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Action Comics (1938-2011) #597
Action Comics (1938-2011) #597
Lois Lane visits Smallville following the aftermath of the Millennium crossover story, intent on finding the truth of who Superman really is.
- GenresDc ComicsComic Book
23 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 1988
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
John Byrne
2,957 books360 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
John Lindley Byrne is a British-born Canadian-American author and artist of comic books. Since the mid-1970s, Byrne has worked on nearly every major American superhero.
Byrne's better-known work has been on Marvel Comics' X-Men and Fantastic Four and the 1986 relaunch of DC Comics’ Superman franchise. Coming into the comics profession exclusively as a penciler, Byrne began co-plotting the X-Men comics during his tenure on them, and launched his writing career in earnest with Fantastic Four (where he also started inking his own pencils). During the 1990s he produced a number of creator-owned works, including Next Men and Danger Unlimited. He also wrote the first issues of Mike Mignola's Hellboy series and produced a number of Star Trek comics for IDW Publishing.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
John Lindley Byrne is a British-born Canadian-American author and artist of comic books. Since the mid-1970s, Byrne has worked on nearly every major American superhero.
Byrne's better-known work has been on Marvel Comics' X-Men and Fantastic Four and the 1986 relaunch of DC Comics’ Superman franchise. Coming into the comics profession exclusively as a penciler, Byrne began co-plotting the X-Men comics during his tenure on them, and launched his writing career in earnest with Fantastic Four (where he also started inking his own pencils). During the 1990s he produced a number of creator-owned works, including Next Men and Danger Unlimited. He also wrote the first issues of Mike Mignola's Hellboy series and produced a number of Star Trek comics for IDW Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 27, 2025
I guess I know where Clark inherited all his gaslighting skills, wow the Kent’s are quick!! This was quite an in your face shocking issue, and probably my favorite issue with Lois Lane to date. It really showed off well that she is not a fool. From the events of Millenium and Lana running into the daily planet, ripping Clark’s shirt off, then flying away…Lois decided to drive on down and investigate Smallville herself. Only to come in and find a quiet town, that is acting very nonchalant about the alien spacecraft that landed over in Lana’s yard and almost killed everyone in town.
Lois can’t believe this isn’t being reported on anywhere else and has come across the story of a lifetime. She headed over to Lana’s house to talk to her…only to find her in Superman’s arms!! Now this shouldn’t come as too much of a shock, she was just involved in an attack at the daily planet and an alien spacecraft, but Lois has a nose to ask the right questions…and asking if he knows her was the right question. Leading to an explanation that Superman has known Lana for some time. Since Clark isn’t here, Superman and Lana are more than happy to tell an abridged version of the story, and by the end of it she agreed some of it needs to stay under wraps.
But it seems they gave her a but too much info, as now she has questions about superman’s connection to smallville and why the manhunters would come here. Superman tried to explain it away as the manhunters using his connection to Clark. But this doesn’t add up for Lois, there are too many coincidences and now this has Lois wondering, especially as she’s never heard Superman’s real name. Plus the world hadn’t seen any real superheroes since WW2, and now they are popping up everywhere. The world was so thrilled to see the greatest superhero ever, that they overlooked the details…like their secret identity. Which leads Lois to ask point blank: “Superman…are you Clark Kent?”
Suddenly Ma and Pa Kent come in laughing about the question, Clark would be flattered. But they decided it’s time to tell the truth, especially as they know Superman because they were the ones that found his ticket 3 months after Clark was born, they were also the ones to help raise Kal-El and realized immediately that he was special. This is such an insane level of gaslighting on the fly, but it also ruins the situation in another way. If Superman and Clark are akin to stepbrothers…that means Clark has had Superman’s help this entire time!! She resented him for stealing the Superman story from her, and now she really knows why!! This isn’t some golden age story where Lois laughs it off and everything goes back to normal…NO, she is tired of being kicked around for their amusement.
That was quite a major backfire on all their counts, but at least it got Lois off Clark being Superman. But if he is going to repair things he is going to have to talk to her. That night he came to her as Clark to her hotel room. He tried to explain that they weren’t stealing stories from her, and that she is still a great reporter. But as Clark talks to Lois this scene offers some very important background for Lois, as she can only think back to her military father. The father that didn’t want a girl and taught her to be the very best and to stop acting like a girl and take things for herself. It’s a brutal thing to instill into a child, but Lois still carries that individuality, and that makes it very hard to even consider going back to the daily planet.
The next day before she left Lana met up with her and offered to buy her breakfast. There Lana made her point: Clark is obviously in love with her. He’s small town boy with straightforward, good, moral values and she knows in her heart that Clark is really in love with Lois.
Hours later Lois arrived back in metropolis and checked her answering machine. After getting past the call from her mother, and Alex asking her to go to a show…she got one from Jose to say thank you, she may have saved his life getting him to the hospital in time…and he would love to see her. Past visiting hours Lois went to the hospital and was able to see him in one worst state imaginable. The only thing moving on his body is an eye and his mouth. Jose is in an understandably bitter state, and knowing that he will never walk again had even brought him to the point of contemplating suicide. He thought he was some kind of hero, but the first time he goes up against a villain…and as Superman walks in and cuts him off, he changes his statement to affirm that Jose acted admirably. Superman and Jose of course met before and he came here to see his friend. HEY, at least Jose fared better than the other guy. Speaking of which they can’t ID the body due to the mystery chemical coursing through his veins. Of course Superman knows who is really behind this, and his days are numbered. But by that time it was time for them to leave. Superman offered to give Lois a lift home, but she would much rather walk…seems there will be totally understandable distain for a minute. But on another interesting note, the tease tor the next issue mentions vigilante: “vigilante is dead…but not forgotten…introducing checkmate.” WHAT?! Is someone actually inspired by that lunatic?
Lois can’t believe this isn’t being reported on anywhere else and has come across the story of a lifetime. She headed over to Lana’s house to talk to her…only to find her in Superman’s arms!! Now this shouldn’t come as too much of a shock, she was just involved in an attack at the daily planet and an alien spacecraft, but Lois has a nose to ask the right questions…and asking if he knows her was the right question. Leading to an explanation that Superman has known Lana for some time. Since Clark isn’t here, Superman and Lana are more than happy to tell an abridged version of the story, and by the end of it she agreed some of it needs to stay under wraps.
But it seems they gave her a but too much info, as now she has questions about superman’s connection to smallville and why the manhunters would come here. Superman tried to explain it away as the manhunters using his connection to Clark. But this doesn’t add up for Lois, there are too many coincidences and now this has Lois wondering, especially as she’s never heard Superman’s real name. Plus the world hadn’t seen any real superheroes since WW2, and now they are popping up everywhere. The world was so thrilled to see the greatest superhero ever, that they overlooked the details…like their secret identity. Which leads Lois to ask point blank: “Superman…are you Clark Kent?”
Suddenly Ma and Pa Kent come in laughing about the question, Clark would be flattered. But they decided it’s time to tell the truth, especially as they know Superman because they were the ones that found his ticket 3 months after Clark was born, they were also the ones to help raise Kal-El and realized immediately that he was special. This is such an insane level of gaslighting on the fly, but it also ruins the situation in another way. If Superman and Clark are akin to stepbrothers…that means Clark has had Superman’s help this entire time!! She resented him for stealing the Superman story from her, and now she really knows why!! This isn’t some golden age story where Lois laughs it off and everything goes back to normal…NO, she is tired of being kicked around for their amusement.
That was quite a major backfire on all their counts, but at least it got Lois off Clark being Superman. But if he is going to repair things he is going to have to talk to her. That night he came to her as Clark to her hotel room. He tried to explain that they weren’t stealing stories from her, and that she is still a great reporter. But as Clark talks to Lois this scene offers some very important background for Lois, as she can only think back to her military father. The father that didn’t want a girl and taught her to be the very best and to stop acting like a girl and take things for herself. It’s a brutal thing to instill into a child, but Lois still carries that individuality, and that makes it very hard to even consider going back to the daily planet.
