On January 13th, Bleeding Cool ran a story, that the upcoming Batman #39 by Tom King, Joelle Jones and Jordie Bellaire was to be very reminiscent of Action Comics #761 from eighteen years ago by Joe Kelly, German Garcia, Joe Rubenstein and Glenn Whitmore. Someone appears to have pointed this out to Tom King as well.

Thread. (Minor spoilers ahead for Batman 39) This has been driving me crazy. So, yesterday @bullthesis pointed out that the plot to the upcoming Batman 39 resembled Action Comics 761 by Kelly and Garcia, an issue I'd never read…until today. Just now. And @bulthesis is right. — Tom King (@TomKingTK) January 14, 2018

So you know, my story originated from a combination of L. Simonson's Magik's timeless demon realm, W. Simonson's Thor 362, and Death takes a Holiday–I knew it wasn't the most Morrisonly original idea, but it seemed like a good frame work for some emotional beats I'd planned. — Tom King (@TomKingTK) January 14, 2018

Don't know if this helps, but I'm paranoid about this crap, so here's me downloading the issue today. pic.twitter.com/14ljNKvEaj — Tom King (@TomKingTK) January 14, 2018

No comp ComiXology account, Tom? For shame. Also DC Comics is well overdue a DC Comics Unlimited service. So, anyway, in Action Comics #761 you got an unending battle against the hordes in another dimension descending on Valhalla, with Superman and Wonder Woman stepping in to help out.

And in Batman #39 you had an unending battle against the hordes in another dimension trying to make it into this reality, with Batman and Wonder Woman stepping in to help out. Superman is explicitly cut out because of relatively poor fighting ability.

And in both dimensions time passed slowly

Many years spent fighting without aging… at which time somethings start to slip. From Action Comics #761….

And from Batman #39.

Though Action Comics #761 goes even further… a thousand years before something comes close…

And in Batman #39… it only took about ten…

Though Action Comics #761 had a done in one, no steenking cliffhangers there…

Can we expect plenty of commentary regarding The Temptation Of Adam By Eve. And people fed up of Wonder Woman being the apple. And regarding Tom King" interrupting his Batman and Catwoman love story, by using Wonder Woman as a way to create drama and tension, while establishing some suppressed romantic feelings between Bruce and Diana." As a message board poster on that previous story had it….

BATMAN #39

(W) Tom King (A) Joelle Jones (CA) Mikel Janin

SUPERFRIENDS" part three! Batman and Wonder Woman fight together in an epic battle that will define and then redefine their relationship. What bonds these two pillars of the DCU together? What tears them apart? Find out as Batman continues on his quest for the one thing he's never had, happiness.

RATED T In Shops: Jan 17, 2018

SRP: $2.99

ACTION COMICS #761 (W) Joe Kelly (A) German Garcia, Joe Rubinstein, Glenn Whitmore "For a Thousand Years…" Wonder Woman guest-stars in a thrilling issue! Although the truth about the so-called "Mrs. Superman" has been revealed, the public still wonders about the Man of Steel's relationship with Wonder Woman. So what happens when both heroes find themselves exiled in the land of Valhalla for a thousand years? Will they give in to romantic temptation? Or will a multitude of demons kill them first?