What do you think?
Superman: American Alien (Single Issues) #2
Superman: American Alien (2015-2016) #2 (Superman: American Alien
After Smallville experiences its first violent crime in years, teenager Clark Kent is pressured by his best friend Pete Ross to take matters into his own hands in the second issue of SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN!
Renowned artist Tommy Lee Edwards (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD) illustrates this unflinching look at the boy behind the Man of Steel.
Renowned artist Tommy Lee Edwards (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD) illustrates this unflinching look at the boy behind the Man of Steel.
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2015
About the author
Max Landis
50 books77 followersMax Landis is a Hollywood screenwriter and Eisner Award nominee. Featured as one of Forbes 30 under 30 two consecutive years, Max Landis is an outspoken rising star in the screenwriting world. Having sold over fifteen projects in the last five years, Landis' first produced feature, Chronicle, did well at the box office and led to more sales.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 6, 2021
2.5/5
*re-read this because my seizures made my memory of it pretty foggy.
*re-read this because my seizures made my memory of it pretty foggy.
January 17, 2016
Interesting look at teenage Clark, but not quite as good as the first issue. I didn't like the art here as much (I often had trouble identifying people, like I didn't even know that was Clark who showed up at the house until he started doing some of his Superman stuff).
The story (like the art) is a lot darker here—a gang shows up in Smallville and kills a few people in a convenience store. Clark decides to try to stop them on his own, and goes a little overboard with his powers (e.g. burning a guys limbs off with heat vision).
Maybe it's because the first issue was so bright and hopeful, or maybe I just don't like seeing a torn teenager, but this was definitely a big step down in the series.
Plus, there's a one-page epilogue that features some character that probably means a lot to Superman lovers, but he doesn't mean anything to me...
The story (like the art) is a lot darker here—a gang shows up in Smallville and kills a few people in a convenience store. Clark decides to try to stop them on his own, and goes a little overboard with his powers (e.g. burning a guys limbs off with heat vision).
Maybe it's because the first issue was so bright and hopeful, or maybe I just don't like seeing a torn teenager, but this was definitely a big step down in the series.
Plus, there's a one-page epilogue that features some character that probably means a lot to Superman lovers, but he doesn't mean anything to me...
March 31, 2020
Una maravilla.
February 17, 2016
A bit grittier and darker then #1, but definitely a strong issue!
September 18, 2024
Salutations, comment ça va?!...
Globale: 4/5
Une œuvre saisissante de part sa nature narrative et graphique. Du contenu. Des dessins magnifiques (enfin… très inégaux selon les épisodes).
Écriture: 4.5/5
De la ressource! Les passages avec Lex Luthor sont les plus compliqués et pour être honnête sont un peu galères à lire. Sinon, en dehors de certaines pages, tout se lit très facilement.
Originalité: 5/5
Superman est vu sous différents angles. Voyou, extra terrestre, sauveur, vampire, etc… C’est sans cesse une réinvention du mythe Superman mais ce Reboot est bon niveau originalité en tout cas…
Pédagogie: 3.5/5
Clark Kent pourrait tyranniser la planète entière à la force de ses bras mais il a choisi de faire le bien, aider les gens… Pas de message transcendant ni de perfection pour les petits, mais une bonne morale quand même.
Personnage: 3.5/5
Un personnage assez plat et aseptisé. Curieusement, on s’y attache quand même fort bien. Peut-être est ce qu’il est suffisamment « vide » pour qu’on y projette notre propre personnalité.
Scénario: 2/5
Un scénario dispensable, qui est prétexte à nous montrer tout ce que les comics nous montrent. Bref, un scénario dont je ne retiendrais rien, mis à part que Superman est fort, cool et bon en baston. Et qu’il pécho des meufs de ouf! (Voir images ci-jointes).
