Superman/Batman Annual #4: The Return of Terry McGinnis

[theanswer]

Enter your cut contents here. The story begins with Terry, Bruce, and Ace stalking Metallo and the Jokerz. The investigation turns towards a drug laced with kryptonite, which ultimately leads Terry into a criminal mission to the Fortress of Solitude, undercover of course. Eventually the mastermind is revealed to be Lex Luthor who wanted to draw out Superman for a final confrontation before he dies. Lex uses his tech to turn his lackey into Superman's replacement. The end result of the battle is predictable, but what happens next is a little unexpected...



Earlier in this issue, Terry visits Lois Lane's grave (it's implied that Parasite killed her) and we get a hint that an event similar to Kingdom Come occurred when we see Clark's KC costume hanging with his other costumes in the Fortress of Solitude. All of these events have left him cold and tired of fighting for this world.



Mon-El intervenes and defends Clark's actions despite Zod arguing back at the Daxamite.

Apparently the Kingdom Come-ish event that occurred here ended very differently because Superman's patience with villains does not seem to have recovered at all. He has imprisoned criminals in the Phantom Zone indefinitely and gives Terry the controls, asking him to act as the parole board and release the Earthlings if he believes they have learned their lessons, but also requesting that the elderly Luthor remain imprisoned in the PZ forever.

He goes on to explain to Terry that he is leaving Earth to fight for peace on other worlds. He wants to feel the starlight of other worlds before he dies, because even though he will outlive everyone he loves he senses he is not immortal. However, before he goes, Superman has a gift for Batman.





Most of the story was focused on Superman and his rogues. It was an alright introduction to the new Batman Beyond mini starting this month, but it seemed like they wanted to get Superman out of the way for the mini even though that didn't really seem necessary. I don't know exactly how to explain it, this annual just was so overwhelmingly about Superman. However, the art was great and they did a great job of recreating the Nu-Gotham atmosphere and look.

Suggested Tags:
char: batman/terry mcginnis
char: lex luthor
char: superman/clark kent
char: zod/dru-zod
creator: jose wilson magalhaes
creator: paul levitz
creator: renato guedes
publisher: dc comics
title: superman/batman

Comments

[superfangirl1]

Continuation of my favorite batman beyond episode.

[superfangirl1]

Well kind of anyway.

[aaron_bourque]

I thought that the mini would take place in the DCAU, whilst this took place in it's own little continuity, like all S/B stories?

[theanswer]

No, this is in continuity. It just doesn't have anything to do with the story in the up-coming mini.

And this doesn't take place in the DCAU, it takes place in the new multiverse where there is a Batman Beyond Earth.

[icon_uk]

So are they ignoring the fact that Superman was possessed by Starro for YEARS? This outlook doesn't seem to gel with the history that episode provided.

[theanswer]

They acknowledge Starro. Terry wonders to himself why Superman has left Metropolis fall apart and not visited Lois' grave if he isn't being influenced by Starro.

[superfangirl1]

Superman mention how when he was being possess by starro,lex grew in power to corrupt metropolis.

[jcbaggee]

Superman implies during his dialogue that during his possession by Starro, Lois and numerous others died, Luthor took over, and he has no memory of all this.

[comicoz]

It was mentioned in the book, but I don't recall it happening. I wanted to see the story about that - do you recall where this was shown?

[stig]

See, that sequence would have been SO much more powerful like this.

"I've already lost everyone I care about, Lex."

*Shot of Luthor's bewildered, perhaps understanding face.*

*Shot of Superman, expressionless, holding up the P-Zone Projector*

"Some day soon, you'll understand."

*He presses the button.*

*Shot of Luthor's wordless scream as he stands up, jumping to get at it*

*Shot of the empty space, minus Luthor*

Paul Levitz is really stuck in another time, dialogue-wise.

[theanswer]

Your version is OOC for Luthor.

[foxhack]

Wait.

If Luthor's devices were wired to him and would go off if he died...

