In the current Action Comics book, Rainbow Rowell and Cian Tormey are bringing us an interesting story looking at the Clark/Superman dichotomy and journalistic integrity. Can Clark fairly write about Superman? Or is the inherent conflict of interest going to stop him from giving the public the truth? I am really enjoying it.
That story reminded me of Action Comics #597 in which Lois again wonders about Clark's biases and abilities to be an honest journalist. This is year's before the identity was revealed. We are only 16 months into John Byrne's revision of Superman. And this issue brings into continuity one of the wonkiest aspects of Byrne's take on the character, that the Kents raised both Clark and Superman. I like Byrne's work on the character. But that, for me, is one of the weirdest and weakest additions.
This was also a time where Action Comics was a team-up book. So seeing this be a Lois and Lana issue also grabbed my attention. This is in the immediate post-Millennium DCU. Lana had just been deprogrammed from the Manhunters. Superman was still a relative newbie. This is the first time in the post-Crisis DCU that Lois and Lana have any sort of meaningful interaction. I like that part of the book as well.
As for Byrne, he loved to riff off of old Superman stories (the Lori Lemaris and Mxyzptlk re-introductions stand out) so seeing him do this Schaffenberger-esque cover of Lana and Lois fighting over the Man of Steel was a hoot for me. I especially like the cover text that this doesn't happen. We aren't in the Silver Age any more.
The art on the book is done by Byrne but also Leonard Starr and Keith Williams. It does give a softer, sort of older feel to the book which works well with the topic.
So let's dust off this back issue and dive in!
'Visitor' starts out with Lois driving to Smallville to do some investigating reporting.
In the Millennium storyline, Lana arrived in Metropolis, ripped open Clark's shirt at the Daily Planet (supposedly thinking the Superman shirt would be underneath), and then literally flew off.
With all the mystery about the Millennium incident still fresh, Lois heads to 'the town where miracles happen' to learn more. Remember, Smallville was 'the town where miracles happen' because Clark was stealthily using his powers there before revealing himself.
And as you can see, Lois is also intrigued about this being Clark's hometown. Clark hasn't been seen since that Lana incident.
Even this early, Byrne was planting some seeds about a Clark/Lois romance. She seems to be falling for him. I like this sort of peek behind the 'hard investigative journalist' exterior.
Sure enough, there's the Manhunter spaceship being dealt with in Smallville.
Again, I love that this is 'early' in the post-Crisis DCU. Lois has to comment that it is both news and not news that there is a spaceship on Earth. She has to mention the new JLA and the aliens on the team.
Next stop? The Kent Farm.
And who should Lois run into but Superman talking to Lana.
Talk about suspicious. Lana lives in Smallville, knows Clark, ripped off his shirt, and is now talking to Superman on the Kent farm??
As I said, this is the first real Lois and Lana moment in the post-Crisis world. I like how Byrne just tangentially touches on their prior incarnations rivalry by having both notice how attractive the other is and why Superman would love the other.
Yes, this might read a little old-fashioned already. But there isn't anything catty about this. Just two smart women noticing the other.
Of course, Clark isn't there per se. This only increases the suspicion.
In the span of two pages, Lois puts all the pieces together and asks outright if Superman IS Clark.
Just perfect for Lois. Love that she sort of sussed it all out quickly.
And this is just the sort of thing that could have led to a very interesting turn of events.
Would Superman lie? Would he obfuscate (after all Superman and Clark are different personas)?
Would he tell the truth, a la Bendis?
Would he tell the truth, a la Bendis?
But before the answer can come, the Kents burst in and basically toss a Hail Mary.
Clark was born during the blizzard. They also found Superman in that ship during that same blizzard. They brought the alien baby Superman into their home and raised him as their own. Clark and Superman are like 'step-brothers'. And Superman obfuscates and says yes.
There is a lot to unpack here. And not much of it is good.
One, Lois is all to trusting to just accept this.
Two, if true, did the Kents keep Superman at the farm the whole time? Shuttered away from town life?? Why not just say Martha had twins in that blizzard? And it still doesn't explain why Clark and Superman have never been seen together.
Instead, Lois gets peeved about the journalistic integrity angle. Clark's scoop about Superman's existence? How could he do that and remain unbiased? He got the scoop because of that relationship ... not because of his skills.
Ahhh ... Lois and the ethics of journalism! Don't change!
And now what does Lois do with this info? Shouldn't she write about it?
Clark shows up that night at the hotel where Lois is staying and she unleashes on him. Perhaps deservedly so.
But even in this occupational rant, she brings up that she was starting to like Clark.
And then a couple of interesting twists.
One, Clark basically admits he has fallen in love with Lois. But she wants no part of it. "I'll never be able to look at you, or Superman, in the same way. Not EVER again.' Pretty stark but in the heat of this moment, again deserved.
