Batman Vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles by Robin Wildman

“If I know him—and I do—I know what his next move will be. What he doesn’t know is what my next move will be.”

— Jeph Loeb, Batman Vs. Superman The Greatest Battles

         And who dares to tackle a task this big? Was their sanity on the verge of extinction when picking up their pencils? Citizens of Gotham, Metropolis and probably every human being on Earth had to ruminate on this idea throughout their whole childhood. Who would want to satisfy our deepest desire and spare us this endless torture on mulling over which of the two Gods would come out as the sole superior in the greatest battle of all time? Luckily for us, brilliant and legendary writers have conceived some of the most captivating tales that touch upon the battle between two of the most iconic superheroes in history. You might be cognizant of the upcoming sequel to the Man of Steel movie. A big screen attempt to depict the epic quarrel between Superman and Batman. In anticipation for this soon-to-be box office killer, DC Comics presents fans with a collection of some of the greatest battles between the two members of the Justice League throughout comic history. This collection has six stories by authors that, as likely as not, ring a bell or two: Jeph Loeb, John Byrne, Joe & Jack Kelly, Geoff Johns, Scott Snyder and, of course, Frank Miller. Although these stories are pulled out of their context and gives readers a glimpse into the climatic point of each story arc, readers get to enjoy some of the most thrilling clashes between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel.

“A remarkable man, all things considered. Who knows? In a different reality, I might have called him “friend.””

— John Byrne, Batman Vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles

           Who’d win? It’s easy to cheer for your favorite, but here’s the thing. Any one of these two could win. It would all come down to circumstances. Superman could just fly through Gotham while Batman is having his daily dose of Joker, heat vision his flesh and bones and get back to Louis Lane in Metropolis. On the other hand, Batman could also easily create a deadly well-thought trap filled with Kryptonite and lure the Man of Steel into a prison for life—cause Batman doesn’t kill. Those weren’t spoilers by the way, those are fan fictions that point out the obvious. However, the battles that writers put forth are ones to leave a lasting impression on every fan’s mind and these writers certainly wouldn’t want to kill one of the superheroes or the other; maybe some day though, who knows. Most of the stories that are collected in this are fairly impressive and do deliver fascinating adventures where the two Giants go up against each other. The downside is how you’re usually left without the rising events that precedes the confrontations. It would probably be a lot more interesting to read the entire story arc before reaching the climax instead of jumping right into the heated and long awaited moment of the story.

“They’d never give up, either one, ever, until… both of them were… dead.”

— Joe & Jack Kelly, Batman Vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles

           What you mostly get from these stories is the differences between Batman and Superman. Through all six stories, you come to understand what truly is their identities. What one would do and the other wouldn’t. It’s in these details that you find the true beauty of Batman versus Superman. Scott Snyder’s story was probably the most intriguing and original one of them. From start to finish, the main idea that he wanted to deliver was excellent and without a doubt clever. It was also the story with the most innovation and with a lot going on. After all, it was part of the New 52’s Batman Endgame. The artwork was also intriguing. The thing about trade paperbacks that are collections of various stories, compiled for one big theme, is that the artwork is bound to change from one story to the other. This volume collects some of the more modern artworks and they are indubitably eye candy. Thanks to this volume, readers are able to rejoice in various artist talents and enjoy the infinite ways to excel through the comic medium. Batman Vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles succeeds in giving readers a glimpse into numerous beautiful illustrations featuring our two favorite heroes.

“See, but the truth is… when gods do come down… it’s terrifying… because you never know what they’re going to do.”

— Scott Snyder, Batman Vs. Superman: The Greatest Battles

           This compilation is colorful, brilliant and perfect in collecting the greatest battles between Batman and Superman. It gives reader a clear idea of what in store for them once the two heroes get on the big screen. It also gives a great idea of what story arcs to find and read to get a clear idea of how these two Gods go up against each others. The different talents who took on the mantle to think and draw up these stories excel in giving readers a good dose of adrenaline. Without ever going for the easy way out, these stories are well-though, clever and ingenious in their own ways. Although you’d wish them to be friends and bring down evil together, the inner conflicts and the contrast in ideals definitely gives us an excellent story to tell. Batman and Superman will probably be one the best match-ups that every fan would desire. Hopefully, more artists will tackle the task on illustrating the clash between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. Hopefully, they’ll bring something absolutely new, witty and original to the table. Hopefully, Batman and Superman will live on forever cause I’m craving for more of these two fellow’s brawls.

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My overall rating: ★★★★☆/