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Enemies & Allies
“[A] fun read….Batman and Superman meet in this retro-flavored novel set amid the Cold War sensibilities of the 1950s.”
— USA Today The Dark Knight meets the Man of Steel in Enemies & Allies —the thrilling story of the first-ever meeting between Batman and Superman, brilliantly imagined by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson. One of today’s most popular writers pits the iconic superheroes against Lex Luthor and the Soviets—and each other—in a spellbinding story of destiny and duty set against the backdrop of America’s Cold War era.
— USA Today The Dark Knight meets the Man of Steel in Enemies & Allies —the thrilling story of the first-ever meeting between Batman and Superman, brilliantly imagined by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson. One of today’s most popular writers pits the iconic superheroes against Lex Luthor and the Soviets—and each other—in a spellbinding story of destiny and duty set against the backdrop of America’s Cold War era.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Kevin J. Anderson
1,095 books3,197 followersYes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
August 4, 2009
Anderson brings fans of Superman and Batman back to the 1950s to present the story of the frist time they worked together. It is a time where the Cold War and the Communist Scare are primary on people's minds. Bruce Wayne is in the early years of his career when he is focusing on the corruption among Gotham City's government and the gangster lords. Clark Kent has just started up at the Daily Planet and is enjoying getting to know Lois Lane.
Lex Luther takes center stage as his various projects infringe on the lives and careers of Clark and Bruce, both their real lives and those centering around their costumes.
Bruce is finding things at Wayne Industries, his father's company and the source of his great wealth, to be difficult. As the years have gone by, the company's board has shifted from a group of dedicated men to those willing to take a bribe and help out Lexcorp. This get Bruce interested in Lex, and the best way to learn about him is to use his alterego, Batman.
Meanwhile, Clark is struggling to get used to the limitations that he can't help everyone when he dons his cape while also being confronted with the new assignment of filling in for the newspaper's advice columnist. He feels lost since he is still not completely sure about what the best answers are to everyone's questions.
Lex's actions get both his and Lois' attentions fairly quickly. Lex has been working with Anatoly Ceridov, a general in the Soviet secret service. They have been working on a plan to use the Cold War to give them more power. The idea is that by heating things up with a nuclear scare, their governments will place more trust in their actions. As you can guess, things don't quite go as they would like once Batman and Superman get involved.
Not surprising, Batman is not really all that trusting of Superman in the early part of the book, particularly with the idea that Superman is claiming to be an alien. Of course, Batman is not the most trusting of superheroes so that is not all that surprising. As the book progresses, the two get to know each other and a close working bond becomes evident.
The book also does a nice job of capturing the tone of the 1950s with the inclusion of Sputnik, Area 51, Nikita Kruschev, Eisenhower, and other references to the period. They are weaved nicely together with the idea that superheroes are becoming a part of that everyday world.
I found the book both enjoyable and intriguing. The characters were allowed to be what they were in the beginning, rather than the overly-dark form that Batman has taken (and even the flawed Superman) in recent years. It is a high romp that represents the Golden Age of DC Comics well. Fans of the two character are not likely to be disappointed.
Lex Luther takes center stage as his various projects infringe on the lives and careers of Clark and Bruce, both their real lives and those centering around their costumes.
Bruce is finding things at Wayne Industries, his father's company and the source of his great wealth, to be difficult. As the years have gone by, the company's board has shifted from a group of dedicated men to those willing to take a bribe and help out Lexcorp. This get Bruce interested in Lex, and the best way to learn about him is to use his alterego, Batman.
Meanwhile, Clark is struggling to get used to the limitations that he can't help everyone when he dons his cape while also being confronted with the new assignment of filling in for the newspaper's advice columnist. He feels lost since he is still not completely sure about what the best answers are to everyone's questions.
Lex's actions get both his and Lois' attentions fairly quickly. Lex has been working with Anatoly Ceridov, a general in the Soviet secret service. They have been working on a plan to use the Cold War to give them more power. The idea is that by heating things up with a nuclear scare, their governments will place more trust in their actions. As you can guess, things don't quite go as they would like once Batman and Superman get involved.
Not surprising, Batman is not really all that trusting of Superman in the early part of the book, particularly with the idea that Superman is claiming to be an alien. Of course, Batman is not the most trusting of superheroes so that is not all that surprising. As the book progresses, the two get to know each other and a close working bond becomes evident.
The book also does a nice job of capturing the tone of the 1950s with the inclusion of Sputnik, Area 51, Nikita Kruschev, Eisenhower, and other references to the period. They are weaved nicely together with the idea that superheroes are becoming a part of that everyday world.
I found the book both enjoyable and intriguing. The characters were allowed to be what they were in the beginning, rather than the overly-dark form that Batman has taken (and even the flawed Superman) in recent years. It is a high romp that represents the Golden Age of DC Comics well. Fans of the two character are not likely to be disappointed.
May 13, 2009
This book is a great addition to the legend of Superman, and now Batman as well. It would appear that Kevin J. Anderson has found yet another series in which to add to wonderfully.
It was nice to see the story take place in the old “Glory Days” of the super-heroes in question. A nice blend of the cultural, as well as governmental mistakes of the fifties with a small hint of modern day social boo-boos as well. Not to mention UFO madness.
The characters were fun and filled with the personality that readers of Superman and Batman have come to expect. Yet they could also give the feel of compassion and misery when faced with peril.
Like “The Last Days of Krypton”, (a “Superman” must-read), the storyline was a tribute to the Superman history and I look forward to reading more of Kevin’s visions of the most powerful man in the universe as well as the “Dark Knight”.
Well done Mr. Anderson!
It was nice to see the story take place in the old “Glory Days” of the super-heroes in question. A nice blend of the cultural, as well as governmental mistakes of the fifties with a small hint of modern day social boo-boos as well. Not to mention UFO madness.
The characters were fun and filled with the personality that readers of Superman and Batman have come to expect. Yet they could also give the feel of compassion and misery when faced with peril.
Like “The Last Days of Krypton”, (a “Superman” must-read), the storyline was a tribute to the Superman history and I look forward to reading more of Kevin’s visions of the most powerful man in the universe as well as the “Dark Knight”.
Well done Mr. Anderson!
January 24, 2010
Enemies and Allies sets forth a comic book thriller set in the early 1950s, creating a weird time frame with both Batman and Superman just a couple of years into their superhero gigs (even though both origins are one or two decades earlier, respectively). They're both still figuring out how to make their own lives work when they both stumble upon a plot involving Lex Luthor, a rogue Communist general, Area 51, unbelievably advanced technology, and, they each believe, the other vigilante. This makes them enemies. Until they, inevitably, become allies.
This is a cool setup. And I wanted it to work. There are some nice mid-century touches. The novel format should allow us a bit deeper into each man's head than a comic usually does. I liked the chance to play amateur psychologist with these guys.
But the writing gets in the way, and so does the plot. There are huge sections where the author seems to have forgotten the old writing chestnut: show, don't tell. He explains everything. Sometimes before something happens. Sometimes without giving a plausible chain of events. Things just happen. This managed to ruin any chance I had of enjoying the formulaic plot, which seemed borrowed from any number of sources, including Watchmen.
