Resistance

Twelve exploit-packed years have passed since the events of Basu’s debut, Turbulence, which introduced the Unit of oddly endowed superheroes. A brisk, clever summary of those years launches this rowdy, ingenious sequel, which improves upon the original while retaining its appealing quirks. A second wave of transformations has resulted in a glut of unrestrained superheroes and super­villains boisterously vying for attention and reality show contracts. Amid this chaos, Norio Hisatomi, the head of Team ARMOR, is pursuing a sympathetically portrayed personal vendetta against the Unit and forging ill-conceived alliances; Utopic Industries is kidnapping and experimenting on supers; and the incomprehensible horse-headed child-god Kalki makes a welcome return in a critical role. Adept plotting keeps all these globe-spanning threads spooling smoothly, and meticulous blocking gives the dazzling action sequences a cinematic bravura. A confident, witty approach to Basu’s awkwardly heroic characters is the most striking enhancement to the series, elevating this installment well above its predecessor. (July)