GRAPHIC NOVELS

New Super-Man. Vol. 2: Coming to America

Billy Tan & others (illus.). DC. (Rebirth). Oct. 2017. 144p. ISBN 9781401273903. pap. $16.99. SUPERHERO
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This is the second volume in the "New Super-Man" titles featuring Kong Kenan, a young Chinese man who inherits powers of the original Superman. The arc opens with Kong possessing only invulnerability and strength. Attempting to regain his use of lost powers, Kong trains with mentor "I-Ching" and fights alongside the Justice League of China, including Baixi Wang, a Chinese Bat-Man; and Deilan, a Chinese Wonder-Woman. When Kong's parents are murdered, he seeks to uncover those responsible. Then Lex Luthor brings Kong to Metropolis and tricks him into opening a dimensional door and inadvertently releasing demons from hell. When Superman appears to vanquish the demons, he teaches Kong to use his superhearing and to aid those in need. A battle against a giant stone turtle concludes the work, with Super-Man Zero, a faulty prototype for Kong, flying to the rescue. Deilan is severely injured and a cliff-hanger sets up the next run of episodes. Yang's (American Born Chinese; Avatar) script is entertaining, and clean pencils from artists Tan (Dark Reign) and Viktor Bogdanovic (Batman: Arkham Knight) illuminate the narrative, although readers will benefit from reading Volume 1 first.
VERDICT Recommended for libraries building superhero collections.
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