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Of Embassies and Origins - Justice League International Part 2 (Eaglemoss Collection v77)

  Review: Since we are doing a series of reviews focusing on Booster Gold over his nearly 40-year history, we include this one as a collection of some of his earliest appearances, dating to late 1987. That places the original publish date of these tales while his original solo series was still going strong.  This book is a beautiful, glossy hard-cover with smooth and heavy-stock paper inside, although the sometimes-low print reproduction quality leads to blurred and hard to read word balloons on occasion. It is also a rare book here in North America, as Eaglemoss Collections targeted UK fans with this series. At this point in the history of the 1987-rebooted Justice League, they have gained official United Nations recognition and sanction. To ensure their reach truly is global, they rebrand as Justice League International (as does the title of the series!) and they open new headquarters buildings around the world: New York, Paris and Moscow are included here. As this is a product of 19
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Trading Places - Batman / Superman volume 6 - Universe's Finest

 

cover of Batman / Superman volume 6 - Universe's Finest


Review:

The three stories in this collection are a fun and fitting end to the two and a half year run of this entertaining and at times excellent team-up series. Since its start, Batman / Superman has explored the relationship between Batman and Superman, and their mutual respect and trust, despite vast differences in personality, approach, powers and abilities.

The first story, by Tom Taylor, takes place in space. The murder of a giant lizard-based interstellar explorer leads Superman into Scorch Space on a rescue mission. But as Lobo hunts Batman, the world's greatest detective discovers not all is as it appears. You will never look at a banana muffin the same way again! And with some clever sleight of hand and a beautiful death scene at the end, it is a strong story filled with layers of characterizations and developments. Robson Rocha's art helps carry the narrative, and gets stronger as the pages go by.

Next is a slice of the "Final Days of Superman" story arc. The whole story crossed 4 titles and 8 issues, only 2 of which are in this set. This taste of the whole is fairly well integrated, with "our story so far" capsules and directions to the next chapters. These are not small things, but are vital to readers who wish to see the complete tale, and it is surprising how often they are omitted in TPB collections that touch cross-overs. In the Final Days, Superman faces his mortality, with both courage and dignity. I especially love Peter J Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke's classy depictions of Batman's grief at the news.

After the intenseness of the middle tale, the final arc is candy, but it sure tastes great and is loads of fun. In a hideout bar for super-villains, a group of Batman's Rogues bet with a group of Superman's on which hero is harder to defeat. How else to settle the bet, but to swap enemies! Four Batman villains - Bane, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy and Clayface - go after Superman while four of his - Atomic Skull, Livewire, Bizarro and Major Disaster - face off with Batman. The groups predictably turn on each other when it ends in a draw. Frank Tieri's tone is light and fun throughout. Alex Konat's drawings are compelling. A highlight is the superb middle battle section, with Konat taking the odd pages (the attacks on Superman) and Elia Bonetti the evens (the attacks on Batman).

Overall this is a delightful, fun read. An ending like this leaves this reader wishing that the team-up series had continued. 4 capes.


Description:

Superman is facing his end. The Final Days of Superman are here. Batman and Superman are working to prepare the world for the loss of the Last Son of Krypton, but nothing will truly prepare the planet for what is to come. The superheroes will find friends and foes as they traverse Earth in a desperate last attempt to save Superman

Collects: Batman / Superman #28-34 and Batman / Superman ANNUAL #3

Authors: Tom Taylor (28,29,30), Peter J. Tomasi (31, 32), Frank Tieri (33, 34, Annual)
Artists: Robson Rocha (28,29,30), Doug Mahnke (31, 32), Alex Konat (33, 34, Annual)
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Aug. 22 2017
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 9781401271565
Pages: 200 pages


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