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Superman, Vol. 2: Secrets And Lies (2013)

by Dan Jurgens(Favorite Author)

3.1 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1401240283 (ISBN13: 9781401240288)

languge

English

genre

Graphic Novels & Comics

publisher

DC Comics

series

Superman Vol. III

review 1: The first volume of Superman by George Perez was exactly the opposite of what DC was trying to do with the New 52. They were trying to reboot the characters, and instead gave us a very dated Superman story with even dated art.This volume of Superman by Dan Jurgens is a vast improvement. Dabbling in three stories, it explores the concept of humanity trying to figure out if Superman has a secret identity.In the first overall story (and the least interesting), a villain from another galaxy is trying to take back his rightful heritage to the throne by seeking genetic superiority for his bloodline. His name is Helspont, and he wants Superman to be his "soldier" of sorts when taking over Earth. They battle briefly, and Helspont retreats.In the second and third stories, the story... more is vastly more exciting. A blogger thinks he knows who Superman is, and fingers a boring family man who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A small time metahuman thief decides to go after him, and it places an innocent man in danger. Superman debunks the blogger and everything goes back to normal.The other story is about the Russians, and how they have kidnapped a being from another dimension in order to have their own version of Superman. It keeps escaping and killing all those in its path, and Superman travels the moral line in whether to let him escape or hold him on Earth to face judgment. Earth's laws do not apply to the creature, and the ending to that arc is very satisfying.The volume ends on a cliffhanger, as we find out Helspont has one helluva spaceship and has been trying to recruit the aliens of Earth into joining his army. Superman will have to bring out all his ingenuity and strength to defeat this new menace, in Volume 3.A vast improvement over Volume 1, Superman needs to have cooler and newer villains we haven't seen before to keep things new and interesting. They can also explore other aspects we haven't before, such as Clark dating someone else other than Lois, or how lonely it can be in a world without his parents around.
review 2: A definite improvement over the first volume by George Perez. Jurgens still "gets" Superman, and even under the New 52 mandates ("make Superman hip, young and edgy!"), you can still a little bit of the old blu boy scout peeking through under his watch. That said, there's still something missing. The story, with Supes facing off against the old Wildcats villain Helspont, is OK and all, but is also sort of instantly forgettable. And as much as I like Jim Lee, I can't be the only who who thinks it's a little annoying how much the New 52 is trying to cram his Wildstorm characters into the main DCU. I mean, not only does Superman fight Helspont, but he also teams with Grifter in this volume. Grifter?? Does anyone actually think Grifter deserves to be in the second major story arc of the new, relaunched Superman title? What a weird decision. Anyway, this is probably the best solo Superman story I've read yet in the New 52, so take that for what it's worth (hint: not much). less

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