2000--Action Comics #766 (D.O.A.)
Action 766 (June 2000), titled "D.O.A.," features a Kryptonite-poisoned Clark asking Bruce to help him save Lois, who's been kidnapped by the Parasite. The writer, Joe Kelly, strikes a nice balance between adversarial and friendly--with tempers worn to a frazzle due to the situation, Superman and Batman snapping at each other seems quite plausible. The ethical discussion involved is interesting and although I think Kelly generally sides with Superman (he is writing a Superman title after all, not a Batman one) it's not totally one-sided.
The breaking point comes when they find some dead potential witnesses, and Batman (who is being written as a great deal more Rorschach-y than usual) keeps calling them "subjects." Clark insists that they should be referred to as people:
Apologies for the interruption of Intense Monologue, but if it weren't for what Batman is saying there, that last panel would totally look like a kiss about to happen. :)
Although I feel like we're supposed to side with Superman here, I do think this is an excellent explanation of Batman's "heartlessness," and a refutation of the idea that he doesn't care about the people involved. Because he does say when the case is closed he mourns, but while it's open he can't afford to care at an emotional level. Also, Kelly is going to complicate things later as both of them edge slightly toward understanding each other a little more.
Superman weakens until Batman has to carry him up a cliff. Bruce's contemplation of Clark's current condition is terribly tender and heartbreaking:
I find that moment where Clark doesn't want to know the other woman's name fascinating. It's a rare lapse of his nearly-infinite humanity and caring for others--understandable under the circumstances, I suppose, but definitely a statement on Kelly's part that even Superman's empathy has its limits and that Batman's emotional distance isn't unreasonable.
And here's a fun example of Games Shippers Play--the line "I witness empirical proof of the power of love." Is that "I witness empirical proof of the power of love [when Clark sacrifices everything to save Lois]" or is it "I witness empirical proof of the power of love [when I irrationally leap to help him]"? Kelly surely means the former, but it's still fun to play.
And...Superman is dead! Oh noes!
No, no, he's semi-revived next issue so that Supergirl and Superboy can save him, actually.
But the last two pages are great for showing Batman moving from his clinical distance into emotion when he calls "the victim" Lois for the first time. And then there's that wonderful moment when you can see him clamp down on any emotion he feels at Clark's death, forcing himself to move back into detective mode rather than give in to any anguish he might be feeling. It's a great story for both of their characters and draws some nice clear lines between the two while still portraying them as the staunchest of allies and friends.
Back to 2000-2010 summary
The breaking point comes when they find some dead potential witnesses, and Batman (who is being written as a great deal more Rorschach-y than usual) keeps calling them "subjects." Clark insists that they should be referred to as people:
Apologies for the interruption of Intense Monologue, but if it weren't for what Batman is saying there, that last panel would totally look like a kiss about to happen. :)
Although I feel like we're supposed to side with Superman here, I do think this is an excellent explanation of Batman's "heartlessness," and a refutation of the idea that he doesn't care about the people involved. Because he does say when the case is closed he mourns, but while it's open he can't afford to care at an emotional level. Also, Kelly is going to complicate things later as both of them edge slightly toward understanding each other a little more.
Superman weakens until Batman has to carry him up a cliff. Bruce's contemplation of Clark's current condition is terribly tender and heartbreaking:
I find that moment where Clark doesn't want to know the other woman's name fascinating. It's a rare lapse of his nearly-infinite humanity and caring for others--understandable under the circumstances, I suppose, but definitely a statement on Kelly's part that even Superman's empathy has its limits and that Batman's emotional distance isn't unreasonable.
And here's a fun example of Games Shippers Play--the line "I witness empirical proof of the power of love." Is that "I witness empirical proof of the power of love [when Clark sacrifices everything to save Lois]" or is it "I witness empirical proof of the power of love [when I irrationally leap to help him]"? Kelly surely means the former, but it's still fun to play.
And...Superman is dead! Oh noes!
No, no, he's semi-revived next issue so that Supergirl and Superboy can save him, actually.
But the last two pages are great for showing Batman moving from his clinical distance into emotion when he calls "the victim" Lois for the first time. And then there's that wonderful moment when you can see him clamp down on any emotion he feels at Clark's death, forcing himself to move back into detective mode rather than give in to any anguish he might be feeling. It's a great story for both of their characters and draws some nice clear lines between the two while still portraying them as the staunchest of allies and friends.
Back to 2000-2010 summary