by PoWerSurge
This is how I wish JLA would be.

With the revolving creative teams on JLA I would love to see Loeb tackle an arc as writer, maybe with Tim Sale on art duties. Ah, I can dream can't I?:ww: :fstorm: :john:

PoWerSurge

Mar 19, 2004, 04:06 pm

Originally posted by phoenx

I don't know how to put this, but I have to agree and disagree with the choice you're possibly making. Although you think JLA should instead have relationships with the characters, it's not what it's suppose to be. I haven't read the whole series from the beginning, but I did just start with Chris Claremont and John Bryne's return to the book, and I enjoyed the ish. It's suppose to have action with the JLA being the heroes of tomorrow and protecting the city from evil forces of darkness, and it should also have humor added to it, but JLA doesn't, because it's not suppose to. I'll stick around after Claremont and Bryne's run to check out returning JLA scribe Joe Kelly's run on the book.

Thanks a bunch for the Kryptonian Translations ;) I was wondering what Supes and his cousin were talking about.

I didn't mean to make a Batman/Superman thread about the JLA, I just joined a big conversation on the JLA DC Comics board about this yesterday.

I would really like to see more of the character development, less filler in JLA. Maybe its because this last stretch with the monkey/alien ancestor just really stunk to high hell, but more stories like the Burning, where you have character development within the book AND action. I don't think we're going to see any of that within this arc with the vamps

I think the filler issue with the Batman/WW relationship was too concise. Make it an underlying theme for a few months, what would it hurt?

Spotlight different relationships, pair up smaller groups of the League for different battles, throw in some reservists to mix it up, make some personalities clash, make some personalities stand out.

That's what Batman/Superman is giving us, and they will be bringing in WW next issue. All I was saying is more of this in JLA wouldn't be a bad thing.

Zeb Aslam

Mar 23, 2004, 02:32 am

Ok...finally got around to reading this issue. Good review, btw. I must say that I enjoyed this quite a bit. The retro-concepts don't turn me off as I'm a fan of Silver Age or Pre-Crisis DC first and foremost. As long as Streaky the Super-Cat doesn't show up, I'm a happy camper. As far as everything else is concerned. The story was ofcourse excellent. The artwork while being absolutely gorgeous in every respect did not completely win me over. This is mostly because I loved Kara's character from Pre-Crisis. She was the most innocent, delightful character in the DC stable back then. And having her streak most of Gotham, along with the over-exploitation of her body (Micheal Turner at his best, but still...) just did not sit right with me. She was much too comfortable with exhibiting her naked body, while all indications of Krypton, whether it's the birthright one, the byrne one, or the loeb one, indicate that Kryptonians were very modest. I'm nit-picking I know, but this affected my overall enjoyment of this issue. Anyway, great issue all things considered, and well-worth the wait. Now the waiting for the next issue begins...

Huzzah

Mar 23, 2004, 10:57 am

I got it but i dont know what to make of it. There is a "new" supergirl...and yet i already though DC had a couple.
or are we in a Legends of the Dark Knight type situation where these are hands off quasi continuity type stories

Eric Filemyr

Mar 23, 2004, 04:01 pm

Originally posted by Huzzah
I got it but i dont know what to make of it. There is a "new" supergirl...and yet i already though DC had a couple.
or are we in a Legends of the Dark Knight type situation where these are hands off quasi continuity type stories

In the past few years, DC has had four other Supergirls that I know of. The first, also known as Matrix, became some angelic creature:angel:, splitting from her human host, Linda Danvers, leaving her as the new Supergirl. At least that's how I understand it. Then the Pre-Crisis Supergirl ended up in our universe do to some fluke, and spent some time with Linda. When the Pre-Crisis Supergirl had to go to her reality to die to save the multiverse, Linda also quit being Supergirl and disappeared. She was soon replaced by yet another Supergirl, who claimed to be Superman's daughter. I belive this Supergirl she recently died.
I have no problem with a multitude of Supergirls, as we have had many Flashes and Green Lanterns. However, I don't like how quickly one replaces the next. I also don't like the idea of the newest Supergirl, since the retro-Supergirl thing was just done by Peter David in the close of his Supergirl.
And yes, this story is in continuity to the best of my knowledge, although as I said in my review, all these revisions and un-retcons may lead to another Zero Hour. And really, who wants that?

FrodoLives

Apr 10, 2004, 11:50 pm

Turner's art is pretty impressive loved the dialogue loved the action #9 can't get here soon enough.

James Groves

Apr 11, 2004, 03:53 pm

Im so glad D.C are doing a core tile with just Superman and Batman. Its fantastic.

The artwork fr me was ok with a cople of stand outs - the scuba divng Batman being the best. But i hate the way Supergirl is portrayed. It smacks of anime cartoons. Huge bossomed women with childlike eyes. Its disturbin. Tone down the proportions to what a 16 yr old supergirl would be man!!

THe storys decent with good dialogue between Superman and Batman, specifically the charactersiation. But its the story ine and plot that i find formulaic and very standard stuff,

I'd give it a 6 out of 10.

Captain America

Apr 15, 2004, 01:43 pm

I was seriously considering getting this issue, the first DC comic I've ever purchased outside of JLA/Avengers. I know Leob is capable of producing wonderful stories, and from what I've seen of this Turner fellow he has a lot of talent. The colours on the covers are also very crisp and attractive.

Originally posted by Eric Filemyr
Most notably in this issue, he masterfully showed their friendship. Batman pokes fun at Krypto, the canine from Krypton, and while Batman is not known for his sense of humor, it is totally believable that he would find the concept of Superman having a super-powered pet dog so absurd, that he would have to tease him about it.

Hmm, the big green dog is in it, eh? Bummer. Does he talk or just bark? Is his role a fairly small one? I'm just not enthusiastic about reading about a big, green dog from another planet is all.

An additional problem I had with Loeb’s script was that it seemed so light. I feel that the entire story could have easily been told in half the number of pages.

The most annoying thing about modern comics is how little content they have, be it very little dialogue or no boxes full of writing (you know the ones I mean). So this is one of those 5 minutes reads? One of the issues that could be easily told in fewer pages? That's annoying. Still, no harm in picking up one measly issue. Might check it out later in the week...

Zeb Aslam

Apr 16, 2004, 10:49 pm

Give_More_Filemyr

Aug 12, 2005, 01:24 am

Actually, Krypto is not green. He's from Krypton, true, but he's a white mutt (closest approximation). The dog only barks, and his role in this actual issue is only peripheral. We don't even get to see him (just hear about him). If the dog is the only thing putting you off, check out the comic (and see no dog!)

Very interesting point Zeb. The real issue at hand here though is the Kerouac-like prose that flows from the fingers of Filemyr, or as I call them, Filemyeringers. He's such a good writer that sometimes after reading his articles, I find myself in a pool of blood, with several hours having elapsed. I wish someday he would come to my house and we could have a party.