With interesting storytelling, I could have easily lost myself in the hackneyed plot and allowed it to unfold. Instead, I found myself almost screaming, just tell the story, and then skipping over whole sections where I was pretty sure I knew what was going on (especially the pointless Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson side plots). Anderson must be a better writer than this, otherwise they wouldn't keep letting him into major franchises like Dune, Star Wars, and Star Trek. But I almost felt like he was writing down a couple of grade levels, down to the level of someone's idea of today's early adolescents. But the book is not marketed that way and was not worthy of the knowledgeable, educated comic fans, both teen and adult, who are the book's real target audience.
This is a cool setup. And I wanted it to work. There are some nice mid-century touches. The novel format should allow us a bit deeper into each man's head than a comic usually does. I liked the chance to play amateur psychologist with these guys.
But the writing gets in the way, and so does the plot. There are huge sections where the author seems to have forgotten the old writing chestnut: show, don't tell. He explains everything. Sometimes before something happens. Sometimes without giving a plausible chain of events. Things just happen. This managed to ruin any chance I had of enjoying the formulaic plot, which seemed borrowed from any number of sources, including Watchmen.
With interesting storytelling, I could have easily lost myself in the hackneyed plot and allowed it to unfold. Instead, I found myself almost screaming, just tell the story, and then skipping over whole sections where I was pretty sure I knew what was going on (especially the pointless Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson side plots). Anderson must be a better writer than this, otherwise they wouldn't keep letting him into major franchises like Dune, Star Wars, and Star Trek. But I almost felt like he was writing down a couple of grade levels, down to the level of someone's idea of today's early adolescents. But the book is not marketed that way and was not worthy of the knowledgeable, educated comic fans, both teen and adult, who are the book's real target audience.
June 7, 2018
So when Batman teams up with Superman I like him a lot more. It’s like Superman’s perpetually sunny attitude makes Batman seem less morose and sullen all the time. Still emo, but not a full-time emo.
This story was surprisingly full-bodied and clever. I guess because it was a novel based on comic book heroes I expected it to be a little bit of trash. I was woefully wrong.
Essentially, brilliant and dastardly Lex Luthor has decided to team up with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and then proceeds to wreak havoc on the world. He imperils Superman and messes with Batman’s livelihood (his multi-billion dollar enterprise) and gives Lois Lane a serious run for her money. There were multiple facets that led up to the overall plot, and it made for a suitably compelling read.
Honestly, I’d tell people to read it even if they didn’t much care for superheroes. They’re a bit one-dimensional, but weren’t they always?
This story was surprisingly full-bodied and clever. I guess because it was a novel based on comic book heroes I expected it to be a little bit of trash. I was woefully wrong.
Essentially, brilliant and dastardly Lex Luthor has decided to team up with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and then proceeds to wreak havoc on the world. He imperils Superman and messes with Batman’s livelihood (his multi-billion dollar enterprise) and gives Lois Lane a serious run for her money. There were multiple facets that led up to the overall plot, and it made for a suitably compelling read.
Honestly, I’d tell people to read it even if they didn’t much care for superheroes. They’re a bit one-dimensional, but weren’t they always?
February 14, 2019
That was a good read. I liked the time period. It was cool to see Batman referencing and taking inspiration from guys like Zorro and James Bond.
It felt like real classic Superman and Batman like from when I was growing up.
It felt like real classic Superman and Batman like from when I was growing up.
January 27, 2009
Picked up an ARC at a library conference and ripped through it on the plane home. I haven't read much (any?) Anderson, although I know of him, but I have read loads of Batman stories. Overall, it was a light, enjoyable read suitable for a plane or the beach but it didn't do anything really all that special. In fact, one can easily find elements straight from Golden Age, The New Frontier, and Watchmen and I felt a little disappointed at that. Still, if it falls in your hands, it's not a bad way to pass a couple of hours.
April 23, 2017
That was a disappointment. I could have been able to accept it, if it was either really bad or really good, but it was just very very average.
I couldn't care for any others characters except for Batman and Superman. Every other character and viewpoint was just annoying and didn't add anything. While Lois Lane is an important character for the story, I have never found her more annoying. I don't know why that is or maybe simply she was written that way.
That ending was rather very good though. Gave a whole star for that ending. Overall, just an average DC story with Bats and Supes which could have been great but falls short of its own ambitions.
I couldn't care for any others characters except for Batman and Superman. Every other character and viewpoint was just annoying and didn't add anything. While Lois Lane is an important character for the story, I have never found her more annoying. I don't know why that is or maybe simply she was written that way.
That ending was rather very good though. Gave a whole star for that ending. Overall, just an average DC story with Bats and Supes which could have been great but falls short of its own ambitions.
March 28, 2017
(4.8)
This novelization is written in the time period of the 1950s. Though there's not much actual fighting, it's a good mystery which reflex who Batman was originally. (DC stands for 'Detective Comics.') There's no language or sexual content, which is a big plus. Finally, I really don't like Lois Lane, but in this novel she's 85% functioning adult who knows how to be professional, and only 15% Superman fangirl. I was extremely thankful for that.
Recommended 11+ for Lex Luthor and murder.
This novelization is written in the time period of the 1950s. Though there's not much actual fighting, it's a good mystery which reflex who Batman was originally. (DC stands for 'Detective Comics.') There's no language or sexual content, which is a big plus. Finally, I really don't like Lois Lane, but in this novel she's 85% functioning adult who knows how to be professional, and only 15% Superman fangirl. I was extremely thankful for that.
Recommended 11+ for Lex Luthor and murder.
June 28, 2019
A solid superhero novel, Kevin J. Anderson is great at media tie-in novels and ENEMIES & ALLIES is no exception. I liked the novel mostly. Set in the late-1950s—an alternative 1950s—the novel gives us a Batman and Superman who aren’t only new to the superhero game but are also in a “more innocent” time. The characterizations are good, the action is good, too. The novel moved a little too slowly for my liking and I never really felt that Superman and Batman came together as well as I’d wished they could have. Perhaps the novel’s length had something to do with it. I LOVED Anderson’s LAST SON OF KRYPTON, which is a superior novel, but ENEMIES & ALLIES is also quite good. I honestly wish there was a sequel, because I’d love to see these heroes navigate the early-1960s in a follow-up.
Basically, a good book, great for a quick read, but not as stellar as I’d hoped based on past experience with Anderson’s novels. Solid entertainment, nonetheless.
Basically, a good book, great for a quick read, but not as stellar as I’d hoped based on past experience with Anderson’s novels. Solid entertainment, nonetheless.
August 13, 2012
I really liked this book. Sorry. Bad beginning, but I wasn't sure how to begin, and four stars is labeled "really liked it"...Okay cheesy. But it makes me smile. :)
Anderson does a good job with these characters. I've never read novelizations of either Superman or Batman, and generally avoid such (my few experiences having been less than memorable). I found the setting of the novel in the fifties interesting. It works well, but especially with DC and Marvel's attempts to keep their characters simultaneously current and timeless it surprised me. Still the setting helped to cement that these were young versions of Superman and Batman and that saved what would otherwise feel like errors in the book.
Some of my fellow reviewers complained that the book is campy, and in spots I can see their point. However, as someone who has read reprints of the early comics, this captures the feel of early Superman and Batman adventures, and, believe me, it's far LESS campy than those comics were.
