Superman Batman Annual #2

What a pleasant surprise this book turned out to be.  I was kind of bummed when I saw that after last issue, we were getting a break in the Kryptonite storyline for an Annual.  This was written by Joe Kelly, who used to do a Superman book several years ago which I have not read.  I've heard from other Superman fans that his was not a run that was well liked, hence my extra trepidation for this Annual.

Except, Kelly managed to turn my expectations around in just the first 3 pages making this my pick of the week.  He managed to sum up each character perfectly.  When each hero is asked who they are, we are given an intro of who it is they seem themselves as through their own thoughts, but the brief answers they speak, are just as defining. 

The story that follows is a "re-telling" of sorts.  It is the new origin shall we say of the Supernova identity that Superman adopts.  I have the original issue, which I purchased last year at a con, but I have not read it yet.  Sometimes those older issues are too fragile to page through, but after reading this new version, I HAVE to check out the original.

Basically, after saving Gotham City from a giant asteroid, Superman loses his powers.  He then disappears to Smallville where he decides to come home.  His moment with Pa is poignant.  Without his powers, he greets his dad with "Flying coach really stinks, Pa."  Priceless.  Back in Gotham, Batman is investing the mysterious Socrates who appeared before the asteroid came.  Bruce then sets off for Smallville to find out why Clark isn't doing anything now.

We get a nice view of how Supes and Bats see eachother, and by the end, we see their views altered with a new respect for one another.  I won't give away the whole story, but there are so many moments that had me loving this book.  For instance, when Batman asks Robin what he thinks of Superman, Robin tells him that he's "awesome."  But not just because of his powers, other guys have those.  "'Truth, Justice, the American Way'...They're not just words to him.  He believes..."  It was spot on and just great character on all points.  Robin geeking out when he meets Clark, even when he was de-powered was another entertaining and very real moment.

Giant Metallo... Batman's Superman disguise armor... the old/new Supernova costume... this book really has it all.  The art by Scott Kolins was a treat as well.  I have no clue who he is, but I would liken his art to that of Howard Porter.  Another thing I notices was the coloring.  The colorist is not really a person I would ever notice or mention, but Jorge Molina did an amazing job.  The darkness of the Bat Cave, and Gotham in general was delicious to look at.

I really don't have a bad thing to say about this book.  I can't wait to read it again.  And for me, I almost never read a comic twice.  At least not from my monthly stack.  I don't have the time.  But for this one, I will gladly make the time.  I suggest anyone else that didn't pick this one up, make some time as well.  I don't think you'll be sorry.