Cover Art for Superman/Batman Apocalypse DVD - Gary MiereanuHeroes on TV and in movies often have a buddy to share his/her adventures, joys, and hardships, to banter with, to watch the hero’s back, and to take the hero to task if he/she goes astray. Sharing in that friendship humanizes the hero for the audience and allows the audience to care and bond with the hero in a way one doesn’t get out of saving strangers. This, however, is intrinsically a problem with superheroes, as by definition, they are larger than life heroes, using extraordinary powers to take on extraordinary dangers that their human friends and colleagues cannot. Hence, they become solitary crusaders.
Nevertheless, the DC Universe is populated by more than one superhero. In the latest DC Universe animated original PG-13 movie DVD release, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, Superman and Batman pair up to save Superman’s cousin Kara from the evil Darkseid. From the moment Superman tells Batman that Kara may be his only living blood relative, and Batman says it is not ‘you’ going after the abducted young woman but ‘we’, the animated movie becomes more than just a series of gripping fights and daring feats. It becomes personal to the audience who is buying into the rescue of someone Superman cares deeply about and Batman cares about because of his friend. What ensues is not only an exciting adventure, but a glimpse into the rare friendship between two superheroes and the fun of superhero bantering. In my earlier article about the release of this DVD, Private Practice’s Tim Daly (the voice of Superman) and China Beach’s Kevin Conroy (the voice of Batman) give their takes on their characters’ friendship.
