Review: New Super-Man #14

New Super-Man #14 came out last week and continued to story of the Justice League of China fighting the fascist rule of the evil Emperor Superman. Once again, writer Gene Luen Yang provides a very entertaining issue, moving the plot ahead, stuffing in an incredible amount of character development, throwing in a great throwdown, and ending on a cliffhanger. What more could you ask for?

And yes, this ultimate throwdown of three super-teams from China is a great action piece. But for me, no big surprise, it was the personal moments - specifically between Bat-man and Wonder Woman that made me the happiest. This is a book basically about kids becoming heroes. And there should be growth. Given the tenuous shelf life that most comics have these days, Yang isn't taking the long road on some of the subplots here. And kudos to him for that. For the readers enjoying this book, we deserve to see these moments.

The art is again done by Billy Tan and I just loved the polished look of the book. It somehow fits the tone here. Tan is able to bring the right feeling to both the action sequences and the quieter scenes. Yang and Tan together really click.

I wonder how much more I'll have this book to enjoy. Everyone should be reading this book. It is a ton of fun.

Review: New Super-Man #13

New Super-Man #13 came out last week and really began the job of tightening all the plot threads that have been moving through the book into one story. And it feels like we are getting close to a major conclusion. I finished this issue and was already ready for more. This issue really felt like that, a turn of the crank, adding tension.

As much as this book is a New Super-Man book with Kenan Kong as the axle that the stories revolve around, it could just as easily be called Justice League China. That is one of the things that has most impressed me with writer Gene Luen Yang's work on the book. We are dealing with a lot of Asian analogs to classic DC characters, but they have remained fresh and distinct from their namesakes. Between the role call of antagonists and protagonists, at times this has felt like the Legion of Chinese Super-Heroes. Yang keeps it all cohesive and moving forward and that is impressive.

And Billy Tan's smooth art on the book has been wonderful since he took over art chores. There is a smooth feeling to the proceedings, whether it is action or emotion. I hope he stays on the book for a while.

But what actually happened? On to the book!

Review: New Super-Man #12

New Super-Man #12 came out one week ago and was one of the best comics I read. The book as a whole has definitely been a happy surprise of the Rebirth world, a funny, dramatic, and fresh new group of characters in the DCU. And having the sheen of classic DCU heroes has made it a little bit easier to engage.

This issue really pushes the narrative forward. We learn the origin of Wonder Woman, tied to a Chinese folk tale. We learn of a running theme of the danger of  individuals trying to leap from one Buddhist realm to another. We get some more of the mystery villain. And we end on a great cliffhanger, ramping up the suspense in a running subplot. I really hope that we aren't sprinting to the finish line because a cancellation is on the horizon.

Honestly, this book has been a delight. Writer Gene Luen Yang walks a tightrope here. The New Super-Man is something of a conceited jerk who is slowly working towards being a selfless hero. We see enough of both sides to make Kenan feel like a real person, with faults and aspirations. There is a perfect mix of humor, drama, and action. It really is a well-rounded book with a classic feel.

The art here is by Billy Tan and the best word I can come up with is lovely. There is a sort of soft elegance to the book despite it being populated by giant terrapins and snake women. It really is gorgeous. I really liked Viktor Bogdanovic's time here but I think Tan's style just fits better.

On to the book.

Review: New Super-Man #11

New Super-Man #11 came out this week and was another entertaining issue from writer Gene Luen Yang. While there is the usual spotlight on the title character, there is a lot of world building in this book as well. Yang is really creating a whole DCU on the Eastern Hemisphere and it has an old time reader like me pretty engaged. It is like discovering the DCU all over again.

In particular, one of the characters I have been most curious about in this title has been this world’s Wonder Woman. We have heard some tiny crumbs of her origin prior to this. Here we learn a bit more about her background and one of her previous battles. Even her name is somewhat changed. And that all makes me interested in learning more.

But it was also good to see some of the spotlight still focusing on Kenan and his character. Despite the heroic nature he has been showing in the book recently, he is still has some of the smug, self-important teen we met in the earliest issues inside him. That idea that he is growing but hasn’t completely grown is wonderful. This is the classic teen hero on the journey. 

