SuperTripping

[trelas.insanejournal.com]

Yesterday I posted scenes from the first issue of Green's run on Superman/Batman and realized that it would be a crime to not post a certain scene from the third issue of the storyline. At the end of the first issue, Superman has convinced Batman to help him round-up the kryptonite on Earth, so it won't stop him from helping people. It just turns out that there is a lot of it around after the Kryptonite meteor in the first storyline of the title. While they are doing this, Batman receives a weird signal from the satellites, indicating a location of Kryptonite in a certain bar. What bar? The Oblivion Bar, which is basically the hangout for magic-users, so Supes and Bats are simply thrilled in going there. At the bar they do find the kryptonite in a medallion sealed way and are confused by it being silver and so old that Krypton was still around when it was made. At that point Clark picks it up and it goes bam.

Clark goes unconcious and is taken to the satellite to study, with Zatanna there explaining that the kryptonite probably caused an enchancement on Supes, Bats claiming there is no magic, but rather areas not yet studied and Wally names the silver Kryptonite Magic-K. So what did the silver kryptonite do?







Yep, Superman is h- Highly unstable. And it is awesome, even if smell doesn't work that way.

When Zatanna finally sees the amulet which caused this, she recognizes it as a magical artifact used to enslave the mind of an enemy and the only way to remove the curse is through it's sister amulet. Where is that amulet? On Dinosaur Island. They actually poke a lot of fun on the existance of the island.

Zee and Bats learn from a tribe on the island that the other amulet is located in a volcano, but that no one with godly powers can enter it as it is guarded by enchantments left by a jealous god. That leaves pretty much Batman to be the one to retrieve it. Meanwhile, at the satellite...



That 'Stupid Batman' line just cracks me up. A small word warning at this time as the story now transitions to a sadder tone.





Okay, Batman's stand on magic is pretty hilarous, but still.



I realize some people will disagree with me, but to me those last few panels were just so powerful and in a way sad in how Supes didn't get that about Bats, even though they were close enough to be brothers. With that I end this post, once again hoping that the people enjoyed these pages as much as I did.

Comments

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

Your last post made me go and reread this issue and arc. Some very amusing parts, a couple of very poignant moments. Enjoyed it very much. The last scene above is indeed very sad.

Yeah me too..

[steverodgers5.insanejournal.com]

It's the rare comic arc these days that can be both funny and poignant. Big thumbs up on this one!

[nezchan.insanejournal.com]

Stoned Superman is an awesome sandwich made of awesome.

Also, poor Bruce. Brothers (and siblings in general) frequently don't get each other either, so it works for me.

[pyrotwilight.insanejournal.com]

What that. Superman smells brownies in Dakota? Now that's just racist. You're gonna hurt Static's feelings. XD

But yeah these scenes were hilarious especially when they brough t in the Lil Leaguers later.

[icon_uk.insanejournal.com]

Stonerman is fun up to a point, but Batman denying magic is as teethgrinding as him denying ghosts despite more than evidence but actual PROOF.

[darkblade.insanejournal.com]

Which is hilarious. I mean when he comes back to life and is told his skull was being used to produce black power rings that instead of working like the rainbow rings re-animates dead people as zombies he will try to find a rational explaination while everyone stares at him like he's crazier then usual and laughs behind his back.

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

Personally, I like him denying magic. (I don't generally really like it as a story device in the Batverse itself.) Plus it gives everybody else someone to argue with.

[thokstar.insanejournal.com]

Batman doesn't believe in ghosts? But what about Deadman?

[bariman1987.insanejournal.com]

Reminds me of a conversation between Terry and Bruce in "Batman Beyond." Terry's school seems to be haunted but Bruce doesn't believe it. After being questioned by Terry, Bruce admits that he does believe in supernatural phenomenon like ghosts, because he's experienced plenty of them. In this case, however, it's far more likely it's some high school prank.