By showing us a young Superman and a young Batman, Anderson is able to draw upon the character's well established history for feel and character, and also sketch out a true character arch for each. So if Bruce introduces himself as "Wayne, Bruce Wayne" and makes repeated references to James Bond, so what? Bruce Wayne is a character, a mask Batman puts on when he has to go out in public and can't wear his uniform, his real face. We get to watch as Batman raises his sights beyond "Crime Alley" to encompass big-picture crime as well, and we see Superman gain in wisdom and realize that just because he was raised with a tremendous respect for the law and tremendous integrity doesn't mean that those in power share his integrity. I particularly enjoyed Anderson's portrayal of Luthor, and his almost pathological self-obsession. He's easily as much fun to read as Batman or Superman.
My one small frustration (it is a four rating, not a five) was with Superman's thinking of himself as Kal-El. He was raised as Clark Kent. He only found out about his heritage in any detail much later. In every other depiction of Superman I've ever seen he IS Clark Kent and Kal-El is at best like an unused middle name or nick-name. An important fact, but almost unattached to the identity of the young man raised by Jonathon and Martha Kent in Smallville. While it makes sense that Clark, as a man, especially a man of the fifties would find a "Lorna for the Lovelorn" column a challenge to write and relate to, that is not a question of his not being human. If anything, the paradox of Superman is that in many ways, despite his vast powers he is the MOST human of superheroes.
Still, this is a small quibble with a very fun book. If you like Batman and Superman and enjoy the feel touches of the feel of those truly classic golden age comics, this book will be a lot of fun.
Anderson does a good job with these characters. I've never read novelizations of either Superman or Batman, and generally avoid such (my few experiences having been less than memorable). I found the setting of the novel in the fifties interesting. It works well, but especially with DC and Marvel's attempts to keep their characters simultaneously current and timeless it surprised me. Still the setting helped to cement that these were young versions of Superman and Batman and that saved what would otherwise feel like errors in the book.
Some of my fellow reviewers complained that the book is campy, and in spots I can see their point. However, as someone who has read reprints of the early comics, this captures the feel of early Superman and Batman adventures, and, believe me, it's far LESS campy than those comics were.
By showing us a young Superman and a young Batman, Anderson is able to draw upon the character's well established history for feel and character, and also sketch out a true character arch for each. So if Bruce introduces himself as "Wayne, Bruce Wayne" and makes repeated references to James Bond, so what? Bruce Wayne is a character, a mask Batman puts on when he has to go out in public and can't wear his uniform, his real face. We get to watch as Batman raises his sights beyond "Crime Alley" to encompass big-picture crime as well, and we see Superman gain in wisdom and realize that just because he was raised with a tremendous respect for the law and tremendous integrity doesn't mean that those in power share his integrity. I particularly enjoyed Anderson's portrayal of Luthor, and his almost pathological self-obsession. He's easily as much fun to read as Batman or Superman.
My one small frustration (it is a four rating, not a five) was with Superman's thinking of himself as Kal-El. He was raised as Clark Kent. He only found out about his heritage in any detail much later. In every other depiction of Superman I've ever seen he IS Clark Kent and Kal-El is at best like an unused middle name or nick-name. An important fact, but almost unattached to the identity of the young man raised by Jonathon and Martha Kent in Smallville. While it makes sense that Clark, as a man, especially a man of the fifties would find a "Lorna for the Lovelorn" column a challenge to write and relate to, that is not a question of his not being human. If anything, the paradox of Superman is that in many ways, despite his vast powers he is the MOST human of superheroes.
Still, this is a small quibble with a very fun book. If you like Batman and Superman and enjoy the feel touches of the feel of those truly classic golden age comics, this book will be a lot of fun.
August 5, 2013
Enemies and Allies: When Superman and Batman go from Fights to Friendship
So in the late 1950’s, a recently debuted epic hero Superman met for the first time a newly minted vigilante Batman. They argue and fight and finally work together and become friends, all in order to save the day.
And to address all those glares from the collective masses who plan to revoke my Geek card, I am of course referring to the alternative history story Enemies and Allies by Kevin J. Anderson. What we get is the following: Superman, Batman, Lois Lane, Lex Luther, The 1950’s. All in over 300 pages designed for full throttled fan excitement.
The story picks up in the late 1950’s with our world’s finest duo having already been operating for abit of time, and each dealing with individual issues both personal, superheroic and professional. Bits and pieces of the nefarious Lex Luther’s evil plot keep dribbling out to Superman and Batman, with neither man figuring out the complete picture. Lois does her plucky best to fill in the puzzle as well, but not once does these three compare notes.
And that is because the animosity our Man of Steel and Dark Knight have for each other is very palpable. Superman believes Batman is a common thief. Batman thinks Superman is in the employ of Luther. Cue fights and arguments.
As their accidental meet-ups continue, a slow understanding, dare we saw quasi-friendship, develops, culminating in the sensational team-up against Luther. All to save the world. None of that is a spoiler by the way, since we all know the whole point of this book, a concept even the title reflects, is how these buddies come to be.
Which is the strength of Enemies and Allies. The book strives to encapsulate the separate heroes philosophies and methods, with multiple conversations, sometimes heated, occurring. So no, we do not get the oft repeated page after page battle between then two that so many other writers use as a crutch of massive proportions. Because when you get right down to it, without Kryptonite, Batman would be Bat Smush in a fight.
Anderson keeps the action moving fairly swiftly after the first confrontation between the two, with particular emphasis on the how of Batman being showcased. And when Superman is being truly super, you can feel the George Reeves vibe most definitely.
In fact, I realized very early on that this story was not just aimed at diehard Geeks of all stripes, but also this would appeal to young non-geek teens who want a dashing adventure story as well. And for those who like period dramas, the history lessons that permeate the story do not hurt either.
Enemies and Allies is a fun, light read which gives us a quick look into the psyches behind the cowl and the glasses. Anderson has a mission and completes it. Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne would approve.
So in the late 1950’s, a recently debuted epic hero Superman met for the first time a newly minted vigilante Batman. They argue and fight and finally work together and become friends, all in order to save the day.
And to address all those glares from the collective masses who plan to revoke my Geek card, I am of course referring to the alternative history story Enemies and Allies by Kevin J. Anderson. What we get is the following: Superman, Batman, Lois Lane, Lex Luther, The 1950’s. All in over 300 pages designed for full throttled fan excitement.
The story picks up in the late 1950’s with our world’s finest duo having already been operating for abit of time, and each dealing with individual issues both personal, superheroic and professional. Bits and pieces of the nefarious Lex Luther’s evil plot keep dribbling out to Superman and Batman, with neither man figuring out the complete picture. Lois does her plucky best to fill in the puzzle as well, but not once does these three compare notes.
And that is because the animosity our Man of Steel and Dark Knight have for each other is very palpable. Superman believes Batman is a common thief. Batman thinks Superman is in the employ of Luther. Cue fights and arguments.
As their accidental meet-ups continue, a slow understanding, dare we saw quasi-friendship, develops, culminating in the sensational team-up against Luther. All to save the world. None of that is a spoiler by the way, since we all know the whole point of this book, a concept even the title reflects, is how these buddies come to be.
Which is the strength of Enemies and Allies. The book strives to encapsulate the separate heroes philosophies and methods, with multiple conversations, sometimes heated, occurring. So no, we do not get the oft repeated page after page battle between then two that so many other writers use as a crutch of massive proportions. Because when you get right down to it, without Kryptonite, Batman would be Bat Smush in a fight.
Anderson keeps the action moving fairly swiftly after the first confrontation between the two, with particular emphasis on the how of Batman being showcased. And when Superman is being truly super, you can feel the George Reeves vibe most definitely.
In fact, I realized very early on that this story was not just aimed at diehard Geeks of all stripes, but also this would appeal to young non-geek teens who want a dashing adventure story as well. And for those who like period dramas, the history lessons that permeate the story do not hurt either.
Enemies and Allies is a fun, light read which gives us a quick look into the psyches behind the cowl and the glasses. Anderson has a mission and completes it. Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne would approve.
August 21, 2011
When I saw this at library, I had to pick it up. The writing was uninspiring, but the plot was entertaining enough to keep me reading. Anderson writes the characters as their Golden Age selves, which means if you're looking for a more contemporary, more serious take on Superman and Batman, this isn't the tie-in novel you're looking for.
For an alleged "crossover," Anderson heavily favors the Superman cast. Batman's main contribution to the plot is Bats felt more like a supporting character than a main protagonist. Though perhaps this was for the best, as Anderson writes Superman a lot better than he writes Batman. At too many points, Batman read like a caricature of himself.
Anderson name-drops a few celebrities who were alive during the fifties, but never really puts much effort into convincing his reader this story is set in the past. (Also name-dropping two Batman villains does not true crossover make.) I will admit, though, reading about Marilyn Monroe discussing her opinion of the Batman with Bruce Wayne amused me to no end.
Yet despite these issues, I still enjoyed it. Superman and Batman had some amusing interactions and Alfred, when he appeared, was a treat. The Cold War angle didn't feel too over the top (which was a shock). I loved corporate feuding between LexCorp and Wayne Enterprises. The fact that Luthor was causing problems for both Batman and Bruce Wayne really gave the crossover aspect more weight. And personally, I would love to read a Lex Luthor/Batman crossover without Supes, because Luthor is so different from the Batman's usual antagonists. But I digress.
Overall it was fun, though definitely nothing ground-breaking for DC fans. I liked it, but I wouldn't buy it. If you want to read it, I'd suggest checking your local library for a copy.
For an alleged "crossover," Anderson heavily favors the Superman cast. Batman's main contribution to the plot is Bats felt more like a supporting character than a main protagonist. Though perhaps this was for the best, as Anderson writes Superman a lot better than he writes Batman. At too many points, Batman read like a caricature of himself.
Anderson name-drops a few celebrities who were alive during the fifties, but never really puts much effort into convincing his reader this story is set in the past. (Also name-dropping two Batman villains does not true crossover make.) I will admit, though, reading about Marilyn Monroe discussing her opinion of the Batman with Bruce Wayne amused me to no end.
Yet despite these issues, I still enjoyed it. Superman and Batman had some amusing interactions and Alfred, when he appeared, was a treat. The Cold War angle didn't feel too over the top (which was a shock). I loved corporate feuding between LexCorp and Wayne Enterprises. The fact that Luthor was causing problems for both Batman and Bruce Wayne really gave the crossover aspect more weight. And personally, I would love to read a Lex Luthor/Batman crossover without Supes, because Luthor is so different from the Batman's usual antagonists. But I digress.
Overall it was fun, though definitely nothing ground-breaking for DC fans. I liked it, but I wouldn't buy it. If you want to read it, I'd suggest checking your local library for a copy.
September 13, 2015
Just About as Perfect as It Could Be (A Review of the Audiobook)
Published by GraphicAudio in 2013
Multicast Performance
Duration: about 6 hours
Adapted from the original book.
As D.C. Comics gears up for their big Batman vs. Superman release next year it is interesting to look at how these two iconic characters ever ended up meeting, working together and then become trusted allies.
I grew up in the era when Superfriends and the Justice League were Saturday morning mainstays. Unfortunately, these were horrible days for the Batman franchise. Batman was reduced to being a sidekick of Superman with his only saving grace being that he was the only sidekick with a sidekick (Robin). The first Micheal Keaton Batman movie brought a dark side to the character that had probably never been seen on screen.
Batman has trust issues. He is secretive and he is often the only force for justice in a city that perverts the law to do the work of evil men. He must work in secrecy and hide in the shadows. This audiobook captures that side of Batman perfectly.
The spirit of Superman was captured well in the old TV show and in the Christopher Reeve movies. Those movies had plenty of issues but I have not heard of anyone that does not think the Reeve nailed the character of Superman perfectly. But, for some reason, modern movie makers have had a hard time understanding this iconic character. It's not hard. He is the ultimate Boy Scout and he is internally motivated to be that way. He is the guy that does the right thing all of the time. He is powerful because of his genetics. He is good because of his upbringing by his adopted parents. This audiobook understands Superman and captures his personality perfectly.
But, what happens when the Gee Whiz! Aw, Shucks farm boy meets the man who wears a scary costume and works out of the shadows?
If you like your Superhero tales told in the classic form (I do - I am something of a comics Fundamentalist), you will...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2015/...
Published by GraphicAudio in 2013
Multicast Performance
Duration: about 6 hours
Adapted from the original book.
As D.C. Comics gears up for their big Batman vs. Superman release next year it is interesting to look at how these two iconic characters ever ended up meeting, working together and then become trusted allies.
I grew up in the era when Superfriends and the Justice League were Saturday morning mainstays. Unfortunately, these were horrible days for the Batman franchise. Batman was reduced to being a sidekick of Superman with his only saving grace being that he was the only sidekick with a sidekick (Robin). The first Micheal Keaton Batman movie brought a dark side to the character that had probably never been seen on screen.
Batman has trust issues. He is secretive and he is often the only force for justice in a city that perverts the law to do the work of evil men. He must work in secrecy and hide in the shadows. This audiobook captures that side of Batman perfectly.
The spirit of Superman was captured well in the old TV show and in the Christopher Reeve movies. Those movies had plenty of issues but I have not heard of anyone that does not think the Reeve nailed the character of Superman perfectly. But, for some reason, modern movie makers have had a hard time understanding this iconic character. It's not hard. He is the ultimate Boy Scout and he is internally motivated to be that way. He is the guy that does the right thing all of the time. He is powerful because of his genetics. He is good because of his upbringing by his adopted parents. This audiobook understands Superman and captures his personality perfectly.
But, what happens when the Gee Whiz! Aw, Shucks farm boy meets the man who wears a scary costume and works out of the shadows?
If you like your Superhero tales told in the classic form (I do - I am something of a comics Fundamentalist), you will...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2015/...
May 13, 2009
Kevin J. Anderson brings readers a fun and exciting read with Enemies and Allies. This book takes and incorporates two of the best superheroes and pits them together to fight a mutual enemy...Lex Luther.
Lex Luther is constructing a nuclear reactor that could destroy the world. It seems that while building this reactor that he has discovered Superman's weakness to Kryptonite. The funny thing is that Lex doesn't know he possess in his hands the very thing that could bring down Superman. Lex Luther's plans though do not go un-noticed. In fact his plan to make LuthorCor the number one company has raised red flags with LuthorCor's rival competitor...Wayne Industries. Multi-millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne does not like with Lex is up to and decides to take matters into his own hands as Batman. Batman gets a helping hand when he and Superman team up to take on the bad guys in Enemies and Allies.
I have to admit that I love all the great superheroes of the past. I grew up during a time when as a children you lived for Saturday mornings for the cartoons. So for me I was very excited to pick up a copy of this book to read. While I did enjoy reading Enemies and Allies, I was surprised to discover that the story took place at the beginning. A time when Clark Kent was just learning about his powers and who he really is and where he came from. So because of this aspect, I felt that Batman was more superior then Superman. Of course I still won't want to be Lex as he takes both of these heroes on. Talk about a major handicap match. Though so of the events that took place in the story were not accurate, Mr. Anderson stayed pretty true to the men behind the capes. So after all the dust has settled and the good guys end up on top, all I have to say is give me more.
Lex Luther is constructing a nuclear reactor that could destroy the world. It seems that while building this reactor that he has discovered Superman's weakness to Kryptonite. The funny thing is that Lex doesn't know he possess in his hands the very thing that could bring down Superman. Lex Luther's plans though do not go un-noticed. In fact his plan to make LuthorCor the number one company has raised red flags with LuthorCor's rival competitor...Wayne Industries. Multi-millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne does not like with Lex is up to and decides to take matters into his own hands as Batman. Batman gets a helping hand when he and Superman team up to take on the bad guys in Enemies and Allies.
I have to admit that I love all the great superheroes of the past. I grew up during a time when as a children you lived for Saturday mornings for the cartoons. So for me I was very excited to pick up a copy of this book to read. While I did enjoy reading Enemies and Allies, I was surprised to discover that the story took place at the beginning. A time when Clark Kent was just learning about his powers and who he really is and where he came from. So because of this aspect, I felt that Batman was more superior then Superman. Of course I still won't want to be Lex as he takes both of these heroes on. Talk about a major handicap match. Though so of the events that took place in the story were not accurate, Mr. Anderson stayed pretty true to the men behind the capes. So after all the dust has settled and the good guys end up on top, all I have to say is give me more.
May 22, 2009
As a big KJA fan, I was disappointed. It was just too lightweight. At page 200 nothing had even happened yet! Most of the book was background and skirmishes that set up the "big conflict" that never really happened. Yes, Batman and Superman finally met. I enjoyed that they were suspicious of each others' actions and motives, it made a lot of sense. But there is very little action or substance to the book, it was like cotton candy. The only thing that makes sense to me is if it is the start of a series; that woudl somewhat justify the amount of time spent establishing these very familiar characters' "current" situations.
It also really bothered me that Lois is vapid. Tenacious about getting a story, but madly and idiotically in love with Superman after 2 brief meetings.
The other big question I have is the relevance of the basic premise to younger people. The book is set in the 1950s and the Cold War is the underlying tension throughout the story. The era was lovingly reproduced, with especially vivid references to then-current technology. But I wonder if this has any urgency or resonance to people under 25 or so. I recently had to try to explain the USSR and Cold War to a young kid and was shocked to realize that it has absolutely no relevance to him. He'd never heard of the USSR at all! The central fear and political reality of my childhood (I'm almost 40) is no more real to him than The French Revolution. I'll be interested to read reviews from younger people and see if they enjoyed the historical setting or if it alienated them from the story.
It also really bothered me that Lois is vapid. Tenacious about getting a story, but madly and idiotically in love with Superman after 2 brief meetings.
The other big question I have is the relevance of the basic premise to younger people. The book is set in the 1950s and the Cold War is the underlying tension throughout the story. The era was lovingly reproduced, with especially vivid references to then-current technology. But I wonder if this has any urgency or resonance to people under 25 or so. I recently had to try to explain the USSR and Cold War to a young kid and was shocked to realize that it has absolutely no relevance to him. He'd never heard of the USSR at all! The central fear and political reality of my childhood (I'm almost 40) is no more real to him than The French Revolution. I'll be interested to read reviews from younger people and see if they enjoyed the historical setting or if it alienated them from the story.
April 12, 2011
I have to say that I was sorely disappointed by this cookie cutter approach to the iconic characters of Superman and Batman.
There was no depth to the characters whatsoever. As an avid superhero enthusiast, I was expecting a lot more from this novel.
I did enjoy the setting, but there was more attention to detail with brands of soda and the cost of things in that era than I felt were used in regards to the origin stories of our heroes, even when they reflected on how they came to be where they were.
The tension between the two was enjoyable but the rest of it was so lacking in personal warmth and detail that I kept reading, in the hopes that it would get better.
I have to say that it did not do so.
It was almost like reading a caricaturization of these comic book legends because some aspects were defined or stressed upon but there was so much more that did not appear in this novel.
Batman came across as a James Bond wannabe. Superman (always referred to as Kal-El when in the famous suit) seemed more invested in contemplating Lois than in finding out more about Batman, despite the on-going mistrust and curiosity between them.
All in all, no single character stood out in this book and while it might be an OK introduction to the characters for people with little knowledge of them, there is more depth in many of the comics and even cartoon outings of these characters.
Save your time and your money.
There was no depth to the characters whatsoever. As an avid superhero enthusiast, I was expecting a lot more from this novel.
I did enjoy the setting, but there was more attention to detail with brands of soda and the cost of things in that era than I felt were used in regards to the origin stories of our heroes, even when they reflected on how they came to be where they were.
The tension between the two was enjoyable but the rest of it was so lacking in personal warmth and detail that I kept reading, in the hopes that it would get better.
I have to say that it did not do so.
It was almost like reading a caricaturization of these comic book legends because some aspects were defined or stressed upon but there was so much more that did not appear in this novel.
Batman came across as a James Bond wannabe. Superman (always referred to as Kal-El when in the famous suit) seemed more invested in contemplating Lois than in finding out more about Batman, despite the on-going mistrust and curiosity between them.
All in all, no single character stood out in this book and while it might be an OK introduction to the characters for people with little knowledge of them, there is more depth in many of the comics and even cartoon outings of these characters.
Save your time and your money.
June 3, 2016
The first meeting of the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight set against the backdrop of Cold War tensions in the late 1950s.
I've been a fan of Batman and Superman for almost as long as I can remember. I've consumed countless Batman and Superman stories across comics, novels, cartoons, and live-action film. I can say, without reservation, that Enemies and Allies is one of the best Batman/Superman team-up stories that I have ever read! Author Kevin J. Anderson gets these characters. He truly understands them, their history, and the world they inhabit. He's obviously a huge fan, and it shows. I loved this novel. There was something that made me smile on almost every page.
Enemies & Allies is not a perfect novel, by any means. There are a few subplots that go nowhere. Anderson's prose get's a bit repetitious at times, and he has a bad habit of violating the "show don't tell" rule. The ending is also a bit rushed. However, these issues truly seem minor when compared to the joy and entertainment I got from this story. It's the literary equivalent of a superhero popcorn flick: If you're looking for "high art", you're in the wrong place, but if you want a fast, fun, unashamed superhero tale, look no further.
I wholeheartedly recommend Enemies & Allies to any fan of DC Comics and its characters. This is my first Kevin J. Anderson novel, and I look forward to reading more of his work.
I've been a fan of Batman and Superman for almost as long as I can remember. I've consumed countless Batman and Superman stories across comics, novels, cartoons, and live-action film. I can say, without reservation, that Enemies and Allies is one of the best Batman/Superman team-up stories that I have ever read! Author Kevin J. Anderson gets these characters. He truly understands them, their history, and the world they inhabit. He's obviously a huge fan, and it shows. I loved this novel. There was something that made me smile on almost every page.