Viktor Bogdanovic has left the book, heading over to the Superman title. In his place is Billy Tan who brings a truly lovely, smooth, clean look to the book. It is different from Bogdanovic who looked pretty scratchy at times. I think Tan’s style might be a better fit for the book. Hope he sticks around.

On to the book.

Review: New Super-Man #8

New Super-Man #6 came out last week and was another introspective chapter for the main characters of the book. After the first arc concentrated on Kenan accepting his powers, wavering with his loyalty to family and country, and starting the hero's journey. This brief 2 part story has Kenan taking the next steps on his journey. But it also gives us some backstory on Baixi, the New Bat-Man. In particular, I enjoyed this part of the arc more. This humanized Baixi and gave him something of a tragic subplot. This adds dimension to his character.

Another thing that I am appreciating about this book is writer Gene Luen Yang updating Asian characters from DC's past. I am glad that Yang is looking at some of the clunkier portrayals of Asians in the past. So seeing I Ching as something more than a 'sensei' spouting fortune cookie wisdom is great. And the ending cliffhanger looks as though Yang isn't done. I wonder if we will see an updated and improved Wu 'Chop Chop' Cheng. He is due for a modern and more appropriate take.

The art on this issue is again by Billy Tan and a love the fine lined and polished look of his art. This isn't the scratchier and rougher look of usual artist Viktor Bogdanovic. This feels organic and flowing and that works well with Ching's lessons. I hope he becomes the go to pinch hitter for this book.

On to the issue!

Review: New Super-Man #7

Since its inception, I have been enjoying the New Super-Man book. This book is a sort of wonderful mix of political intrigue, teenage angst, humor, and action from writer Gene Luen Yang. Where was all of this in 'The Truth'? Last issue ended the first arc with the Chinese Freedom Fighters defeated and the new Justice League united in uncovering all the dirty secrets of Dr. Omen and the Ministry of Self-Reliance.

New Super-Man #7 starts a new arc and really kicks it off in a great way. Remember, we have been thrown into the lives of these characters. We have a very good understanding of the personality of the Bat-Man and this book's Wonder Woman. But we know nothing of their back story. We don't know all their motivations. And so with this next arc, it looks like Yang is going to flesh out this world.

It also looks like Yang is going to upgrade or modernize the character of I Ching, the guru from Denny O'Neil's runs on Superman and Wonder Woman in the 1970's. I really look forward to see where this plotline is heading.

The art on this issue is by Billy Tan and his take is a much smoother, polished take on this world than usual artist Viktor Bogdanovic. While I have enjoyed Bogdanovic's inkier, scratchier stuff, this issue really sparkles. I wouldn't mind seeing Tan on the book as an official fill-in now and then.

On to the book.

Review: Green Lantern/Red Lantern #28

The Red Daughter storyline for Supergirl began yesterday in the Green Lantern/Red Lantern #28 flip issue. I will admit that the concept of the flip issue was a fun one for me and I was glad to not have to buy two extra issues to follow Kara’s story.

I stopped buying Green Lantern when Geoff Johns left the book so this was a good way to let me peek in on the emotional spectrum and Hal. And I have bought the last few Red Lanterns in anticipation of Kara joining the book so I would have bought this issue anyways. But to see the two corps react the Supergirl wearing a red ring was very entertaining and revealing.

Robert Venditti writes the Green Lantern half of things; I enjoyed his brief run on Demon Knights so was curious to see him on the cosmic environment of this book. Gratefully, he wrote this issue in a way that someone like me, who hasn’t read GL in several months, could jump in and easily understand. It is clear that Hal is trying his best to run things in the absence of the Oans. Seeing old friends like Kanjar Ro being recruited was strange and intriguing. And  who knew there was a Star Sapphire named Rol-Anj. No relation, of course.

Billy Tan does the art on the GL pages and brings a slick, detailed feel that matches up nicely with the ordered ‘will power’ tone of the book. I especially liked his more idyllic pages on Mogo.

Charles Soule remains the writer on Red Lanterns. I have enjoyed this book much more than SM/WW. The Lanterns here seem like fun-loving but honorable people with nasty streaks, almost libertarian in their viewpoint. They aren’t vomiting, growling psychopaths. There is a streak of black humor throughout the book as well making it a more fun read than anticipated.

Alessandro Vitti does the art on Red Lanterns and is as perfectly suited for RL as Tan is for GL. There is a raw feel to the art, a bit more grungy and rough which works with the raging tone here.

