Superman: Son of Kal-El #2
Jon learns more about the truth of the world in Superman: Son of Kal-El #2, by writer Tom Taylor, artist John Timms, colorist Gabe Eltaed, and letterer Dave Sharpe. Taylor digs further into establishing just what kind of Superman Jon will be in this one and sets him on a course with a new foe.
The issue starts with Jon trying out a new secret identity; something backfires when he ends up stopping a school shooter. He talks with his dad afterward on the moon, who gives him a key to the Fortress of Solitude and a new costume with one of the original Superman capes. Later, while listening to The Truth podcast, he decides to help a boat of Gamorran refugees to Metropolis and meets the person behind The Truth- one of his almost classmates who warns him to be careful- the government of Gamorra is going to want revenge on him.
Taylor seems bound and determined to make Jon into the global Superman, and that’s a good thing. In fact, that’s pretty much the gist of the conversation Jon has with his father. The cool thing is that Superman pretty much says this is what he wanted for Jon- this is Jon’s planet, and it’s up to him. He believes that his son can be the one to save the world from itself, and that’s pretty great, even if it is, as Jon says in this book, “putting the weight of the world on him”.
The next cool thing Taylor does in this issue is introduce the voice of The Truth and brings in the book’s first villain. Jay Nakamura is the person behind the podcast that Damian told Jon about, and it sort of feels like Taylor is positioning him as a sidekick of a sort. It would be easy to see him in issue after issue, helping identify places Jon to go and do something that will help the world. Bringing in the island of Gamorra is pretty interesting as well. Originally an evil island nation in the Wildstorm Universe, it’s been brought over to the main DC Universe, and it will be interesting to see just how it fits in here. Henry Bendix was always a tough cookie in the old days, so it will be nice to see how he factors into things now.
Timms’ art is still pretty good, but he doesn’t really get much to show off within this issue. His character work and acting is tops, and everything looks great. Superman rescuing refugees is the closest the book gets to a traditional action scene, and the whole thing looks great.
Superman: Son Of Kal-El #2 builds on the premise of the last issue. Taylor gives Jon some new stuff in this issue, including a new friend and enemy. Timms doesn’t get as much to draw in this issue, but it does look terrific, so that’s all that matters. This series is shaking out pretty well so far, and this issue keeps that up.
