(Pub Date: March 3, 2027) Picking up seamlessly from its high-octane debut, Super Science, Vol. 2 expands the chaos engulfing Los Angeles. Created by N. Alessandro K. (Kalikow) alongside illustrator M.K. Perker (The Ugliest Kid on Earth, The Unwritten, Insomnia Cafe), with cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin, Stray Toasters, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?) and Tula Lotay (Lisa Wood, of Somna, Scarlet Witch, Groupies), this sophomore installment blurs the boundaries separating traditional superheroes from supervillains, and superhumans from everyday people. Its satire plays beyond familiar comic book archetypes to scrutinize the figures who shape public influence—politicians, corporate executives, and social media celebrities alike. Kalikow recasts influence as a “super power,” arguing that its unchecked pursuit breeds corruption and forces his characters to confront competing ideas centering identity, justice, and moral responsibility.

The story unfolds after the sky mysteriously turns lavender, sparking a wave of self-made superheroes across Los Angeles. Every origin story reflects personal ambition over altruism: Ladycat, once a biology teacher, injects herself with feline DNA; meanwhile, the Gas Giant acquires toxic abilities by consuming irradiated food during a paid research study. Industrialist Burt Montague perfects a machine capable of shrinking people with absolute precision, yet fails to consider how to reverse its effects. These bizarre transformations double as satirical critiques, exposing how ego and opportunism shape nearly every pursuit of power.

This emphasis on human conceit gives unexpected prominence to Lieutenant Dante Richey’s police task force, particularly Sergeant Esmeralda Villanueva (“EV”) and Officer Jack Mantle. Their greatest strengths lie in a collective commitment to public service, fueled by persistence and sound judgment with every crime scene they encounter. Where Los Angeles’ manmade superhumans pursue notoriety and gain spectacle, beat cops like EV and Mantle quietly shoulder the difficult work of protecting their city, portraying a stark contrast that reframes heroism as a matter of raw character.

The volume reaches its greatest depth through its moral ambiguity. Supervillains such as Nike and Ringmaster present obvious threats, though the most compelling conflicts arise from compromised institutions and divided loyalties. Brad Mantle, the FBI liaison assigned to Montague Industries and Jack Mantle’s brother, abandons protocol during a rescue mission before gradually embracing increasingly questionable methods. Gabe Villanueva, EV’s gifted young son, secretly develops software for supervillains because he views them as people worthy of support, not condemnation. His concealed double life carries added emotional weight because his mother’s squad is actively hunting the very individuals he assists. With each betrayal comes the complication of the novel’s understanding of justice and yet another revelation as to how impassioned conviction from anywhere along the morality spectrum can easily give way to compromise.

Throughout Super Science, Vol. 2, Los Angeles emerges as a city where performance extends far beyond Hollywood. Masks take many forms, from colorful costumes to polished political messaging, corporate branding, and carefully guarded family secrets. Perker’s expressive artwork grounds the escalating absurdity with cinematic clarity, allowing visual comedy to coexist with moments of genuine emotional tension. Together, Kalikow and Perker use the language of superhero fiction to examine the responsibilities that accompany power alongside the ambition and loyalty that uphold it. Energetic and incisive, Super Science, Vol. 2 broadens the satirical scope of the series, revealing that the greatest divide lies not between heroes and villains, but between the identities people perform and the choices that ultimately define them.