The next day before she left Lana met up with her and offered to buy her breakfast. There Lana made her point: Clark is obviously in love with her. He’s small town boy with straightforward, good, moral values and she knows in her heart that Clark is really in love with Lois.
Hours later Lois arrived back in metropolis and checked her answering machine. After getting past the call from her mother, and Alex asking her to go to a show…she got one from Jose to say thank you, she may have saved his life getting him to the hospital in time…and he would love to see her. Past visiting hours Lois went to the hospital and was able to see him in one worst state imaginable. The only thing moving on his body is an eye and his mouth. Jose is in an understandably bitter state, and knowing that he will never walk again had even brought him to the point of contemplating suicide. He thought he was some kind of hero, but the first time he goes up against a villain…and as Superman walks in and cuts him off, he changes his statement to affirm that Jose acted admirably. Superman and Jose of course met before and he came here to see his friend. HEY, at least Jose fared better than the other guy. Speaking of which they can’t ID the body due to the mystery chemical coursing through his veins. Of course Superman knows who is really behind this, and his days are numbered. But by that time it was time for them to leave. Superman offered to give Lois a lift home, but she would much rather walk…seems there will be totally understandable distain for a minute. But on another interesting note, the tease tor the next issue mentions vigilante: “vigilante is dead…but not forgotten…introducing checkmate.” WHAT?! Is someone actually inspired by that lunatic?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2025
So a weird development in this issue. I think it is the first time that we get to see Lois questioning things about Clark Kent.
The weird development is instead of Lois discovering Clark's secret full out she believes that Superman was found in the storm by Ma and Pa Kent and raised alongside Clark like a brother.
Lois believes this version and is so pissed that Clark has an inside advantage due to this relationship with Superman she basically doesn't want anything to do with Clark or Superman.
Then the aftermath with Combattor where Lois visits Jose Delgado in the hospital and we find out he will never walk again. Superman walks in and finds Lois whom he did not expect to be visiting. This scene reinforces she doesn't want to be around Superman.
The weird development is instead of Lois discovering Clark's secret full out she believes that Superman was found in the storm by Ma and Pa Kent and raised alongside Clark like a brother.
Lois believes this version and is so pissed that Clark has an inside advantage due to this relationship with Superman she basically doesn't want anything to do with Clark or Superman.
Then the aftermath with Combattor where Lois visits Jose Delgado in the hospital and we find out he will never walk again. Superman walks in and finds Lois whom he did not expect to be visiting. This scene reinforces she doesn't want to be around Superman.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
Lois Lane in Smallville!
She goes searching for Lana Lang after the events of Millennium and finds her… with Superman!
Then, Lois asks the question I’m guessing Supes never wanted her to ask… is he really Clark Kent?
Ma and Pa Kent come to the rescue, although their story enrages the reporter.
Clark tries and fails to explain.
Lana also tries to help... by saying Clark is in love with Lois!
The issue ends with Lois still mad at Superman but they have a new mystery to solve…
I’m glad they didn’t make Lois and Lana catty towards each other. It’s a total cliche to have women fighting over a man.
She goes searching for Lana Lang after the events of Millennium and finds her… with Superman!
Then, Lois asks the question I’m guessing Supes never wanted her to ask… is he really Clark Kent?
Ma and Pa Kent come to the rescue, although their story enrages the reporter.
Clark tries and fails to explain.
Lana also tries to help... by saying Clark is in love with Lois!
The issue ends with Lois still mad at Superman but they have a new mystery to solve…
I’m glad they didn’t make Lois and Lana catty towards each other. It’s a total cliche to have women fighting over a man.
April 3, 2024
Blowout over the events of Millennium. I’m just happy that sh*t is over.
This is a good issue where Lois starts to question certain things about Superman’s background.
This is a good issue where Lois starts to question certain things about Superman’s background.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews