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Superman/Batman (12 Volumes Collected Edition)

Superman/Batman, Vol. 6: Torment

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Featuring stories written by Alan Burnett, renowned writer of TV’s Superman/Batman Adventures and Batman Beyond animated series, this new SUPERMAN/BATMAN volume presents an epic tale that takes the Dark Knight and The Man of Steel from the streets of Gotham to the outer reaches of Apokolips in a quest that pits them against the terrifying galactic villain Darkseid, Scarecrow, Killer Croc and more.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Collecting SUPERMAN/BATMAN #37-42.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2008

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About the author

Alan Burnett

122 books12 followers
Alan Burnett is an American television writer-producer particularly associated with Warner Bros. Animation, Hanna-Barbera Productions, DC Comics and Walt Disney television animation. He has had a hand in virtually every DC animated project since the waning years of the Super Friends. Burnett's contributions for Disney were largely a part of the 1990s Disney Afternoon, where he was attached to the Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears and various projects set in the Scrooge McDuck universe. Because of his primary focus on televised animation, he has occasionally been involved in film projects related to a parent television program. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and has an MFA in film production from the University of Southern California.

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5 stars
544 (38%)
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343 (24%)
3 stars
401 (28%)
2 stars
98 (6%)
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19 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Chad.
10.1k reviews1,045 followers
January 18, 2018
This story featuring the New Gods was not very good. Superman is a zombie for most of the book to the point that it's really just a Batman story. Then there's all this goofiness with Batman and the New God Becca where they find each other irresistible.
Profile Image for Albert.
1,451 reviews37 followers
February 11, 2015
The story of Superman/Batman Vol. 6 Torment came to my attention by a post on Google Plus by a member who fashions herself (at least I think its a girl) after the DC character Talia Al Ghul posted a cover of Torment part four Trapped. The cover shows a powerful and beautiful woman wielding two guns standing in front of Batman. Only the woman is not Talia Al Ghul. She is Bekka, the wife of Orion of the New Gods.

The story of Torment takes us from the streets of Gotham to the outer reaches of Apokolips. What begins as a random burglary by Killer Croc, of an ancient Krptonian artifact, turns interstellar as without explanation Superman begins to show signs of paranoia and paralyzing fear. Investigating the theft and the actions of his friend, Batman realizes only one criminal has the power to induce such fear. Scarecrow. But to effect Superman to such a degree it needs to be much more than Scarecrow is capable of. Using the galactic boom tube to travel, Batman soon realizes that what is behind it all is not only Scarecrow, but Darkseid himself. Darkseid who has been weakened and needs Superman to travel to the Source Wall and retrieve the Highfathers staff. With the use of the staff, Darkseid can return to his full power. Batman tries to save his friend but Superman turns on him and beats him. Leaving Batman broken and dying. In steps Bekka and transports the Dark Knight away. Using her powers she heals Batman but it is her other power that has the most effect on him. And on her.

"...I am a God, Batman. And like all the Gods in this universe, I am defined by a power or obsession. In my case some might call it an affliction. For Darkseid, its a yearning for ultimate control. For Desaad, its an addiction to pain. For me...its the creation of desire, both physical and emotional. I draw it from others, like a siren's call, except I am equally affected. I cant control it. I can't explain it. It just is..."

Bekka is attracted to those who deny themselves love. Those who have isolated themselves from any emotional feelings.

This is an interesting storyline and there are many that are as humanizing where the New Gods are concerned. Much like the InHumans of Marvel lore, these characters are difficult to relate to. But with Bekka, this warrior God. She does not only seduce others with her power, but is seduced herself. In Torment, we see Batman come undone. His pain and loneliness healed in the arms of another's wife. Pretty daring for DC. Pretty good writing as well. There is a weak and stumbling Darkseid. Superman an emotional wreck as he suspects Lois Lane of cheating on him. Scarecrow tied and bled so that a alien demons can feed off his scabs. And there is Batman, in need and in love.

A good story and different. Excellent writing by Alan Burnett and awesome artwork of Dustin Nguyen.

Profile Image for Julia.
27 reviews4 followers
August 12, 2023
Warning ⚠️ explicit language used

What in the horny hell is this? The whole plot line about Bekka is so odd. Perhaps she’s an established character but if not even worse. It’s like she’s a walking plot device for male characters and nothing else. Plus, I think there is certainly a dubious/non consensual tinge to it. Doesn’t make it better that it’s both characters that want to get it on, if it’s this magical force and it can literally make Batman go into a horny haze instead of remaining focused on his friend literally maybe being completely lost to him, it certainly doesn’t leave them in a rational state of mind

And then! At the end! The writers decided to continue in the “Batman can never be happy” trope too, but also have him as a home wrecker I think? Honestly just not a fan of the character, the way they act, the way they characterize Batman so flatly and cliched… just heavy handed and weirdly sexual

Superman is a zombie so nothing much to say about his plot line really.

