Written by Joshua Williamson.
Art by David Marquez; Alejandro Sanchez; & John J. Hill.
Collection Cover Art by David Marquez & Alejandro Sanchez.
SUMMARY:
Released in 2020 by DC Comics, this 160-page hardcover reprints 2019-2020’s Batman/Superman # 1-6. As Batman grimly notes, his evil multiversal counterpart – The Batman Who Laughs now resides on DC’s primary Earth: Earth-0.
On a different Earth (perhaps in his own home universe), The Batman Who Laughs makes grisly work of the Justice League aboard its own satellite and lures an unsuspecting Superman to his doom there. Shifting to Earth-0’s Gotham City, Batman and Superman work to resolve a missing child case. Commissioner Gordon ominously tells them that the alleged abductor is evidently a ‘Superman Who Laughs.’
The trail soon enough leads to this evil Batman’s underground Batcave where evidence of six tainted batarangs exist. These batarangs are specifically designed to infect six individuals close to the World Finest Duo. The problem is that neither iconic hero knows who any of these sleeper agents are, apart from the paranoia of even suspecting one another.
Batman and Superman’s probe soon puts them into brutal confrontation with two of these corrupted friends. Batman’s injuries force a battered Superman to give up pursuit of their first target: a demonized Billy Batson/Shazam. Subsequent revelations that Commissioner Gordon, Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle, Donna Troy, Hawkman, and, ultimately, Supergirl are now The Batman Who Laughs’ corrupted demonic pawns further stack the deck. It’s up to Superman & Batman to finally call upon the Justice League, despite fracturing their longtime alliance with Wonder Woman.
However, is it now too late considering how elusive their wicked foes have become? With this matter left dangerously unresolved, the epilogue teases a new menacing storyline coming in Volume 2.
Note: This title is also available in trade paperback and digital formats.
REVIEW:
A single read was something of a slog. David Marquez and Alexandro Sanchez’s appropriately murky visuals are well-constructed for the plotting. The problem lies with writer Joshua Williamson’s propensity for recycling. Apart from more dubious ‘fun and games’ with The Batman Who Laughs, one may notice that the plot’s bleak horror twists echo Blackest Night – i.e. where corrupted heroes are capable of far greater evil than seemingly the worst villains.
Though Williamson’s storytelling has sufficiently original moments, this arc’s creative vibe feels far too blah. While DC’s The Batman Who Laughs fanbase may be pleased, Batman/Superman, Volume 1 isn’t an all-ages read. Its unappealing plot elements, at certain junctures, risk being a divisive turnoff. Specifically, Williamson’s middling storyline conveys the six corrupted characters few, if any, favors.
Unlike prior kick-offs for incarnations of the Batman/Superman (or Superman/Batman) franchise, DC Comics was unwilling to concoct a traditionally entertaining and more inclusive adventure for readers. That said, Batman/Superman, Volume 1: Who Are The Secret Six? is probably best found at the library.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Marquez and Sanchez’s full-page cover precedes each issue. A full-page variant cover gallery consists of:
- Issue # 1: artists Leinil Yu & Tomeu Morey;
- Issue # 2: artists Jerome Opeña & Morry Hollowell;
- Issue # 3: artists Paola Pantalena & Romulo Fajardo Jr.;
- Issue # 4: artist Olivier Coipel;
- Issue # 5: artists Jime Cheung & Tomeu Morey;
- Issue # 6: artist Simone Bianchi;
- Issue # 1 (full wraparound cover): artists Marquez & Sanchez;
- Issue # 4 (secondary cover): artists Emanuela Luacchino & Rex Lokus;
- Issue # 1 (sketch cover): artist Marquez.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars
