Enemies & Allies

Forget everything that's happened in the last five decades, put yourself square in the Fifties. Now add in Superman, Batman, Lois, Jimmy, Perry and Alfred and go from there. Now have Kevin J. Anderson write it. How can you not love a book like that? Oh, I forgot to mention Lex Luthor, that villain you love to hate. He's as evil here as he's been anywhere. He teams with a Soviet Black Star General in an evil plot to take over the world and along the way they've discovered Kryptonite. Batman discovers Luthor is stealing secrets from Bruce Wayne's company and selling them to the government. He seeks proof. Superman thinks Batman is a crook. Batman thinks Superman is a Luthorian creation. Lois falls in love with you know who. Superman is torn between being human and alien. Senator McCarthy is in Luthor's hip pocket and if I haven't wetted your appetite here read on. Kevin J. Anderson has taken Superman and Batman and breathed new life into them. He's made them and his alternate universe as real as Starbucks, Spaghetti O's and Spam. Batman is real, too. The dark night is not only dark, but conflicted, human. Lois and Jimmy come too life as never before and Perry even utters a "Great Scot" too, but it's believable. Kevin J. Anderson made me believe in those thrilling days of yesteryear. Yes, I know that phrase is from another masked man comic and TV show, but it applies here.

I guess I'll go ahead and admit to the fact that after reading this book I am now a Kevin J. Anderson fan. I really enjoyed reading his portrayal of Batman and Superman in this work which was set in the 1950's Cold War climate. I liked how the partnership of SM and BM was developed in the story and how the two were at times pitted against each other early in the story. I really hope that this is not the only book KJA plans on doing in regards to these two in this setting. All the loose ends were wrapped up in the end but the door was certainly left open for future stories. This has been by far my favorite rendition of the Superman/Batman team up. Even though it is a novel about two very different comic book heroes within an older setting, KJA does a great job of introducing both of them to his readers in a way that allows them to retain thier uniqueness as heroes and at the same time interact to create an unlikely but likable partnership. It really is a great telling of the Batman and Superman stories that seems to bring us back to the way they were meant to be told. In regards to his writing style - let me just say that I really like a book that can tell a detailed story using a lot of short chapters with quick-flowing and descriptive prose. The last book I read by KJA ("Last Days of Krypton") did the same thing and it seems that he is a master of this type of writing style. I've read in other reviews that he does the same thing in his other books. I have no desire to dive into his Dune works but I think I'll have to check out his "Saga of Seven Suns" series.

"Enemies & Allies" is a great addition to the legend of Superman, and now Batman as well. It would appear that Kevin J. Anderson has found yet another series in which to add to wonderfully. It was nice to see the story take place in the old "Glory Days" of the super-heroes in question. A nice blend of the cultural, as well as governmental mistakes of the fifties with a small hint of modern day social boo-boos as well. Not to mention UFO madness. The characters were fun and filled with the personality that readers of Superman and Batman have come to expect. Yet they could also give the feel of compassion and misery when faced with peril. Like "The Last Days of Krypton", (a "Superman" must-read), the storyline was a tribute to the Superman history and I look forward to reading more of Kevin's visions of the most powerful man in the universe as well as the "Dark Knight". Well done Mr. Anderson!

It is the 1950s, and while Eisenhower sits in the White House, a young Bruce Wayne is beginning his career as a vigilante crime-fighter in Gotham City, and the newly-minted Superman is building his reputation as a worker of miracles. But, there is someone with a plan that will sweep them all up - Lex Luthor. This wealthy capitalist has made an alliance with a rogue KGB general, and between the two of them they will turn the world upside down. Superman does not trust the lawbreaking Batman, and Batman does not trust this Superman without a past, but they will have to learn to trust each other if they are going to save the world! This is an excellent book, and a really good addition to the genre. I must admit that I was a little worried about what the author would do with the 1950s, and what agendas he might bring to the setting. But, in point of fact, the author did a great job of placing this story within the context of what was happening at the time, and making the story fit in quite well. I really enjoyed this retelling of the origin of the Batman & Superman friendship, and I really enjoyed the idea of placing it back in the 1950s. So, if you like a good superhero story, then get Enemies & Allies - you won't be disappointed!