Here's the DC solicit:
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SUPERMAN/BATMAN
The fantastic tale "With a Vengeance" continues in SUPERMAN/ BATMAN, written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines. In October's issue 24, the fate of the universe hangs in the balance unless Batwoman and Superwoman can save the day — with the help of Superlad!
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Okay, let's see what we can make out of this...
Superman/Batman has seen a flood of "retro" elements and one-shot "tributes", such as a Composite Superman robot, Lex Luthor reverting to his "crazed scientist in a warsuit" incarnation, a new Supergirl, multi-colored kryptonite, etc. There has also been a recent alternate timeline story where we had glimpses of Kamandi, the Adult Legion of Super-Heroes (and their upside-down rocket clubhouse), the Legion of Super-Villians, Jordan Elliot from "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" and so on. In short, Superman/Batman has been a mess. :wink:
"Batwoman" -- long associated with Kathy Kane, though not in current DC continuity.
"Superwoman" -- though used by the Earth-3 villainess (and her current counterpart in the Crime Syndicate of Amerika), this was also the identity of the Pre-Crisis Kristin Wells. Also, Kara Zor-El often voiced the expectation that she would someday don the "Superwoman" identity.
"Superlad" -- In Supergirl #10 (Sept/Oct 1974) Dr. Forte creates a MALE clone of Supergirl (but where did he get that Y chromosome?), which becomes a criminal Superlad. Yet another horrible story that blighted this series. Now you wonder why Supergirl was cancelled immediately afterwards? :wink:
Back in Superman #349 (July 1980), Mr. Mxyztplk once created a "reverse-gender" world -- "The Turnabout Trap!" See
http://www.tgfa.org/comics/superman/images/Superman_349_Cover.jpg for the cover. Judging from the costumes depicted on Superman/Batman #24 (Batwoman not in tradtional gold costume but in a Batsuit, Superwoman in traditional "red and blues" with black hair, Superlad in gold-edged cape and blond hair), it appears that this is a similar scenario. This doesn't mean that Bruce, Clark and Kara necessarilly undergo a change -- it could be an alternate world or timeline.
Scary how Superwoman's face reminds me of Cir-El... :wink: