Art by: Jamal Campbell
Colors by: Jamal Campbell
Letters by: Ariana Maher
Cover art by: Jamal Campbell (cover A)
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: March 21, 2023
Superman #2 unveils what happens when Parasite evolves with a terrifying new ability - power makes him multiply. How long before the exponentially growing swarm of Parasites overruns the world?
Is It Good?
Superman #2 kicks up the world-ending stakes with plenty of desperate action, dramatic tension, and a cliffhanger ending that worsens things. So far, Joshua Williamson's take on the Man of Steel is solid, and there's a lot to like in this issue.
When last we left Superman, he was attacked by a crowd of short Parasites. Now the mini-Parasites aren't just attacking Superman, they're attacking every power source they can find, and when they feed, they multiply. Superman works the problem while Lex Luthor whispers to be released from prison to help, leading to ethical challenges.
Williamson does an excellent job of building tension in this issue as the Parasite swarm grows and Luthor's calls for freedom add added pressure. You can sympathize with Superman's situation as it's unclear how, if at all, Superman can win against a threat of this nature.
Hero stories always work best when the challenge is greater than the hero. You could imagine Superman's defeat in the face of overwhelming odds.
[Speculator Alert]
When Superman dashes off to find a missing Lois, he encounters an anti-hero/vigilante called Marilyn Moonlight. In their brief meeting, she explains how new heroes emerged to help Metropolis while Superman left for Warworld. The explanation runs contrary to Jon Kent's series, but that's the explanation, so we're sticking to it.
Marilyn Moonlight has a cool design, but it's still being determined what she can do. In the brief meeting, she acts as a cross between Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, and Gentleman Ghost. I'm curious to know more about her, but she doesn't contribute anything to this story, so her introduction could be better.
In the main story, Williamson ticks all the boxes regarding pacing, dialog, scene transitions, and story development. Plus, the idea that a secret cabal of evil scientists is behind Parasite's evolution is fodder for exciting drama in the future.
Likewise, Jamal Campbell's art is excellent. This issue has a lot of action to grab your attention, and Campbell grabs you with both hands by delivering cool splash pages, energetic fights, and great facial acting during the emotional moments.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces:
Superman #2 is another winner with a seemingly insurmountable threat, plenty of exciting action, emotional moments, dramatic tension, and a killer cliffhanger. Plus, the introduction of a new anti-hero shows promise.
8.5/10
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