“You were gone for a spell, darling. Metropolis has a way of creating heroes when it needs to…”
Clark Kent is back at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is the new editor-in-chief. Lex Luthor has made Superman the heir to his empire and enemies. Now, as an even deadlier Parasite returns to Metropolis, a new friend (or foe?) also appears. The Man of Steel has his work cut out for him, and then some.
Picking up right where issue #1 left off, Parasite has overwhelmed Superman and drained most of his power. However Parasite isn’t growing with power, it’s multiplying. True to his name, Parasite has become an even bigger one than ever before, and brings with him panic and horror as he quickly overruns Metropolis.
Whereas the first issue showed us a bright new era for Superman, this issue plunges his world into total darkness. Left powerless and with few options–one of which is breaking Lex Luthor out of prison–this is a development that injects an effectively eerie tone into this bold new narrative.
There may be a light at the end of the tunnel, but Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell made it a pretty long tunnel.
Speaking of, every page under Campbell’s pen is a triumph. He draws Superman with a passionate dynamic style that ignites each panel with cinematic flair, not to mention Metropolis itself. When the Man of Tomorrow’s city is drawn with as much care as Big Blue himself, it’s enough to propel an artist into all-time best territory.
Several new characters are introduced–most notably the mysterious Marylin Moonlight–whose potentials sell the promise of this new era. Sadly, their introductions are played off rather fast, namely the new group of antagonists who are making a play for Metropolis in Luthor’s absence.
However, this isn’t to say I’m not left with a feeling of “who are they?” Also prominent in this issue is Mercy Graves, who is left to pick up Lex’s slack by protecting SuperCorp from her boss’ enemies, and Parasite isn’t making that any easier. With new powers received during Lazarus Planet, Mercy proves to be a force to be reckoned with in her most prominent role in ages, whose presence gives credibility to the new threat.
Superman #2 makes for a slightly weaker second chapter when compared to its opening issue, but only slightly. The dialogue, visuals, and scale combine to create a tale reminiscent of a memorable Superman: The Animated Series episode, one that is loaded to the brim with intrigue. It also raises the question: how desperate does the world’s greatest hero have to get before he turns to his worst enemy?
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