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Superman: American Alien (Single Issues) #3
Superman: American Alien (2015-) #3
When his plane crash-lands in the middle of the ocean, 21-year-old Clark Kent finds himself at a raging party on a massive yacht and is mistaken for the guest of honor: billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne!
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2016
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Max Landis
53 books78 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.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 13, 2016
Twentysomething Clark Kent wins a Caribbean holiday but something goes wrong on the way there and his small plane crashes into the sea. Luckily, Bruce Wayne’s yacht is nearby to pick up him and his pilot – and then Clark’s mistaken for Bruce!
Superman: American Alien is an episodic limited series looking at different stages of Superman’s life, highlighting aspects of his character that sometimes get overlooked. Here, writer Max Landis shows Clark as a regular young man who gets drunk, flirts with pretty girls, and doesn’t worry about saving the world – a very un-Superman portrayal but a human and relatable one.
True to character, Bruce never attends his birthday parties or any social gatherings really (though they’re thrown anyway) and Clark, sans glasses, and Bruce do look a bit alike, so it’s easy to see how the hangers-on at the party mistake the two. The guest list includes Ollie Queen, Sue Dibny and Vic Zsasz(!) though, this being set when everyone’s still young, nobody’s become a superhero/villain yet.
In an unusual choice, Barb Minerva (the future Justice League villain Cheetah) takes centre stage with Clark in this issue. They talk about their hopes and dreams, about the people they want to be - it’s a little Dawson’s Creek in places but sweet too, and romance is what this issue’s about anyway so it’s appropriate. Clark does come off as a bit dim though when Barb says she wants to be an archaeologist and he says it makes sense as she already studies people – that’s anthropology!
It’s not all vapid lounging in luxury as Deathstroke makes an amusing appearance, also mistaking Clark for Bruce and becoming confused that a lethal neurotoxin only makes Clark drunk (the alcohol wasn’t going to do it)! There’s also a meta/quirky one page Mr Mxyzptlk strip at the end that’s playful and sneering, which is fine as that’s the character. And when he challenges you to pronounce his name, I’ve always read it as “mixey-pit-lik”, so take that you snide imp!
Joelle Jones’ art is lovely and makes the bright young things look right pretty. She also looks like she’s having fun with a wild Clark who’s cutting loose and pretending to be a carefree playboy for the day! Drunk Clark is kinda funny to see.
All that said, the issue feels a little too light without much of a story or many interesting things happening. But it’s certainly not a bad comic and kudos to Landis for showing readers a different, down-to-earth side to Superman that makes an impossible being seem (almost) like any other guy.
Superman: American Alien is an episodic limited series looking at different stages of Superman’s life, highlighting aspects of his character that sometimes get overlooked. Here, writer Max Landis shows Clark as a regular young man who gets drunk, flirts with pretty girls, and doesn’t worry about saving the world – a very un-Superman portrayal but a human and relatable one.
True to character, Bruce never attends his birthday parties or any social gatherings really (though they’re thrown anyway) and Clark, sans glasses, and Bruce do look a bit alike, so it’s easy to see how the hangers-on at the party mistake the two. The guest list includes Ollie Queen, Sue Dibny and Vic Zsasz(!) though, this being set when everyone’s still young, nobody’s become a superhero/villain yet.
In an unusual choice, Barb Minerva (the future Justice League villain Cheetah) takes centre stage with Clark in this issue. They talk about their hopes and dreams, about the people they want to be - it’s a little Dawson’s Creek in places but sweet too, and romance is what this issue’s about anyway so it’s appropriate. Clark does come off as a bit dim though when Barb says she wants to be an archaeologist and he says it makes sense as she already studies people – that’s anthropology!
It’s not all vapid lounging in luxury as Deathstroke makes an amusing appearance, also mistaking Clark for Bruce and becoming confused that a lethal neurotoxin only makes Clark drunk (the alcohol wasn’t going to do it)! There’s also a meta/quirky one page Mr Mxyzptlk strip at the end that’s playful and sneering, which is fine as that’s the character. And when he challenges you to pronounce his name, I’ve always read it as “mixey-pit-lik”, so take that you snide imp!
Joelle Jones’ art is lovely and makes the bright young things look right pretty. She also looks like she’s having fun with a wild Clark who’s cutting loose and pretending to be a carefree playboy for the day! Drunk Clark is kinda funny to see.
