Robo-Bat reporting for duty!
Another fun and violent entry with a touch of satire about gaming, this latest installment of Batman/Superman takes us into the head of a gamer and how Mongul uses this escapist mentality to take over the planet.
The art is still good enough, especially Superman's actions look spectacular.
Greg is still bouncing back from satire to just mindless fun, and that may be the problem of this arc in a nutshell.
SPOILERS FOLLOW......................
When we last left our heroes, Superman was being angry somewhere while Batman was......dead.
Yes, Batman died. And since that doesn't happen often, when I looked back at last issue, I was sorely disappointed. This build up was hugely lacking.
Superman reached the area and we get another glimpse into what makes Superman so spectacular and frightening. He was able to assess the combatants, their internal structures and their heartbeats before anyone even noticed he was there.
As Mongul and his assistant lay waste to the area, Batman was resurrected by using Nanobots. I think we're talking about New God technology fused with Earthly apparatuses here.
This Robo Bat is forced to take on Superman by the gamers before Batman is able to identify one of them as Jimmy Olsen. This and Superman's speech helps the gamers (except for Hiro, who isn't exactly in the spotlight anymore) understand this is for real.
But before they can assess the situation and stop this, damage-control ensures following Mongul's warpath. Elsewhere, the assistant is able to plug in more and more gamers, who take control of Batman and engages Superman.
This is a fair reflection of the virtual gaming mentality. Fighting characters on screen do release tension and anger and are fun in some measure and Mongul is using that mentality to the hilt. Killing a virtual character on screen is hugely different from real life and this issue blurs the lines.
Many who are trying to kill Superman and mostly doing it because they believe he is just a game character. In real life (or as far DC universe is real life), most of them will gasp at the mere thought.
As Batman and Superman are engaged (with Batman having all super-powers), Mongul takes over the planet a million a minute.
SPOILERS END...........................
While the story does move into more linear mode, Greg has trouble balancing his themes and that is hurting this book.
And Batman really suffers here. Not only does he die, he is taken over by gamers, of all people. And Super-powers never look good on him.
Hoping for better in the next issue.
So, I give it 6.0 out of 10
+Some great visuals
+Good showcase of Superman's powers
-Batman dying lacked any build-up or weight
-Dis balance in themes
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