Enemies & Allies is not a perfect novel, by any means. There are a few subplots that go nowhere. Anderson's prose get's a bit repetitious at times, and he has a bad habit of violating the "show don't tell" rule. The ending is also a bit rushed. However, these issues truly seem minor when compared to the joy and entertainment I got from this story. It's the literary equivalent of a superhero popcorn flick: If you're looking for "high art", you're in the wrong place, but if you want a fast, fun, unashamed superhero tale, look no further.
I wholeheartedly recommend Enemies & Allies to any fan of DC Comics and its characters. This is my first Kevin J. Anderson novel, and I look forward to reading more of his work.
May 16, 2009
I had been searching for this book since it came out early May. But alas, the bookstores here did not carry it then. It took me at least a week more before I chanced upon it while it was on bargain.
Thanks to my lofty expectations, I felt that this book fell short. I have to hand it to Kevin Anderson to fit in interesting tidbits of popular culture in the 50's into the novel -- things like the Sputnik, the great comet blast in Russia, Area 51, alien movies, etc. But other than that, it did not deliver. Perhaps because I am such a big Superman/Batman fan that the author's attempts in making the Big 2's encounter more memorable appear to be too insignificant and uninteresting. As a fan, I demanded to see more from this encounter because I know how these two superheroes actually met in the real DC Comics Universe. How can I forgot how Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne bunked together in a cabin cruiser? Then, there's the first meeting of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel in the Cartoon (TV) Universe, with Bruce visiting Metropolis and sweeping Lois off her feet. Another interesting angle.
Then, there's this novel. The painful truth is that this novel did not present anything novel (or intersting for that matter) to the material. But, it was a pleasant read though. Not exciting, but pleasant.
Thanks to my lofty expectations, I felt that this book fell short. I have to hand it to Kevin Anderson to fit in interesting tidbits of popular culture in the 50's into the novel -- things like the Sputnik, the great comet blast in Russia, Area 51, alien movies, etc. But other than that, it did not deliver. Perhaps because I am such a big Superman/Batman fan that the author's attempts in making the Big 2's encounter more memorable appear to be too insignificant and uninteresting. As a fan, I demanded to see more from this encounter because I know how these two superheroes actually met in the real DC Comics Universe. How can I forgot how Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne bunked together in a cabin cruiser? Then, there's the first meeting of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel in the Cartoon (TV) Universe, with Bruce visiting Metropolis and sweeping Lois off her feet. Another interesting angle.
Then, there's this novel. The painful truth is that this novel did not present anything novel (or intersting for that matter) to the material. But, it was a pleasant read though. Not exciting, but pleasant.
June 16, 2015
1.5.
Kevin J. Anderson swings and misses with this Superman/Batman novel, essentially turning in a piece of glorified (and licensed!) fan fiction. All of the characters are irritating stereotypes, perhaps in an unsuccessful move to emulate the feel of old Silver Age comics, but rather than being endearing, it's just annoying. Superman is depicted as a generic "gee shucks" country bumpkin who, despite living among humans for his whole life, is so stymied as to not know how to respond to basic human emotions. Likewise, Batman is a brooding, one-note, boring vigilante out for justice. The meeting of the two characters takes place within a plot that is thin, cliched, and boring, with atrociously wooden dialogue and eye-rolling bad guy histrionics from Lex Luthor. While the Cold War setting is interesting, any and all "political commentary" it amounts to is lots of stereotypically "evil" Russkies and lots of lip service about Communism and McCarthy and Sputnik and any other important Cold War words Anderson can think of. Ultimately, it all amounts to a light, airy bit of nothing, with absolutely nothing to say and almost no entertainment value. A shockingly terrible book (from a Hugo Award nominee!).
Kevin J. Anderson swings and misses with this Superman/Batman novel, essentially turning in a piece of glorified (and licensed!) fan fiction. All of the characters are irritating stereotypes, perhaps in an unsuccessful move to emulate the feel of old Silver Age comics, but rather than being endearing, it's just annoying. Superman is depicted as a generic "gee shucks" country bumpkin who, despite living among humans for his whole life, is so stymied as to not know how to respond to basic human emotions. Likewise, Batman is a brooding, one-note, boring vigilante out for justice. The meeting of the two characters takes place within a plot that is thin, cliched, and boring, with atrociously wooden dialogue and eye-rolling bad guy histrionics from Lex Luthor. While the Cold War setting is interesting, any and all "political commentary" it amounts to is lots of stereotypically "evil" Russkies and lots of lip service about Communism and McCarthy and Sputnik and any other important Cold War words Anderson can think of. Ultimately, it all amounts to a light, airy bit of nothing, with absolutely nothing to say and almost no entertainment value. A shockingly terrible book (from a Hugo Award nominee!).
January 3, 2012
This novel's one redeeming quality: Batman. By far, and long my favorite superhero (even before the Chris Nolan film trilogy), Batman is written true to form in his quest for justice. He even contemplates Superman's integrity when the Man of Steel reveals that he is an alien. Set in the 1950's, this novel allows its readers to see the two superheroes meet for the first time, and I suspect Batman's suspicious reaction to Superman is as real to his Dark Knight persona as possible. If the truth be known, I thought Superman was well developed too as he often questions his "alien" place in his new found home. But that is where the positive attributes of this novel end.
The story is too hockey and overdone to illicit any real tension. Lex Luthor, the criminal mastermind, devises an evil "take over the World" plot that is so far fetched and easily foiled that one begins to ponder the "evil mastermind" sobriquet given to him.
Look, I didn't expect Man Booker Award winning writing here, but I expected to be entertained a bit more by a book written, presumably, for adults, but sadly, more suitable for junior high readers.
The story is too hockey and overdone to illicit any real tension. Lex Luthor, the criminal mastermind, devises an evil "take over the World" plot that is so far fetched and easily foiled that one begins to ponder the "evil mastermind" sobriquet given to him.
Look, I didn't expect Man Booker Award winning writing here, but I expected to be entertained a bit more by a book written, presumably, for adults, but sadly, more suitable for junior high readers.
December 26, 2012
Back in the '50s, comics were stuck in a kid friendly place. The real world of the '50s was anything but. The rise of rock 'n roll, new ideas, new ways of thinking, and of course new fears were common place in the world that many seen as innocent and quiet. It wasn't really a "leave it to beaver" world. This book takes those ideas of the more realistic '50s, and combines them with two of the most iconic heroes in comics. Superman (the writer calls him by his kryptonian name, Kal-El whenever he's in costume), and The Batman. Both heroes are very different, and find themselves in a dark conspiracy involving the russians, lex luthor, and aliens, in a bid for world power.
Not much in the book screams "HEY! it's the '50s!" at you, but gives you a nod toward what time line this takes place in. Instead of Batman and Robin fighting plant aliens from dimention z, or superman facing a version of himself from a retro-future 1999, we have the more real deal.
A fun read, check it out.
Not much in the book screams "HEY! it's the '50s!" at you, but gives you a nod toward what time line this takes place in. Instead of Batman and Robin fighting plant aliens from dimention z, or superman facing a version of himself from a retro-future 1999, we have the more real deal.
A fun read, check it out.
October 12, 2019
Enemies & Allies is an amazing story, that will take readers on a journey, and keep them interested all the way to the end.
Anderson portrays the classic heroes, Batman & Superman, in a novel set in the 1950’s. Enemies & Allies tells a story of caped crusaders, communism, & corporate espionage.
Anderson staying true to the characters, while also throwing them into unknown situations is very enjoyable, and will interest any Batman/Superman fan. Another great thing about the novel is the several historical allusions and references that are worked into it.
The setting and imagery of the novel significantly enhance it. Anderson not only accurately portrays the 1950s, he also portrays places involving the characters, like Gotham & Metropolis. He uses imagery to enhance the settings, and make the story believable and something readers can get engulfed in.
Anyone who is a fan of Batman or Superman should read this novel, and I highly recommend it to them.
Anderson portrays the classic heroes, Batman & Superman, in a novel set in the 1950’s. Enemies & Allies tells a story of caped crusaders, communism, & corporate espionage.
Anderson staying true to the characters, while also throwing them into unknown situations is very enjoyable, and will interest any Batman/Superman fan. Another great thing about the novel is the several historical allusions and references that are worked into it.
The setting and imagery of the novel significantly enhance it. Anderson not only accurately portrays the 1950s, he also portrays places involving the characters, like Gotham & Metropolis. He uses imagery to enhance the settings, and make the story believable and something readers can get engulfed in.
Anyone who is a fan of Batman or Superman should read this novel, and I highly recommend it to them.
August 22, 2021
I really enjoyed Kevin J. Anderson's Enemies & Allies. I found it to be one of the most enjoyable team-ups of The World's Finest.
Set against The Cold War of the late '50's, with Sputnik in the skies above and The Red Menace lurking in every shadow, The Dark Knight and The Man of Steel meet to confront Lex Luthor. Anderson cleverly mixes in a little Ian Fleming - Bruce Wayne is a fan of his novels, even enjoying a Vesper, "shaken, not stirred". Luthor comes across as Dr. No, with a Caribbean island base with a legendary "dragon". Lois Lane comes across as somewhat of a Bond-lady; but not so much a damsel in distress, as an adventurer - a Diana Prince sans the super powers.
I heard Kevin Conroy as Batman, Tim Daly as Superman and Clancy Brown as Luthor.
I imagined this draw by Steve Rude.
In an alternate reality, the live action adaptation dominated the box office.
Set against The Cold War of the late '50's, with Sputnik in the skies above and The Red Menace lurking in every shadow, The Dark Knight and The Man of Steel meet to confront Lex Luthor. Anderson cleverly mixes in a little Ian Fleming - Bruce Wayne is a fan of his novels, even enjoying a Vesper, "shaken, not stirred". Luthor comes across as Dr. No, with a Caribbean island base with a legendary "dragon". Lois Lane comes across as somewhat of a Bond-lady; but not so much a damsel in distress, as an adventurer - a Diana Prince sans the super powers.
I heard Kevin Conroy as Batman, Tim Daly as Superman and Clancy Brown as Luthor.
I imagined this draw by Steve Rude.
In an alternate reality, the live action adaptation dominated the box office.
October 30, 2009
I really enjoyed this for what it was, which was fairly mindless distraction reading. The short chapters zip by, with handy bat or "S" logos on the front of each to let you know whose storyline you're following. I loved the idea of setting Superman and Batman's introduction to each other and to the world as superheroes in the height of the Cold War. None of the other characters have much depth, which is a shame in the case of Lois Lane, since we're in her POV for part of the time. The story is predictable, but the book is fun for the one-liners, cameos and in jokes. It's also squeaky clean in the s-e-x department (although there are some gruesome mutated monsters), which would mean parents might be willing to try it for reluctant middle-school readers.
May 9, 2013
Gotta admit, I've read this book three times now. It's such a quick, easy read, and it's always fun to read about Batman and Superman working together! Overall it's really just a guilty pleasure kind of read, good for a few short hours of distraction. Granted it takes a bit too long for Batman and Superman to actually team up; they spend the majority of the book being distrusting of each other and working separate, if not at odds with one another.
Also sometimes it's a bit shallow, never delving quite as deep into the characters as it could have. Still, overall it's not a bad read, and I'd recommend it if a) you're a fan of these two heroes, and b) you're looking for a quick, easy read to take up a few hours of your day.
Also sometimes it's a bit shallow, never delving quite as deep into the characters as it could have. Still, overall it's not a bad read, and I'd recommend it if a) you're a fan of these two heroes, and b) you're looking for a quick, easy read to take up a few hours of your day.
August 28, 2026
This is a novel that fundamentally misunderstands its two main characters. Neither Superman nor Batman are characterized well, and neither of them go through any set of arc or learn anything. In Batman’s case, his “arc” seems to be one of regressing into a less intelligent mindset (which the author seems to believe is development). Let’s talk about the good first, since there’s so little of it.
This is a GREAT novel for Lois Lane. I really truly loved her characterization and story in this book — she’s just as headstrong as she’s often portrayed as, but like all the great Lois stories, that headstrong nature leads to her to go on her own adventure. This time, she’s on a mission to uncover Luthor’s secrets and how they relate to Wayne Industries, and every part of it is amazing.
Luthor is also a wonderfully conniving, evil trickster, much like how he is in the Public Enemies film (not the comic). There’s one aspect of his character that I don’t like, but that’s more of an author problem, which I’ll get to very soon.
So, let’s get into the thematic criticisms before the character ones. This novel is extremely patriotic to the point of it being an issue. Superman is very clearly a symbol for America, which they make very clear — but Lex Luthor, the industrial capitalist native to America, distances himself from the country. He says he’s a citizen of the world, not of the USA. But… shouldn’t it be the other way around? Lex Luthor is a corrupt capitalist. There’s nothing more American than that. Superman wants nothing more than to help people in need — something conservative America consistently looks down on. Furthermore, Superman expressed early in the novel how he feels like he should be doing more for the world. Shouldn’t he be the one calling himself a citizen of the world? That would send a much better message. But alas, that’s not how Anderson portrays it. With these opposing perspectives, we have a thematic dichotomy where America is the ideal, and evil is something outside of America’s bounds. Coupling that with Kevin J. Anderson’s insistence on black-and-white ideology that pervades the book (as I’ll talk about later), it creates a thematically patriotic narrative that doesn’t make any sense within the context of its own world.
Now for the characters. Anderson falls victim to the common misconception that Superman values and upholds the law. To distinguish Superman and Batman, he posits that Superman does good within the law and Batman does good outside of it. This is simply untrue, and it’s an extremely contrived way of creating tension between them.
Let’s take their first costumed meeting — Superman sees Batman fleeing Luthor’s mansion, and assumes Batman is stealing from Luthor. While this is true, Superman decides to apprehend Batman because he’s a criminal with a record of criminal vigilantism. And in Superman’s mind, crime is crime is crime. He doesn’t stop to think about why Batman might be working outside the law; clearly he didn’t put in the effort to do any sort of research on the Gotham police force, or else he would know that they’re blatantly corrupt. He didn’t stop to think about how sketchy Luthor is and why Batman might want to dig up dirt on Luthor; all he would need to do in that case is just talk to Lois, who knows Luthor is corrupt. He didn’t stop to think that there might be people in life-threatening danger nearby, not even after commiserating to his mother about how he could be doing more good in the world if he only focused on the bigger picture — nope, he just hurries to apprehend a thief who isn’t threatening the lives of anyone. How is that a good use of his time? Not only is his law-abiding insistence antithetical to who Superman is (or, should be if he’s written well), but it’s just plain dumb. There are much, much better uses for Superman’s time than stopping someone who’s robbing Luthor. No wonder Bruce assumes he’s working with Luthor, that’s what I’d think.
