DC Universe Presents 2

Deadman wants answers. Rama Kushna, the goddess who tasked him with possessing souls in need, has told him that when he’s satisfied some karmic balance, he’ll find enlightenment.

Whatever that means. At the beginning of this issue Deadman – former aerialist Boston Brand – catches Rama’s attention by threatening to shoot his latest charge, a soldier maimed in Afghanistan. Rather than extrapolate on what ‘enlightenment’ means, the goddess tries to palm him off with cosmic gobbledegook. He wants to know ‘the real reason I’m living other people’s lives’ but she simply reiterates the balance business, in a very patronising manner.

Rather than protest, Deadman keeps his counsel, lets her vanish and turns to Plan B – breaking into the Moonstone Club, hangout for Gotham’s spookiest. As it’s guarded by spells and psychics, Deadman doesn’t have his usual advantage of being invisible and undetectable. But he does have his circus-honed chutzpah and the love of a challenge.

There follows the most entertaining Deadman sequence in decades, as our hero shows just how quickly, and tactically, he can body hop. His reward is a meeting with a potential new star in DC’s supernatural firmament, the Librarian, and a chance to find the answers he seeks.

If you like superheroes at all, try this superbly plotted book – you can dive right in without having read last month’s opener. Deadman’s appeared in some rubbish over the years >cough Brightest Day, Hawk & Dove cough< so it’s heartening to see him in the hands of a great creative team. Writer Paul Jenkins really gets Boston Brand, emphasising heart as much as heroics – there’s a lovely little scene in which he brings a bit of joy into two people’s lives, partly to free himself up for his offbeat clubbing session, but mainly because he can. And it’s good to watch Deadman see right through Rama’s ramblings.

Artist Bernard Chang helps here, selling the beat that tells us Deadman’s no fool. Chang’s pages are wonderfully composed, full of nicely-designed characters displaying the full range of emotions. Deadman himself is based on the Neal Adams 1960s version, rather than the Kelley Jones corpse, making it easier to relate to him. The monsters of Gotham are visually engaging too, freaks in finery … the club sequence reminds me of a DC comic whose cover haunted me as a kid, The Witching Hour 8 – read this issue, then look it up!

The reveal of the Librarian is especially effective; we meet her, and think we’re seeing one thing, but are then shown that there’s more to her than we thought – it’s a nice visual pun, and one I won’t spoil. Chang’s storytelling decisions always focus the drama as they guide us through the script. Colourist Blond also merits praise, for adding to the mood with thoughtful, appropriate tones as we travel from a rainbow dimension to a low-lit bar, a neon-stained club and finally a gloomy library. There’s good lettering, too, from Dave Sharpe, who always finds the spot-on font to evoke a character.

While I know Chang could provide a stonkingly good cover, I’ve no complaints about the offering from Ryan Sook. It has no literal bearing on the issue, but thematically it makes some sense. Not that it matters, it’s a Deadman eating Deadman infinity cover – how could you not love that?

One more thing. This issue has Deadman making his stage debut – how about you give him some support?