Batman/Superman #5 Review
“Game Over”
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Greg Pak
Pencils: Brett Booth
Inks: Norm Rapmund
Colors: Andrew Dalhouse
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover: Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund w/ Andrew Dalhouse
Review by Scott Keys
Batman/Superman #5 marks Brett Booth’s debut as penciller, as well as a new “widescreen” approach to the title, with the layout now horizontal instead of vertical. What does this installment of Batman/Superman have in store for the reader? Sheer awesomeness!
Pak crafts a fun story of video games gone wrong. In the world we live in now, many people play video games (some WAY more than others). But what if those games were used for evil? Pak also sheds more light on the differences between Bruce and Clark, as well as establishing that Bruce is “a little bit older” than Clark. It’s a nice notion and gives more credence to Bruce being more methodical and prepared, whereas Clark depends a lot on his powers and exuberance to get him out of a jam. Pak also introduces Toymaster to the New 52, establishing him as the game designer for the new virtual fighting game at the center of our story. Illustrating this adventure is the team of Brett Booth and Norm Rapmund, and I must say their style really shines in the “widescreen” format! This “sideways” storytelling allows the artists to show more detail and gives them more room for sprawling action sequences.
Do you wanna know what happened in the book? Of course you do! It starts off with Batman battling Metal-Zero (I guess that’s Metallo’s new name, ugh) and Superman taking care of some asteroids in space. Batman handles the situation, and Superman teases him about it (fun stuff). Then we get into the heart of the story, with Toymaster beta-testing his new game. He enlists the help of some fellow gamers (one of whom is Jimmy Olsen) to play his new game. As ashes fall to Earth, a new plant blooms. It’s pollen makes it’s way into the Batcave and gets inhaled by Bruce (wonder where that’s going). It makes Bruce more aggressive and less tolerant (not a good combo for Bats). Next, Nightwing shows up to investigate the crime scene… and he turns on Batman! This is when we find out that the game isn’t really a game, but a manifestation in the real world (though the gamers don’t believe it). We then discover that the mastermind behind the whole thing…Mongul! And that last scene, well, I’ll let you read it for yourselves (I’m not gonna do all the work for you).
If you weren’t a big fan of Jae Lee’s art (I know that there were some of you out there), but dug Greg Pak’s writing, Batman/Superman #5 is a great jumping-on point for new readers! It’s full of action, twists and turns, and is beautifully illustrated!
Art: 4.5 / 5
Story: 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Scott Keys is a father, Butler University grad, pharmacist, and full-time comic nerd. You can follow his adventures around the spinner-rack and his Incoherent Comic Book Ramblings on:
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