Tangent Supermans Reign #2 (OF 12)

Admittedly, I have no prior knowledge of the Tangent Universe.  I don’t know what it’s all about, but DC marketing dictates that I pick up issue #1 because it’s called Superman’s Reign.  Being that I am a Superman fan, I check it out.  While not really understanding everything in it completely, I was intrigued by it, but cautiously aware that if #2 doesn’t make any sense, I could drop it.

Well, with the release of #2, I must say, my interest is peaked.  While it isn’t the perfect comic, it very well could be a great series.  In trying to explain the conceit of the Tangent Universe, i.e. Earth 9 in this post 52 World, my description may seem condesending, but hear me out.

The Tangent Universe can best be described as Dan Jurgens having fed the DC Universe to his dog, and subsequently having the dog digest it and then suddenly regurgitate it up all over the floor.  Yes, disgusting and somewhat strange, but in my opinion, apt.  His story brings about a mish-mash of names and places throughout.  We get name drops on almost every page, but the names certainly don’t match what our original idea of that name should be.  Through some feat, Jurgens manages to make you care.

The Joker as the ultimate good “girl”, who looks like Domino and is killed at the hands of an evil bald-black Superman?  If this doesn’t strike your fancy, I can completely understand.  I didn’t think it would resonate with me either.  Alas, page after page I soaked up and couldn’t wait to read the next one.  It certainly wouldn’t hurt to read a 2^nd or 3^rd time because it can get confusing. However, once you get a handle of the characters, hold on tight.

I’m not exactly sure where any of this is going to lead yet, but I like the ride so far.  It was a really good idea to bring in Wally West and John Stewart into the mix.  In this issue, more so than last’s, we get to see this world just like they are and we peal back a layer just as they do.  I feel like I know as much as they do and that was the fun of this issue.

The art by Jamal Igle was well done.  For me, he is kind of a coin flip.  Sometimes it’s really good, and other times it’s just ok.

For those not checking this out, there is also a backup story written by Ron Marz with pencils by Fernando Pasarin.  This focuses on Jennifer Hayden (the name of our Earth’s Jade, but not Tangent’s) and her recruitment of Detective Chimp, otherwise known as Guy Gardner.  Yes, I got that right.  Guy is a hacker that she needs to help bring down The Superman.  She asks what he knows of the Metal Men.  Turns out in this universe, they were a covert group of 6 that went into the Soviet occupied Prague to intercept the Red Tornado warhead.  Through various machinations, which I think probably occurred in the original Tangent stories, we meet Raven, a Soviet spy and witness the creation of Powergirl, the result of Chinese superhuman experiments.

If this sounds like a lot to grasp, trust me, it is.  I would love to get a hold of Jurgens Tangent bible as I’m sure it must exist.  How else could they keep track of all this?  Well, I for one am trying and enjoying it much more than I thought possible.  If you’re looking for something MUCH different than anything DC is doing right now, I would definitely recommend this book.