Review: New Super-Man #16-18

DC Comics
Review: New Super-Man #16-18
By Philip Schweier
May 10, 2018 - 15:23

DC Comics
Writer(s): Gene Luen Yang
Penciller(s): Brent Peeples, Joe Lalich
Inker(s): Richard Friend, Scott Hanna
Colourist(s): Hi-Fi
Letterer(s): Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist(s): Philip Tan, Rain Beredo; Bernard Chang; Billy Tan Haining, Gadson

he’s called New Super-Man for a reason – he’s very young and inexperienced, still learning how to master his super-powers. In the course of the story, he refers to having been endowed with Superman’s abilities, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he got them from Superman. In fact, they seem more mystical in nature, as he taps into them through his qi (which may have been George Lucas’ inspiration for the Force).

As I said, young and inexperienced, and when New Super-Man clashes with the JLA, there’s an sense of awe that reminds me a great deal of Peter Parker. And he is accompanied by his own version of the Justice League – Chinese versions of Batman, Wonder Woman and the Flash. As a team, they are in search of the Red Jade Dragon, an ancient Chinese relic from the Qin Dynasty. New Super-Man has been led to believe this artifact will enable him to unlock all his powers.

But it was the evil All-Yang who told him this, so it’s up to the JLA to educate him on taking what bad guys say with a grain of salt. And it certainly doesn’t help that said Red Jade Dragon is in the possession of one of the DCU’s archest villains.

All this builds up to a battle between the two Justice Leagues, followed by a team-up, followed by a greater commitment of the Justice League of China.

The artwork seems a little uneven, but in issue #16, there were some major throwbacks to the comics of the Golden Age, which I appreciated. I am uncertain who the lead artist is on the series, but I have time to explore that and form a clearer opinion on the artwork.

I think it appropriate that DC turning the book over to legitimate creators of Asian heritage. If this variant Superman is an effort by DC to add diversity to its comic book offerings, but I am uncertain this is the best means. A Chinese super-team, sure, but creating another Superman – and Chinese variants of the DC A-listers – seems redundant to me.

But it has my curiosity piqued, and I’ll continue reading for a while.

Rating: 6/10