And he got tossed into the Phantom Zone... which means the devices wouldn't be able to detect a heartbeat... hence thinking he'd died...

...

DAMMIT WHO WROTE THIS

[icon_uk]

I assume the trigger device is within Lex (say, attached to a heart monitor implanted in his heart)

The signal which would trigger the devices now can't be transmitted, as Lex is within the Zone.

[theanswer]

Well the implication here is that Superman doesn't care if they go off, which is why Terry is somewhat disturbed by his actions. There is also the possibility that his devices can still detect him, it is the future after all.

[thosefew]

"I've already outlived everything I cared about"

Bruce is dead?

[theanswer]

No, Bruce is alive.

[hybrid2]

Why is it that everytime Superman or someone else put criminals in the phantom zone,people act like they did something wrong?

[theanswer]

It's the Phantom Zone, it tends to rob people of vast amounts of time, loved ones, and memories.

[starwolf_oakley]

IIRC, during that VENGEANCE story in SUPERMAN/BATMAN, there was a Batman Beyond bit. But that Batman in the red and black suit was Tim, not Terry.

[jcbaggee]

He was called Tim in the book, editorial insisted it was a mistake, and in the trade collection he's called Terry.

[schala_kid]

Some continuity problems and odd writing aside, I really liked this Especially the part with Lois and Clark's apartment, it made me really sad for poor Kal seeing everything he lost, I guess with Kara being in the future, Ma, Pa, and Lois being dead and Bruce being all "I'm old and get off my lawn" he really did lose everyone.

I kind of did want Bruce to be more involved in this, since his signal to Terry got jammed by Luthor's equipment he probably didn't even hear Terry's conversation with Superman or Kal's decision to leave, I bet Bruce would have protested once he heard Clark's decision.

[theanswer]

There weren't really any continuity issues.

I don't think Bruce would have protested. You've got to remember Old Bruce is alienated from everyone and only just patched things up with Tim and Barbara.

[likeaminx]

My birthday is in two days. THIS WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER.

Seriously. It felt like an episode of the show. And Bruce comparing Terry to Ace and saying he's more of a hound than the actual dog when he's after someone? Awesome.

[mullon]

I'm not sure how I feel about the art. Terry looks sorta goblinish. I do like the story though. It feels like it could fit in the Batman Beyond verse, even if Superman is being a bit melancholy.

[jcbaggee]

The first page bugged me, because the dialog felt a lot like a Frank Miller written Terry to me, but after that it felt more in line with the show. Really loved finally getting thought balloons from the Beyond version of Bruce, too, watching him be confounded by Terry's inability to see a pattern, while at the same time envying his youth.

[schala_kid]

The first page bugged me, because the dialog felt a lot like a Frank Miller written Terry to me, but after that it felt more in line with the show.

I am glad I wasn't the only one :).

[3goodtimes]

I adore Renato Guedes but his work is a little more suited to a story that takes place in the light--whether that be in the stars of space or a sunny environment. Still, I was super excited to see more of his art here.

The story was so-so. I always love Terry/old Bruce interaction more than anything with Batman Beyond stuff.

[lyraeinne]

Whenever Beyond stuff comes up I always end up feeling the littlest bit guilty. I mean, it's certainly not as if there's anything wrong with Terry, but it's almost impossible for me to enjoy any stories involving him even a little bit, given how callously Dick and Tim were disposed of to make way for him. And his mask is just... so ugly.

But that aside, this really wasn't a bad story. I'm a little in love with old!Lex. Is that wrong?

[magnetic_regina]

given how callously Dick and Tim were disposed of to make way for him

Yeeeees. This.

[lbd_nytetrayn]

Did this come out just this week? Was it a one-issue story, or are there more to get?

Crap, I had no idea they were doing a prelude to the Beyond mini, which is already on my pull list. What else do I need to know here?

--LBD "Nytetrayn"

[theanswer]

It came out this week and it's a stand alone story, but in continuity with the Batman Beyond mini that starts this month as well.