Schultz offers up the most focused chapter of "Ending Battle" I've read so far, but that's not saying too much in what has been perhaps the most inaccessible Superman story to be told in years. I still have a lot of questions about the plot that have gone unanswered for weeks. Badeaux's fill-in art isn't as strong as his earlier contribution to the Superman line of titles either, as his work here is distorted to the point of distraction.
Before Superman can go after Manchester Black -- the mastermind behind the crises that he, his friends and Metropolis are currently undergoing, the Man of Steel must first contend with a quartet of his deadliest enemies: Mongul, Silver Banshee, the Master Jailer and a newly intelligent Bizarro. Meanwhile, Manchester Black has Lois Lane cornered, and as part of his revenge, he begins to toy with her mind and her memories.
Badeaux's work on this issue bears a striking resemblance to the styles of Bart (The First) Sears and Andy Smith, Sears's sometime inking partner. I really don't care much for the Sears style these days, and I don't like the influence on Badeaux's pencils. The characters, already larger than life, are exaggerated to the extreme, so much so that the alien appearance is off-putting.
Manchester Black's psychological torture of Lois was a shining light in what has otherwise been little more than an excuse for gratuitous fight scenes. Black's manipulation of Lois's insecurities and memories of resentment and fear made for some chilling storytelling. It's the first time that I got a real sense of menace from any of the villains in this story arc. Mind you, the cliffhanger doesn't offer that much suspense, given the unlikelihood of Lois's fate. It's about as suspenseful as Superman's death from 10 years ago.
I did enjoy the notion of an intelligent Bizarro. There's a lot of storytelling possibility in it, and I disappointed to see the idea set aside as quickly as it arose.
In the end, this issue is little more than an extensive fight scene between the title character and four villains. It's a well choreographed fight scene, mind you, but extensive fight scenes wore thin in this story arc a while ago. I look forward to the conclusion of "Ending Battle," just so the creators can get on with something more interesting.
