Action Comics #1004

[lordultimus]

Newsarama: So this secret that she’s hiding — I mean, from their interaction in the last couple issues, they appear to still be in love. But just to clarify, the secret is not some type of precursor to the end of their marriage, or something she’s doing behind Clark’s back to hurt him or anything.

Bendis: Oh, not at all. She couldn’t be more clear unless she almost says to the camera “we’re not breaking up; I’m madly in love with you.” They have a very complicated situation here.

Comments

[stubbleupdate]

Is that Cancer bit supposed to be really funny?

[crimsonmoonmist]

Personally I take Clark's warm smile at seeing Perry in good health as a heartwarming moment. Maybe a bit of both?

[matrix_dragon]

I take it as Perry being a little embarrassed to ask, but Superman more than happy to reassure his friend it hasn't come back.

[lordultimus]

I found it funny.

[clayhornik]

it's a reference to a lung cancer storyline from a while back. White got cancer, Com.Gordon had a heart attack, both stopped smoki.ng

[michael_ellis_day]

This is a decent take on their relationship but Lois calling Clark "baby" all the time is just wrong and utterly generic. If she called him "Smallville" or "farmboy" as a pet name that would work a thousand times better.

(And if he called her "sob sister" in reply, that would not only work in-story but also be a callback to Action Comics #1 where she complained about "dishing out sob stories" -- i.e., the kind of stories women reporters were forced to cover while male reporters got the high profile assignments.)

[bruinsfan]

Yeah, too much Jessica Jones in that dialog, not enough Lois Lane.

It's a bit disappointing in that Bendis had been doing a good job with most of the characters' distinctive voices so far. (Well, not counting Doomsbo or whatever his big new villain is called...)

[bradygirl_12]

That last panel is perfect. Hold tight, Lois!

Sorry to see the Kents 'normalcy' gone. Clark's happiest living in a farmhouse. :)

[shakalooloo]

"Former president Lex Luthor"

I love that little touch.

[remial]

last time I voted I was wearing my "Luthor for President" button, that I got many moons ago at the comic book store. they made me take it off because it could be considered campaigning for a candidate.

[shakalooloo]

Seriously? Wow, they must have to strip voters of all images of people real and fictional for fear of covert campaigning!

[wizardru]

I kind of expected Bendis to screw this up but...he really hasn't. I mean, I was skeptical, but this really feels like the best Superman in a while. I'm not 100% on it, but I like this more than I've like Superman in literal years.

[zylly]

I'm not one hundred percent on this take on the Clark and Lois relationship (I think Tomasi and Jurgens hit it a bit better), but I do like the running bit in Bendis's Superman runs of Clark taking about five seconds in a conversation to go avert some major disaster and then coming back like it's no big deal.