New Super-Man Reinvents the Redemption Story

With New Super-Man, Yang sets up a narrative that directly confronts and subverts the traditional American superhero origin story. The dominant arc in comic book narrativesâ??be it books or filmsâ??suggests that superheroes typically start from a position of basic goodness (or at least innocence) before they are imbued with fantastic powers or take up the mantle of public defender.  Before he became Captain America, for instance, Steve Rogers was a plucky kid with loads of heart, courage, and determination. Barry Allen was an affable, if absent-minded, forensic scientist completely dedicated to solving crimes and making the world a safer place. Bruce Wayne was a kid enjoying a night on the town with his parents. And Superman, of course, is often criticized for being too good. But Yang introduces us to the new Super-Man by showing us just how different he is from his predecessors.