The situation just gets worse when Superman takes Batman to the Fortress. Superman condemns Batman for working outside the law, and Batman says that justice isn’t always as black and white as the law states. He gives the example of a man stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family — a reasonable, logical reason to break the law. Then Superman says something along the lines of “Well what about a murderer who says they have a good reason?” implying that just because someone has a good reason, it doesn’t make the crime right. But the thing is, THEFT ISN’T MURDER! The worst part is that this gives Batman pause and makes him think about his own parents’ murder. That’s where the conversation ends — Superman half-convinces Batman of his lazy black-and-white outlook on life. This is just bad writing. Batman would know the difference and he would recognize Superman’s “whataboutism” immediately. Superman wouldn’t say anything near that dumb either, but Anderson already established Superman as being dumb, so it’s not quite surprising. But Batman is supposed to be smart — it feels like Anderson is just trying to push his personal beliefs onto these characters regardless of the fact that it makes no sense.
Also, Anderson always refers to Superman as “Kal-El” when he’s in costume. Why? Is that how Superman views himself? And if so, why? He was raised on Earth, and he doesn’t have much context for Kryptonian culture, so why would he think of himself as anything but “Clark”? And if Anderson simply does this to distinguish his two personalities, it just further proves that the author doesn’t understand who Superman is whatsoever.
I give this one star for Lois. If it wasn’t for her, this book would be as low as I can rate it. Truly a disappointment and a stain on the Superman and Batman mythos.
This is a GREAT novel for Lois Lane. I really truly loved her characterization and story in this book — she’s just as headstrong as she’s often portrayed as, but like all the great Lois stories, that headstrong nature leads to her to go on her own adventure. This time, she’s on a mission to uncover Luthor’s secrets and how they relate to Wayne Industries, and every part of it is amazing.
Luthor is also a wonderfully conniving, evil trickster, much like how he is in the Public Enemies film (not the comic). There’s one aspect of his character that I don’t like, but that’s more of an author problem, which I’ll get to very soon.
So, let’s get into the thematic criticisms before the character ones. This novel is extremely patriotic to the point of it being an issue. Superman is very clearly a symbol for America, which they make very clear — but Lex Luthor, the industrial capitalist native to America, distances himself from the country. He says he’s a citizen of the world, not of the USA. But… shouldn’t it be the other way around? Lex Luthor is a corrupt capitalist. There’s nothing more American than that. Superman wants nothing more than to help people in need — something conservative America consistently looks down on. Furthermore, Superman expressed early in the novel how he feels like he should be doing more for the world. Shouldn’t he be the one calling himself a citizen of the world? That would send a much better message. But alas, that’s not how Anderson portrays it. With these opposing perspectives, we have a thematic dichotomy where America is the ideal, and evil is something outside of America’s bounds. Coupling that with Kevin J. Anderson’s insistence on black-and-white ideology that pervades the book (as I’ll talk about later), it creates a thematically patriotic narrative that doesn’t make any sense within the context of its own world.
Now for the characters. Anderson falls victim to the common misconception that Superman values and upholds the law. To distinguish Superman and Batman, he posits that Superman does good within the law and Batman does good outside of it. This is simply untrue, and it’s an extremely contrived way of creating tension between them.
Let’s take their first costumed meeting — Superman sees Batman fleeing Luthor’s mansion, and assumes Batman is stealing from Luthor. While this is true, Superman decides to apprehend Batman because he’s a criminal with a record of criminal vigilantism. And in Superman’s mind, crime is crime is crime. He doesn’t stop to think about why Batman might be working outside the law; clearly he didn’t put in the effort to do any sort of research on the Gotham police force, or else he would know that they’re blatantly corrupt. He didn’t stop to think about how sketchy Luthor is and why Batman might want to dig up dirt on Luthor; all he would need to do in that case is just talk to Lois, who knows Luthor is corrupt. He didn’t stop to think that there might be people in life-threatening danger nearby, not even after commiserating to his mother about how he could be doing more good in the world if he only focused on the bigger picture — nope, he just hurries to apprehend a thief who isn’t threatening the lives of anyone. How is that a good use of his time? Not only is his law-abiding insistence antithetical to who Superman is (or, should be if he’s written well), but it’s just plain dumb. There are much, much better uses for Superman’s time than stopping someone who’s robbing Luthor. No wonder Bruce assumes he’s working with Luthor, that’s what I’d think.
The situation just gets worse when Superman takes Batman to the Fortress. Superman condemns Batman for working outside the law, and Batman says that justice isn’t always as black and white as the law states. He gives the example of a man stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family — a reasonable, logical reason to break the law. Then Superman says something along the lines of “Well what about a murderer who says they have a good reason?” implying that just because someone has a good reason, it doesn’t make the crime right. But the thing is, THEFT ISN’T MURDER! The worst part is that this gives Batman pause and makes him think about his own parents’ murder. That’s where the conversation ends — Superman half-convinces Batman of his lazy black-and-white outlook on life. This is just bad writing. Batman would know the difference and he would recognize Superman’s “whataboutism” immediately. Superman wouldn’t say anything near that dumb either, but Anderson already established Superman as being dumb, so it’s not quite surprising. But Batman is supposed to be smart — it feels like Anderson is just trying to push his personal beliefs onto these characters regardless of the fact that it makes no sense.
Also, Anderson always refers to Superman as “Kal-El” when he’s in costume. Why? Is that how Superman views himself? And if so, why? He was raised on Earth, and he doesn’t have much context for Kryptonian culture, so why would he think of himself as anything but “Clark”? And if Anderson simply does this to distinguish his two personalities, it just further proves that the author doesn’t understand who Superman is whatsoever.
I give this one star for Lois. If it wasn’t for her, this book would be as low as I can rate it. Truly a disappointment and a stain on the Superman and Batman mythos.
October 30, 2014
this should be the script for the upcoming man of steel meets the dark knight film with ben afleck...
bringing the heroes back to their more humble and original roots is the way to go. the concepts of trust, aliens, conspiracy, and doing what is right which is not always the legal thing made this one of the best reads in the last few months. it reminded me why I like superman as a child. definitely not a fan of the latest punching holes in the universe version but I was a fan of the humble not so god-like-empowered one.
I will not provide a thorough review because it just must be read. not as good as son of krypton by the same author, but a great read
bringing the heroes back to their more humble and original roots is the way to go. the concepts of trust, aliens, conspiracy, and doing what is right which is not always the legal thing made this one of the best reads in the last few months. it reminded me why I like superman as a child. definitely not a fan of the latest punching holes in the universe version but I was a fan of the humble not so god-like-empowered one.
I will not provide a thorough review because it just must be read. not as good as son of krypton by the same author, but a great read
April 12, 2026
DNF Page 154
This was originally 2⭐, but it lost one for victim blaming people in domestic abuse situations. And for Clark refusing to help these people because it was beneath him and that he was A REAL REPORTER!
Also no one in the 50s had private jets.
This was originally 2⭐, but it lost one for victim blaming people in domestic abuse situations. And for Clark refusing to help these people because it was beneath him and that he was A REAL REPORTER!
Also no one in the 50s had private jets.
June 17, 2018
A solid story and representation of batman and superman. Really enjoyed it
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