Broken Frontier

Turns out that the connection between Batman and Superman goes back further than anyone would have guessed. While cleaning up Smallville after Waller destroyed the small town, a piece of Kryptonian technology found on the Kent Farm activates a machine deep in the recesses of the cave below Wayne Manor. This leads to the revelation that the World’s Finest shared a legacy that can be directly attributed to a chance encounter between their fathers.

Much has been made over the years about the team ups between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. A lot of this has to do with their diametrically opposing world views. Batman operates in the shadows and as such is a cureless skeptic. On the other hand, Superman gains his powers from the sun and is an eternal optimist. They create a solid team as a result of these differences. With two vastly different skill sets and outlooks, they have the uncanny ability to cover all possible bases.

Green and Johnson use this milestone issue to try and create a reason for this compatibility, to give it a legacy. It is probably unnecessary to devote the time and effort to the task, especially through a bizarre retcon, but it is a noble pursuit. It is to be admired that the writers feel so strongly that these two icons should be connected in a stronger way through their fathers. It adds a sense of destiny to their partnership that could easily defend any detractors who might question whether these two could work together.

There is rich characterization given here. It is a well thought idea that plays off the two superheroes' ability to change each other for the better. Problem is that in the end, it is unneeded. The reader can determine the effectiveness of the duo on their own terms. A back story is nice but certainly not mandated. This does not detract from the richness of the idea here, but rather leads to a fascination in why the writers thought it should be. Is there a reason further down the road for the relationship to be changed into a legacy type situation?

As far as the action, it is a lot of fun watching the JLA put their best foot forward and to watch the Titans be treated as the powerhouse they deserve to be. Of course, the action involving the titular heros is fun to see, but there is the nagging question of why the Kryptonian machine feels the need to go on a rampage, show the two the encounter between their fathers, and then try to destroy the two sons. These actions are senseless and ill explained in the comic. A malfunction is one thing, but an underlying reason would be appreciated.

The art is actually not as jarring as one would think with four pencillers. In fact the juxtaposition between flashback and present day is handled with surprisingly seamless skill. The only minor problem is when Churchill decides to show off that more playful style again. It is off putting as ever, it just feels wrong. While there is levity in the script, the playful art is used in random frames in the later part of the book, very much removed from the humor. Even if it were employed with the jokes it would be woefully out of place with the other art.

This is a nice idea and a heck of a lot of fun. Seeing the Titans fight the Batcave is worth your four dollars alone, but it is flawed in a couple of ways. In the end it is a pointless addition to the canon that provokes speculation on its necessity.