When I was a kid in the ‘70s there was a feature, “The Private Life of Clark Kent,” that focused on Clark’s non-superhero life. Told in five- to- nine-page installments, you got a view into what made Clark Kent tick and what made the Kent persona every bit as important as Superman. I can’t think of a single “Private Life of Clark Kent” story that I didn’t enjoy.
And I am enjoying this seven-issue, out-of-continuity* miniseries written by Max Landis. Whether it is Clark learning he can fly or trying to keep Smallville residents being held hostage from being killed or, in this issue, having fun as Bruce Wayne on a party boat in the Caribbean, Landis’s focus on Clark Kent is as different from the recent “Truth” storyline** in the Superman titles as night is from day.
This is a Clark Kent who has not yet taken on the responsibility of being Superman. He still learned morals and compassion and everything else by Jonathan and Martha Kent. He’s had to learn that there are consequences to actions, that he may not be able to help everybody, and that he needs to embrace life and have a little fun along the way. He is probably the most “real” Clark Kent I’ve read in a long time. He gets mad and frustrated and laughs and cries, and he’s a good kid/teenager/young adult but not a goody-two-shoes or a pushover.
This issue, having been mistaken for Bruce Wayne after a single-engine plane he was in crashes into the Caribbean Sea, Clark finds himself on board a party boat with Oliver Queen, Sue Dibny, Vic Zsasz (not to be confused with Vic Szazs, aka The Question) and his wife, and Barbara Minerva, among others. He finds himself spending a lot of time with Barbara, who reveals that she knows he isn’t Bruce Wayne. Clark thinks he’s going to be busted, but Barbara encourages him to be Bruce and have fun. She says, “You can be yourself, even while being someone else. Hell, it might even be easier.” The line is a little heavy-handed, but you can see how this will come into play later on when Clark takes on the Superman identity.
Oh, and he fights Deathstroke, who also thinks he’s Bruce Wayne.
Max Landis has my attention with his version of Clark Kent: he’s perfectly normal except for the fact he has superpowers. This issue’s artist, Joëlle Jones, did a fantastic job as well. I’ve only read two or three stories with her as artist; I need to seek out some of her other work.
All in all, I’m gonna give the third issue of Superman: American Alien 4 Stars (out of a possible 5) and promise to do a review of the collected edition when it’s released later this year.
*I stand by my claim that this is an out-of-continuity miniseries, if only by virtue of the fact that it appears that most of Smallville knows Clark has powers. Okay, “most of” may be a stretch, but it appears that in addition to the Kents, Lana, and Pete, the doctor, Kenny, Farmer Ben, and the sheriff all know as well as those attending the movie in the first issue. They also appear to know how to keep a secret. Shhh! Loose lips sink ships!
**I recently caught up on the Superman titles. While I don't believe the "Truth" storyline is going to go down in history as one of the greatest Superman stories ever told, there were some things worth noting that came out of it before leading into the "Savage Dawn" storyline. These include (1) Perry White turning against Clark Kent -- can't see it myself; Perry knows Clark and knows Clark would do anything to protect them. Cat, on the other hand . . .? (2) Clark Kent as a fighter in a fight club -- not what you'd ever expect! and (3) further cementing in my mind that Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder's Action Comics is the best of the Superman titles currently being published, if only because they use Lana Lang and have fun.
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