Foul-Mouthed Metal Men

Superman/Batman #36
Written by Mark Verheiden and Marc Guggenheim
Art and Cover by Pat Lee

This concludes the Metal Men arc of Superman/Batman and I think actually conclude Verheiden’s run on this title. While I can’t say the same of Verheiden’s entire run, I did like this issue. The art was fantastic, a lot better than last issue and I like Bruce’s explanation about why he has kept the OMAC prototype around. In the end, he is being safe. He is not being an asshole. Bruce is a logical man and he is right, the whole thing was necessary. Fans may see it as stupid for him to keep it around but I like the paranoid Batman because in a lot of ways he is not really paranoid, he is just smart. It was funny to see the Metal Men swearing at Brainiac. Brainiac seemed pretty easily defeated though. But I hate when fights go on forever so I didn’t mind that at all.

Superman/Batman 31 - 35

Superman/Batman #31
Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Matthew Clark

Well, that was crazy. I must say I really do not enjoy Matthew Clark’s arc. Not on the Outsiders and not here. But I do like the idea of all earth’s alien being brainwashed to kill the humans and I do love it whenever Plastic Man makes an appearance in any comic so I am torn on this. Anyways, why is Lex acting like a businessman in this issue again? Isn’t Lana the CEO of LexCorp now while Lex is in hiding? Verheiden should keep up with continuity.

Superman/Batman #32 Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Matthew Clark

I liked the idea that Superman is taken out of his trance by his love for Lois. I liked that Batman was forced to put the black rock on in order to survive…but this issue falls flat. First, because of the continuity issues. Why is Hawkgirl even there? She is not an alien. And second because I feel like it could be soo much better than it is.

Superman/Batman #33 Written by Mark Verheiden
Art by Matthew Clark

This arc comes to a nice tidy conclusion. Superman convinces the Armada that earth has some good people and shouldn’t be destroyed. I liked how the battle was won through words and diplomacy and not through violence. But I can’t help but feel this whole storyline was a failure. It took too long to come out and had too many continuity mistake. Hawkgirl had red hair in this issue like the old thanagarian Hawkwoman! What the hell!

Superman/Batman #34 Written by Mark Verheiden
Art and Cover by Pat Lee

First time around, I was completely bored with this issue. I have no experience with the Metal Men (accept for 52) and did not care. Second time around, I definitely enjoyed it more and paid attention better. It is a decent story so far, I don’t know if it is consistent with Metal Men continuity or not but I liked the parts where Bruce realizes he should do better to protect the guards of Wayne Enterprises.

Superman/Batman #35

Written by Mark Verheiden and Marc Guggenheim
Art by Pat Lee

Now this was a strong issue. I don’t know about anyone else, but I was not expecting THAT ending. The OMAC Project! Wow, I look forward to seeing how this all plays out next issue. I don’t know if it was Guggenheim, but I liked this better than all previous issues of Verheiden’s run. The teamwork between Batman and Superman was prefect. I loved their conversation about “Super-Brain”. That made a nice use of continuity, I don’t think anyone has acknowledged the “Super-Brain” thing since that first OYL story arc. Great issue. This arc is definitely picking up.