Review: SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN #2

Writer:  Max Landis
Illustrator:  Tommy Lee Edwards
Letterer:  John Workman
Cover:  Ryan Sook
Publisher:  DC Comics

Max Landis returns to tell the second chapter in his “American Alien” saga chronicling the life of Clark Kent.  Landis is joined on art by Tommy Lee Edwards.  In this story, we see a teenage Clark Kent in Smallville, hanging with friends, when he finds himself involved in a deadly massacre and searching out the suspects.

What I Liked

It was fun to watch Clark interact with his longtime friend Lana Lang.  The two of them studying French together, with fun flirting was cute to see.  Clark even broke out a “too cool for school” double-finger point.

I give Max Landis credit for taking risks with the story and telling a darker tale.  When I think about Superman growing up, I don’t envision people in his childhood being murdered and a young Clark searching out the culprits.  Let alone what all went down after he found them and a fight broke out.

What I Didn’t Like

Even though I praised Landis taking a story risk, that doesn’t mean I enjoyed it.  I really wasn’t feeling this issue.  Where shall I start?  It seems the entire town of Smallville knows about Clark’s “abilities”.  From a local cop, to Clark’s buddies who tease him about his x-ray vision, everyone’s in on the big secret.  Speaking of which, is Smallville a replica of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show?  What kind of small town cop is going to ask a teenager for help solving a crime?

Tommy Lee Edwards’ art fits perfectly with this grittier story, but to me it doesn’t match a Superman tale.  Clark looks like any random 15 year old.  No distinguishable features at all.

The outcome of Clark confronting the criminals is pretty violent also.  This is an untrained Clark Kent who is still getting accustomed to his new powers, but I was still shocked at what he does to one person in particular.  But perhaps shock value is what Landis was going for.

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE