“My name is Clark Kent.. and no one believes I am who I say I am.”
The mystery of who is Clark Kent begins!! Everyone knows who Clark Kent is. He’s Superman right!? Well, since the last arc , the people of Metropolis are wondering why is there another Superman who is fighting doomsday in addition to a Clark Kent simultaneously on the scene. He has no powers and actually relies on his journalistic know how to investigate the evil secrets of an evil organization known as Geneticron. In the midst of his attempts to expose Geneticron, Lex Luthor, Perry White, Jimmy Olson and many others are all wondering if this Clark Kent is the real deal or not. Because the last time Clark Kent was Alive he was exposed as Superman during the “Truth” arc. But since the passing of that Superman, another Superman from a previous Universe (Pre 52/ Flashpoint) had taken up the name and decided to fill the void that this world’s Superman left in the wake of his death. But how does this make this human known as Clark Kent feel? Where did this Clark Kent come from? What revelations await him, Superman, and everyone else?
This issue really looked into who Clark Kent the journalist is. It’s not focused on a Clark Kent who has powers and bends steel and solve stories with his powers. This is focused on a flesh and blood Clark Kent , who so far as the readers know, could be a clone? Or something else? What I like about this issue is that it really examines who Clark Kent is, and tries to dissect what makes Kent different from the high-flying alter ego that he is usually associated with. In addition to how he deals with such situations and his journalistic approach to handling stories attempting to expose the truth.
Dan Jurgens who’s had a handful of experience drawing and writing Superman since prior and after his work on the classic Death of Superman really knows what makes these characters within this universe tick. Interestingly enough, since the last exploding arc where Superman, Lex Luthor, & Wonder Woman were having a knock down drag out fight with Doomsday, this arc began with a more quieter approach. Definitely, believe that there is a build up for sure, but in the meantime, it’s looking to be a fun ride full of mystery and intrigue. Especially when a human Clark Kent comes face to face with the real Man of Steel who is so often associated with. Seeing two versions of the same character who happen to have actual differences makes for an intriguing character study.
The art by Patrick Zircher is awesome and fits well with the specific setup of this story. It manages to do a good job at focusing on the every man, mild-mannered aspect of Clark Kent and the people of Metropolis. I enjoyed the scene on pages 6-8 where Lex Luthor holds a press conference for Clark Kent to clear up the confusion about him being the Real Deal Man of Steel that the public has been led to believe. The crowd’s reaction , showcasing that they are not buying it, while also expressing suspicion from everyone was well handled. The colorist Arif Prianto color work fits perfectly with the aesthetic of this story, from the interior of office spaces, rooms, and buildings, to the general crowd at a rally. The rest of the team on this book did a good job. I definitely suggest getting this book. If you liked the last arc, then you’ll like what Jurgens and Co will do next as the Mystery of who this Clark Kent is unraveled.
Newsdesk