Among the large group of comic readers, there is one particular niche which I will never really understand.  It is the group which revels in theoretical scenarios, pitting one hero against another and trying to figure out who could win.  Although there is little logic to it, there are those readers that will argue that Batman can beat Superman with enough preparation.  There is some truth to that in a sense,  as Stan Lee has said, when asked of who would win in a battle, that pretty much whoever the writer wants to win would be the victor.  Occasionally though, fans get a bit of a taste of what could be which fuels the fire for further discussion.  When Batman fought Superman in the Dark Knight, it was proof that it could be done, as was the case in the somewhat famous Hush storyline.

Readers after such an experience in comics will not be disappointed by the story in Batman #35.  The story here is based around a backbone of what can be easily described as “extended version of what happens on the cover.”  In so doing this story becomes a little bit forced at times and convoluted.  This isn’t the first time that Batman has been forced to face off against his Justice League allies as was detailed in the Tower of Babel story arc in 2000, but this is the first to pit Batman against pretty much the entire League at once wearing all his League-beating devices combined into one.  This lapse from the more realistic character is a bit of a letdown, but then so too is the setup.  The readers are introduced at the beginning of the issue to a Bruce Wayne in the middle of a series of nightmares about his own death.  This leads to the dream-within-a-dream problem, as the reader is not even really sure what it to be taking as actual events and what is inside the head of the hero.

There are therefore some drawbacks to this issue in its presentation and subject matter, but the end result is still worthy enough.  The backup story is completely different in tone, but probably won’t stay as the backup story for long as the characters will be incorporated into some future story arc (maybe this one?)  After all is done here, the issue still is decent enough, but it is more a feast for the eyes than it is for the brain.

Story: Scott Snyder Art: Greg Capullo
Story: 7.8 Art: 7.8 Overall: 7.8 Recommendation: Read