Written by Brian Michael Bendis,
Matt Fraction, Jody Houser
Art by Steve Lieber, Cully Hamner,
Jim Mahfood, Michael Gaydos,
Riley Rossmo, Scott Godlewski
Art and Cover by Bryan Hitch
Published by DC Comics
After the Superman: Heroes one-shot, DC decided to put this book out as another money grab. It certainly feels like they are trying to grab as much cash out of the Bendis run on the Superman titles before it is too late.
How much can they milk from this storyline of Clark giving up his secret identity?
Find out here!
The opening of this book has the moment that most fans are talking about. Ma and Pa Kent are alive and Clark goes to visit them.
This scene is actually what Bendis excels at. The conversation between Clark and his adoptive parents is wonderful. It shows the human side of Clark quite well and this is very good.
From there it gets a bit muddy. We see Clark trying to adjust at The Daily Planet. A villain almost attacks but doesn’t.
We then also get to see Lex Luthor dealing with the reveal. I know it is supposed to be funny but it is annoying. The rest of the book pretty much follows suit.
It gets both silly and heavy handed quick. We get to see some of the villains discuss the reveal. We also get to see Superman and Perry White argue about whether a story should get published. It is a scene that wants to be weighty but can’t seem to get there. Such is life.
This whole thing shows people’s reactions.
We also get a few cliffhangers that lead into the regular books. There is a ton of talent on display from Bryan Hitch to Riley Rossmo to Matt Fraction to Cully Hamner and more.
The problem is that it doesn’t gel. And it feels like a donut: A lot of nice things on the outside, but there is nothing in the center.
RATING: B-
