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ARTICLE

DVD Review: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (Two-Disc Special Edition)
by R.J. Carter
Published: September 25, 2009

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Rating:

Country: USA
Release Date: September 29, 2009
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Director:
· Sam Liu
Cast:
· Tim Daly
· Kevin Conroy
· Clancy Brown
· Allison Mack
Related Sites:
· IMdb: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Grade: A-

As we get settled in for "Superman Batman: Public Enemies," we're given a pre-credits idea of the state of the world -- basically the current American economic problems magnified tenfold. This is necessary to explain in a condensed format how Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) becomes the President of the United States on a third-party ticket.

Yes, that Lex Luthor -- the villainous businessman/scientist who has plagued Superman (voiced by Tim Daly) ever since Big Blue came on the scene, now proclaiming himself reformed and the savior of a desperate American people. And, amazingly enough, once he's in power the country begins to turn around. The economy begins to boom... and the crime rate begins to dwindle. Suddenly there's very little for a super-powered crimefighter to do.

Which isn't to say that Luthor doesn't have plans for Earth's super-powered persons. Under his leadership, he organizes Captain Atom (Xander Berkeley), Major Force (Ricardo Chavira), Power Girl (Smallville's Allison Mack), and Black Lightning (LeVar Burton) as his personal strike force. But what he really wants is the allegiance of Superman, who is far too distrustful of Luthor to give it.

Of course, Superman's on the right track, as he soon finds himself framed for the murder of one of Luthor's aides -- Metallo (John C. McGinley). To sell the frameup, Luthor lets the world know that a giant kryptonite meteor is on a collision course for Earth, and claims the advance radiation is affecting Superman's mind. And then he puts a $1 billion bounty on the Man of Steel, which brings out nearly every villain in the DC Universe as they try to collect.

At Superman's side throughout the ordeal is Batman (Kevin Conroy), who comes in handy for saving Superman's life when needed. Plus, Batman has a plan for dealing with the coming meteor, just in case Luthor's plan to shoot it out of the sky with missiles doesn't work (advance hint: it won't). They're uneasy friendship isn't played up all that much, but there are moments when the friction between them is noticeable.

The dialogue between Superman and Batman is mostly banter, as the film ends up being one gigantic fight scene once the billion dollar bounty is announced. As Superman and Batman find themselves surrounded by Kestrel, Giganta, Copperhead, Black Manta, Catman, Deadshot, Tarantula, Cheetah, Killer Shark, Bane, and Captain Boomerang (none of whom should give Superman any problem, even on their best days and banded together), Batman advices Superman to run and avoid capture. When he refuses, Batman says, "Your funeral." In response, Superman replies, "I already had one," tying things in to the previous DC Direct DVD, "Superman - Doomsday." Andrea Romano and Bruce Timm contribute their voices to Giganta and Mongul during this battle royale.

If you're expecting the plot to follow the Jeph Loeb / Ed McGuinness graphic novel to a tee, you probably won't be surprised to learn that it doesn't. Captain Atom's seeming act of self-sacrifice is rewritten, the part given to someone else to make the act that much more heroic (although the consequences are quickly wiped away through sheer chance). However, the pivotal scene where the World's Finest team squares off against Captain Marvel and Hawkman plays out precisely as originally written.

The biggest threat of the story isn't the oncoming meteor so much as it is Luthor's hubris and resulting madness. Well, that, and the too-easily duped DC heroes who serve unquestioningly under the leadership of a man whose past they all know to be shady. (In the comics universe, the presidency of Luthor lasted long before this particular story, and was commonly thought to be an editorial comment of the various comic book writers on the George W. Bush administration.)

The bonus features on the first of this two-disc set are hardly bonuses at all, as they reproduce the collection of bonuses from previous DVD releases: "Blackest Night: Inside the DC Comics Event," "Wonder Woman: The Amazon Princess," "Batman Gotham Knight: An Anime Revolution," "From Graphic Novel to Original Animated Movie - Justice League: The New Frontier," and "Green Lantern: First Flight - The Animated Movie Sneak Peek." So once you've seen the feature presentation, pop out the disc because there's nothing new to see here.

The second disc, however, is where all the goodies are kept, complete with that new-bonus-feature smell. Kicking things off is the documentary, "A Test of Minds: Superman and Batman," where viewers are treated to a look at the historical team-ups between Superman and Batman, starting with the classic World's Finest comic series through the current incarnation of "the psycho and the messiah complex" partnership of the modern era, with a rest stop at Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. This includes a psychological profiling of both of the characters, which I found quite interesting.

Following this is a videotaped luncheon with many of the powers that be, including producer Bruce Timm and voice director Andrea Romano, as they chat with Conroy about Batman. The real treat, however, as it is with all the DC Direct DVDs, is the sneak peek at the next project, which in this case is a loose treatment of Grant Morrison's Earth 2 called "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths." We get to see some completed clips of the project, as well as extended scenes done in the actors' studio.

Wrapping up the bonus features is a pair of episodes from Superman: The Animated Series -- appropriately enough, episodes which find Superman pairing up with a certain guest-star from Gotham City. In "The Demon Reborn," Batman and Superman battle Ras al Ghul, who wants to take Superman's strength as an alternative to the failing Lazarus Pits. In the second episode, "Knight Time," Superman poses as Batman and follows Robin's lead to battle crime in Gotham City while they investigate Bruce Wayne's disappearance -- a disappearance orchestrated by Brainiac.

Previews on this disc include "Sherlock Holmes," Smallville, and "Halo: Legends."