The art on both halves of this book was beautiful.

I don’t think we can necessarily call this the beginning of the Red Daughter arc even if this is the first issue on the shelves.

I say that because we are dropped into the story with Kara already wearing the ring, zipping through space. Hopefully the ‘read Supergirl #28’ blurb at the bottom of the page will bring some new readers to her title.

Now this is a Green Lantern book and a Red Lantern book, not a Supergirl book, so I understand that the focus is going to be on those characters here. Indeed, Kara is mostly a plot point in this book. And since she is a freshly minted Red Lantern she is in the ‘vomiting, growling’ stage of development.

That said, Billy Tan draws her as if she were in agony, fighting the change that has happened to her. The furrowed brow, the unringed hand holding down the ringed hand, the screams. It looks as if this is a painful and not necessarily embraced change. 

It furthers the feeling that Kara is in turmoil, angry yes … but more. Maybe she wants to move past this rage rather than have it fuel her.

How did Supergirl get the ring? Why is she flying crazily in space? I hope the rational part of her is trying to get herself away from populated areas since she is so out of control. Supergirl ends up running into a couple of Green Lanterns and briefly battles with them before passing out, presumably from exhaustion after using her heat vision.

Is it just heat vision? Or is it ‘rage vision’? Who knows how Kryptonian physiology can manipulate a ring’s energy. Maybe Kara will have more than the standard array of ring-slinging capabilities.

But even this panel where she is fallen unconscious is fascinating. She looks completely spent. Is it the vision? Or is it that she is fighting two fronts, an internal battle of wills as she fights the ring and the external battle with the GLs.

Here is the one thing that does irk me a bit … not about the writing or art but about the New 52 universe in general and how they have treated Supergirl as a character.

Hal doesn’t know who Supergirl is … at all. He has to scan her to discover she is a Kryptonian. And even then he doesn’t know who she is as an individual.

And this is the problem of Supergirl in the new 52. She is completely isolated. So isolated that the members of the Justice League don’t know who she is. How can a character this removed from the greater universe thrive?

Even if you assume Supergirl has only been on Earth for a couple of months …

Wouldn’t, in passing, Superman have mentioned his cousin to Hal at some point?

Wouldn’t Hal have heard about a force field covering New York when Supergirl fought the World Killers?

Wouldn’t he have seen news clips of her in the S-shield costume when H’El on Earth was unfolding?

At least we know Flash and Wonder Woman know her … unfortunately it is because they fought her.

Heck, Jeph Loeb knew enough to have Supergirl introduced to the DCU by Superman by the end of her first appearance!

Unconscious, Supergirl is brought to Mogo, new HQ of the GLC. There, she awakens, shatters the green energy cage she is in, and needs to be rerestrained but it takes many Lanterns shackling her with green constructs to subdue her.

While some of the Lanterns want to remove the red ring from Kara's hand, killing her, Hal feels more noble. I was glad to see that his first thought is to 'cure' her of the red energy rather than simply kill or imprison her.

Unfortunately, Blue Lantern Saint Walker isn't using his ring anymore (something about the rings draining the universe) so he can't/won't cure Kara.

Nice sentiment by Hal.

And as I said, the art in this jungle really sparkle.

And more good stuff from Hal.

He thinks of Superman as a friend and an honorable man. And he pleads with Kara to fight the insanity that comes with the red energy. This is different than the bickering Hal in JL who complains that Superman always floats above everyone and spies on them. I like this Hal much more.

And look at Supergirl in this panel. While she seemed in pain before, here she looks forlorn. Part of that might be that she is shackled and gagged. But I wonder if she is sad about this predicament, from accepting the ring. Maybe there is a part of her aware and fighting the rage.

Flipping over to the Red Lantern side of the book, Hal decides the best thing to do with Kara is bring her to Ysmault.

There are a number of reasons to head there. If this is a new ring, Hal needs to know if the Red Corps is growing (there are only a few red rings left). Second, Hal wants to check in on Guy.

But he also wants to bring Kara there.

I love how the take on Superman is different between Guy and Hal. Hal describes Superman as good and honorable, a friend. Guy's first response is almost fear. If Superman gets mad about this Kryptonian 'we're all done'. It is as if Guy anticipates Superman will attack ... and defeat ... both Corps.

