# Identify this comic book? (Ersatz Batman And Superman?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536 "2017-05-27T13:49:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/1 "2017-05-27T13:49:19Z")
Saw a comic book a while back – I want to say it was a one-shot by someone other than DC or Marvel, but I can’t be sure – where the obvious gag is that knockoffs of Superman and Batman wind up in, as it were, the real world. Exposition establishes that the portal between worlds is now closed for good, and the Superman stand-in _promptly declares for villainy_: the idea being that, sure, he was a first-among-equals nice guy when other supers were around; and, hey, where kryptonite exists, it’s great that the governments of the world only ever see a reassuring hero who unfailingly cooperates with the local police. But, here, there’s no one who can kill him; here, there’s no reason _not_ to declare himself a tyrant god. IIRC, the Batman stand-in had an “American Revolution” theme going on – you know, a dark version of how you’d picture Paul Revere’s midnight ride outfit? Complete with the tricorn hat? (And, IIRC, instead of an ‘avenging his incredibly rich parents’ schtick, his angle is a ‘carrying on a family legacy’ backstory that dates back to the days of colonial minutemen in general, and maybe to Ben Franklin in particular?) Does this ring a bell for anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/2 "2017-05-27T16:19:20Z")
Don’t know it…but I’m interested, and I want a copy! I could see an ironic treatment where a superman is forced into villainy, because there simply isn’t any way to use his powers within the framework of our laws. Just to start with, every time he caused collateral damage by using his powers, he’d get sued…and too many suits can turn into criminal liability. Or he’d get sued every time he didn’t save someone when he clearly could have. Or he’d break some noise-abatement ordnance by flying to the rescue. In time, he’d be regulated to death…or go full-on vigilante and ignore the laws altogether. (The 12 issue Squadron Supreme limited series explored some of these ideas.) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/3 "2017-05-27T16:21:55Z")
Are you sure this isn’t a muddled memory of _The Dark Knight Returns?_ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/4 "2017-05-27T17:02:19Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Are you sure this isn’t a muddled memory of _The Dark Knight Returns?_ It doesn’t seem like it matches _anything_ in _DKR_ to me. Is there anything on [TV Tropes page](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FaceHeelTurn/ComicBooks) on Face-Heel Turns in comic books that sounds close? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/5 "2017-05-27T18:37:01Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Saw a comic book a while back Okay, let’s start here: could you define “a while back”? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/6 "2017-05-27T19:00:29Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Okay, let’s start here: could you define “a while back”? Not really, no; I’m pretty sure it was within the last ten years, but I’m a little hazy on that and so didn’t want it to maybe lead the speculation astray. At that, I’m _also_ pretty sure it ended with the Batman knockoff killing the Superman knockoff in a taking-you-down-with-me sacrifice; but I’m a little hazy on _that,_ too, and so wanted to stick to what I was surest of. (But, FWIW, I think he had a plot-device glove, or gauntlet – may have been magic, may have been high-tech? Could’ve been what the story’s Wonder Woman knockoff used, in lieu of bracelet parries? Or may have been another part of the family legacy I’d mentioned? – that could work terrific ‘desolidification’ effects: in this case, insubstantially reaching into a super’s chest, and then ‘solidity’ for an expectedly murder-suicide result. But, again, I’m not _nearly_ as clear on that as on the rest.) ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/7 "2017-05-27T19:41:58Z")
The Batman knockoff sounds kinda like [Fighting Yank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_Yank). Maybe it’s from [Tom Strong #11-12](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/tom-strong-12-terror-on-terra-obscura/4000-69337/) (2001)? Or maybe [Project Superpowers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Superpowers) (2008)? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/8 "2017-05-27T19:50:54Z")
Just chiming in to say I remember this as well. Pretty sure it’s not any of the suggestions so far. I remember that they were on a super team that also included a hulk type that was the result of two other team members being fused together in a telepoter accident, and the daughter of one of the fused guys. The batman type killed the super man knockoff by using a alien gauntlet to phase his hand into the other guy’s chest. He is promptly incinerated, leaving superguy to die slowly with an arm sticking out of him. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/9 "2017-05-27T20:19:56Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It doesn’t seem like it matches _anything_ in _DKR_ to me. The OP’s recollection is vague enough that it could match the battle between Supes and Bats, conflated with other comix/GNs of the era. Probably not, but I thought it was worth running up the bat pole. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/10 "2017-05-28T01:13:34Z")
This is Larry Young and Brandon McKinney’s _Planet of the Capes_. [Here’s](http://www.spectacularry.com/planet-of-the-capes/) the description from the publisher/Larry Young’s website. [Here’s](http://www.7415comics.com/?day=20041109&id=planet-of-the-capes) a less-than-sterling review. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/11 "2017-05-28T01:24:59Z")
I’ve seen an ersatz Batman before as in how-did-they-not-get-sued. But nothing like the story you’re describing, and no Superman either. Basically, same colors in the costume but no bat emblem or ears or “corrugated” cape. Tried finding pics but you can’t put Batman in a search engine and not be overwhelmed by actual Batman stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/12 "2017-05-28T01:37:02Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Basically, same colors in the costume but no bat emblem or ears or “corrugated” cape. Tried finding pics but you can’t put Batman in a search engine and not be overwhelmed by actual Batman stuff. That describes a whole assload of ersatz Batmen. Midnighter (though he comes with a Superman - his boyfriend, Apollo), the Fixer (uuugh, Holy Terror is terrible), Knight Watchman, Confessor, Black Fox… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/13 "2017-05-28T02:12:23Z")
> [@De\_La\_Rue](#): > > This is Larry Young and Brandon McKinney’s _Planet of the Capes_. [Here’s](http://www.spectacularry.com/planet-of-the-capes/) the description from the publisher/Larry Young’s website. [Here’s](http://www.7415comics.com/?day=20041109&id=planet-of-the-capes) a less-than-sterling review. That’s the one. Thanks much! ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/14 "2017-05-28T02:20:19Z")
“Knight Watchman” is the guy I was talking about. Thanks, Kamino Neko. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-comic-book-ersatz-batman-and-superman/787536/15 "2017-05-28T02:46:06Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > That’s the one. Thanks much! You’re welcome!