CSBG Archive
Superman/Batman #51 Is a Delightful Comic Book
- by Brian Cronin
- in Comic Reviews
A few months back, I remarked at how much charm was involved in the little Kryptonite fever dream Superman had in an issue of Superman/Batman (a good part of the otherwise Death Spiral of a storyline).

Well, in the latest issue of Superman/Batman, writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson have delivered a delightful story, ably assisted by the best work Rafael Albuquerque has done for DC Comics so far (and good for him, as it is also his highest profile assignment yet).
The concept of the comic is that Mister Mxyzptlk caught Superman’s fever dream, and decided that he would show Superman and Batman a fun time by making those fever dreams actual people – they come from a world where Batman’s origin was that, when Bruce Wayne was a boy, his parents were…shoved to the ground in front of him!! From that point on, he vowed to never allow anyone else to be bullied in Gotham City!!
The rest of the issue is filled with similar cute gags, and I especially enjoyed how the “real” heroes react to the various cartoonish antics of the Junior Leaguers (like when the girl Leaguers see Robin and freak out over how cute he is and blow him kisses, their kisses come out as red smooches in the sky, leading Robin to note, “Are those lips?!?).
This is a really fun, well-told issue with great artwork. Well worth giving it a read.
- Posted on August 25, 2008 @ 07:34 AM






20 Comments
T.
August 25, 2008 at 7:42 am
I’m skeptical, first because it just strikes me as a poor man’s X-Babies, and second because I just can’t believe anything good could ever come out of an issue of Superman/Batman, no matter who wrote it.
Bryan Levy
August 25, 2008 at 7:46 am
I hadn’t been to the stpre in weeks, and really had no cash when I went last week, but I picked this thing up, and thank God. It basically reaffirmed my believe that comics can be fun in this day and age. A silver age story with ’00s sensibilities.
Take this stranger’s advice, and definately pick this up.
Grico
August 25, 2008 at 8:44 am
Red Tornado has a great look there. He looks exactly like the MiniMates figures they came out with a few years ago.
Danx
August 25, 2008 at 8:45 am
This comic was fun as all hell. . . especially after the awfulness of issue 50. uck.
Rich
August 25, 2008 at 8:56 am
I hope my LCS has copies of this left on Wednesday — I tried to buy one at Borders this weekend and they were sold out.
Matt
August 25, 2008 at 9:06 am
Wow. I haven’t seen a good issue of Superman/Batman for a long time. I may have to pick this up.
-M
Paperghost
August 25, 2008 at 9:10 am
“I just can’t believe anything good could ever come out of an issue of Superman/Batman, no matter who wrote it.”
They should just have them kiss and be done with it. Because that’s how I expect every single issue to end, with “I’ve Had The Time of My Life” playing in the background on the Batmobile Radio.
J. R.
August 25, 2008 at 10:03 am
This issue was really enjoyable to read.
“I’m the goshdarn Batman.”
Ryan
August 25, 2008 at 10:04 am
LMAO @ Paperghost . . .
. . . I remember when this title started, and itw as fun. I actually liked the re-intro of Supergirl and the first part of the Batman v. Superman family stories . . . But yeah, then it was the suck. Might have to get this, although I admit I always love reading about the X-Babies, so I might be biased in my love for mini-heroes.
joshschr
August 25, 2008 at 11:05 am
The look on Batman’s face is exactly the same as my 5-year-old’s when I tell her she has to pick up her toys. These issues are great!
T.
August 25, 2008 at 11:50 am
Were there secret issues that were never released in the comic shops? Because I’ve never seen an issue that was not “the suck.”
I haven’t read the issues mentioned in this post, but if Michael Green wrote them I am forced to disagree with brian about them being good, sight unseen.
joshschr
August 25, 2008 at 11:56 am
Your mileage may vary, T, but some people did enjoy the books. Like me. How many did you try?
Stephen
August 25, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I thought the first arc (the end of Lex’s presidency) was solid but unspectacular – it broke down a bit towards the end, but the duelling narrative gimmick worked very well there. The second (Supergirl) was basically what Hush would’ve been if it had actually been what people complain it is – namely, an excuse for a big-name artist to draw all the DC characters he never had before (Turner, in this case), without much of a narrative stringing it together.
After that… um… I remember there being an elseworlds type of story, and I think that’s when I dropped it, as Loeb was obviously dealing with other things and not paying full attention to the book, and I don’t blame him one bit if his scripts didn’t have much put into them. I think the only issues I’ve bought since then were Sam’s issue and the Annual (which was all kinds of great, complete with Deadpoo… er, Deathstroke. Of Earth-3. Yes.)
This looks fun, since it’s a nice riff on one of my favourite JLU episodes. Too bad they didn’t put Jon Stewart in Kyle’s old mask like they did in that one, as it was one of the best gags in that episode (well, outside the “Batman is Wonder Woman’s Boyfriend” stuff). Minimate Red Tornado is indeed a little bit of genius. Judging by the Annual and the review of this one, I think I’d like this book more if it was a comedy book starring the Big Two more than anything else, especially since it’s been so inconsequential ever since the Supergirl arc ended.
Craig
August 25, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I respectfully disagree about “K” being a Death Spiral of a storyarc. Rather, I felt it was a very fun story that, while being rather light on continuity, was a fun idea. It was exactly what I expect from Superman/Batman.
Ariel S.
August 25, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Oh my gosh, what an awesome cliffhanger!!!! I can’t wait for next issue!! (las time i actually felt this way about a S/B issue was during Pacheco’s stint)
Beautiful art, really REALLY good
Pól Rua
August 25, 2008 at 11:42 pm
This was a genuinely unexpected cracker of a tale.
Apodaca
August 26, 2008 at 12:56 am
Baby Red Tornado looks more like a Lego to me.
wwk5d
August 26, 2008 at 6:49 am
That would be awesome, Paperghost, though in my head, the song playing is “I Will Always love You”. The Dolly Parton version.
T.
August 27, 2008 at 1:50 pm
So what exactly is this, the Chris Claremont/Art Adams X-Babies story, but with Mxyzptlk doing the Mojo role and the JLA playing the X-Men?
TimGunn
August 28, 2008 at 8:18 am
We need an Avengers Babies, stat.