Exclusive Preview: ACTION COMICS #973

We're about to find who the "other" Clark Kent is. If you missed the past few issues, you can get a refresher on what's been going on here. We're about to get answers in the next arc in Action Comics.

ACTION COMICS #973

(W) Dan Jurgens (A) Patrick Zircher, Stephen Segovia, Art Thibert (CA) Clay Mann

"MILD MANNERED" part one! The road to "Superman: Reborn" starts here! With Superman and Lex Luthor back on Earth, the Man of Steel turns his attention to uncovering the mystery of the human Clark Kent living and working in Metropolis. But there's something...off about this guy, and Superman better figure out just what that is, before it's too late!

RATED T

DEC160242 In Shops: Feb 08, 2017 SRP: $2.99

I'm liking the artwork and the coloring. Whoever's selecting the artists over at DC definitely deserves a kudos.

Also, as to the storyline in these books, I wonder... Any chance the mysterious Clark Kent has some connection to the upcoming Watchmen event?

Maybe I haven't been following closely but it really isn't logical that there's a human Clark Kent without powers who somehow appeared with this anomaly Clark Kent.

Ok, maybe I might be overthinking... (or way off :S)

I am quite interested in this human Clark and what's he about...I hope the result won't be disappointing. Damn Lois, jumping into danger like that... going undercover :)

And we might finally learn what's with those Superwomen and their exploding ? I mean both New52 Clark and New52 Lois 'died' the same way...must be something important.

Loving it

To be fair, that looks good.

Looks good.

Superwoman is out next week...good thing too, 'cause that's a big spoiler for the issue.

Loving Lois undercover, for an older mom, she makes for a smoking good blonde

Looks good.

Anyone else think that Clark Kent is Hank Henshaw who is just been mentally programmed by Blanque?

@sly_141: Which Hank Henshaw? Pre-Flashpoint or post Flashpoint?

More hints, that Clark Kent is a New 52.

How Clark not noticed, that PF Lois looks older, than his Lois?

"My first thought when I read why did it take him so long to realize how special Lois is?"

I want either Hank or Superboy Prime.

@mkw69: I'm guessing Post Flashpoint cause that's the one that interacted with Blanqu and this Superman before

@sly_141: For Me that Clark Kent is Blue/Red Superman from late 90's. I think that Flashpoint has remodelled heroes instead of rebooting them. Some of them weren't because of Convergence like Wally West or Superman. Wally got back but he was hit and absorbed by speed force. Remmants of Superman energy and people memory shape new 52 Superman. Meta context is there that people say that you can't identify with Superman (which is Bullcrap). He reassembled himself and using information from around the world.

I wish they just let Lois and Lana be super women without killing them off in their first storyline....

@teerack: We really don't need 2 lois lane's. Lana will surely survive tho.

Lois looks fine as always

@2cool4fun: you probably don't read most of DC's books so how can you say what we don't need? :P

@teerack: Well that's quite an assumption you got there. But I'm pretty sure we don't, we alrerady have 3-4 different Kryptonian powered people in metropolis, now that Lana also has powered, might be 5 if Kon ever comes back. And if she was not powered up, she'd just be useless to the plot over time :/

Besides, we already have 1 Lois Lane, at least this way, Lana can also stay relevant.

Dude its not really an assumption no one reads most of DC's book they make a billion books. Going "We don't need two version of Lois" lane is a big assumption. If you're not into something don't read it doesn't mean it wouldn't be cool.

There are two different Speeders named Wally West lol. I don't think there being two completely different Lois Lane's would be an issue. Rebirth was pretty much DC realizing that it doesnt matter what version a character is and are just using all their best stuff now instead of making everything some lame new version. New 52 Lois and Lane were cool and good characters apart from the original version of the characters.

That's one of the several theories going around about who the new Clark Kent will turn out to be. Though Blanque being responsible is a new one for me.

But for the readers who do follow all of the Superman comics for example, it would be very confusing to see two Lois Lanes running about. The two Wallys have now been made into two separate characters so they can both be doing their own things. The two Lois Lanes are basically the same character from different universes. Having a regular journalist Lois and a super powered Lois makes no sense since it takes away from the human supporting cast in the Superman cast. Also, New 52 Lois was one of the biggest complaints from her fanbase.

I am start to get sick of seeing homages to Crisis on Infinite Earths Pose.

I think you mean Crisis on Infinite Earths pose homages.

Nah, That is a fear that people have that both marvel and dc have proven wrong. People always think if there are two of anything people's heads will implode but it doesnt happen and its currently not happening in the flash books.

They still never explained why New 52 Superman and Lois aren't like the rest of the Rebirth cast and aren't the "real" ones. I don't want that whole plot to be dropped for the sake of shock value no one even thought was cool.

And it actually doesn't take anything away from the supporting cast since they are two different people.

It's not as if there haven't been multiple versions of the same character from two different universe in the same continuity for long periods of time... that is kinda like DC's thing.

And honestly all of these "reasons" are really just justifications for being close minded saying the things you don't want to read shouldn't exist. /shrug

I like these Superman comics. I also like we don't have to wait long at all for the next issues. :D

It doesn't always work like with the Flashes or Green Lanterns though. Do you think it would be a good idea for both New 52 Superman and the Pre Flashpoint Superman to exist at the same time? Not only would that overcomplicate things but fans would argue about who the better Superman is and why they should stay.

Well they're going to explain the deal with New 52 Superman and Lois in the Superman Reborn event in March I believe. So that's where you can find the answers to that plot point.

Except that they're both essentially the same character but one has superpowers for no reason. Superheroes are supposed to have normal people in their supporting cast, not just other heroes. Plus New 52 Lois was poorly used and marginalised when DC had Superman date Wonder Woman instead.

Not at the same time though. It's not as if Pre Crisis Barry Allen has existed at the same time as modern Barry Allen, or Silver Age Superman existing in the Post Crisis universe.

It's not just the things I don't like shouldn't exist. It's that it overcomplicates things and tries to appeal to too many people all at once. Before they killed off New 52 Superman I was saying DC would need to pick one version and stick with it, and I felt the same way about Lois. She's not nearly as interesting or well written as the older Lois Lane.

10 years have been stolen from the DC timeline.

What if this Clark Kent is Superboy Prime ?

@lvenger: Sorry i meant that.

I like how human Clark Kent is just really determined to get stories. It has a very silver age feel to it.

To be fair, EVERY superhero/heroine has an identity crisis from time to time- am i (insert name of hero/heroine here), masked avenger of the night or mild mannered/playboy socialite( ie Zorro, Batman, Iron Man) much like undercover cops or spies who have been in "deep cover" too long!

Terry

All I can say is...

NNNGGGHHH!!!