Kate's Review: "New Super-Man (Vol.2): Coming to America"
Book: "New Super-Man (Vol.2): Coming to America" by Gene Luen Yang, Viktor Bogdanovic (Ill.)
Publishing Info: DC Comics, October 2017
Where Did I Get This Book: The library!
Book Description: The #1 New York Times best-selling author and National Book Award nominee Gene Luen Yang continues his first original series at DC with NEW SUPER-MAN VOL. 2! To uncover the truth behind his mother's murder, the New Super-Man must reawaken his full power under the tutelage of the mysterious I-Ching! But as training begins, Kong Kenan's ego isn't the only thing taking a beating! Plus, a shocking and deadly betrayal lurks in the shadows of the school that trained the New Bat-Man of China! Award-winning writer Gene Luen Yang (AMERICAN BORN CHINESE, SUPERMAN) and on-the-rise art star Viktor Bogdanovic (BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT) continue their celebrated run on the hit new series NEW SUPER-MAN. Collects issues #7-12.
Review: It's been awhile, but we're diving back into graphic novels. I neglected to check back in on the "New Super-Man" stories by Gene Luen Yang for a long time, and by the time I did there were two volumes out, much to my excitement (and guilt that I'd waited so long). I know that while I am a DC Fan Girl I tend to come down on them when it comes to their Rebirth on going series, but "New Super-Man" is one that I've greatly enjoyed with little to no complaints. I chalk that up to Gene Luen Yang being excellent, but also to DC being willing to give him the room and trust to tell the story he wants to tell in the way he wants to tell it. When we last saw our flawed but intrepid hero Kong Kenan, China's answer to Superman in the Justice League of China, has lost his father, and wants to know who killed his parents (as he was told his mother died in a plane crash years before). I was definitely anxious to see where Yang was going to take his characters, as not only are we following Kenan, but also Wang Baixi (Bat-Man), and Peng Delian (Wonder-Woman), both of whom I had grown QUITE fond of.
I don't know what took me so damn long to get back to this series, because the moment I picked up "New Super-Man (Vol.2): Coming to America" I was yanked right back into this creative and deeply engrossing world that Yang has created. Kenan remains incredibly flawed, which is a really intriguing counterpart to the original Superman, as Clark is basically a boy scout. Now he's driven by grief and the need to find out who has destroyed his family, and his impulsiveness is more understandable, but also amped up. What I think is MOST interesting about Kenan as a protagonist is that he isn't terribly likable, but you root for him anyway, and you get to see him evolve into a better person. In this series he has to tamper down his impulsiveness and start to train to try and tap into all of his powers, and his impatience is in direct conflict with that training. It's going to be quite the journey for him. Especially since he's going to learn some disturbing and hard truths about what ACTUALLY happened to his mother, and then later his father. We ended on a HUGE cliffhanger in this regard, and it will be VERY interesting to see where this is going to go from here.
We also get to see some new information about Baixi and how he became Bat-Man. Turns out, he was part of an extensive training program, as he was picked the best choice from a number of candidates who were also training. Going back to that group proves to be a bit more confrontational that Baixi anticipated. I really enjoyed learning more about his home life, especially about his relationship with his little sister Jiali, who serves as a foil that I am REALLY hoping we see more of. But it's Delian's story that reiterates the uniqueness of this series. A fair amount of Delian's background, like Diana's, is based in folklore and mythology (though this time Chinese as opposed to Greek). I don't really want to spoil it, but what I will say is that it takes influence from the Legend of the White Snake. The parallels of origins for Delian to her counterpart was a really neat surprise, given that Kenan and Baixi have very different origins to theirs, and it made her feel all the more special as a character. Using this myth is just one of the ways that Yang brings forth and showcases the Chinese culture, bringing a voice and representation to readers who have grown up within it. At the same time he makes this culture and experience accessible and relatable to those who have not grown up within it, and does it by blending it in with a somewhat familiar superhero story. That is why to me "New Super-Man" is one of the most important titles that DC has going on right now, because lord knows comics need more representation.
On top of the original content, in this collection The Justice League of China finds itself intermingling with familiar faces and places. That's right, mega businessman and always shady Lex Luthor has entered into the picture, cozying up to The Justice League of China and taking advantage of Kenan's vulnerable emotional state. God that Lex is such a bastard but I'm always SO happy to see him. And not only that. We go to Metropolis, which means we get a cameo from Superman himself!!! Seeing Clark and Kenan interact was such a joy, as Kenan is a total fan boy and Clark is ever so kind and patient.
(Source: DC Comics)
"New Super-Man: Coming to America" keeps this unique and compelling series on a steady and satisfying path, and if you haven't already checked it out I implore you to do so. Gene Luen Yang is a treasure and this series needs to be spared from hasty decisions that DC tends to make with the titles that I find most important.
Rating 8: This series continues to combine similar themes from Superman with a new take on the superhero.
Reader's Advisory:
"New Super-Man (Vol. 2): Coming to America" is not on any Goodreads lists (FOR SHAME), but I think that it would fit in on "Asian Fantasy and Science Fiction", and "Comic Creators of Color".
Find "New Super-Man (Vol.2): Coming to America" at your library using WorldCat!
Previously Reviewed: "New Super-Man (Vol.1): Made in China"
Author thelibraryladiesmnPosted on November 15, 2018 October 25, 2018 Categories Kate's ReviewsTags 8 Rating, graphic novels
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