I know in general I’ve thought this series is more meh and I don’t like the more otherworldly stuff but this one is just. Bad.

The art is fine tho. Not my favorite, but fine.

P. S. Im stopping reading this series for now. Feel like there is surely more quality stuff out there than a line of mehs and this one. Perhaps I’m being impulsive but after a long break from this series due to personal stuff, coming back to this? Yeah, I don’t really have it in me to keep trying for it to get better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Quentin Wallace.
Author 34 books177 followers
January 15, 2024
I usually like stories where Darkseid is the villain but this wasn't one of the better ones. It seemed to drag. I think this could have been better told in four issues rather than six. That being said, it was okay.
Profile Image for Valéria..
1,012 reviews37 followers
July 2, 2024
I still can not get over how .. shiny Superman looks on the cover, and in the book too. Good story, Dustin Nguyen´s art is still not the one I like best from him, but he´s getting there here.
Profile Image for Ondra Král.
1,445 reviews124 followers
September 10, 2019
Fajn Superman/Batman příběh, nic víc. Spotřební pláštěnka.
1 review
March 31, 2015
I wanted to read this because i am a big fan of super heroes and villains so I saw this book and i decided to read it

I found this book interesting it is about when a kryptonian artefact is stolen and batman investigates the robbery as superman starts being overwhelmed with fears it leads them both to the planet apokolips where darkseid has taken over the man of steels mind and batman falls under the spells of bekka the enemy of the dark gods also daughter-in-law of darkseid,darkseids sideman desaad knows that darkseid is weak so he under goes a plan of going against him and traps superman in the source desaad can not handle the horrible nightmare of having dark powers and darksied gets his powers back then batman saves superman and superman helps by coming out of no where and saving superman and bekka.

My favourite character is clot which was desaads pet i didn't know why i liked him so much but he was cute and funny

I rated this book 3/5 because i liked all of the drawings from the artist i found them creative also i liked the story but i found it a bit short i wish the book could have been longer but thats the way it is
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lynda.
2,497 reviews120 followers
October 20, 2016
Arthritis is worse today, so I will interrupt graphic novels to switch to audiobooks. (Wo)man proposes, G-d disposes.
Profile Image for Vicenç Sanz.
444 reviews7 followers
November 27, 2018
Bueno, sin ser ninguna obra maestra, con Tormento se vuelve a la senda que ésta colección no debería haber perdido en ningún momento, la de ofrecer aventuras divertidas de Batman y Superman.

Si bien en éste comic no actúan conjuntamente (algo que permite que Batman se luzca especialmente) ambos personajes tienen su importancia, en una trama cósmica en la que hacen presencia algunos de los personajes más importantes del universo Dc.

Puede que el nivel de fan de Dc para meterse en éste comic sea alto, ya que da por supuestos algunos conceptos que el fan mínimo no conoce (el muro del universo, los nuevos Dioses, etc...), pero creo que incluso sin ese bagaje uno puede hacerse a la idea de lo que está sucediendo y disfrutar del comic.

Como historia de aventuras cósmica funcina muy bien, devolviendo poder a un personaje que no lo tenía, poniendo a Batman en una situación nada habitual y sacando de forma inteligente a Superman de la ecuación.

El dibujo y una trama que requiere ciertos conocimientos previos son lo que aleja éste comic de una recomendación. El primero no es malo, pero tiene algunas viñetas (especialmente al principio) que me han sacado de la obra.

Lo recomiendo? No. Es un comic para cafeteros de Dc a los que les gusten éstos dos personajes y aguantaran los números anteriores de la colección (algunos de ellos ciertamente horribles).
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,196 followers
March 14, 2023
A rather messy volume that made sense but not always. Basically it was to showcase Darkseid's genius plan to trap supes and take what is his. Using the likes of freaking Croc of all people (or animals) to help do this. It actually almost works, even if it makes no sense at times, but the moments with Superman and Batman do shine through a otherwise dumbass plot. Sometimes fun dialogue can make you look past the silly plot of Bruce falling in love in 10 minutes and Supes somehow getting brainwashed/losing his mind.

A 3 out of 5.
Profile Image for Jay Rox.
58 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2018
Alan Burnett really nail's Batman's persona & he really shows each villain why Batman is such a credible threat no matter what each rival throws at him. The narrating does a great job describing the environment from other planets or universe for does that are not familier with the DC universe. We get to see Darkseid beeing vulnerable and not at %100 which is a nice change of pace from the indestructible force he usually is. I give this a 8/10
Profile Image for John Morris.
16 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2022
A barely passable read. The story features a cavalcade of bland villains with Killer Croc, the Scarecrow and Darkseid all barely utilised in the story.