Incredible!

Like in the Green Lantern side of things, Kara overwhelms the constructed prison and it takes two corps to hold her down and dunk her in the lake.

So Supergirl really is a snarling animal for parts of this book. I like to think that struggle we saw earlier is present but the rage can be overwhelming.

Anyways, it at least shows just how tough a ring-wearing Kryptonian would be.

One dunk in the lake later and Kara is awake and coherent.

What I take from this panel.

One, she introduces herself as Kara Zor-El. She really doesn't consider herself Supergirl.

Second, I like how she asks 'Please, what's happened to me?' Clearly the ramifications of taking the ring were not explained to her. She might not have accepted if she knew. And she doesn't come out snarling with red eyes. She's almost pleading ... please, what happened.

Although she really is out of control for the most part of this issue, small flourishes like this and the expressive work by Tan make me think there is more to her story than simply embracing rage.

We'll have to see if this internal struggle is part of her narrative.

And if Guy was worried about Superman and his thoughts about any Kryptonian, he has to be much more concerned about what Superman would think of his family becoming a Red Lantern. I guess we'll find out next month.

I think my thoughts about this Red Lantern Supergirl arc are pretty well known. I don’t think it should happen. It would have been better if it didn’t need to happen. The concept of the isolated angry Supergirl doesn’t work.

Now if Tony Bedard and Charles Soule are using this story as a turning point, a way to have her recognize her rage and move beyond it, then I guess it is okay. It is like burning away a tumor. The treatment hurts but it is still a cure.

All those feelings stated, I actually liked this issue.

It is clear that Supergirl isn’t maniacally giggling at her new power, or thriving with it. And even her two lines evoke a person wondering what is happening with her life.

And the personalities of Haland Guy seemed spot on for this sort of encounter.

Plus the art is just spectacular. Hoping now I run into Vitti at some convention.

So if I had to have an opening chapter to Red Daughter (a storyline I don't want to see), this one was as good a start as I could anticipate.

Overall grade: B+

The Future Is Now Artwork

 The future seems to be now as images of the new Red Lantern Supergirl are starting to be posted.

The first one I saw was on Twitter when artist Yildiray Cinar posted this character study of the newest Red Lantern. I might not be too sure about the direction of the book but I have always known the art would be fantastic. There is a raw power feeling to this picture that I like.

And then Cinar also posted this, character studies of Siobhan. I am glad that Siobhan is sticking around as a supporting cast member. I hope she doesn't immediately go the way of the villain. I know there is a cover out of Supergirl and Silver Banshee battling. Hopefully Siobhan is holding the demons at bay.

Really lovely stuff here.

Cinar is unfortunately only on the book through Supergirl #29. Too bad. He is a wonderful fit for the character.

So let the guessing games begin for who the next artist should be.

More interesting are the pages from Green/Red Lantern #28 posted over on the DC website. Here is the link: http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2014/01/10/talking-green-lanternred-lanterns-28-with-robert-venditti-and-charles-soule  This art looks to be the work of Billy Tan.

I think this is probably just as Kara puts the ring on, maybe not being aware of what it does to it's wearer.

Here she is holding the wrist of the ringed hand as if it is a separate part of her, as if she is fighting it and what it is trying to do to her. And she doesn't necessarily look pleased here.

And I don't think she is attacking this guy here.

I am going to bet that this is her asking this poor Green Lantern to help her. I bet the energy is just eating her up here.

And here, my guess is she doesn't realize her own strength and has knocked the Lantern out.

His friend probably assumes she is attacking so decides to toss some asteroids at her which she will vaporize.

If I am right, I am glad that Kara doesn't immediately embrace the ring. Of course, we know in the end she gives in.

We are a month and a half away from finally seeing how this thing really plays out.

Billy Tan Supergirl Commission

Here is the latest commission in my collection, drawn by Billy Tan at the Boston Comic Book Spectacular last Sunday.

Tan is best known for his work on Uncanny X-Men and now New Avengers. He said that he struggled with this Kara commission because he is not used to drawing DC characters. His manager was there and said Tan erased the page 5 or 6 times while drawing because he was having a hard time getting things just right.

I think it came out great. There is a cute strength in this commission with Kara looking out of the corner of her eyes, hand in a fist on her hip. This is a nice addition to my growing collection.