Written by Brian Michael Bendis & David F. Walker.
Art by Jamal Campbell & Wes Abbott.
Collection Cover Art by Jamal Campbell.
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics in 2023, this 144-page hardcover compiles 2022’s Naomi: Season Two # 1-6. Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker, and Jamal Campbell are the title character’s co-creators. Chronologically, this storyline occurs after the events of 2022’s Justice League, Volume 1: Prisms, also written by Bendis.
It’s been three weeks since Black Adam and Superman made an unexpected visit to Naomi in Port Oswego. As a rookie Justice Leaguer, teenager Naomi McDuffie is struggling to adapt to her new responsibilities. In particular, maintaining control of her radiant super-powers is at the top of the to-do list. One night, Naomi and her suspicious adoptive father, Greg, discover that their Thanagarian ally, Dee, has ominously vanished. Quite possibly, Dee has left for Naomi’s home world to seek out Zumbado to avenge Naomi’s birth parents.
Naomi’s subsequent investigation brings her into a crisis at S.T.A.R. Labs. where she encounters Cyborg. Then, an agitated Hawkgirl becomes involved over a malevolent Thanagarian dial Naomi had found among Dee’s discarded possessions. Once a gravely injured Dee returns, Naomi seeks out help from the Justice League. Yet, when mysterious invaders from her home dimension invade Port Oswego, it’s up to a desperate Naomi to protect the town.
Upon reconnecting with her birth mother’s friend, Akira, Naomi makes a pivotal decision, as to her short-term future.
Notes: This title is also available digitally. As of this writing, the trade paperback’s wide release is evidently still in the works. The title character’s subsequent DC moniker is ‘Powerhouse.’
REVIEW:
As with Season One, artist Jamal Campbell’s excellent visuals are Season Two’s most valuable asset. The teen-friendly plotting that co-writers Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker put forward is a good second round yet hardly remarkable.
Their Season Two finish just comes off as too contrived that an inexperienced and impulsive Naomi would be allowed to return to her home world (without even finishing high school) as a solo freedom fighter. As upbeat as this ultra-dangerous notion is made to sound, continuing to develop Naomi’s character depth in Port Oswego would have made better sense to set up a Season Three.
At least, Cyborg and particularly Hawkgirl make solid guest appearances that contribute to Bendis and Walker’s plot twists. The same, however, doesn’t apply to the Justice League/Justice League Dark’s hollow presence; their star power is squandered as Naomi’s glorified cheerleaders.
For Naomi fans, Season Two still presents a solid Young Adult read (without resorting to cheap profanities). Outside of this book’s intended audience, other potential readers might want to at least discover Campbell’s high-caliber artwork.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
For Issues # 2-5, Campbell’s wonderful covers follow each story. Evidently, the cover for Issue # 1 is the collection cover. After the first issue, artist Carla Cohen’s full-page retailer variant cover is provided. From Issue # 2, also included is a full-page Matt Sayles variant featuring actress Kaci Walfall from Naomi’s live-action TV series.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars
