Comments on: A Year of Cool Comic Book Moments – Day 140

By: John Hennings

John Hennings — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:32:40 +0000

I agree, Colby. It shows the high (if unoriginal) concept of Morrison’s all-star JLA. At any moment, any one of them can make a game-changing big play, and they may all do it at the same time. Today is Batman’s turn to shine, but eventually Aquaman takes down the monster alien, Wonder Woman beats the rebel angel, and Green Lantern stops the sun from going nova. This team was made for moments like these, where the audience cheers and the bad guys go all incontinent.

By: colby

colby — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:33:31 +0000

I know this is old, but I just discovered this feature and want to add my two cents. This moment is AWESOME, but I also love the beginning of the next issue- when Superman figures things out, too. “He can hear them.”

I love that Morrision was perfectly comfortable with Superman being very cunning himself. It doesn’t have to be all Batman.

By: wwk5d

wwk5d — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:19:07 +0000

If only an artist better than Porter drew this. Those are some ugly panels.

This is why villains need to shoot first, and talk later. Stupid Martians deserved to lose lol

For me, the moment is a draw, either Superman smiling, or “I know your secret”.

By: John Hennings

John Hennings — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:10:39 +0000

Bob, I agree that’s part of it. Superman, at that point, knew the Martians would lose and the Justice League would win because they had underestimated Bats. But I still think he’s laughing like a movie audience that sees the bad guys’ beat down about to commence. It’s the satisfaction of seeing justice done.

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:28:49 +0000

I don’t see it, John. Superman wasn’t laughing at thier upcoming pain, more that knowing smile that says “you’re not the first to underestimate him and you won’t be the last!”

By: John Hennings

John Hennings — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:04:27 +0000

Y’all are missing the best part of the best moment. If memory serves as well as I’d like, when Supes makes the “He’s the most dangerous man on Earth” comment, he’s sick, fevered, bound, and in pain, and he’s LAUGHING — giggling, really — at these poor Martian suckers. Good old Supes, the nicest bouncer in the bar, wracked with misery, still can’t control his mirth at the hurt, terror, and humiliation his nastiest pal is going to put his captors through. You get the impression that he might’ve considered feeling bad for them if they hadn’t hurt any innocents yet — or any of his friends. Respect for Batman, indeed.

By: Rob McMonigal

Rob McMonigal — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:56:19 +0000

As I told a friend of mine–THAT is my defining Batman moment. Any other portayal fails for me, which is why I did not care much for the Brubaker-Rucka years,though I like both writers elsewhere.

By: karacas

karacas — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:41:55 +0000

This is the kind of Batman I love. It shows why he can contend with the superpowered members of the league. Some people doubt it. Superman knows that if anyone can get them out of that situation it’s Batman.
I like that he’s always prepared; sorry I’m a Batman fan. Never underestimate him.

By: johnny the boy

johnny the boy — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:39:52 +0000

i concurr w/ the “superman smile is the moment” camp.

By: David B

David B — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:23:40 +0000

The coolest part wasn’t featured here. It’s when Superman tells the Hyperclan that Batman is the most dangerous man in the world.

By: Jason Bowen

Jason Bowen — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:48:46 +0000

Another moment that’s less a moment itself as it is a great sequence of moments.

A lot of people are discussing the martian reveal here as a fun element to the story. Right off the back Morrison sets it up as we get the first mention of a character with fire based powers losing their super powers.

As the plot goes on we see this pay off more and more. I think it’s awesome that from the very first page, we were getting hints to the story’s direction.

By: P_B

P_B — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:01:59 +0000

It’s true, actually, that this would make a great JLA flick. They’d have to give us an intro to Martian Manhunter in that movie anyway – just reiterate that as far as he knows, he’s the only Martian left. Wouldn’t have to do it like the JL show, they could make him a long-standing, founding member of a preexisting group. Do we really need a cartoon-style origin for the team? Nope.

By: Mike Loughlin

Mike Loughlin — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:47:32 +0000

“I know your secret.” i remember practically getting up and cheering for that panel. Superman’s smile is great, too, but A-Mortal just hanging there and the bald woman panicking were awesome.

Beats the hell out of sitting at a table talking about who should be on the team.

By: John Cage

John Cage — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:03:24 +0000

I second MarkAndrew’s comment about Howard Porter — the art’s a little raw compared to his recent stuff, but man if he doesn’t draw the book the way it should be drawn. He nails the mood and characters perfectly.

Have a good day.
John Cage

By: MarkAndrew

MarkAndrew — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:31:37 +0000

Yay!

See, I always liked Howard Porter. Even this early on there’s some real thought goin’ into the design of those pages.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:02:03 +0000

My vote is for Superman’s smile as the moment. Superman may be the only superhero whom Batman cannot intimidate, but his respect for the Bat is clearly without match.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:03:13 +0000

I’ve always liked the moment a little earlier on where the disguised white Martians are going on about how Batman is just a man in a mask and Superman says something like, “He’s the most dangerous man alive,” which, as you can see, they completely ignore.

I think that’s actually AFTER this, when the other White Martians don’t report back.

By: Thenodrin

Thenodrin — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:54:21 +0000

The martian’s mistake reminds me of a role playing game I was in. The plot was that an undead creature was extracting revenge on the judge and jury who had sentenced it to death. We had figured out who it was and who his next target was. But, not what it was.

But, we had made a huge tactical error. We holed up in a small wooden shack. The judge gave us Notice rolls and some of us smelled kerosene. We then debated what sort of undead smells like kerosene.

Turns out, an undead setting the building on fire smells like kerosene.

“What is that smell?” indeed.

Theno

By: dhole

dhole — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:48:48 +0000

This is the storyarc that brought me back to comics.

Nice choice.

By: bad trotsky

bad trotsky — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:30:46 +0000

This is my favorite Batman is a bad ass moment outside of a Batcomic. Knowing that weakness makes it possible.