Naomi #2 Review

Dee Mother F-er, Dee!

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker
Artist: Jamal Campbell
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: February 20, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

If you ask anyone, they will tell you that I love almost any book with teen heroes in it.  It's a sweet spot for me and I think it's mainly because the younger characters make the writer focus on things that are a little more upbeat than say, heroes dying in a crisis.  Yea, they have their own set of problems, but I find them a lot more relatable as well.  So, I was looking forward to Naomi and while I was intrigued by the end of the issue, I just didn't think I got enough of Naomi and her friends for me to give it the highest of high marks.  Still, the Superman angle and the hope of some cool characters have me back for issue number two.  Do we get more of what I am looking for or another issue with rando Gilmore Girls speak?  Let's find out...


The issue opens with Naomi still trying to get info from Dee.  He isn't giving out much and as Naomi pressed harder, he gets angrier until he tosses her out of his shop.  It's a good reminder of the end of last issue, but doesn't do much overall.  That kind of continues throughout the issue.

We head home with Naomi and get to meet her adopted parents.  They seem nice, but the Bendis back-and-forth over dialogue is a bit of a bummer here.  I want some real character moments to introduce me to these characters and instead, I feel like I am stuck inside some warped version of Who's on First as the word balloons dominate the characters.  By the end of the scene, her parents seem really nice and we take Mr. Dee out of the Who's the Daddy equation, but again, there is not much else here. 

After an awesome page of Superman kicking butt, we get Naomi on the phone with Annabelle and we do find out that Dee was once in Iron Heights.  Then another awesome spread page that may be hinting at more than it seems to be.

Continuing, Naomi can't sleep so she makes like Christian Slater in the never mentioned Gleaming the Cube and skateboards back to Dee's place.  That's where Dee sees an interesting picture and we end the issue almost like last one...only this time it's night and Dee is even more pissed.

Two issues in and there is not a lot going on here.  I like Naomi enough, but I still feel like an extreme outsider looking in.  I know she is obsessed with Superman and also about her past, but not much else.  I was hoping to get more of her friends as well but one video call is all we get.  Brian Micheal Bendis is pushing the idea that this book is ultra important to the DCU, but it feels like all talk...the hype and the issue...all. talk.

Jamal Campbell's art is incredible in both issues so far.  All of my feelings for the characters are 90% from the art alone and when the script gives him a chance to explore the space, boy does he.  It is the reason I will continue reading this book.

Bits and Pieces:

This book looks fantastic thanks to Jamal Campbell's art, but the snail's pace storytelling is a bit offputting already.  All I keep hearing is how important this book is and after two issues it feels like Bendis and Walker are teasing the reader with how little we find out.  This may indeed be THE place to be, but I need proof and I need it quick!

5.5/10