But then Byrne inserts a couple of flashback panels of Sam Lane riding Lois for being weak, for not being as strong as a man. The panels don't necessarily flow out of the ones prior. It isn't like what Clark has said triggers these memories.
Is this Byrne's way of bolstering this brusque, brutal response from Lois. That she is strong like 'a man' and cuts ties to Clark and Superman?
Is this Byrne's way of bolstering this brusque, brutal response from Lois. That she is strong like 'a man' and cuts ties to Clark and Superman?
The trip to Smallville ends with Lana tracking down Lois for a sit-down diner breakfast.
Lana says that despite all the journalistic machinations, she knows Clark. He is a good man. And he is in love with Lois.
The scene is a bit open-ended. It is hard to know if Lois cares about Lana's take on the matter.
But it seems pretty clear back in Metropolis. Superman and Lois happen to visit a hospitalized Jose Delgado at the same time.
She gives him the cold shoulder.
This is truly a sort of time capsule issue, looking at an early-ish post-Crisis world. Superman is still 'new'. Lana is just coming back into his life. And Lois is still a tough reporter looking at all the angles.
I think the 'step-brother' angle is almost stupid. I don't think it has lasted the test of time/reboots. It certainly added an odd wrinkle to the secret identity morass. Lois' response to all this makes sense given who she is.
But I think this issue also shows just what a solid story-telling looks like in a serialized comic story. There is no super-heroics in this issue. No super-powers ever used. This is all conversations between main characters and supporting cast. And yet is all deepens who they are, making them three-dimensional and adding some verisimilitude to how people interact. But I loved it. I didn't even realize there was no super stuff in the book until I sat down to write this.
The art, as I said, feels almost Bronze-y adding to the mix.
Overall grade: B
5 comments:
While it's perfectly understandable to think so, it should be noted by this issue in-universe, post-Crisis Superman isn't that "new" anymore. The "Man of Steel" origin alone spans several years (in the Bizarro issue Lois muses on how she's "waited five years to kiss Superman"), and this is likely a year or so into the "present" (if you get me).
Like I said, though - it's understandable. The tone of the writing, along with so many "firsts" occurring (eg. Lois and Lana meeting) that theoretically would've happened much earlier, indeed makes it seem still relatively early in Superman's career. It's difficult to remember that in-universe, superheroes have already been around for years - with several Justice Leagues and two Robins!
This story is typical of John Byrne's Superman. A lot of good things like Lana and Lois behaving like responsible adults towards each other and then Byrne will throw in something like the Kents raising Clark and Superman as brothers that is just off. Don't even get me started on Superman murdering the Phantom Zone criminals in the last issue. You would think the pocket universe's version of the Spectre would have subjected them to an appropriately horrible fate a long time ago.
I remember being so nostalgically excited when I saw this cover, but yes, the way Lana and Lois behaved inside was better for the times. Seriously though, there’s so much gaslighting of Lois in this issue (‘Sure I do Lois. But you’re confused and you’re hurt and you have no reason to be’), not just from Clark, but the Kents and Lana.
The stepbrothers bit was incredibly dumb, and as you make clear, Lois would not have accepted the story. Heck, I’m disappointed Ma even told it - that’s pure Silver Age stuff, the post-Crisis Martha would have had more respect for Lois.
Also, I get that the DC line for decades has been that the Kents taught Clark morality, but I dislike Lana’s line about them being ‘simple people’ who see the world in very straightforward terms. Wasn’t it Byrne who wrote the World of Smallville mini series (plugged in an editorial note here) that showed a great depth of characterisation for Martha and Jonathan? These people know grey areas, nuance.
One thing I can’t quibble with is the art - excellent John Byrne compositions, background inks by Keith Williams and simply gorgeous figure inks by Leonard Starr - what a surprise to see a newspaper strip artist ‘guest star’. Didn’t he also do something in DC Who’s Who? The delicacy is gorgeous, and choices such as the shadowy Superman at the bottom of page seven (I saw someone praise this online and they’re so right) are stunning. I wish we’d had more from Starr in DC Comics.
Also, Lois invents the JLI!
(Extra line because I forgot to hit Notify Me)
Thanks so much for all the comments.
To first anon - so much of this feels early maybe because it has been nearly 40 yrs! But Lois talk about how it had been a while since super-heroes were around and then Superman jumpstarted all of them as well as this being her first visit to Smallville made it feel 'early'.
Yes, the Martha solution seems too nutty to be believed. And it does seem like Byrne overthinking it. I have been dipping my toe in the early Byrne stuff and things like his aura prevents him from getting dirty also seems like a stretch. But so there is still a lot to like. I think he definitely gave the IP a shot of adrenaline.
Like you Mart, I love the art, a sort of softer Byrne. Lush in its own way.
Thanks again for comments!
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