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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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The Fall of Luthor and Darkseid: Superman / Batman vol 1

 

Cover of Superman / Batman volume 1


Review:

Superman. Batman

Two of the most iconic, culturally relevant superheroes in comics history. They make a natural team-up, and DC Comics has long indulged fans with their partnership on cases both big and small.

What makes this terrific ongoing series, which consists of nothing but Superman / Batman team-ups, so brilliant is the way writer Jeph Loeb leans so heavily into the profound differences between them From the superficial - one masks his heroic identity, the other disguises his secret civilian identity; one works in the shadows, the other in the glare of the public eye; one plays on fear, the other leverages societal admiration. 

Loeb teases out these differences and more, and plays with them repeatedly. He also frames the stories in the dual narration, giving us the inner thoughts of both heroes, and revealing their mutiual respect, trust and friendship. 

Neither would ever dream of solving their challenges in the methods of the other, but each knows and trusts the other so well that they can make plans and react to changing situations confident in the tiniest nuances in the other's personality and approach.

This handsome square-bound bookshelf format TPB collects the first 13 issues of this phenomenal series. Quality paper and prinring give this tome some heft, and the contents live up to the treatment.

Inside, we find two major storylines, of six chapters each, bracketing the standalone "Protege" tale of Robin and Superboy and their special assignment to recruit the brilliant new 13-year-old self-declared "Toyman"

The first six-parter begins with a super-brief parallel retelling of their origins, then dives into its global threat - a massive meteor of Kryptonite is rapidly approaching Earth. American President Lex Luthor blames Superman. He marshals first a super-team of his own, with the likes of Captain Atom and Major Force. Then when that approach fails, he tries to turn the whole world against Superman. Can Batman and Superman work together to stop both President Luthor and the meteor without doing too much damage to America or the rest of the world?

Ed McGuinness leads the art duties in this story, and it looks great! Bright colors and compelling images suit the drama while providing us readers with a visual treat. At least until we reach the monstrosity of a rocket ship, built and drawn to be half-Batman and half-Superman, a painful and silly choice that fortunately is destroyed within a few pages.

The final six-parter reveals the contents of that meteor - a rocket ship from Krypton, carrying Supergirl to Earth. She has much to learn, about her powers, life on Earth, combat ttraining with the Amazons on Themyscira, and most urgently, who she really is.

When Darkseid begins influencing this last quest of self-discovery, it brings out the full protective fury of Superman and the courage, planning and strategy brilliance of Batman. Artist Michael Turner takes over, and gives us a visceral, violent and sexy treat.

These are intense tales, not intended for children or Saturday morning TV. The depth of characterization, even for heroes so well-known by society at large, combinbed with the complex story-telling, frequent duality in the narration, and amazing art, scores 4 Capes out of 5.

Description:

The world's most iconic super-heroes are united for an unbelievable adventure when Superman's greatest foe, Lex Luthor, becomes President of the United States and starts an all-out super-powered hunt for the Man of Tomorrow. Nearby in Gotham, Batman finds that Superman is not the last Kryptonian, as he discovers another survivor alive…Kal-El’s cousin, Supergirl! However, behind this immense discovery may be the gravest threat of all: Darkseid! Together, Superman and Batman square off with each other against the greatest threats known to the DC Universe in an unforgettable team-up!

Acclaimed writer Jeph Loeb (BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS) along with superstar artists Ed McGuinness (Avengers vs. X-Men), Pat Lee, and Michael Turner (JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA) pair together the DC Universe’s finest heroes for an epic, action-packed adventure in SUPERMAN/BATMAN

Collects: SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1-13

Authors: Jeph Loeb
Artists: Ed McGuinness, Pat Lee, and Michael Turner
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: May 6 2014
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 9781401248185
Pages: 336 pages 



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