Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Absolute Power – Chapter 3: “When Time Goes Asunder”¦”
Written by: Jeph Loeb
Penciled by: Carlos Pacheco
Inked by: Jesús Merino
Colored by: Laura Martin
Lettered by: Richard Starkings
Associate Editor: Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics
Ramblings of the obscure variety”¦
When I reviewed Superman/Batman #1 way back in August of 2003, I was smitten. The debut was excellent, but for me, the series has been a succession of nice builds, and big letdowns ever since. The two major arcs that have come before the current one all failed to build on their promising beginnings. While the series has never been “bad,” it’s hasn’t reached the pinnacle of entertainment that the sales would imply.
I have been wavering on dropping this title for a long time now, I actually did drop the title for a short time, but ended up jumping back on board without missing an issueâ€â€excessive lateness can do that to you.
For months now I’ve been anticipating this very issue of Superman/Batman. Why, you may ask, would I anticipate an issue of a book that I’m not enjoying all that much? Why the cover, of course! The image of Superman and Batman caged in a horse drawn wagon is not the major lure, it’s the guy with the whip riding along with themâ€â€Kamandi.
You know the Last Boy on Earth?
Nothing, huh?
I’ll admit that I have a taste for rather obscure comic characters. After all, The Warlord is one of my all-time favs. Guess what? Kamandi is too. If you’re interested in more Kamandi then check out my recent Near Mint Memories, which details the entire history of the Jack Kirby creation.
I can’t believe you’re still here! I figured that I’d bored the pants off of you by now.
Well…let’s get to the point.
Arc Three – So far, so good!
“Absolute Power” has been my favorite storyline in Superman/Batman. The first part dropped us in the middle of a world-gone-wrong where Superman and Batman were the lords of everything. The origins of the World’s Finest duo were changed by three individuals from the far future. The second issue ended with the duo cast through time when the Human Bomb went off in front of a time field.
This month we start off in the middle of the action. Superman and Batman are marching through time to various realities. First they run into Kamandi then it’s on to a world with a variety of DC’s western heroes, including Bat Lash, Cinnamon, Scalphunter, El Diablo and Jonah Hex. After that it’s a dimension where the Earth has been overtaken by Apokolips. Finally, after enlisting Darkseid’s aid (boy is that going to come back to haunt Supes and Bats) we relive the big two’s origins.
This issue is packed with excitement and entertainment value. There’s no reason to bring back obscure characters like Jonah Hex and Kamandi if the writer involved doesn’t have a deep knowledge of, and really care about, the characters. I’d prefer old favorites to stay “dead” if they aren’t going to be written properly.
That said: Jeph Loeb is the man! Each of the characters featured is perfectly used. The story is fun, but has a gritty element as well. The larger story is pulling together rather well. I’m excited to see what’s next.
Artistically this arc is working out superbly as well. Carlos Pacheco was the ideal choice for this assignment. I remember Mr. Pacheco mentioning at Wizard World: Chicago that he wanted to draw everyone in the DCU during this run. Well, he’s taken the disparate characters and locales and done a brilliant job thus far. If George Perez isn’t going to be involved in the next Crisis event, I think Pacheco would be the next best thing. Anyone that can nail Kamandi, Batman, Superman, Metron, Darkseid, Bat Lash, Tuftan, and Jonah Hex all in the same issue has got my vote.
