Please note this review continues from the "Batman Beyond: Rewired" review.

DC Comics recently released a new series of Batman Beyond and Justice League Beyond comics, giving them both the ‘2.0’ ending. The connotation – that the DC Beyond Comic universe is getting an upgrade – promises much; up until now the DCBCU has had some good stories and glimpses of greatness, but has yet to break out of its teething problems.

Which brings me to Superman. I’ll admit, I was never that big into Superman; even his DCAU appearances felt too superficial. But the more I read stories like these, the more I’ve come to know and admire Superman for being Superman, not just a brightly colored, cornier version of Batman. Would that those who write young Superman stories take lessons from these tales of his future self.

The story itself, still ongoing, is fairly simple. Something is interfering with the sun, driving Superman’s powers haywire. Sometimes he loses power, sometimes his power goes into overdrive. His control over his abilities is so fragile that he nearly kills one of his comrades. Until he can find out how to stop being a danger to others, Superman willingly shuts down his abilities and becomes an ordinary mortal. I won’t say more than that; to quote the late great Robert Jordan, you’ll have to “Read and Find Out” for yourself. While it’s true that the plot may sound like standard stuff, it’s the character development of Superman as a person that really makes this story transcend its boilerplate material.

This is a story about adapting to change, especially loss and old age. There’s a very touching flashback scene where Lois, who’s dying from an unknown disease, makes Superman promise to continue his mission and not retreat into the Fortress of Solitude reminiscing about the past. There’s a very stark contrast here between Superman, who stays a hero whether as a super-powered being or an older but strong firefighting mortal, and Batman, who retreated into himself after his retirement and shut out the world.

There are other contrasts as well. There are two very well-done scenes in which Superman requests the help of the other League members: one involves getting his powers in check and the other is a very amusing sequence on…dating advice. Aside from the amusement factor, we see here a leader who has no problem admitting weakness or asking for help – in contrast to his no less gifted counterpart, Bruce Wayne. The other members of the Justice League also give in a good supporting performance; their contrasting approaches to life and heroism make for interesting reading.

The plot itself has some surprises of its own, including the same generational theme we see in Batman Beyond. Although I have a few minor complaints about the story’s pacing and understanding of military terms (a “tactician” by definition doesn’t care about long-term planning), I look forward to seeing it continue to progress.

Conclusion

All told, the “2.0” ending is richly deserved. With excellent character portrayals, relatable dilemmas and plenty of good old action, the Beyond Universe has finally left the tinkering stage. I look forward to watching its incredible potential continue to be unleashed.

"Justice League Beyond: Power Struggle" is now available through digital outlets and comic shops.