J2 #2

Secrets and Lies / Alone Against the X-People
November 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

In the first story, Zane is dealing with the aftermath of being admitted into the Avengers. His mother, A.D.A. Yama, is concerned this new Juggernaut may have had contact with Cain Marko and explains this to her son. Zane leaves for school worrying about what this may all mean for him if his mother finds out he is actually J2. In school, Miller is still gloating about "helping" J2 in the previous issue and Zane becomes angry. J2 calls to check in with the Avengers and Jarvis tells him A.D.A. Yama would like a meeting with J2. Miller shows up and demands the phone. Vowing to "diss" Miller, he changes into J2 later but ends up responding to a bank robbery. There, he meets and fights with Buffer Zone, a shield-protected bad guy. In the end, it is Miller again who helps Zane by taking the guy out when his force field was down. Zane slinks away in shame and meets with his mother at the Avengers headquarters. She demands to know who he is and how he got his powers, but he doesn't relent and she leave in a huff. In the end, Zane's high school classmates are talking about how Miller is partners with J2 and Zane begins to feel even worse.

In the other story, Zane is on his way to visit the X-People in Saddle River, New Jersey when he notices their gate is broken. Changing into J2, he rushes in to offer aid, but is mistaken for someone else; Enthralla, niece to the Mastermind. He is able to fight off the various X-People, but is ultimate faced with Enthralla herself, who uses her powers to enthrall J2. Zane's helmet is impervious to mental and psonic attacks, though, and he is able use a shockwave to disorient her. His splash wave from the pool he used to knock out the X-People also brought them to their senses and they proceed to take care of Enthralla. The story ends with J2 being accepted as a good guy by the X-People.

While not as bad as the first issue, I was still hoping this would be a one story issue. However, both stories were decent enough, even if they had some cheese exposition. I don't like the side-story about Miller being J2's helper very much, but I do like the mystery with A.D.A. Yama trying to figure out who J2 is. The X-People story reminded me a lot of the old comics from the 50's and 60's, with the action and the comments. Overall, a better issue then that first, but still only average.

Score: 3 / 5

J2 #1

Call the Kid ... J2! / Decisions, Decisions! / Rocked by Rollerblast!
October 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

Call the Kid ... J2!
This first issue is about the origin of Juggernaut's son, Zana Yama. It begins with Zane having the nightmare he has had since he was young, which is being chased by a "big, mean unstoppable" monster. The next morning, his mother, Assistant District Attorney Sachi Zama, reassures her son that his father, Cain Marko, won't be coming back to Earth anytime soon. Zane narrates that his mother had met Cain before he became the Juggernaut, but afterwards reverted back to her maiden name of Yama. He tries to impress the beautiful girl Talia Zamora, but strikes out when he thinks their math homework would be a good topic of conversation. The jocks Curtis and Miller make fun of Zane, but the enigmatic tomboyish Montana yells at them about how Zane is going to surpass them by so much once high school is over. Upset by her intrusion, Miller later threatens Zane and follows him all day in the school. When the final bell rings, Miller hunts down Zane like a cat and mouse. Zane unexpectedly gets a wicked headache though and is somehow transformed into a hulking man that is a shadow of his former body. Visibly upset, Zane stampedes (naked) through and out of the school, stopping momentarily only to smash Miller's motorcycle. The story ends up Zane huddled in an alley corner, calming down. When he does so, he reverts to his normal state for reasons he doesn't understand.

Decisions, Decisions!
This second story is short and sweet. It shows Zane going through the motions of trying to find a suitable costume to wear when he is transformed. He first tries to sew something, like Spider-Man did, but fails. He then goes to the local costume shop, but all they have is the more popular heroes and nothing on the original Juggernaut. He even tries a big and tall store, but doesn't find what he is looking for. In the basement of his house, however, he finds some memento's that his mother kept from his father. Using silver spray paint on select pieces of Juggernaut armor and tying a flannel shirt around his waist, Zane official gives himself the name J2.

Rocked by Rollerblast
Zane is at the amusement park with Montana, hoping to be able to talk to Talia. Miller is also there and becomes agitated when Curtis tries to convince him Zane was talking with Talia. Before Miller can do anything, the purple costumed thief Rollerblast and his cohorts announce that they are robbing the park and everyone inside. Changing into J2, Zane defends Montana, who was being accosted by the men. He and Rollerblast face off until Rollerblast starts to try to make a break for it. It is then that Zane throws something in his path that he can't avoid and goes flying. When Zane reverts back, he is bewildered to see everyone is congratulating Miller for helping J2 take down Rollerblast. The story and issue ends with the X-People, lead by Jubilee, forming in order to investigate rumors that the Juggernaut had returned.

Well, it is sad to say, but this is my least liked comic I have read recently. I think perhaps this one perhaps more than Spider-Girl 1 and A-Next 1 felt totally geared towards a younger readership. I understand that was the whole point of the MC2/Earth-982 universe, but this comic seems to have embraced this concept the most. I generally enjoy only one story per issue. Perhaps since this one was the first and showed J2's origin, it was meant to be broken up. Overall, I hope they make this a one story comic. Otherwise, as with the other two books, the art work is top notch, and the transformed Zane skates the ice of almost looking like the Hulk, but still pulls it off. I think I can like Zane more in the future, but right now, I think there is something right on the surface that is stopping me from enjoying him totally. I am not sure what made Marvel choose this character over other possible ones in the universe, such as the Fantastic Five, but I hope later issues show why they did by making this a more complete book.

Score: 2 / 5