Superman's predicament is solved in the most lazy of fashions and Batman ends up in a strange relationship with the god, that feels deeply unnecessary.
Profile Image for Rik.
384 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2023
A return to the quality of the first few volumes. More of a developed plot with just a few characters written with depth. Once again Superman goes dark for a bit but the rest of the story was very good and its back to Superman/Batmans strengths and weaknesses combining and colliding with eachother again.
Profile Image for Liz.Loki.
318 reviews
August 28, 2025
This would have been a 4 stars if not for the unnecessary cringe romantic tension between Batman and Bekka (that wasn't even real but a product of her powers, so really it was fucking weird). Still I enjoyed the rest of the plot.
Profile Image for Paweł.
452 reviews5 followers
May 25, 2019
Ta seria nie potrafi istnieć bez fanserwisu. Tym razem na celownik obrano Bekkę, której domeną wśród newgodów jest miłość. Cała przygoda była udręką nie dla wygnanego za mur źródła Supermana, tylko Batmana, który nie może opędzić się od atrakcyjnych bogiń.
Profile Image for Terry Collins.
Author 186 books27 followers
December 14, 2021
Worlds Finest this story ain’t. Worth a read, but a keeper? nah. Trade it into your friendly used book emporium when you’re done.
1,026 reviews20 followers
October 16, 2018
Beautiful artwork and an amazing story.

Nice to see the World's Finest together after the events of "One Year Later" as its casual known by fans. The stuff in Gotham was interesting which later became something that connects with New Genesis.

Superman and Batman come together while being caught up in the prelude of what will eventually be known as the "Death of the New Gods" storyline. As Superman presumably dies, Batman gets caught up in the hands of a particularly enticing relationship with New Goddess of Love Bekka, the spouse of New God of War Orion. Its tough pegging Batman as an adulterer, even more is that this kind of made Superman the gentleman in distress with him finding very little time to do anything, all while his friend is forgetting the code of "bro's before ho's."

Make no mistake Bekka is a you know what. But a hot one at that.

Still there was some good with Superman's time in the Source Wall. A very nice tribute as well as how this begins not just the "Death of the New Gods" but also "Final Crisis." A-
Profile Image for Sean.
4,027 reviews25 followers
February 26, 2013
A problem with a title dealing with two of comics biggest stars every month is finding worthy adversaries for them every month. Here, Alan Burnett crafts a good story but having read the previous trades the use of Darkseid is another hit over the head with the same villain. While there were some very good elements, particularly the character of Bekka, the repetition is a bit much. On its own, especially with the good pencil work by Dustin Nguyen, this trade is very good but some new villains or ideas would help give the series a shot in the arm.
Profile Image for M.
1,658 reviews16 followers
May 27, 2013
A pastiche of Marvel's Ultimates falls victim to an altered Superman and Batman, leading to a hodgepodge of confusion and dimension-hopping - explained away as a game between the Joker and Mr. Mxyzptlk. Though I would normally welcome the appearances of Bizarro, Batzarro, Batman Beyond, Red Son Superman, and the Composite Superman, Leob's mishmashed storyline and tongue-in-cheek parody leaves much to be desired.
Profile Image for Michael Wilson.
89 reviews8 followers
January 25, 2009
I'm not a big fan of Darkseid or any of the New Gods, but this is a somewhat interesting tale where Dessad journeys to Earth to steal a Kryptonian artifact (using Killer Croc and Scarecrow to help) to control Superman to complete a task for Darkseid... but this has several unpredictable twists and turns which keep the story interesting. Fun read but nothing too memorable about it.
Profile Image for Torie.
289 reviews30 followers
January 12, 2015
Batman's narration didn't read like him. One could say it was due to him being overwhelmed with lust or stirred by passion, but it was strange to hear Batman nearly waxing poetic. His internal monologue was too flowery and his voice read like someone else's. Really missed the mark for me, but the art was great and the overall story was pretty okay.
Profile Image for Jamil.
636 reviews58 followers
May 25, 2008
aside from Dustin Nguyen's oversexed design of Orion's wife, Bekka, goddess of lust or temptation or whatever, there really is nothing of note here. It's amazing to me how, outside of Kirby, Simonson and Morrison, so many people strive to make Kirby's New Gods so effin' boring.
Profile Image for Beth Younge.
1,180 reviews8 followers
July 16, 2015
I'm not a huge superman fan but he's almost as good as in 'Injustice: Gods Amongst Us'. This comic isn't for new readers i think as you have to understand certain factors pretty quickly. I definetalety want to read more from the Batman/Superman crossover series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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