We start this issue with the heralding of Lois Lane by Clark Kent. We are told how she is the most amazing woman he ever met. We are told how she outshines all women, even a royal princess at her own wedding. We are told how great a reporter she is (Pulitzer winner, Emmy nominee) and she is not even 30. We are told how she is his best friend etc. We are told lot of things. And since the reboot, we have not seen much to support the greatest reporter and the best friends tag and this supposed chemistry they suppose to share. I guess the writers, both here and in Action Comics, think the mere fact they were married last continuity, you don't have to show readers anything much.
Clark and Lois get into a little argument over the fact he walked out on his job and she comes to demand him to come back. He sticks to his guns re quitting but spoils it all when he pulls out the whining card. He is annoyed over the fact she did not tell him about moving in with Jonathan. Lois puts him in his place.
Lois calls him out on the "country mouse smile" plastered on his face he wore for the past week. Clark fumbles. Now I guess it could be because after he kissed Diana (if Lobdell is going according to Justice League's continuity) she flew off on him before they could discuss it. The kiss "just happened" and a "kiss is not a commitment" comes to mind. Or is it he still has feelings for Lois based on his reaction? He reminds me of a kid thinking mom has a new boyfriend, so where does that leave me? Has Clark really moved on? He claimed to have done so last issue yet he's still questioning himself over Lois and Jonathan. Now is this an attempt to start a lame triangle? Maybe. Or maybe Clark is genuinely conflicted because he does not know where he stands with Diana. What is he to tell Lois afterall? He can't share the woman he kissed was Wonder Woman and in any case, he has not officially started dating her. Now if Clark still carries on about what Lois is doing or not doing re her love life even after what we saw in Justice League #14, I can only conclude he is a selfish idiot.
Diana was very vulnerable after the Steve and Cheetah incidents and he should not have pursued her as he did if he is wanting something with Lois. Diana did not force him to open up to her and take her to Smallville and kiss her again. Diana is not some lame second choice and I hope the writer stay away from that sort of nonsense. Lois seems to view him as a friend and wants to keep it that way and it is not clear if Clark tried to date her and she turned him down.
The little discussion is abruptly interrupted by Supergirl who wants to have a word with her cousin. Clark lucks out when Lois concludes Clark is doing human interest stories and she is a cosplayer. He and Kara leave the apartment and get into an argument. Clark is not happy she nearly blew his ID and she is far from impressed with his alter-ego and earth on the whole. Kara has someone she wants Kal to meet.
H'El announces himself. He claims to have been a student of Jor-El and a test subject of the pod that would take Kal-El to earth. Superman does not believe him.
H'El does not appreciate being mocked and drags Superboy into the picture. He offers to snap the neck of this "abomination". Superman and H'El engage in battle. H'El appears to have super speed, super strength, the ability to teleport as well as mind controlling and telekenetic type abilities. He tricks Kara into thinking Superman turned on her and is on the verge of killing Superman. Superboy stops him only to get himself taken down. H'El leaves a defeated Superman, with the threat of resurrecting Krypton. He takes Kara with him.
Another good issue by the team of Lobdell and Rocafort. With the exception of Clark's juvenile attitude regarding Lois' personal life everything else was good. Lobdell paces well. We get that continued modern feel to the book with the dialogue and great art. There is humor and action all the while with ongoing world and character building. I am interested in H'El. I can understand Kara's and Superboy's ambivalence towards the world and their situation. I can't wait to see how their relationship with Clark grows. It's refreshing to see the supers have to really work for a change to build trust and respect for each other instead of it given to them on a platter.
I give this issue 4 out of 5 stars.
Best Panel: Superman, the pleb, taking on H'El.
Lois came off as a bitch in this issue and not a good friend. If Clark feels strongly about quitting and didn't want to go back, Lois should accept that. Not tell him to do something he didn't want. Oddly I saw a little of Margot Kidder in the art of Lois. Didn't Lois say Clark was her best friend? I don't think Clark said Lois was his best friend. It's not uncommon for Person A tell Person B that he's his best friend but Person B's best friend be someone else. All and all I think the whole thing was the writer's discretion and he won't be doing this again.
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