Batman/Superman #14 Review

Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Diogenes Neves and Marc Deering
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

Clean My Slate

Most books had the foresight to finish up arcs before the September Futures End Event.  Unfortunately, this wasn't one of them.  I'm not pointing fingers here, but it's a shame that any momentum the first issue of the arc had was smashed to bits while we all went five years into the grim future.  Well, we're  back and Batman and Superman are waiting, no memories and all. I wish I could say that I jumped right back in and enjoyed everything here, but that's not the case.  It seems that skipping a Month isn't the only problem this story has.



The Clean Slate story is intriguing in theory.  If Batman and Superman lost their memories, would they still be heroes?  Without his losses, would Bruce Wayne become a champion of justice?  Without his human upbringing, would Kal-El be so super? Well, thanks to Kaiyo and Greg Pak, we are starting to find out, but I don't like everything I'm seeing.

Catwoman "helping" Superman is an idea that should be fun.  So why am I tired of it already?  The dialogue isn't great, but it's mainly the boring story.  Nothing is really happening.  Greg Pak throws the Toymaster into the fray, but he just stands around as well.  That is, until the end.  They are doing something, but it's not good.

Then there's Bruce.  Without his memory he has become a daredevil playboy.  Why?  Greg Pak seems to be struggling with Bruce as much as Bruce is struggling with himself.  Of the two, Bruce seems to be getting his bearings a bit more and shows flashes of his old self as the issue progresses.  It all leads up to what is supposed to be an emotional scene with Alfred, but it falls flat.  On a side note, what they hell has Alfred been doing these two issues?  He doesn't notice somethings wrong with Bruce and then is glad he lost his memory...right after Bruce tells him people died because of it.  Boo.

I really didn't like this issue.  The main reason is that this story is making me not like two of my favorite heroes.  The cliffhanger doesn't change my mind and it looks like it's setting up Batman versus Superman next issue.

Another thing I didn't like was the art of Diogenes Neves and Marc Deering.  I didn't like Jae Lee's art and these two are trying their worst to copy it.  I was glad when Lee left the book, but not to end up with this.  Please, get someone on this book who wants to make it their own.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman/Superman #14 was not a good issue.  It continues the Clean Slate story, but I'm already looking for the exit.  The story is boring and the art is awful.  I'm looking forward to next month's finale, but for all the wrong reasons.  Just skip this issue and the arc and come back when it's over.

5.0/10