The Revolution is looking forward to Superman/Batman #34 for one reason: The Metal Men. I have always loved this unusual cast of characters and I’m glad that DC finally decided to bring the Metal Men back into the DCU. This is the Metal Men’s first big appearance outside of 52. I’m confident that I will enjoy Superman/Batman #34. Let’s do this review.
Creative Team
Writers: Mark Verheiden & Marc Guggenheim
Penciler: Pat Lee
Inker: Craig Yeung
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: We begin with Helen arriving at Doc Magnus is secret hideout. Helen thinks how Magnus was always destined for some sort of greatness. That Magnus his colleagues were envious of him, because it is one thing to make a scientific discovery and it is quite another to make magic. We then see Doc Magnus at his desk with the Metal Men standing all around him.
We cut to Wayne Tech Research Center. Metallo breaks into the lab. Metallo kills all of the guards. Metallo is searching for the Skin-Tech that is in the lab. Batman appears on the scene and takes on Metallo and Metallo’s thugs. Batman brutally takes down the thugs. Batman then takes down Metallo with one punch.
We cut to Bruce Wayne speaking at a funeral for the guards that were killed at his facility. A wife of one of the guards slaps Wayne’s face a comments how God only knows what Wayne Tech was building in that lab and that whatever it was, it was probably better protected than her husband.
We shift to Batman and Superman at the Gotham City jail. Superman comments that Metallo’s Kryptonite heart was transplanted into a human body over a year ago. That Metallo is clearly to deteriorate and that his body is slowly rotting away. Batman comments that Metallo could not have engineered this plan by himself.
We cut to Platina waking up Helen. Platina makes several catty comments toward Helen. Alan thinks to herself why, Magnus would have installed such a libidinous personality into one of his creations. Mercury tells Helen how Magnus has decided since they’re running out of money that Magnus is going to take the Metal Men public.
Helen tells Magnus that he is an idiot to do so. Helen grabs Magnus and yells at him that if he takes the Metal Men out into the public and loses control over one of him and his entire project will go up in smoke.
Platina then steps in and tells Helen to back off a Magnus. Hal and then asks Magnus to tell her where he is going in to let her help. Magnet says that he can’t and that the last she knows about this “assignment” the better. Magnus and the Metal Men then get in the truck and drive off.
We see Magnus in the Metal Men outside of Wayne Tech Laboratories. The Metal Men then break into the lab. We shift to Commissioner Gordon getting a call that the city’s power grid near Wayne tax lab is going crazy. Batman and Superman decide to investigate the scene at Wayne Tech. We see the Metal Men breaking into a vault.
Batman and Superman then appear on the scene and begin brawling with the Metal Men. Magnus then appears with Platina on his arm and tells Batman that his Metal Men that have successfully entered the facility and the central vault. Magnus says that none of the guards have been hurt. Batman asks Magnus what he wants. Magnus then comments that he is new at this but he believes it is time to negotiate. End of issue.
Comments:
The Good: Superman/Batman #34 was an enjoyable read. Mark & Marc (M&M) provided an exciting first issue of this three issue story arc that wastes no time in setting up the story and grabbing the reader’s interest. The pacing was just right as M&M moves things quickly, but without the reader ever feeling rushed.
We also get a nice blend of action and drama. M&M serve up some quality action as we get to see Batman kicking ass on Metallo and his thugs. I like that M&M make a point that despite how insanely powerful Superman is, there are some missions that Batman is simply more suited to handle.
M&M provided plenty of solid dialogue. Both Batman and Superman have their proper external voices. Magnus and the Metal Men also receive their own distinctive voices that helps quickly establish their characters to new readers. The good dialogue helps generate good chemistry between Magnus and his Metal Men.
I really dig how M&M handle Magnus’ personality. Magnus comes across as slightly unbalanced and supremely confident along with the requisite amount of arrogance that a man of his genius would naturally possess. M&M astutely use Helen’s inner dialogue in the beginning of this issue in order to establish Magnus as one of the preeminent geniuses of the DCU. This is important for new readers who are unfamiliar with Magnus and the Metal Men. It also positions Magnus into a more important role within the DCU.
M&M manage to convey the distinctive personalities of the various Metal Men. Part of their charm is that each robot has their own signature personality trait that corresponds to the type of metal that each one is made from. My favorite is Platina’s trademark possessiveness of Magnus that provides some necessary tension between Helen and Magnus.
M&M deliver a fantastic hook ending. Magnus never seemed cooler with his cool and slightly smug attitude and Platina hooked around his arm. I cannot wait to see what in the world Magnus is up to by breaking into Waynetech Laboratories.
Lee and Yeung provide plenty of solid artwork. I like their dark style that nicely fits the mood that M&M have created with this story.
The Bad: No complaints with this issue.
Overall: Superman/Batman #34 was an entertaining issue that certainly hooked my attention for the duration of this story arc. And to think that I was close to dropping this title after several simply pedestrian issues. Even if you are unfamiliar with the Metal Men, I think that M&M’s story will pique your interest.