Suspens: 2/5
Pas vraiment de suspens. Superman c’est Superman il ne peut pas perdre. Il ne peut pas échouer. C’est comme Sonic, ou Mario, ou Dragon Ball, toutes ces séries « tout public » ou le mal n’est jamais vainqueur. Mais aussi, ça ressemble à n’importe quel livre de super héros ou presque (il y a de rares exceptions!).
Additivité: 5/5
Une bonne Additivité. Le tout s’enchaîne assez vite. La belle plume veut ça. C’est vraiment une grande qualité d’arriver à nous tenir en haleine sur plus de 200 pages.
Créativité: 4/5
On ne réinvente pas la roue ! C’est du Superman avec des codes de Superman. Tout le LORE annexe est bien bossé ceci dit. On a une base solide, et des petites innovations.
Humour: 3/5
Quelques blagues! Certains passages sont un peu « détente » comme Superman bourré affrontant Death Stroke (Je savais pas qu’il était sensible à l’alcool! Tout comme je n’étais pas sûr qu’il puisse saigner « l’homme d’acier »). Alternance de passages sérieux/rigolos. Qui rend la lecture un peu plus amusante.
Merci!
Phoenix
++
Globale: 4/5
Une œuvre saisissante de part sa nature narrative et graphique. Du contenu. Des dessins magnifiques (enfin… très inégaux selon les épisodes).
Écriture: 4.5/5
De la ressource! Les passages avec Lex Luthor sont les plus compliqués et pour être honnête sont un peu galères à lire. Sinon, en dehors de certaines pages, tout se lit très facilement.
Originalité: 5/5
Superman est vu sous différents angles. Voyou, extra terrestre, sauveur, vampire, etc… C’est sans cesse une réinvention du mythe Superman mais ce Reboot est bon niveau originalité en tout cas…
Pédagogie: 3.5/5
Clark Kent pourrait tyranniser la planète entière à la force de ses bras mais il a choisi de faire le bien, aider les gens… Pas de message transcendant ni de perfection pour les petits, mais une bonne morale quand même.
Personnage: 3.5/5
Un personnage assez plat et aseptisé. Curieusement, on s’y attache quand même fort bien. Peut-être est ce qu’il est suffisamment « vide » pour qu’on y projette notre propre personnalité.
Scénario: 2/5
Un scénario dispensable, qui est prétexte à nous montrer tout ce que les comics nous montrent. Bref, un scénario dont je ne retiendrais rien, mis à part que Superman est fort, cool et bon en baston. Et qu’il pécho des meufs de ouf! (Voir images ci-jointes).
Suspens: 2/5
Pas vraiment de suspens. Superman c’est Superman il ne peut pas perdre. Il ne peut pas échouer. C’est comme Sonic, ou Mario, ou Dragon Ball, toutes ces séries « tout public » ou le mal n’est jamais vainqueur. Mais aussi, ça ressemble à n’importe quel livre de super héros ou presque (il y a de rares exceptions!).
Additivité: 5/5
Une bonne Additivité. Le tout s’enchaîne assez vite. La belle plume veut ça. C’est vraiment une grande qualité d’arriver à nous tenir en haleine sur plus de 200 pages.
Créativité: 4/5
On ne réinvente pas la roue ! C’est du Superman avec des codes de Superman. Tout le LORE annexe est bien bossé ceci dit. On a une base solide, et des petites innovations.
Humour: 3/5
Quelques blagues! Certains passages sont un peu « détente » comme Superman bourré affrontant Death Stroke (Je savais pas qu’il était sensible à l’alcool! Tout comme je n’étais pas sûr qu’il puisse saigner « l’homme d’acier »). Alternance de passages sérieux/rigolos. Qui rend la lecture un peu plus amusante.
Merci!
Phoenix
++
July 26, 2025
”Hawk”
”The Castaways” has a 17 year old Clark practicing French with Lana Lang. Pete Ross picks him up to give him a ride.
The go behind someone’s house to drink beer. Apparently both Pete and another kid know Clarks’ secrets. They talk about the uses of X-Ray vision.
