Batman/Superman Annual #1

Greg Pak - Writer

Jae Lee - Artist/Cover - June Chung - Colorist/Cover

Kenneth Rocafort - Artist - Nei Ruffino - Colorist

Philip Tan - Artist - HI-FI - Colorist

Rob Leigh - Letters

 

Batman/Superman just came out of an arc drawn by Brett Booth that was a major departure from how the series kicked off with Jae Lee. Fortunately, the first two chapter so the First Contact storyline have brought the Batman/Superman title back to prominence, and has featured some really interesting storytelling decisions back into the forefront. The writer is also choosing to mine some of the material in Jim Starlin’s Mongul villain’s month one shot, to make a really interesting story in this annual. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would have to be economical. There are many smart storytelling decisions contained within this title, that allows Greg Pak to tell a full story here, instead of making a short or inconsequential one off tale. The idea of War World and the Mongul is used to very good effect here, as the planet has set it’s sights for earth.

 

The stunning art of Jae Lee adds a grandiose nature to the title that would have been missing otherwise. The first page with Mongul features a desolate background and beautifully drawn characters that should serve to capture the imagination of the audience. While many are opposed to the artwork of Lee in most cases, there is no denying that he brought something extra to this story that the book would not have had in most cases.

 

Mongul is trapped inside of Superman’s phantom zone, which kicks off the plot as his son Jochi is looking to destroy the earth for the defeat of his father. To keep things short and sweet, Jochi does not much appreciate the fact that his dad is stuck in the phantom zone, and chooses to take out his frustration with the an entire planet. A cast of interesting characters that are assembled on the cover go to do battle with the villain, and a major death occurs at the last page of the tale. All of this happens with one issue that is paced incredibly well, and never slows down in a second. While this story is a sort of done in one issue type tale, it will definitely have some ramifications to this book going forward.

 

Kenneth Rocafort and Philip Tan assist at the tail end of the issue, towards the end Lee comes back to finish what he started with a bang. Rocafort and Tan both do a surprisingly good job taking advantage of the tone that is introduced within the artwork, and going forward with it. Tan is at a slight disadvantage, as he is the stylistically red headed step child when comparing the three artists. Yet for a tale with so many pencillers, this book flows in and out of the story very nicely.

Pak, Lee, Rocafort, and Tan tell a very entertaining in the first Batman Superman Annual, that contains a complete story in one quick burst of action. This 40 page issue tales a more complete and well paced story than most books manage to contain within an entire arc. Greg Pak and friends do not disappoint.