Superman/Batman #56
	Story Title: ‘Super/Bat’ (Conclusion) Writer(s): Michael Green & Mike Johnson Dialogue: Mike Johnson Penciller: Rags Morales Inker(s): John Dell, Drew Geraci & Derek Friddles Colorist: Nei Ruffino Letterer: Rob Leigh Editor: Eddie Bergangza Published by: DC Comics
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

EXCLAMATION (Candid Reaction): “This is gonna be gre....wait a minute...huh, that's it?!”

EXPLANATION (Plot): Batman gets to beat the JLA to a pulp while Supes (along with Zatanna) find Silver Banshee. There is the obligatory show down between the two before things return back to normal.

EXAMINATION (Story): Green & Johnson, the current writing duo in charge of DC’s onetime *Flagship* title have been writing up some interesting stories.

Let me amend that.

They have been writing stories with some interesting plot lines and story developments. They seem to hit the right notes with character developments, be it in their individual voices or their interactions with each other. Heck, thanks to some nifty artwork their stories even look good. As the saying goes, “It’s all good!” Until the endings. Yup, for all the storylines and characterizations m/s Green and Johnson can’t for the life of the talent between then seem to carry over the same to level of writing to the endings. From the unnecessary (apart from for useless ‘shock value’) death of Li’l Superman from the recent Li’l League arc to the hap-hazard wrapping up of this arc the endings of their stories are the links in this duo’s armour.

Case in point, the Bat-esque Super-costume introduced last issue. For all its promises this bit of storytelling opportunity was, well, laundered away. At least the JLA’s part fared a little better.

It was around this part in the story (and review) that a strange thought came to me, one that said me to that I had read this story before. Not in a word for word copy, ahem, retelling but in the general check points. What is even more I seemed to have read this story not that long ago and in a story starring DC’s two biggies. It took me all of five minutes to find the story that was clawing at my mind.

In the end it was even less of a link that I originally thought. The story or rather issue in question was Superman/Batman #46. It was the issue in which Supes went El’Loco Comedy after being exposed to the new ‘magical’ kryptonite. That time the JLA’s job was keeping wonky Supes contained. Even though it is much harder (and darker?) this issue’s babysitting (bringing in) of Batman reminded me of the same. Still, that wasn't the only similarity between the two stories. Zatanna's part on both of them and the treasure hunt that the individual hero goes on with her was all but a transplant except for the in this one it was Supes and they went to the Oblivion Bar and the other one its had been Bats and the trip was made to remote volcanic island.

The ending of the story also more of the same Bromance that has woven through the Superman/Batman adventures in the Green-Johnson run. I would have liked if there was at least some time spent on Bats' facing/making up with some of this screw-ups when he was Super-Bat, the JLA beat down and (especially) what went down between him and Nightwing.

EXAMINATION (Art): Rags Morales artwork is always a bright spot, even in weak, boring, dreary stories (neither of which arc was) but there was something amiss about it too. It might have something to do with the multiple inkers but in quite a few places the finished art was just obscenely shoddy, rough and lacking in detail (when set against the usual Morales standard).

PROCLAMATION (Conclusion): Some good, some bad this story is a mixed bag...just like the rest of the Green-Johnson run.

RATING: 6.5/10