Then a cop pulls up. He’s there to tell them that an armed robbery took place a the gas station that killed a bunch of people they knew.
Pete’s uncle saw the whole thing so Pete has to take him home. He’s not doing well.
”They begged. They cried. They killed them all anyway. I hid. Am I a coward? I let them die…”
After they drop off Pete’s uncle, Pete goads Clark.
”You could find them. The ones who did this.”
Clark does find them. It doesn’t go well for them. Clark is actually hurt as well.
This was really good as well. At first I didn’t like the art, but it’s actually very effective. 4 stars.
”The Castaways” has a 17 year old Clark practicing French with Lana Lang. Pete Ross picks him up to give him a ride.
The go behind someone’s house to drink beer. Apparently both Pete and another kid know Clarks’ secrets. They talk about the uses of X-Ray vision.
Then a cop pulls up. He’s there to tell them that an armed robbery took place a the gas station that killed a bunch of people they knew.
Pete’s uncle saw the whole thing so Pete has to take him home. He’s not doing well.
”They begged. They cried. They killed them all anyway. I hid. Am I a coward? I let them die…”
After they drop off Pete’s uncle, Pete goads Clark.
”You could find them. The ones who did this.”
Clark does find them. It doesn’t go well for them. Clark is actually hurt as well.
This was really good as well. At first I didn’t like the art, but it’s actually very effective. 4 stars.
January 3, 2018
I share most of the reviewers' opinions on the second issue: it was not quite as good as the first one. The tone seemed uneven, although, I suspect it was intentional. Landis intended it that way, as he wished to portray seven different stages, of Clark Kent's evolution into Superman.
As for the art, it felt jumbled. I had trouble identifying who's who, and at times, I couldn't understand what was happening. The transition from one part of the story to another also felt rushed. Which again, I felt was deliberate artistic choice. However, it didn't work on me.
As for the art, it felt jumbled. I had trouble identifying who's who, and at times, I couldn't understand what was happening. The transition from one part of the story to another also felt rushed. Which again, I felt was deliberate artistic choice. However, it didn't work on me.
November 4, 2020
The artwork is more experimental here, but too shadowy for my taste. Still, the ending saves this issue. There is this question of what would have happened to the family had Clark not intervened when they were about to get shot at. And there's a heartwarming moment between Clark and Martha.
December 21, 2025
Great artwork and story, I like the detail how it's not just Clark parents that know of his an alien, but at good bit of close friends to the Clarks even the sheriff, make it more wholesome in a way, there see him for himself
May 20, 2018
Crítica | Superman: Alienígena Americano
http://www.planocritico.com/critica-s...
http://www.planocritico.com/critica-s...
December 30, 2025
he’s so baby
March 6, 2017
3.5 stars
December 22, 2015
Can we take a minute to see how amazing and powerful the art of this comic is ? It's absolutely stunning ! This second issue focuses on Clark as a teenager. It's interesting to see that he's acting like a normal teenager facing an existensial crisis. Even though, he deals with 'alien' problems, he's just trying to figure out who he is.
December 19, 2015
Big jump in time between #1 and #2. Here we find a teenager Clark who try to find his place between a normal teen and the superhero he will become. Maybe a little cliché, but still interesting! We may see the face of a darker Clark in futur issue, just a guest...
February 2, 2016
I love that cover, would like to hang it as a poster in my room! This chapter deals with Clark Kent's dilemma in helping people, to use or not to use, that is always a question... Favourite comic cover so far, classic!
December 17, 2015
Awesome.
Different artist, great art.
Nice little story.
Just loving the series.
Different artist, great art.
Nice little story.
Just loving the series.
January 3, 2016
Another good read from max landis take on superman growing up. I prefer the realism in the storylines compared to the main DC superman title(s).
February 24, 2016
French Lessons.
October 1, 2016
Didn't like the art very much. It felt like it was unnecessarily too dark. And I loved the way the town relies on young Clark.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews