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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'New Super-Man, Volume 1: Made in China' by Gene Luen Yang is a different take on superheroes, this time from China. I liked the perspective it took, but I didn't love it.
Kenan Kong is kind of a jerk. He bullies a rich kid for lunch money because the kid's parents own an airline that Kenan's mom was killed on. When Kenan makes a heroic act (against his own nature), he gets selected for a superhero program and his life changes. He joins two other young people who will make up a new Justice League for the nation of China. The two other heroes are takes on Wonder Woman and Batman. Kenan finds his powers come and go, and he needs to figure out how to make them work. Additionally, he finds himself at odds with his father. Can Kenan learn to be a hero, mend his relationship with his father, and figure out who is behind this new superhero initiative?
Kenan is a pretty unlikable character at the beginning of the story, and he stays that way for quite a while. He is arrogant and a bully. By the end of the story, things have happened to help move him towards being a hero, but it takes quite a few chapters before I liked this character much. I really liked the Wonder Woman and Batman characters and I hope they have more to do in the future. This is a very different take on DC superheroes and I liked the cultural shift in perspective that it takes.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Kenan Kong is kind of a jerk. He bullies a rich kid for lunch money because the kid's parents own an airline that Kenan's mom was killed on. When Kenan makes a heroic act (against his own nature), he gets selected for a superhero program and his life changes. He joins two other young people who will make up a new Justice League for the nation of China. The two other heroes are takes on Wonder Woman and Batman. Kenan finds his powers come and go, and he needs to figure out how to make them work. Additionally, he finds himself at odds with his father. Can Kenan learn to be a hero, mend his relationship with his father, and figure out who is behind this new superhero initiative?
Kenan is a pretty unlikable character at the beginning of the story, and he stays that way for quite a while. He is arrogant and a bully. By the end of the story, things have happened to help move him towards being a hero, but it takes quite a few chapters before I liked this character much. I really liked the Wonder Woman and Batman characters and I hope they have more to do in the future. This is a very different take on DC superheroes and I liked the cultural shift in perspective that it takes.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'New Super-Man #2' by Gene Luen Yang with art by Viktor Bogdanovic was an odd story, but it grew on me.
This is "Made in China" part two. The story is set in China and Kenan Kong finds himself with the powers of Superman. He also meets the Chinese Batman and Wonder Woman. This Superman is a bit crude and makes jokes about his fellow heroes. To his credit, Batman is a bit on the thicker side. Kenan's powers are a bit unstable and unreliable, which is a bad thing, because there is a new threat on the horizon.
I really liked this alternate version of familiar heroes. The characters don't necessarily act or dress like their counterparts. There is a little more humor here than in a traditional Superman comic. I also like the youth of this team. It gave the team more energy.
I received a review copy of this comic book from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this comic book.
This is "Made in China" part two. The story is set in China and Kenan Kong finds himself with the powers of Superman. He also meets the Chinese Batman and Wonder Woman. This Superman is a bit crude and makes jokes about his fellow heroes. To his credit, Batman is a bit on the thicker side. Kenan's powers are a bit unstable and unreliable, which is a bad thing, because there is a new threat on the horizon.
I really liked this alternate version of familiar heroes. The characters don't necessarily act or dress like their counterparts. There is a little more humor here than in a traditional Superman comic. I also like the youth of this team. It gave the team more energy.
I received a review copy of this comic book from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this comic book.
ogreart's review
4.0
I enjoyed this a great deal. I applaud the idea of a group of heroes based in another country. I think I want to see more.
tsharris's review against another edition
3.0
I certainly enjoy a good "what if Superman but in a different context" story and this book is an interesting entry, but it ultimately felt thin. Would have enjoyed more of the texture of 2010s China.
scottpm's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting story. I was skeptical after 1 issue, but intrigued after 2. I'm not quite hooked yet but I will check out volume 2.
fishfish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
philipf's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The choice to make the title character a self-important jerk and bully is an interesting one. It’s great to see him grow and become a better person as he learns to be a superhero, he starts out so unsympathetic that it may put some people off.
grimondgalgmod's review against another edition
2.0
Sort of a dry run for Yang's Monkey Prince book except none of the characters are as likable and it's not nearly as fun. Paper Folding Man is pretty cool though.