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Superman: American Alien (2015-2016) Kindle & comiXology

by Max Landis (Author), Francis Manapul (Artist), Jock (Artist), Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 502 ratings
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Max Landis, acclaimed screenwriter of the hit film CHRONICLE, presents seven stories from the life of the man who will be the Man of Steel, seven pivotal moments that turned a sometimes good, sometimes angry, sometimes funny, always human, all-American alien into the world’s first superhero.

THIS IS NOT A SUPERMAN COMIC.

This is the story of Clark Kent, a Kansas farm boy who happens to be from another planet. It’s the story of a scared young kid with impossible powers, of a teenage delinquent with a lot to learn, of a reporter with a nose for the truth who’s keeping the biggest secret the world has ever known.

This is not the Superman you know. Not yet.

Illustrated by some of the greatest artists in comics today-including Jock (BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR), Francis Manapul (DETECTIVE COMICS), Jae Lee (BATMAN/SUPERMAN), Joëlle Jones (LADY KILLER), Nick Dragotta (EAST OF WEST) and more with covers by Ryan Sook (ACTION COMICS)-SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN tells the very human story of the Last Son of Krypton.
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  1. Part of Series
    Superman: American Alien (2015-2016)
  2. Print length
    211 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  5. Publisher
    DC
  6. Publication date
    October 13, 2016
  7. File size
    626706 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An engrossing look at a young Clark Kent's early brushes with flight. Between the compelling characterization and the gorgeous art, the series is off to a great start." --IGN

"Totally nails the vulnerability of Clark Kent." --io9

"[Superman: American Alien] might even be one of the best tales of its kind in the company's history." --Paste Magazine

"If you're worried "Superman: American Alien" #1 is just another version of Superman's origin, don't be--it's even better." --Comic Book Resources

About the Author

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. He currently has several projects in different stages of post-production: Victor Frankenstein, starring Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy and directed by Paul McGuigan; Mr. Right, starring Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick; and the feature film he wrote and directed, Me Him Her, starring Haley Joel Osment, and featuring Geena Davis and Scott Bakula, and which premiered at the Seattle Film Festival; and the action comedy, American Ultra starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LZRQ02E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ DC; Illustrated edition (October 13, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 626706 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 211 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 502 ratings

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  1. Jim Krueger

    Jim Krueger

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
502 global ratings
Neat stories, wouldn’t say it’s a “Must Read”
4 Stars
Neat stories, wouldn’t say it’s a “Must Read”
This had some neat stories. Very fun and enjoyable read. I wouldn’t say it’s a “Must Read” for fans or anything, but I am glad I bought/have it. There are a couple of stand out panels and lines in here that I absolutely love. Definitely check it out if you’re interested in Clark Kent adventures.**Also be sure to know that the cover with all the people revealing the Superman emblems is only for the hard cover version... that bummed me out as a TPB guy. The cover with you Clark in the cornfield isn’t bad, I just really liked the S crowd one **
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Top reviews from the United States

Anthony Contento
5.0 out of 5 stars The real Clark Kent
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is a modern re-telling of the Superman myth. It's not a re-hash of the story we all know. Landis puts young Clark Kent into the 21st century and asks "how would he interact with the modern world?"

What we are given is a funny, hesitant and honest guy from rural Kansas who wants to do the right thing. He isn't a boy scout, all-American wonder-god. He is a guy who realizes that his potential is not being met, so he tries harder.

This book reminded me of the Genius mini-series, where I learned that Einstein had the same doubts and flaws that we all have. We like to immortalize our heroes and we tend to buff out the flaws. If we allow ourselves to take a step back and look at the real person, we can see that the flaws make their heroics more relevant and resonant. We're all weird aliens with superpowers. Perhaps it's time we shared that with the rest of the world?
5 people found this helpful
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bhogan16
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Superman Comics… isn’t about Superman
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2021
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This is a wonderful comic about the humble origins of a young man who, as we all know, will grow up to become one of the greatest icons in the world. Each issue of this series features a different artist whose style fits best with that particular phase or moment of Clark Kent’s life. The unifying strand is, of course, the very creatively talented Max Landis, who does youth/coming-of-age and superheroes very well. If you’re a Superman fan, you have to get around to reading this book sooner or later. It belongs in the same conversation as All-Star Superman and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? It was also a clear influence on the animated feature: Superman: Man of Tomorrow. Check it out
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Tyler Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars The man behind the cape
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2017
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I have always loved Superman, as a character, but struggled to find a story of his that I truly enjoyed. Sure, there is the excellent interpretation in  Superman: The Animated Series, Volume 1 (DC Comics Classic Collection)  but that isn't a comic. That was until I discovered  All Star Superman , a story considered by many to be the greatest Superman story ever written. It was, is, and always will be amazing. I was satisfied. At least there is one collection out there that really digs into what makes the man of steel an amazing hero. I had given up hope of ever seeing another collection get it right; and then I read this.

