Legion of Super-Heroes #2 Review
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Artists: Hayden Sherman & Tamra Bonvillain
Variant Cover Artists: Alex Eckman-Lawn; Hayden Sherman & Ulises Arreola; Jonboy Meyers; Yasmine Putri
Editors: Chris Rosa & Paul Kaminski
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99 US | Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)
Release Date: October 14, 2026
A thousand years from now, the United Planets are struggling. On Earth, R. J. Brande spearheaded efforts to help troubled planets remain in the union. Yet while the rich man sought to help stabilize the UP, he secretly researched a forbidden topic. In a galactic society where Super-Heroes are illegal, Brande sought to learn what he could about them. Yet on distant planets like Winath, young people like Garth yearn to use their unregistered superpowers to safeguard their societies.
His partner may wish Brainiac One of Five would stick to investigating paying jobs. Still, Tenzil helps his partner break into R. J. Brande’s office. Why does the United Planets fear unregistered Super-Heroes? And what did Brande hope to accomplish? Let’s lose any nearby Persuaders, leap into Legion of Super-Heroes #2, and see!
Story
After deactivating the robot guard and accessing Brande’s surveillance records, Brainiac learns who killed the United Planets Council member. Then the Persuaders arrive. The UP police don’t want anyone to know about R. J. Brande's secret and illegal obsession.
While Legion of Super-Heroes #2 follows Brainiac's search for the truth, the story checks in with Rokk Krinn and Imra. It also links the disgraced Magnoball player on Braal with the Princess of Titan. But the primary focus remains on how Brainiac and Tenzil’s investigation of R. J. Brande’s death links with Garth and Ayla’s reunion with their older brother. Mekt’s retelling of his recent adventures enthralls Garth. Yet his sister worries their older brother could damage their family's future.
Joshua Williamson’s story reveals the power factions that rule the struggling interstellar society. It also shows how the authorities rule their worlds with an iron hand. As a truly omnivorous Bismollian, Tenzil may hunger for the Persuaders’ armor. Yet Brainiac’s thirst for the truth antagonizes the people who control the narrative. When the private detectives and the Persuaders discover that Mekt killed R. J. Brande, both parties race across the galaxy to question him first. Yet what a telepathic princess on Saturn’s richest moon has discovered could be even more important than R. J. Brande’s repository of Super-Hero knowledge in Legion of Super-Heroes #2.
Art
Amid Earth's rounded towers, the circular Persuaders emblem adorns a cracked tablet. As circles or partial circles frame events on Earth, the Persuaders' masks bear a frown. The leader swoops through the sky on wings, while Princess Imra's jacket evokes feathers. Yet on Winath, diagonal lines and diamond patterns define pages as Mekt reunites with his siblings. On Braal, circular panels show glowing circles surrounding Rokk's hands. On Titan, symbols in white circles represent Princess Imra's psychic communication with her elders.
As Hayden Sherman weaves the tapestry of life across the United Planets, Tamra Bonvillain adorns Legion of Super-Heroes #2 with a vibrant palette. While Garth and Ayla wear blue and yellow, their red hair links them to their blonde brother’s red-and-green costume. As violet-and-indigo Rokk works on his orange world, Princess Imra walks past orange columns to behold her violet-and-indigo city. While the blue Persuaders seek to crush hope in unlicensed Super-Heroes, Brainiac One of Five's red-and-green skin links him with Mekt’s costume. Yet his violet-and-indigo clothes link him with Rokk Krinn and Princess Imra.
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou fills white balloons with black uppercase letters. Intonation emboldens words. Lowercase letters convey lowered voices. Raised voices swell letters, change text color, and deform balloons. While Brainiac One of Five speaks white letters into red rectangles, the Persuaders speak black letters into light-blue boxes. Yellow letters with red outlines identify places, while violet words in white shapes interest one character. Yet as sound effects enhance the detectives' flight and aspiring Super-Heroes' fight, one non-Persuader's offscreen comment appears as black uppercase letters in a blue box. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.
Final Thoughts
The United Planets struggle to govern so many solar systems. Anyone with superpowers must register with the authorities, and only the oppressive Persuaders can legally use them. Either R. J. Brande forgot that Super-Heroes nearly destroyed their society, or he began to question his government’s official history. Either way, now he's dead. And anyone he interacted with could become the Persuaders' next target in Legion of Super-Heroes #2.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see Legion of Super-Heroes #2 Preview.
For how this series started, see Legion of Super-Heroes #1 Preview.