[comicoz.insanejournal.com]

Question for you then, not to be antagonistic but rather curiousity, how do you feel about Mister Terrific's denial of God/religeous higher power despite the fact he works/worked directly with the Spectre, who would represent the vengance of said power?

That one I've always had more trouble accepting. I've been able to accept the "Batman doesn't believe in magic" in the same way that I accept "Any sufficently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic."

[bluejaybirdie.insanejournal.com]

I love high Superman. The "ssik ym ttub" line was classic too, and Bruce's line right afterward only made it that much funnier. The art is gorgeous, who did it?

That last page is so sad. Poor woobie Bruce!

Heh! Zatanna's line is great..

[steverodgers5.insanejournal.com]

With the way she rocks that outfit, I don't think I'd have any problem acceding to that request! LOL!

Although that does make me think. Can Zatanna get away with saying things backwards and it not being a spell? Are there even any rules for that sort of thing with her?

[autumn_lily.insanejournal.com]

It's one of those rare times that you want to just snuggle Batman, even though he'd cut you like a bitch or something...

[sianmink.insanejournal.com]

Love it.

BROWNIES! In North Dakota! We have to go to North Dakota. RIGHT. NOW.

[darkblade.insanejournal.com]

"Great job Clark. Hope you make a lot of money at the planet because we are not covering the repair bill for the North Dakota Two Bite Brownie factory."

[jaybee3.insanejournal.com]

The art in this is very good particularly Batman. Is it me or does it seem that its not just Dini who are on the Bats/Zatanna ship these days over at DC? I wonder how many writers, present and future, who grew up watching BTAS (and I'd wager thats a lot) will think of Zee as a Batman love interest despite it being a very recent phenomenon.

Not that thats a bad thing - all the more angst when Bruce comes back. Let's see Dini is writing 2 Batman books including Selina's, he will be writing a Zatanna on-going (and he's the biggest Bruce/Zee shipper of all), Vicki Vale is going to be a regular in Red Robin (so I've heard) and Morrison has tied Talia to Bruce irrevocably thanks to the DemonSeed(even if her characterization is all wrong). And I wouldn't be surprised to see Silver St. Cloud make an appearance (not counting the Kevin Smith mini). I'd love to see them all in one room together when Caveman Bruce comes back.

And I still DO NOT understand how after all these years none of Bruce's friends seem to understand him and how desperately lonely and insecure he is deep down. The greatest difference between Dick and Bruce IMO, is that Dick is secure with himself and with others, and easy in his own skin while Bruce Wayne is still in many ways that little boy in Crime Alley surrounded by his parents dead bodies. The Batman is as much a security blanket for him as it is a crime fighting mask. Or so it seems to me.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

I hope Silver DOES make an appearance - I've always liked her. She might even get along with Zee - they're both competent career women in their own way.

[kingrockwell]

The Green/Johnson run on S/B is often a lot of fun, but this arc had a lot of really annoying moments. I think I got into it mostly for the Li'l Leaguers here, but almost everything else was kind of miserable, especially toward the end.

[schala_kid.insanejournal.com]

I realize some people will disagree with me, but to me those last few panels were just so powerful and in a way sad in how Supes didn't get that about Bats, even though they were close enough to be brothers.

While Clark doesn't buy Batman's fear act he does have a horrible record when it comes to getting Bruce (like the arc with Bekka for example he's oblivious to Bruce's affections for her and accidentally rubs it in by saying that Orion is lucky to have her).

What surprised me the most though was JLA #31 where Diana and Clark are sparring and talking about Bruce's death.

Clark -- "I just wish I'd spent more with Bruce."

Diana -- "He treasured his time with you."

Clark -- "He barely tolerated me."

Um WHAT? He comes looking for you when you're MIA or when you don't answer his calls, he's the first one to jump in when you're in danger, he doesn't let anyone else own/handle Kryptonite even though you trust them, he goes to your Pa's funeral to pay his respects (no invite necessary) and then gives you his condolences, gives you a peptalk or stern talking when you're hurting yourself, he does favors for you, allows himself to let his guard down when he's around you, He cried when you died!!

Anyway this is what Diana said to him

Diana -- "You know better, Kal. He loved you."

I think it all comes down to the fact that Bruce, even though he's a very sentimental person, doesn't like to project how he feels and can makes an image of himself that is not real but wants others to believe and Clark just plays along. Of course Clark doesn't buy the "Goddamn Batman" act or the illusion that he's an uncaring cold bastard, but maybe he feels like Bruce would rather work than take a break and spend time with him or that Superman's being a burden to him (which I think prompts Clark to not seek or engage in a personal conversation for the sake of not bothering Bruce ).


Of course Bruce probably sucks at getting Clark too (although, with the exception of Diana, he's shown that he's the first to notice when Clark is feeling down or behaving oddly) but I am pretty sure if he knew that Clark felt that Bruce didn't like him he would rectify that problem immediately.

[jaybee3.insanejournal.com]

"He barely tolerated me."

Yes, Clark. He barely tolerated you so much that he gave you and Lois your current (hard-to-get waiting listed) apartment as a wedding present. He barely tolerated you that (as mentioned) he was the only one of your Superfriends to go to your Pops funeral (in civilian clothes naturally) even though Gotham isn't anywhere near Kansas. He barely tolerated you that he bought the Daily Planet (a dying medium and a paper that barely makes a profit according to most writers) to foil YOUR arch-enemy and so you and Lois could basically do what you want without getting fired. All this and more because he barely tolerated you.

Really. Bruce Wayne doesn't have a lot of friends. And by that I mean close friends. I'm sure most of the JLA who are on a first name basis with "Bruce" ala John/GL, Vixen, Kyle, Wally etc. are not really close to him. Ties with members of the older group are strained - for various reasons particularly the mind-wiping. MM/J'onn is currently dead. He's really not that close to Diana (outside of the super-heroing) and the only one he hangs out with in civilian clothes is Clark. Babs is like a sister, Leslie betrayed him with Steph, Alfred is a second father, Gordon has distance because of the secret between them. Dick, Tim, Cass (and Jason) are his children not his pals. And Selina and Talia and Vicki and Silver and Sasha and Julie Madison have all been pushed away at varying points (though Silver left on her own).

Bruce Wayne,one of the richest, smartest, most powerful men on Earth, is an isolated, sometimes disturbed, individual who keeps his demons bottled up. That's part of the appeal of the character to me. I keep waiting for a writer to take advantage of this and have someone in his life call him on this stuff and for it to stick - particularly Clark. But no.

[dustbunny105.insanejournal.com]

Stupid question, but isn't Wally the Flash in Superman/Batman? Because I thought so but the blond eyebrows on chibi!Flash make me think it's Barry.

[kamino_neko.insanejournal.com]

Last time this was posted (on the old comm) I speculated that it's because the way the Li'l Leaguers look comes from Superman's mind, and, as much as he respects Wally - as much as he LIKES Wally - to him, 'the Flash' is, by default, the one he met first, the one he was on a team with for several years before Wally ever took the red costume - to him, 'the Flash' is Barry.

Icons

[tsunamiwombat.insanejournal.com]

There is too much gold in this. Let there be icons. I shall maketh some.

Re: Icons

[tsunamiwombat.insanejournal.com]

http://img62.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=browniesinndk.jpg

And there was a gallery.

[comicoz.insanejournal.com]

The one eyed creature at the end of the bed when he wakes up still creeps me out and confuses me. The explanation I was given (on the old comm) was that it was J'onn, but he never appears in the entire book in any form, which is confusing. And the panel before, where you see everyone standing pre-stoned-vision has that space as blank.

So who's the mystery creature?

[salamangkiero.insanejournal.com]

The sad thing here is that no one in the team seems to get the fundamental opposition the two represent: Superman is practically brought up to be a Hero...but Batman is a Hero because obsession drives him in ways that being a Hero would be the only useful outlet.