CREATIVE TEAM:
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Penciller: Carlos Pacheco
Inkers: Jesus Merino
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Associate Editor: Tom Palmer, Jr
Editor: Eddie Berganza
YEAR: 2005
MONTH: January
ISSUE: 14
TITLE: “Absolute Power"
PLOT:
The story opens with a familiar sight from some time ago. A rocket ship dives from the sky, landing on the property of Jonathan and Martha Kent. They discover a baby inside the rocket. Also Thomas, Martha, and Bruce Wayne leave a movie theatre. Bruce sees his parents murdered in front of him. Only something different happens after these well-known scenes. Lightening comes from a hidden figure’s hands and kills the Kents. Another person diverts the bullets that have just killed the Waynes into their killer, avenging their deaths. The figures take the baby and Bruce Wayne away.
The same people begin to take steps to stop the “Age of Heroes.” Barry Allen is killed after being struck by the lightening that was destined to give him speed powers. Hal Jordan’s test plane is crashed before he would meet the Green Lantern Abin Sur. Martian Manhunter is psychically attacked killing him. The man and woman who would be parents to Arthur Curry, Aquaman, are killed before he can be conceived.
New York, present day: Lois Lane and Clark Kent live together happily. Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle are together, but they are far less attached. Bruce and Clark work at a large building that overlooks New York. Out in the harbor, where the Statue of Liberty should be, stands a large copper monument of Batman and Superman standing back to back. At the base are the words “Obey or Die.” They are truly the kings of the world. Bruce tells Clark that he has a surprise for his birthday. They find Oliver Queen, Green Arrow, and fight him. It is more of a beating than a fight, which results in Superman destroying him with his heat vision.
The two then go to the Watchtower on the moon. It is where their “parents” live. This trio of mysterious figures is responsible for the way that the man of steel and the caped crusader have grown up. They are revealed to be Mekt Ranzz, Lightning Lord, Laevar Bolto, Cosmic King, and Eve Aries, Saturn Queen from the 30th century.
A woman in black with silver wristbands and a golden rope tied around her waist avoids security forces that are enforcing the curfew. She finds and old homeless man, and tells him that the world needs him now. He does not know what she is talking about and calls for help when she wraps the golden rope around him. The rope forces him to reveal his true self: the embodiment of the human spirit, Uncle Sam.
Review:
Jeph Loeb starts the next arc in his run on Superman/Batman off with his usual bang. Not only has he made our heroes to be the most powerful dictators in history, but he made the people responsible for it evil versions of members of the Legion of Superheroes. The art in this issue is excellent. All the characters look just as they are expected, and you can tell the emotions from the detailed facial expressions.
Reviewed by: Darknight