All that said, the issue feels a little too light without much of a story or many interesting things happening. But it’s certainly not a bad comic and kudos to Landis for showing readers a different, down-to-earth side to Superman that makes an impossible being seem (almost) like any other guy.
July 5, 2021
I just couldn’t get into this issue at all.
January 11, 2016
To be fair in this review, I haven't read the first two issues of this. But I get the general storyline going on.
I get that this a "Fun" Superman comic, But I didn't particularly like it. Artwork was eh, and I wasn't blown away by the dialogue. It's different, so If You're a Superman fan, maybe read it for that reason.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
I get that this a "Fun" Superman comic, But I didn't particularly like it. Artwork was eh, and I wasn't blown away by the dialogue. It's different, so If You're a Superman fan, maybe read it for that reason.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
January 13, 2016
Really impressed by this series. It's making me love a character I historically don't.
July 27, 2025
”Parrot”
”Revelations” stars with Doomsday floating through space.
Clark has apparently won a trip to Bermuda. Then he is in a small plane crashing into the ocean. He’s is surprised that he can drown. So am I, but it’s good news.
A large cruise ship picks him and the pilot out of the water. At which point a large party crowd screams ‘Happy Birthday’ at him. Apparently they think he’s Bruce Wayne.
A beautiful girl drags him asides and fills him in. She knows he’s not Bruce Wayne. She’s at every Bruce Wayne party. Everyone’s too drunk to know or care who he really is. Might as well enjoy it. And he does.
He soon gets sick of the frivolous excess though. He talks honestly with Barbara/Minerva.
”Oh God, I can already feel you judging me through the vodka - - ”
They make a connection. With vodka. Clark has a revelation. He’s drunk as a skunk.
”Sorry. I’m being super-weird. I’m a super-weird alien. ”
Then Deathstroke shows up to kill Bruce Wayne. Doesn’t quite work out.
This was a lot of fun. It dug deep into Clark as a young man and well, you should have at least one night like that in your life. Probably not too many though.
I gotta give this 5 stars. Subtle. Fun. Weird. That’s good comic.
”Revelations” stars with Doomsday floating through space.
Clark has apparently won a trip to Bermuda. Then he is in a small plane crashing into the ocean. He’s is surprised that he can drown. So am I, but it’s good news.
A large cruise ship picks him and the pilot out of the water. At which point a large party crowd screams ‘Happy Birthday’ at him. Apparently they think he’s Bruce Wayne.
A beautiful girl drags him asides and fills him in. She knows he’s not Bruce Wayne. She’s at every Bruce Wayne party. Everyone’s too drunk to know or care who he really is. Might as well enjoy it. And he does.
He soon gets sick of the frivolous excess though. He talks honestly with Barbara/Minerva.
”Oh God, I can already feel you judging me through the vodka - - ”
They make a connection. With vodka. Clark has a revelation. He’s drunk as a skunk.
”Sorry. I’m being super-weird. I’m a super-weird alien. ”
Then Deathstroke shows up to kill Bruce Wayne. Doesn’t quite work out.
This was a lot of fun. It dug deep into Clark as a young man and well, you should have at least one night like that in your life. Probably not too many though.
I gotta give this 5 stars. Subtle. Fun. Weird. That’s good comic.
February 2, 2024
At first I thought Landis didn't understand Clark Kent writing him like this but then I wondered what if Clark Kent crash landed next to Bruce Wayne's yacht and was mistaken for him, would he not party? Considering this is younger Clark before Louis and kids etc, the story was quite entertaining especially when a villain shows up looking to end Bruce Wayne and gets more than he bargains for dealing with Superman.
November 4, 2020
This felt very random. I'm not sure if this Barbara Minerva character is supposed to remind me of Poison Ivy or what. Even the appearance of Deathstroke doesn't elevate this cruise ship issue. The Vic Zsasz cameo was also kinda weird.
May 20, 2018
Crítica | Superman: Alienígena Americano
http://www.planocritico.com/critica-s...
http://www.planocritico.com/critica-s...
March 31, 2020
Divertido, pero que bajón.
October 31, 2020
Tiene cosas bastante interesantes, pero venimos de 2 primeras grapas espectaculares!
