Batman-Superman: Game Over

In the second volume of “Batman-Superman,” the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel partner for more adventures.

Here they are manipulated into being game icons at the mercy of a video game-playing public. 

Batman with Batgirl and the Red Hood and Superman with Supergirl, Krypto and Steel battle for dominance alongside Mongol son on Warworld.

They meet the Huntress and Power Girl from an alternate universe. One where the Huntress is the daughter of Batman and Catwoman and Power Girl is a Kryptonian cousin of Superman.

Collaborators Greg Pak, Brett Booth and Jae Lee create an uncertain relationship between Batman and Superman. They know each other’s secret identities but they don’t fully trust one another. Batman especially distrust’s Superman as much for the latter’s power as his arrogance and his lack of forethought and planning.

The creators take interesting chances with format. For example, the “Game Over” story arc turns comic book storytelling on its side. The pages are flipped up-down like a calendar horizontally instead of the usual side by side of the traditional vertical format.

Also, art for about half of the issues collected here are done in the traditional pen-and-ink, coloration style. A painterly style illustrates the other half.

“Batman-Superman” defies the old best-buddy set up of “World’s Finest.” A more dynamic and contentious duo star in this title.