well stop it. It's annoying.
Last month we saw the launch ofa new Superboy title, following on from his adventures in adventure comics, with Coner Kents new life as Superboy in Smallville. The first issue introduced the new premis of the series with conner being told by the Phantom Stranger that his precence in Smallville will clamity to the town. We saw proof of this prediction as Parasite attacked Conner. But as soon as Conner was able to incopasitate the power drainer he, Simon ( his genious friend ) and Krypto ( the dog of steel ) were caught, entangled in a sudden growth if giant roots as a infamous Gotham rogue figure appears in the small town. So ready your green thumbs as we read about the most peculiar team up, in superboy #2.
The issue opens up with the images of three diffarent smallville locations overrun by giant roots, and then a fourth panel with an extream close up of a pair of red, ensnaring lips on pale green skin. We then zoom out to a 1 page spread of Poison Ivy ( her rear ) standing infront of the smallville water tower with Conner, Simon and Krypto entangled in the giant roots that have infected the town. Conner breaks out of the vines ( still weekend from his fight with Parasite ) while Ivy protests that she's not the one who caused this sudden gush of plantlife in smallville ( explaning that there's been an incredible shift in the green, leaving her practically powerless. ) She suggest teaming up with Conner three times before he decides to agree ( as he's a teenager in a small town, and she the exotic woman in skimpy *ahem*....... just speculations ), leaving Krypto and Simon to watch over the unconcious Parasite. Conner and Ivy track the source of the roots to "old Mr. Gillians farm" as the old farmer has been hardwired to a strange machine. As Conner attempts to unwire Gillian safly Ivy shows her thorns and ( gasp! ) betrays the boy of steel. Meanwhile Simon has decided to let Krypto watch over Parasite as he experiments with the absorbers cells in his lab. But will Conner escape Ivy's vines? Will the root attack on Smallville stop? If Ivy is not the culpret behind this attack than who is? To find out pick up Superboy #2.
Now as much as Jeff Lemires' proved himself a writer to me in the last issue ( I haven't read his other works before..... sorry ) this issue seemed less well planed out. The plot with Ivy seemed rushed, to only present us with the figures at the end, with her betrayal not shocking us as we werent lulled into trusting her ( which could have been helped by splitting the issue into a two parter ) and her character being portrayed diffarently to her presentation in Gotham City Sirens ( apparently.... I'm only going by what others have said as i do not read the Gotham City Sirens series ). Conners sudden team-up and shock at Ivy's betrayal seems out of character as Conners' not an easily fooled character, maby during his early 90's run he would have reacted in such a way but in his current state? i dont thinks so. Now saying that, the ending and twist was good and despite the lacking in writing with this issue the ending was great. Pier Gallos art is nice, simplistic when it comes to characters, but detailed when it needs to be ( just look at the first three pannels ). Yet my complaints are the smae as others. Gallos' ability to draw faces is , well, lacking. Character expressings are hard to tell appart and facial features seem out or position. But what i think needs to be addressed is Gallos ability to draw alluring features on female characters. Ivy was drawn ( and possibly chosen ) in a sexy manner ( her clevage and buttocks had more pannel time than Krypto ) which concidering the target audiance of this series, teenage boys, isn't a bad thing, and would be an affective way of gaining more readers (...... my palms and forehead are sweaty.... I'll go take a cold shower now ). Once again i like the cover of this issue. The simple, plain greens and reds contrasting with the more detailed and coloured faces of Conner and Ivys faces is fantastic, so well done to Phill Noto.
In conclusion i gave Superboy #2 a 3.5/5 ( compaired to what Comic book resources gave it : as seen on cover ). It's a good read yes, and entertaning, but lacks that something which was in issue #1. People who picked up the last issue will probably enjoy this issue, but for new readers i'd advice that you try and pick up a copy of issue 1 as well as this one just to know whats going on. So Superboy #2
3.5/5
