Reviewer: Andy Campbell
Story Title: Absolute Power – Chapter 4: A World without Batman
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
I have really enjoyed the “Absolute Power” story arc so far. It’s an Elseworlds story without being an Elseworlds. For those who missed the beginning: Cosmic King, Lightning Lord, and Saturn Queen came back in time from the distant future to change events so that Batman and Superman, instead of coming about as we know they did, would grow up under the thrall of the 3 cosmic despots. Last issue, Superman and Batman had successfully fixed Clark’s origin, and were about to do so for Bruce, when Batman instead jumped in an prevented his parents’ murder. This, in turn, led to the world as we know it changing completely.
In this month’s installment, we see just how much influence Batman has had on the world, just by the sheer amount of things that are different. This makes for a very fun story that’s equal parts Crisis on Infinite Earths, Age of Apolcalypse, and Planet of the Apes. There are some great character moments, especially when Superman, as Clark Kent, confronts Bruce Wayne, who had never become Batman. Jeph Loeb shows once again that he knows Batman and Superman inside and out; their voices always ring true when provided by Loeb.
The art is another plus for this book. For some reason, I’ve always kinda liked Carlos Pacheco, even though he’s really not anything stellar. He just does, in my mind, a good, solid job. I have to give kudos to the full artistic team for a full-page spread later in the comic of a graveyard scene. Pacheco, Merino, and especially Martin were kicking on all cylinders for that spread, as it looks simply awesome.
To sum it up, you’re probably already reading this book; there’s a reason that it’s consistenly in the top 5 every month. If you’re not reading it, however, I would suggest that you do, because no one writes Superman and Batman quite like Jeph Loeb.
