There are a lot of comics out there, but some just stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week, we look at the recently retitled series “New Super-Man and the Justice League of China” which is masterfully helmed by former Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yang.
Who Is This By?
Despite a shifting lineup of visual artists, writer Gene Luen Yang has penned all but one installment of the first twenty-two issues. Clearly, it’s his brainchild and his vision. Thankfully, there’s no one better to helm this bold, transformative reimagining of some of DC’s most iconic characters. With credits that include everything from autobiography (“American Born Chinese”) to historical fiction (“Boxers & Saints”) to wildly popular all-ages series (“Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Secret Coders”), Yang seamlessly combines elements of Chinese mythology, Asian history and current geopolitics with overarching themes, tropes and beats familiar to any DC fan, all with an irreverent, self-effacing twist. But it’s not just the script that excels. Visually, the book also feels fresh, with consistently stellar work by the likes of DC stalwart Richard Friend (“Batman: The Dark Knight,” “Mera: Queen of Atlantis”), Malaysian born Billy Tan (“Uncanny X-Men”), Brent Peeples (“Legenderry: Green Hornet”), and Viktor Bogdanovich (“Batman: Arkham Knight”).
What’s It All About?
On one hand, the logline could simply read, “Legendary graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang reimagines the DC Universe in China.” That’s not an inaccurate statement, but it’s also incomplete. At the heart of it all is a surprisingly tender, often funny, always witty, action-packed story about a group of misfit teenagers who become world famous superheroes, eventually on par with their even more famous Western counterparts.
At the center of it all is Kong Keenan, who begins the series as an obnoxious, egotistical bully who loves nothing more than picking on others, especially his pudgy pal Baixi, the Chinese Bat-Man. Meanwhile, the admittedly nerdy, mechanical genius Baixi is constantly crushing on Deilan, the Chinese Wonder Woman. Unlike the other two, who seem to constantly bicker and squabble in a perpetual game of teen one-upmanship, Deilan rises above the fray, becoming the group’s de facto leader and calm, clear center.
The series’ first 18 issues are relatively self-contained, providing a collective origin story for The Justice League of China, which eventually also includes a Chinese version of Flash, Avery Ho. Originally, issue #18 was intended to be the series finale and for the most part it reads that way. Due to the book’s unexpected popularity, however, DC decided to extend the run indefinitely, officially rebranding the series at issue #20 as “New Super-Man and the Justice League of China.” To be honest, the book has always been an ensemble piece, but now it’s gone all-in, adding a version of Aqua Man to the mix who hails from North Korea. At this point, the list of analogs seems endless as Yang continues to mine the DCU for great ideas while managing to avoid cheap gimmicks and hurried knockoffs.
What Makes It So Great?
Since the very beginning, this series has excelled at giving fans multiple entry points. If you’re a fan of the DCU and the Justice League, here’s a great way to view those characters through an entirely different lens. If you like your superheroes with a bit of magic and mysticism thrown in, there are some decidedly non-Western mechanics at play, including meditative journeys to the spiritual realm where the traditional forces of good and evil are not always quite so clear cut.
Interestingly, while the overarching narrative is definitely serialized, any given issues feels remarkably self-contained. Somehow, without being redundant and constantly recapping previous issues, Yang masterfully throws the reader right into the action while doling out bits and pieces of crucial backstory. Doubtlessly, that accessibility stems from Yang’s brilliantly conceived, fully realized characters who we are able to watch grow and change right before our eyes. They are flawed, they are imperfect and they are utterly compelling. Granted, it adds a layer interest that they are all iterations of massively well known characters, but they’re also much more than that, with rich inner lives of their own.
Continued belowFinally, as noted above, despite the handiwork of multiple visual artists, the overall look and feel of the series is surprisingly consistent—in a good way. Great character designs, expert paneling, vibrant colors and rich details suffuse every issue, imbuing the book with a look that’s readily identifiable, but never staid or boring.
How Can You Read It?
There are two trade paperbacks so far, “New Super-Man Vol. 1: Made In China,” which collects the first six issues and “New Super-Man Vol. 2: Coming to America,” which collects issues 7-12. The third trade paperback, entitled “New Super-Man Vol. 3: Equilibrium,” will arrive on June 19 to complete the original run by collecting issues 13-18. Meanwhile, “New Super-Man and the Justice League of China” #21, which is the second issue of the newly retitled series, hits local comic shops today. At some point, you’ll definitely want to go back and read the first 18 issues, but it’s a great time to jump on board right now. Trust me, you’ll get up to speed with ease and with the mounting intrigue of Aqua Man’s arrival and an impending love triangle in the works, you won’t want to miss out.
