Daily Comics Digression #25: Batman vs Superman

Daily Comics Digression #25: Batman vs Superman

So the whole Batman fighting Superman idea is a long running one, but this version from Kyle Baker's Plastic Man (2004-2006). This comedic take on the classic rivalry between the two characters is so over-the-top that it still makes me laugh. I'm pretty sure that Baker is riffing on the bleak, ultraviolent tone that artists like Frank Miller utilized in The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001-2002):

Notice that Kyle Baker even has Batman using giant green gloves. Baker's parodying of Miller is a nice reminder that comics should not take themselves too seriously. I think this lesson has been lost in some of the recent films and should be remembered. That doesn't mean superheroes shouldn't be serious, but a balanced tone should be the goal.