Comic Review: Batman/Superman #10

Batman/Superman #10

DC Comics

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artists: Clayton Henry and Alejandro Sanchez

Batman/Superman is interesting because I don’t feel as if I should like it, in theory. In practice, however, I always wind up having a good deal of fun with the book. This issue is no exception, as its simplicity is both its greatest feature and its most glaring bug.

While Batman Superman didn’t start out on the strongest note, I’ve grown to appreciate it. It consistently delivers a dose of Silver-Age fun that I don’t see from many superhero books these days. It’s certainly not unheard of, but typically throwback books lean into the whacky, over-the-top nature of that era, while still holding onto the moral ambiguity that’s become the norm in the modern age.

I feel Batman Superman separates itself from that particular crowd by shedding its modern skin and leaning even further into past tropes. The dialogue and art still follow typical modern norms, but that’s the extent of it. There’s very little complexity within these pages. It may sound strange to praise the issue for lacking substance, but I do think it’s part of the charm. I’d never want every book to follow this one’s lead, nor would I suggest that modern comics have the wrong idea, but I like that I have this one avenue for complete and total escapism.

This particular praise has two sides. I appreciate the nostalgia, but there is very little to chew on beyond that. Batman and Superman are in their classic costumes, fighting classic villains by classic means. Are you sensing a pattern? I have both an appreciation and discontent for its reliance on a tried-and-true formula. Obviously, the recipe works or it wouldn’t still be around after 80 years,  but it’s not as satisfying as it once was. In other words, the book is fun while reading, but upon closing it I tend to feel a hint of nothing.

Despite my conflicting feelings on the contents of the story itself, I do feel definitively positive regarding Clayton Henry’s art. I’m not sure where he came from, but he has the stuff. His style is fluid, which makes for some incredible action sequences. His strong facial acting makes the rarer quiet moments work and feel no less exciting than the punching. Plus, I appreciate the five-head representation he brings to the table. I feel seen. On top of that, Alejandro Sanchez’s bright color pallet does a magnificent job at intensifying the book’s whimsical tone.

Batman Superman #10 succeeds in delivering a pure and focused superhero story. On the other hand, it doesn’t ask you to think too much. At different times of the day this dichotomy strikes me in differing ways, but I at least never find it boring, and that isn’t nothing. Add Clayton Henry’s versatile art style into the mix and you’re left with a book that doesn’t aim to challenge, but still ends up feeling worthwhile.