Batman/Superman [2019] #13 - DC Comics

BATMAN/SUPERMAN No. 13, December 2020

It is difficult to imagine that many of this comic’s 31,000 readers in October 2020 didn’t get caught up in the pulse-pounding pace of Joshua Williamson’s plot for Issue Thirteen of “Batman/Superman”. For whether they be a fan of just the titular characters or this twenty-two page periodical’s guest-stars – Steel and Batwoman, the almost endless series of nefarious knockdowns, titanic tussles with mechanical arch-nemeses and brutal bouts of cybernetically-enhanced boxing, surely must have sated the pugilistic desires of even the most voracious bibliophile; “…It is clear your battles are never-ending. I must act quickly if I am to truly help you put an end to your enemies. You have passed many of my tests.”

Arguably leading this foray into some superbly-penned shenanigans is the half-blinded Batman, who despite being manacled upside-down by the robotic Prince of Puzzles, reveals just why he is both a formidable fighter and the World’s Greatest Detective by besting the android Nygma in a brutal game of Chess. Grim-faced, badly injured, yet still a formidable combination of brain and brawn, the Dark Knight absolutely tears through every trial Braniac's seemingly homicidal computer program can throw at him, and demonstrates just why the Caped Crusader is “listed among the greatest comic book superheroes… ever created.”

Similarly as impressive, at least as far as his ability to brutalise his motorised opponents, is Clark Kent’s alter-ego, who for once is given the opportunity to “enjoy the freedom to unleash your full power” upon his hapless foes. Superman’s action-packed sequences may well lack much of the mental agility depicted within his cowled team-mate’s scenes. But that doesn’t mean the Kryptonian wants for thought-provoking conundrums, especially when he is literally stopped dead in his tracks by his artificially-enhanced antagonist’s query as to why he doesn’t save Lex Luthor if he already realises that the people who raised the Metropolis businessman “would rather hurt him than teach him kindness.”

Also adding an enormous amount of bang to this book’s buck is Max Raynor’s dynamic and highly-animated pencilling. The artist’s layouts really help speed along this publication’s story-telling, and then provide its audience with the occasional splash-page long pause so as to help them gather their wits before hurling them head-first back into the awesome action.

Writer: Joshua Williamson, Artist: Max Raynor and Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez