Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
 

Cameron Kim has the power to talk to any city in the world, yet he’s more isolated than ever.

May is AAPI Heritage Month, which means it’s the perfect time to spotlight some of DC’s best work featuring Asian and Pacific Islander characters and comics from AAPI creators. City Boy is both, and it’s one of the most heartwarming (and heartbreaking) DC Universe stories you’ll ever read.
 

THE PREMISE:

When Cameron Kim was a young adult, he stumbled across a scientific experiment that resulted in him gaining the ability to “speak” to cities. Cameron can communicate with any city he’s in, finding hidden treasures while learning all the secrets each town hides. However, he has no interest in using this power to fight crime or help mankind. Instead, Cameron lives as a drifter, living a life of isolation and using his powers to find just enough trinkets to support himself financially.

Cameron also has questions about his past and why his mother abandoned him as a toddler. Where is she now, and what made her leave him? And will the answers bring him closure, or make things worse?

Young Mr. Kim may not be interested in getting involved, but plenty of powerful players are extremely interested in him. It isn’t long before Cameron’s talents attract the attention of Intergang, Swamp Thing, Batman and Jack Hawksmoor. Whether he wants it or not, Cameron is about to realize that he’s become one of the most important players in the DC Universe.
 

LET’S TALK TALENT:

City Boy is written by Greg Pak, one of the industry’s most underrated writers. DC fans may remember Pak for his excellent work on Batman/Superman and Action Comics. However, City Boy is possibly the strongest comic he’s ever written for DC. Pak takes a character with extraordinary world-changing powers and manages to tell a grounded and heartfelt story with him. Cameron Kim is a special character, and Pak will have you emotionally invested in his journey before you’re finished reading the first chapter.

The book is penciled and inked by Minkyu Jung, a gifted artist who previously illustrated selected issues of Titans, Batgirl, Nightwing and more. The way Jung visualizes Cameron Kim’s unique talents is creative kismet. After all, it’s not easy to tell an artist to draw someone talking to a city, but Jung somehow makes it the most obvious thing in the world. The result is some truly dynamic comic book art. Plus, Jung knows how to bring energy and build tension for all the action scenes.
 

A FEW REASONS TO READ:

• First and foremost, City Boy is a story filled with heart. I know I keep using that word, but it’s honestly the best way to describe this limited series. Cameron’s quest to find the answers about his mother are an emotional throughline for the comic. And just as it is in real life, the answers are not always neat and tidy.
   
• Due to some twisted science, some of DC’s most notable cities are given avatars. That’s right, we get to see what places like Gotham, Blüdhaven and Metropolis look like as living creatures. That alone is worth the price of admission.

• If you have never read a DC comic book before, or you’re new to the medium in general, then this is a great series to get you started. While City Boy has guest appearances from other DC characters, you don’t need to be familiar with them to enjoy the story. This is Cameron’s story, and we get to see the DC Universe through his eyes.
   
• Cameron Kim is a superhero (or anti-superhero) for the modern era. He’s isolated, struggles with mental health and uses his powers for personal gain. He doesn’t come from a colorful background or wear a flashy cape and tights. He’s a more grounded and street-level character who rejects the idea of being labeled a hero.
   

WHY IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME:

Greg Pak and Minkyu Jung’s City Boy is more than a superhero story—it’s a character drama. It’s a story of a boy who cuts himself off from society after being abandoned by the person he relied on the most. It’s the story of someone trying to come to terms with their place in the world.

City Boy has an interesting protagonist with a fascinating powerset, stunning action scenes, emotional character moments and it’s all done in six issues. It’s an entertaining, satisfying and thought-provoking read that also happens to be an authentic Asian-American story. If you haven’t read—or even heard of—this 2023 gem, it’s the perfect weekend to change that.
 

City Boy by Greg Pak, Minkyu Jung, Sunny Gho and Sebastian Cheng is available as a softcover graphic novel in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.