Review: Superman '78 #2

This issue picks up with Luthor, fresh out of jail, trying to get a job at Kord Industries, only to be offered a job in the cafeteria. Crestfallen and grumbling (can just imagine Gene Hackman's voice), he returns to his small, dumpy apartment, where Superman is waiting for him. He asks Luthor to help him with the disembodied head of Brainiac's robot scout. Back at the Planet bullpen, Clark tries to ask Lois out, only to be brushed off.  He "overhears" that there is a signal coming from deep space.  Back at Luthor's laboratory, he is able to reactivate the robot scout to receive a message that Brainiac has arrived.  Brainiac sends out dozens of his robots to capture Superman.  He threatens to obliterate humanity in order to cage Superman.  Just as Luthor arrives at the scene, Superman surrenders to Brainiac to spare humanity.

As with the previous issue, the script by Robert Venditti, is excellent, and continues to capture the classic Superman film series tone perfectly. Wilfordo Torres turns in very good artwork, if slightly on the cartoony side. It's interesting to see how polar opposite Superman '78 and Batman '89 are from each other, with Superman '78, so far, getting everything right, and Batman '89 getting everything wrong.  This issues earns another A.

Review: Batman '89 #2

Once again, the main focus of issue 2 is on Harvey Dent.  The story opens with a task force trying to bring in Batman, but the guy who was stealing baby food for his kid ends up getting killed. Dent and Barbara play with a batarang and then Dent gives a political speech at his old neighborhood, Burnside.  We are introduced to Drake Winston (the role Marlon Wayans supposedly would have played in Batman Returns, although in that script he was only referred to as "The Kid"). He stops a robbery dressed in a weird poncho-like costume, revealing he was the costumed figure at the end of last issue. There is a word play on robbin'...Robin.  Racked over guilt about what happened earlier, Bruce offers to give every kid in Burnside free education. The garage where Drake works is set on fire by the robbers he stopped earlier.  Bruce (in a ski mask) heads that way but is intercepted by the return of Catwoman. Dent, meanwhile goes into the burning garage to save Drake, only to be knocked unconscious. 

Joe Quinones' art keeps the quality from the previous issue: well done if somewhat streamlined, with somewhat vague likenesses of the actors. It is curious that much of the unofficial, personal art he has posted regarding the Batman movies over the last several years looks much more detailed with pin-point likenesses of the actors. It seems like Sam Hamm continues to be more influenced by Daniel Waters' Batman Returns script than his own 1989 script. He is also making the same mistakes DC made with their Batman '66 comics, by abandoning what made it what it was, and trying to graft elements of modern DC continuity onto it. In the case of Batman '89, we are introduced to Dr. Harleen Quinzel.  Unfortunately we also get a lot of the current political climate grafted onto the story.  Sorry, but I'm not a fan of this approach. When I read a comic that is supposed to embellish and follow the spirit of the Michael Keaton Batman movies, the last thing I want is preaching about political and social issues that are constantly on the news in 2021.  I want to get lost in that timeless movie world, not be hammered by Hamm-fisted opinions and commentary about 2021 topical sociopolitical issues.  Batman '89 is quickly becoming a huge disappointment. This issue gets a C-.