Review: DC
Universe Rebirth: New Superman #2, “Made in China, Part Two”
Submitted: Joshua Williams, Comic News Writer
12 August 16
Submitted: Joshua Williams, Comic News Writer
12 August 16
DC Comics should be applauded for the risk that is New Superman #2. Our new Chinese Super-Man comes into his own
just as he begins to leave the lab in which he was created. This unusual Rebirth issue gives life to the
hunger for western culture in China. The
satiric notion, how the Justice League of China is coming together, is a soft
way to help readers become accustomed to the ‘oddness’ of our new Chinese
Super-Man, Kenan Kong.
“New Super-Man #2, Made in China, Part Two,” written by Gene Luen Yang with art by
Richard Friend and Viktor Bogdanovic, begins with our new Super-Man (Kenan
Kong) experiencing the “craziest day of his life.” The new Super-Man must combat the New Justice
League of China. Since Kong has been imbued
with the powers of Superman, he hasn’t been shy about using them, however irresponsibly. The new Bat-Man and new Wonder-Woman of China quickly subdue Kong’s new powers in an effort to
teach him a lesson, just as our villain, Sunbeam, attacks.
As Yang is beginning to introduce the world to his new
and ambitious endeavor, readers understand quickly that Kong has a very long
way to go before transforming into the highly beloved Clark Kent of
America. Kong did not earn his powers
nor was he born with them. Our new
Super-Man is rude, arrogant, disrespectful to his superiors and peers,
impatient, and irritating. Lang uses
Kong’s personality to remind readers that the new Super- Man is an upstart and
hopefully will mature as he gains more access to his new powers.
New
Super-Man #2 expresses a bit of background on Kenan
Kong. Readers learn that Kong’s mother
has passed away and that is father is rarely around. Yang frequently uses short conversations
between Kong and his father to show their staggered relationship. ‘Studying late,’ seems to be a good enough
excuse to keep his father content on his son’s complicated teenage life. It turns out that Kong’s father has been
preoccupied with investigating the agency responsible for giving Kong his new
Superman-like powers. I expect the story
arc to expand on this investigation, and to deliver a bit more on Kong’s
parents.
THE
VERDICT: Comic book fans world-wide can appreciate
the risks DC is willing to take with the creation of New Super-Man. The new DC
Rebirth Universe continuously lives up to the idea that anything can happen in
this new universe. Additionally, Kong’s
personality traits, along with his family history, does help create some
redeemable qualities and expectations in our new Super-Man. Kong does have some redemption as he deals
with excruciating pain to help his teammates.
It is a tough couple of days for our new Super-Man. I am very excited to see where this comic
goes, how Kong matures, and New
Super-Man’s reception in China.
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