New Super-Man Books in Order

New Super-Man begins with a great comic-book premise. In Shanghai, an impulsive, arrogant teenager named Kong Kenan is suddenly given powers and remade as China's own Super-Man. The twist is that Kenan is nowhere near ready for that role. He is reckless, loud, and full of ego, which makes him a perfect Gene Luen Yang lead, funny enough to keep the pages moving, but messy enough to feel human.

The early books are an origin story with attitude.

Kenan has to learn what the symbol means while the government around him tries to shape that symbol for its own purposes. He is joined by Chinese versions of other familiar heroes, including Bat-Man and Wonder-Woman, and together they form the Justice League of China. That setup gives Yang room for superhero action, satire, and a surprisingly warm team dynamic once the group starts to gel.

The series is often very funny, but it is not light in an empty way. Kenan is dealing with family history, public image, nationalism, and the gap between being chosen and actually being worthy. His powers come with pressure, and Yang keeps asking whether heroism can survive inside systems that want to package and control it.

Later volumes grow stranger and bigger, with older magic, new villains, international connections, and a widening cast. But even when the scale jumps, the story keeps returning to Kenan's growth. He is trying to become less selfish, more thoughtful, and more honest about the people who raised him and the country he represents.

What makes New Super-Man stand out is that it is both playful and sharp. It understands DC history, but it is not trapped by nostalgia. Instead, it uses the superhero template to talk about identity, power, and responsibility from a fresh angle. If you like team books, coming-of-age arcs, and superhero runs that are willing to be weird and sincere at the same time, this one is worth your time.