March 29, 2021
This was hilarious and I loved it!!
December 21, 2025
Pretty good, I like the portrait/themes of self discovery it's give Clark in this earlier stage in his life
December 30, 2025
identity theft is ok when he does it
January 18, 2016
I worry my enjoyment of comic books resides in how bright and easy to follow its artwork is.
I suppose that's not a horrible criterion to use to judge a visual medium—after all, the story is half-told in word bubbles and half-told by the images on the page, but here, Max Landis has brought a third artist to his series and I love the way it looks.
Story starts with Clark on his way to a Bermuda thanks to some contest but the prop plane crashes in the ocean. Luckily for him, there's a large yacht nearby to rescue him but everyone aboard thinks he's Bruce Wayne (the ship is for Bruce's 21st birthday). We get to see Clark party with a bunch of Bruce's fame-chasing friends and even get mistaken for the Dark Knight by Deathstroke himself.
Landis ends this issue with a one-page epilogue featuring good ol' Mxyzptlk with some deep thoughts.
I definitely liked this issue more than the preceding one, but I'm wondering if this is supposed to be a graphic novel or just seven individual stories. The last page of this issue (before the Mxyzptlk page) has a nice twist that I'd love to see some follow-up on, but if the first three issues are any indication, we won't see what happens. And that's kind of a shame.
I suppose that's not a horrible criterion to use to judge a visual medium—after all, the story is half-told in word bubbles and half-told by the images on the page, but here, Max Landis has brought a third artist to his series and I love the way it looks.
Story starts with Clark on his way to a Bermuda thanks to some contest but the prop plane crashes in the ocean. Luckily for him, there's a large yacht nearby to rescue him but everyone aboard thinks he's Bruce Wayne (the ship is for Bruce's 21st birthday). We get to see Clark party with a bunch of Bruce's fame-chasing friends and even get mistaken for the Dark Knight by Deathstroke himself.
Landis ends this issue with a one-page epilogue featuring good ol' Mxyzptlk with some deep thoughts.
I definitely liked this issue more than the preceding one, but I'm wondering if this is supposed to be a graphic novel or just seven individual stories. The last page of this issue (before the Mxyzptlk page) has a nice twist that I'd love to see some follow-up on, but if the first three issues are any indication, we won't see what happens. And that's kind of a shame.
January 14, 2016
In which Supes finds his appreciation of the wider world and the wonders both he and it can bring to each other, via the opening scenes of the Entourage movie. But stumbling on to a yacht party hosted by an absent Bruce Wayne doesn't only bring the Bat into things… A surprisingly characterful episode, considering how Dayglo and gaudy the whole thing is, and signs this title is doing good, new things with an old, old story.
January 24, 2016
I LOVED IT ! Best comic in the series so far ! Twenty-something Clark Kent is hilarious, romantic, questioning his life and enjoying it at the same time. I still love this Max Landis' point of view on Superman as an "American Alien", a human with superpowers or an alien living a human life. The highlight of this issue was, of course, Bruce Wayne and ...
February 2, 2016
Clark Kent, mistaken as Bruce Wayne, they looked quite similar though! Those blue eyes. Clark can be quite dreamy sometimes... 3.5 stars, I wonder what will happen next time... The art work is pretty neat, and the colour scheme is nice too...
January 13, 2016
This series is taking a lot of liberties, and this issue is especially pushing a bunch of coincidences. But I'm enjoying the outcome a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2016
Ridiculous plot and turn of events. Only thing I did enjoy was the after credits scene, which I thought was supremely well done.
January 15, 2016
Very slow, no action at all, except for the little part, like 2 pages, with dDathstroke. The final may lead to an interesting next one, but for this issue, it was very disappointing.
January 15, 2016
Nice slice of life bit with Clark. The art has more character than the story. Weakest issue to date, but still worth a read as Landis explores the mythos.
February 27, 2016
I'm Bruce Wayne!!!
May 1, 2016
Nice Little part of the series.
Again a different artist.
Though not much of a story out here. Just a pre-cursor to something big that might happen later.
Again a different artist.
Though not much of a story out here. Just a pre-cursor to something big that might happen later.
October 1, 2016
Still amazing.
Just wondering if that Barbara is the future Mrs. Gordon.
Just wondering if that Barbara is the future Mrs. Gordon.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews