Review of "Superman, Batman Volume 3," by Mark Verheiden and Ethan Van Sciver

Review of

Superman, Batman Volume 3, by Mark Verheiden and Ethan Van Sciver ISBN 9781401264802

Five out of five stars

 The storyline in this sequence of stories is based on a major disturbance in the flow of the world. Superheroes from other locations are appearing on Earth and are not on their best behavior. The floating mental instability is contagious and not even Batman and Superman are immune. Humanity is in the gravest of danger from a mental and physical illness and there is the potential for Earth to be conquered with the death of billions.

 There is a lot of hero vs. hero action along with hero vs villain. Characters like the Joker and Mr. Mxyzptlk make what are essentially cameo appearances, Lex Luthor is a little more involved but is a secondary character within the menagerie of characters that get in the fight in one form or another. As is the style of the modern comic, the female heroes are drawn with more in the bust than they need to remain balanced in the fighting gyrations.

 With so many characters, the story moves along action, despite all the moving from point to point, Superman Batman and Alfred are the points of stability in what is a fun tale with the fate of Earth in the balance. The last story features Doc Magnus and the Metal Men.