DC This Week

Review – ‘Batman/Superman’ #10: Body Wars

Batman/Superman variant cover, via DC Comics.

Batman/Superman – Joshua Williamson, Writer; Clayton Henry, Artist; Alejandro Sanchez, Colorist

Ray – 8.5/10

Ray: One of the biggest challenges of any team-up book is finding a threat that fits with both character’s strengths. A superhero mystery involving nuclear suicide drones fits, and the addition of Superman villains adds some nice complexity. The issue opens with a creepy flashback to Superman’s past battle with Ultra-Humanite, when the villain got himself killed and seemed completely unconcerned with it. I’m not particularly fond of the Ultra-Humanite’s origin, making him a disabled man so determined to escape his body that he turned himself into a monster. But Williamson does maybe the best job of any writer I can remember in capturing the unpredictable creepiness of a villain who can be anywhere and anyone if they switch their bodies. It’s near-impossible to contain him for good because he can just jump to the next body and use them like disposable drones.

Rage of the Ultra-Humanite. Via DC Comics.

Williamson isn’t one of the head Superman writers, but he’s doing a good job of dealing with the fallout from Clark’s decision to reveal his identity to the world. As a Superman villain spreads chaos in Gotham, Clark gets the blame from opportunistic media types who claim that he’s bringing danger to their normally calm (yeah, right) city. But as Batman finds out, he might have ties to the plot as well. This leads the two heroes to a Gotham warehouse used for hazardous materials and a tense segment that feels right out of a horror movie. As Superman goes up against an army of nuclear-powered undead drones, Batman winds up in the clutches of the Ultra-Humanite, who has a deadly plan to finish off Superman. With a great last act twist that doubles as a callback to Watchmen, it’s a gripping and exciting issue that continues to show off how well this book switches genres at the drop of a hat.

Related Post

To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.

GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.

Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!

This post was last modified on July 30, 2020 6:04 pm

Ray Goldfield

Ray Goldfield is a comics superfan going back almost thirty years. When he's not reading way too many comics a week, he is working on his own writing. The first installment in his young adult fantasy-adventure, "Alex Actonn, Son of Two Seas", is available in Amazon now.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: Lewis and Clark … and Monsters in ‘Corps of Discovery’

You probably learned in school that Lewis and Clark were commissioned by the President to…

April 23, 2024

Review – The Flash #8: Closing In

As the search for Wally continues, Amanda Waller sets her sights on the Flash Family.

April 23, 2024

Review – The Penguin #9: Family Business

Penguin has returned to Gotham—but his daughter intends him to have a short stay.

April 23, 2024

Review – Harley Quinn #39: The New Gig

Harley has a new purpose—and a first client, in the form of Maxie Zeus.

April 23, 2024

Review – Power Girl #8: Unlikely Allies

It's time for Power Girl to enter the House of Brainiac—for a team-up with Crush.

April 23, 2024

Review – Batman: Dark Age #2 – The Lost Boy

Bruce Wayne finds his escape from prison in the Army—but Vietnam proves to be more…

April 23, 2024

This website uses cookies.