Batman/Superman #17
Scheduled to arrive in stores: April 27, 2021
Cover date: June 2021
“Worlds Collide”
Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inker: Ivan Reis
Cover: Reis, Miki & Rich
Variant Cover: Rodolfo Migliari
Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer
Batman and Superman of Earth-0 are still investigating the satellite. The Archivist reveals himself and then the story shifts back to the meeting of Superman and Batman that began in the previous issue. Bruce, Clark, Lois, and Dick are quickly drawn together and attacked. They decide to look into the Spider-Lady, who is revealed to be Batman’s earth’s version of Lois Lane, the only survivor of a bombing at the Daily Planet. Superman, Lois, and Lois uncover the thinness of realities, so Superman uses his heat vision to burn through reality and they are confronted by the Archivist. The Archivist wants to create one perfect universe and will destroy all others to create it.
Story – 4: It has been fun to see a Golden Age Batman and Robin dynamic. I would like to have a Batman and Robin comic on the shelves again. Framing the story as a “first meet” between the different Batman and Superman allowed for some reflection on the mysteries planted in the first issue. However, I am finding myself vaguely uninterested in the Archivist’s role in everything. He seems like a poor knock off version of Brainiac, or maybe he is Brainiac, I don’t know. The character dynamics and Yang’s effort to showcase the Golden Age personalities really makes this issue fun to read.
Art – 5: The art for this makes it worth buying alone. Ivan Reis is one of my favorite comic artists currently working. He draws an amazing Superman and Batman. He is also able to make subtle changes to the physical appearance to differentiate between modern Superman and Batman and the characters the story is showing. I also am really enjoying the Golden Age inspired costumes.
Cover Art – 4: The cover looks dynamic. Clark transforming into Superman in the foreground really dominates the image. It took me awhile to realize that Batman and Robin were fighting in the background.
Variant Cover Art – 4: I should love this cover more than I do, but I don’t. The art really leans into realism. But the problem is, I don’t like seeing realist versions of Batman’s skin tight grey suit. It makes me think of Adam West which immediately makes me think of how ridiculous Batman truly is… not a great way to sell a comic.
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I agree with you about the Archivist. The main thing that’s brought me to the storyline is Ivan Reis’s art and the fun of Golden Age Superman with Batman & Robin. To the point where I would just as soon this be an out of current continuity tale without the Archivist thing at all.
It’s nice to see Ivan’s art teamed with a better writer.