Books : Superman & Batman: Generations, An Imaginary Tale (Elseworlds)

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Rating:

- Generations 1
This is one of the most innovative & noteworthy projects by Byrne since his various '80s works.

I *really* like this, even though the art style is a bit more sketchy than I'd like. He tracks the families of both Superman & Batman in real time, from their earliest years to old age. Byrne did several DC Elseworlds titles in the mid-'90s & early 2000s. Here's a brief breakdown of some of those projects:

1. Generations. I love seeing the way Superman & Batman develop over the years, from 1939 on, especially in the way their costumes are drawn. We get to see the various outfits each character wore, in each of the different decades. Batman's costumes in particular are really great to see. I like the earliest bat-like look, as well as the futuristic armor later on. Superman's look doesn't change as dramatically.

2. Batman & Captain America. Done around 1996, this very slim paperback is what inspired Byrne to do Generations. I consider it to be about average in quality.

3. Generations 2. In my opinion, average in quality. Tries to cover slightly different decades & characters than in Generations 1. I really felt like the concept was a bit less fresh at this point. I highly recommend Generations 1 over this.

4. Superman: True Brit. I like this. It's a whimsical, cartoony take on Superman being raised British. I like the art, but the humor hits us over the head with all things British; it's a bit over-the-top to say the least. It's getting pretty mixed reviews.

There was also a Generations 3 released in individual comics, but it hasn't been made into a paperback as I write this. Really, the feeling of innovation for me is captured in Generations 1. So it's the first Generations I recommend getting, even though I prefer Byrne's '80s Man of Steel editions to his Elseworlds works overall.

Rating:

- The Best of Both Worlds
This comic has got to be one of the best I've ever read! John Byrne is a genius! The storytelling is excellent and the very concept of the different eras and drawing the characters accordingly was a Brilliant idea. Anyone who likes the new Superman Batman crossover series should definitely add this piece to their collection!

Rating:

- Graphic SF Reader
A fun romp through the generations : a look at some what ifs, if the Kent and Wayne families were more closely linked.

The Bat-Mite Mxyzptlk team up is a classic. A lot of fun. Very nice work by Byrne here. This is very much in the vein of the Impossible Man stories, at Marvel, or Fantastic Four type work that Byrne put together on that run.

Rating:

- Must buy for John Byrne Fans!
I love John Byrne's take on the possible progression of the Batman/Superman legacy. It was interesting to see the different time periods and the children of the 2 icons. I found it amusing that we never see the face of Batman's spouse, which leaves us to speculate which woman finally got Bruce to settle down.

A good, fun read.

Rating:

- A Good Idea Squandered On Bad Art and Campy Writing
Superman & Batman: Generations, An Imaginary Tale is a good idea for a story: "What if Superman and Batman aged in real time as the decades pass. What would there lives be like?"

I thought the story was decent but the artwork reminded me of Sunday newspaper comic strips. The writing was very campy. Example: Batman calling Robin "Old Chum"?? I thought I was watching the '60's TV series.

Another flaw in the story: You are constantly teased by repeated appearances of Bruce Wayne's wife whose face remains hidden. You never get to know who she is in the story.

If you're a die hard fan of Supes and Bats, you'll like this story. I'm used to reading and enjoying the "Superman/Batman" series (top notch artwork and great writing) so this book was a let down for me.

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