Comic Review: Superman (2018-) #17

Superman (2018-) #17

DC Comics

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Kevin Maguire, Paul Mounts, & Alex Sinclair

Bendis’ Superman is interesting, to say the least.  It doesn’t feel like anything leads toward a certain point or end goal.  Instead, things just bob up out of nowhere until they’re resolved.  First Rogol appears before he’s quickly discarded only for Bendis to advertise his new Legion book.  And next in the line of things just suddenly happening to Superman, Clark is ready to reveal his secret identity to the world.

Even though there is no way this character-change will ever last, I will concede that it’s an interesting concept.  In many ways, this feels like a natural decision for the character to make.  He is based on truth, justice, and the American way after all.  I like the idea of a Superman that doesn’t hide from the world, one that shows everyone who he really is.

The problem is that this is only interesting as an idea.  The actual practicality of Superman revealing his identity to the world is nonexistent.  How does he protect his loved ones?  How does he keep his job at the Daily Planet?  How does Lex Luthor feel about finally learning Superman’s identity?  Although that last one probably doesn’t matter as he’s off being Perpetua’s favorite son.

Not only is the idea of Superman revealing his identity, not a practical one, but it also isn’t handled particularly well in this issue.  The middle section of the issue shows Superman shutting down a rogue faction of S.T.A.R. Labs who performs illegal experiments.  They’re the bad guys because they are keeping secrets, and this realization inspires Superman to tell the truth about who he really is.  Talk about heavy-handed.

This whole S.T.A.R. Labs plotline only exists so Superman realizes that telling the truth is a good thing.  Bendis sets up these villains as the only defenders of secrecy in the story because he wants to straw-man the argument against Superman revealing his identity.  If Bendis really wanted to make Superman question the role of secrecy in the superhero community, wouldn’t Event Leviathan be a much better series for this decision?

Although I think there is some real potential in Superman revealing his identity, I don’t see any of it in Superman #17.  I find it strange that Superman’s decision happens at the beginning of a story instead of the end of one.  Going forward I don’t know what’s going to be worse, the public’s perception of Superman’s reveal in the comics, or the public’s perception of Superman’s reveal in real life.

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