As I remember growing up we relied on our parent and other relatives to show us what to do. This extended to our lives in school, as some of us may remember that one teacher who you connected to, and you thought knew everything about life. Eventually, as you leave school and away from the trappings of family and friends, the search for guidance becomes more difficult. For those of us in the military, we followed our superiors, but sometimes we meet someone, as I did, who guided us along and told you what things you must do to move on up the ladder. My relationship with that person extends to today, and I always liken to how Yoda thought Luke the ways of the force. That theme extends to comics, like DC Comics‘ New Super-Man. In the second volume of New Super-Man, Kong Kenna struggles with new found powers and the mystery of his mother’s death, as these issues will eventually collide.

We find Lex Luthor in Shanghai introducing the Justice League of China, as not only Kong struggles with the spotlight, so does the rest of the JLC. As Kong stills struggles with his powers, he seeks the help of Master I -Ching, a powerful master, who is at first, reluctant to help the young upstart. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman uncovers and thwarts a plot by the Alpaca, the Chinese Joker and the actual brother of the Chinese Batman.  As Lex Luthor usually has an ulterior motive, he brings the JLC to the USA, and brings Superman to face off against China White Triad a new supervillain team in Metropolis. Among all this, Superman arrives and tries to neutralize the skirmish between the two groups, as an army of demons is unleashed on the city, and the JLC and Superman are the only ones who can save it. Wonder Woman, also uncovers that someone whom everyone thought was dead, is still alive, but may not be themselves. As they come back to China, they face off against a Kaiju from the sea, while at the same time, fighting off against a powerful Man Of Steel clone, known as Superman Zero. By book’s end, one member of the JLC has an secret power and a person Kong trusted, turns to be a person he longer for.

Overall, this volume is a game changing new chapter to this already superior story. It feels like one which pushes boundaries, challenges tropes, and proves that we need more diversity. The story by Gene Luen Yang is exciting, complicated, and intelligent. The art by Billy Tan and Viktor Bogdanovic is gorgeous. Altogether, one of the best series that DC has ever put together.

Story: Gene Luen Yang Art: Billy Tan and Viktor Bogdanovic
Story: 10 Art: 9.6 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Buy