Superman/Batman Vol. 4: Vengeance (Superman (Graphic Novels))

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
The original superstar team of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness return for one of the most talked about storylines of the year.

The fourth volume of the enormously popular SUPERMAN/BATMAN series finds our heroes confronting a new challenge: The Maximums, a group of super-heroes closely tied to the U.S. Government. Someone has killed one of their team, and the Maximums are on the hunt for the murderer. The trouble is, there are two names on the top of their list: Superman and Batman!

Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Will the real Batman or Superman please stand up? July 26, 2006
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's a little confusing. But yes, I loved this book. In time I have learned to relax and love MXYZPTLK, and here he has our two boys in total confusion. Batzarro (who I loved), Bizarro #1, Supergirls, Maximums, boom tubes, alternate earths, and an absolutely hilarious episode with the Batman Beyond character and Bizarro. Jeph Loeb had SO much fun writing all of this and poking fun at the industry, while still managing to include some heartbreaking moments too (Batzarro's death). What is not to love?? Relax, take a deep breath, buy it, and enjoy.

2 out of 5 stars

Methinks Jeph Loeb Needs A Vacation August 16, 2006
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Don't get me wrong: Jeph Loeb, chief writer on DC's terrific "Superman/Batman" series, has done outstanding work with these two players -- the rock solid foundation of the DC Universe ... but VENGEANCE -- by its bitter anticlimax -- feels very much like a conglomeration of ideas instead of one masterful story from start to finish.

Loeb begins with a Super-opening: Superman and Batman appear from a Boom Tube (don't ask, you've just gotta know what one is to really appreciate what happens here)and kill a superhero called Skyscraper who presumably murdered Lois Lane; incensed and out for vengeance, the Maximums -- this world's Justice League -- vow to hunt the Man of Steel and the World's Greatest Detective to the ends of whatever universe they inhabit in order to have their revenge ... and right there -- at least for me -- is where this story FELT like it wasn't going to be quite right: superheroes represent the best any world has to offer, and these Maximums want vengeance. They want blood. They want to kill Batman and Superman for taking one of their comrades away. Honestly, right there, I was wondering if this was a tale for me.

Not too many pages later, I'm struggling to get through the mental and verbal gibberish of not only Bizarro but Batzarro, and I'm thinking, "Geez, Jeph Loeb really needs some time off."

VENGEANCE isn't a total loss. Loeb's a great writer with a fantastic imagination and an uncanny ability to seal himself inside the minds of these two superheroes to show the reader what makes them tick, and only from his learned hands can you find so many wonderful moments in an otherwise forgettable story. There's not only two worlds at play here; there are, quite possibly, dozens, as Supermen, Batmen, Supergirls, Batboys, and the like show up from earnest supporting appearances. Granted, it may not make a whole lot of sense, but even THAT makes sense once you find out which dastardly villains are behind this whole world-hopping, mind-blowing affair.

Yes, it's worth a read, and, yes, it's arguably worth forgetting. Remember the little moments along the way, and keep your fingers crossed for Loeb to appear in top form again real, real soon!

5 out of 5 stars

Much better than previous reviews describe August 7, 2006
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

Lately I've been disappointed more often than not by the newer graphic novels and compendiums that have hit the store shelves but in the case of Vengeance I have to say this is really good stuff. Jeff Loeb introduces an all new team of superheroes called the Maximums that seem oddly familiar. The team is an extremely blatant homage to the Avengers/Ultimates including a mythical Viking, a super soldier, a giant man named skyscraper and so on and so forth. The team even includes doppelgangers of Spider Man and Wolverine. This is not an Avengers rip off but a playful imitation of Marvel's super team and it's pretty clear that this is likely a one time appearance for the Maximums. Late in the story there is a nod to fans of The Ultimates when the Maximums are merged into a single being called The `Ultimate' Warrior (or is it a nod to fans of the worst pro-wrestler ever). Meanwhile Batman and Superman are merged into a single being called the Composite Superman and believe me I'm old enough to remember the original Composite Superman. It's these kinds of nods and winks running through the story that made it so enjoyable.

Vengeance is a pretty wild tale, featuring parallel universes filled with piles of alternate versions of Superman, Batman and Supergirl as well as an all new Bizarro take on Batman named Batzarro. Batzarro may actually be the single best part of the entire story. Jeff Loeb was particularly meticulous in making sure that every single phrase spoken by Bizarro and Batzarro are indeed in reverse of their meaning and it becomes rather enjoyable to try and decode their actual intent. Despite the craziness of the story (which includes The Joker and Mr. Mxyzptlk) the author manages to keep it from becoming muddled and incoherent which is often the result in stories with this many characters and swerves. Mr. Loeb also does a good job of tying the story in with previous story arc's including `Public Enemies' and `Absolute Power'.

I am a big fan of Ed McGuinness's illustrations. His art is rather cartoonish but that doesn't bother me. As always he manages to produce very clean and consistent images. I have to confess that I'm extremely surprised that Vengeance isn't getting better reviews since I found it to be a very enjoyable read.

2 out of 5 stars

Jeph Loeb's swan song, thankfully May 1, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Up until this storyarc, I pretty much enjoyed Jeph Loeb's run on the high selling Superman/Batman series, but sadly, Loeb's final arc on the title is just loaded with plot holes and hard to understand. Vengeance finds a group called the Maximums hunting down Superman and Batman because they believe the two iconic heroes murdered one of their own. Naturally, this is not the case, and soon enough Bizarro is on the scene, along with "Batzarro" (I kid you not), the Joker, and Mr. Mxyzptlk. What happens next in Vengeance is incredibly hard to follow as Loeb appears to shift things into high gear, but things never take off. His renditions of Supes and Bats are more wooden here than ever before, and the story inconsistencies and additional appearances out of nowhere just boggle the mind. Ed McGuinness, who teamed with Loeb when Superman/Batman launched, returns to lend his pencil work with Dexter Vines on inks, may be too cartoony for some, but it's undoubtedly the highlight of this TPB. This ended up being Loeb's last arc on the title before taking work once again with Marvel, so hopefully the otherwise talented and celebrated writer has had his batteries recharged.

5 out of 5 stars

Crazy Personified November 6, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

This was one of the most bizarre graphic novels I have ever examined. 1) it jumps around a lot, 2) the characters mainly the Bizarro ones are just nuts, and 3) they make multiple references to past events. But still the art is cool, the story is crazy, and some of my favorite characters appear (Darksied, The Joker, and Bizarro). So despite or maybe because of these I have to recommend this to any Superman or Batman fan.

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