Enemies & Allies: A Novel

Set in the 1950's, Superman meets Batman. Initially Batman doesn't believe Superman is an alien and questions his motives, while Superman thinks Batman is a lawless vigilante. Eventually they come to trust each other and team up to defeat Lex Luthor. Pretty true to the comics of the era. Many reviewers have said it's more of a "young adult" style book. Yes, the good guys are simply good and the bad guys are bad, though Luthor is more driven by ego than evil or emotion. I would more compare it to the style of E. E. "Doc" Smith and his Skylark of Space or Gray Lensman novels. Simple, straightforward characters and plot, but enjoyable action yarns nonetheless. And Anderson seems to remember something that's missing from the "Man of Steel" and "B v S" movies- Superman is supposed to be a sunny, optimistic, hopeful character, which is almost completely missing in the movies. Sure, he's naive. That's why other heroes and villains frequently refer to him as the "big, blue boy scout". That quality shows in this book, and that's one of the reasons I enjoyed it even though it was somewhat simple and predictable.

While not as ambitious and sure-footed as his novel about Superman's home planet, "The Last Days of Krypton", Kevin Anderson's "Enemies & Allies" is a fun little read about Superman and Batman taking on Lex Luthor in the 1950's. And "fun" is the key word here: encompassing the arms race, the flying saucer craze, a giant Kryptonite meteor, evil Soviet generals, mutant monsters, a megalomanical plan for world domination, and a host of other real-world and fantastical elements, the book's aim is to emulate classic comic-book story telling at its best. And it largely succeeds.While "Enemies & Allies" might have been a bit more fun if Superman and Batman had established their famous alliance much earlier in the book, I recognize that this is basically Kevin Anderson's take on the origin of that fabled team. So he needed to show all the steps: how these very different personalities initially distrusted one another; then reluctantly worked together on an occasion or two; and, finally, established mutual trust and cameraderie. So, even though I was five steps ahead of these characters and knew that they'd eventually become friends and allies, it was still fun to see the individual steps occur.Pop culture fans will also enjoy Mr. Anderson's little nods to previous Batman and Superman stories in other media. For instance, Superman's crystal-shard Fortress of Solitude is right out of the 1978 Richard Donner movie, and Batman actually uses the famous preparing-the-Batmobile spiel from the character's 1960's TV series: "Turbines to power! Atomic batteries to speed!" It's also kind of neat that Bruce Wayne enjoys Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, and uses many of Fleming's ideas in the gadgets he constructs.While maybe not the be-all-and-end-all Superman/Batman team-up novel, I can't imagine fans of these two characters' various TV, film, and comic book incarnations not having at least a pretty good time with this story. The relentlessly upbeat Superman and the eternally cynical Batman always make a fascinating team, and that's no exception here.

Anderson is very good at his job. Here, he takes two iconic DC characters, and rather than set them in the current time and climate, he sets them up at approximately the time period the new wave of super-heroes arrived on mewstands: the mid-50's. He's taken a few liberties with historical events and names, but that can be forgiven as the storyline is so good. It follows the main characters: Superman, Batman, and Lois Lane, as well as a couple of villains, Lex Luthor and a Russian general who's name is forgettable. My only regret with this book is that, because it takes place in an alternate timeline, there's going to be no sequel. Had there been one, If probably have given this 5 stars.

Ok. First off, a disclaimer. I've been a comic fan for as long as I've been able to read. I hate to admit it, but that's nearly 40 years. So I'll read, enjoy and forgive a lot when it comes to two of my favorite iconic heroes.So let me begin with a positive. I greatly enjoyed the atmosphere of the novel. In my opinion, the Cold War on the verge of the Space Race is a fantastic setting for a retelling of the first Superman-Batman meeting. The "Light" and "Dark" essences of the two principal characters play well not only against each other but also against the simultaneously optimistic futurism and doomsday fear that embodied the era. I thought Anderson captured this dichotomy quite well.I just wish he had done even the smallest amount of historical research to support it.Now I get it that no one reads comics or comics-related material for a history lesson but it bugs me when writers get basic stuff wrong. For example, Senator Joseph McCarthy had absolutely no authority or responsibility within HUAC. As a SENATOR he was ineligible to serve on a HOUSE committee. He was, in reality, chairman of the Senate Permanent Sub-Committee on Investigations. This I could probably forgive but for the fact that Sen. McCarthy died on May 2, 1957, a full 5 months before the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I into low -earth orbit and triggered the Space Race. His presence in the novel is not only an anachronism but just factually wrong.Now before you savage me for being a nit-picker, consider this. I get it that comics are not about what's real and authors have license to build their fictional worlds to suit their vision. I also get it that the novel portrays an alternate vision of reality. However, glaring errors with no explanation are a sign of bad research. For me, this one caused me to notice a number of other anachronisms that began to distract from the story.Now ... why is this a big deal? Well for a lot of readers it's probably not. But there is a segment of folks out there who tend to dismiss comics as frivolous, merely escapist fluff. I don't like it when a writer does something that plays into this bias. Bad research is a sign that one isn't taking the writing process all that seriously. And if the writer doesn't, why should the reader?Overall, the book was a good, quick read.

This is a great 'Batman - Superman' cross-over story. It's a well-written novel, by sci-fi author Kevin Anderson, who's turned his hand to the superhero genre. This book presents a depiction of the first meeting of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel - both of who are, initially, highly sceptical of each other. The plot takes place in the late 1950's - and draws on the events and circumstances of that time (i.e. the USA fearful of the threat of the USSR; as well as paranoid of the enemy in their midst, and of Sputnik orbiting overhead). The premise of the novel is that, back in 1938 (the year when 'Superman' first appeared in print), the infant Kal-El arrived in a spacecraft in Kansas ... And now, when the story is set, the Man of Steel has recently made his presence known to the world.What Anderson constructs is an original story - not based on any particular comic book. Yet he nonetheless draws on the lore offered by some 70 years of stories presented in such comics. The central villain is Lex Luthor, a multi-millionaire with desires to control America (if not the entire world). Luthor realises that, because of Superman, his criminal activities are threatened. And so Luthor devises an elaborate scheme ... he's aware of a strange meteorite that will neutralise Superman's powers (and that a large amount of this Kryptonite has been found in the USSR). So the Man of Steel must be lured to the Soviet Union ... and awaiting him are certain mutated humans, affected by the meteorite, who possess super-abilities. With the Man of Steel out the way, Luthor intends to fabricate an alien invasion (playing on the fears of outer space) - and, at the same time, defeat the supposed aliens thereby saving the world!In the midst of this tale, Batman is drawn into an investigation concerning Luthor ... the Dark Knight realises that Kryptonite may kill Superman. But, being unsure of Superman's intentions, Batman is dubious about helping. It's only after the two costumed heroes meet that Batman recognises Superman for what he really is: someone who's trying to help those in need. And so, when Superman is captured by Luthor, it's Batman that must use all of his detective skills and martial arts to rescue the Man of Steel. At which point, it's then up to Superman to save the world from Luthor.The story is detailed, and provides genuine character development. I found this 'meet-up' between the superheroes to be entertaining and insightful. That the plot takes place in the 1950's adds an interesting dimension to the adventure. Overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable read - and I recommend it to fans of both Batman and Superman.

Good book, in good condition

Love this book and author. A great novel if you enjoy Batman/Superman, or pieces set in a different time period.