Superman: American Alien is the first superman collection since All Star Superman to make me remember why I love the character so much. There are hundreds examples illustrating the "super" in his name but very few that focus on the man. American Alien walks the reader through Clark Kent's struggle with his identity, abilities, and humanity, in a way that no other story has. Just like past stories he has fantastic powers and super sized fights, but unlike other books American Alien delves into why Clark chooses to fight in the first place. It examines how his choices affect, not just him and the people he saves, but also those close to him. It is a refreshing, honest, and action packed look into the life and choices of one of the greatest superheores of all time. An absolute buy.
3 people found this helpful
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brutusmuktuk
4.0 out of 5 stars A stylish and fun telling of Clark Kent
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2017
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Being new to the Superman lore, knowing only the first two Christopher Reeves films and Man of Steel, I took a chance on this because I am enjoying Max Landis' Green Valley series. And I'm glad I did take the chance. This is a fun, emotionally charged telling of Clark Kent as an immigrant to Earth, as an American Alien. He struggles being the only of his kind in the small town of Smallville, although the people of Smallville seem to have grown accustomed to him rather quickly. At one point the sheriff seeks his special skills at a crime scene. something Clark does not feel comfortable sharing.

Max Landis handles Superman in the more lighthearted way of the Christopher Reeves films rather than the dark, heavy way of Man of Steel. There's a lot of fun to be had, such as when young Clark accidentally flies for the first time, his mother clinging to him and trying patiently to plead with him to calm down and start heading back to Earth. Then there's the third chapter where Clark ends up on a party boat and a case of mistaken identity allows him to have the sort of fun he may not have had otherwise. His scenes with Lois Lane are handled more seriously than those in the Christopher Reeve movie, but Max Landis' Lois Lane is immensely intelligent, refreshingly so in the face of the ditzy Lois Lane portrayed on the TV series, Smallville.

Each issue is vignette of Clark Kent, each one loosely connected by story, but clearly differentiated by the vastly different art styles in each issue. With perhaps an exception of the third chapter, Clark never looks very handsome. He looks geeky, awkward, angular - human, flawed. This is part of the charm. Even in the final climactic issue, Clark looks goofy, not like a confident immortal. Even his invulnerability is in question when he realizes that he can drown and that he can't quite fly to the moon and back without dying. This human, flawed Clark makes him more appealing. He is full of doubts. While others around him see his actions as small and petty, he struggles with the idea of being a larger force of good in the world. Max Landis poses the question as to whether having the power and strength of a Clark Kent means one has a duty to use that power and strength for the betterment of the world. Superman may be the hero everyone wants and needs, but as a person he has his own struggles, too.

While individual issues are very strong, as a coherent whole, Superman: American Alien falls short. Landis skips about through time, seemingly with an agenda. And of course part of that agenda is his struggle with his own identity, with who he is and where he fits on this planet. This could be a poignant point to make considering the political atmosphere surrounding immigrants today. Immigrants enter the United States all the time and provide much needed labor, just as Superman provides his labor as a defender of good. Yet this theme is developed in a staggered fashion due to the different artists, and the way it is resolved feel unsatisfying. There's also Lois Lane, whose relationship with Clark is never very well-developed, and neither is she as a person. And this wouldn't be such a bad thing, but Landis errs in his choice of a conclusion. It feels unearned. Ultimately, while Landis tells an entertaining and sometimes bold story of Superman, he falls shy of answering the question: why tell this story?
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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harish narayan iyer
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite Superman story
Reviewed in India on September 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a different take on Superman origins, the beginning days to be more precise. I really found this well done. DC remade the origin story with Earth One, this one is as good if not better. But the tone is much lighter and fun. Not a big fan of the Year One storyline, but Earth One and American Alien make a good modern adaptation of Superman origins. Give it a shot, you might like it.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Super story for a Superman
Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
I loved every minute I spent reading this, as a huge Superman fan it's so nice to see Max create this deep interesting backstory for this chapter in Clarke's life, canon or not I've read it twice and I'll be visiting it many more times in the future. seeing the beautiful varying art styles in each chapter also helps keep each story fresh.
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JOSE LUIS CORTES MATUS
5.0 out of 5 stars Compra obligada para los fans
Reviewed in Mexico on November 30, 2017
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Max landis ha creado la qué quizás sea la mejor linea argumental del personaje, contando su crecimiento y cómo se llegó a convertir en el hombre de acero qué todos conocemos, vale muchísimo la pena.
2 people found this helpful
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Spiridon M.
5.0 out of 5 stars super
Reviewed in Germany on July 9, 2019
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alles gut
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Timothy
5.0 out of 5 stars this short series of comics is about this great guy called Clark Kent who sometimes pretends to be ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2017
Verified Purchase
Not a Superman fan. Thankfully, this short series of comics is about this great guy called Clark Kent who sometimes pretends to be Superman.

But seriously, this is a fantastic self-contained story that can be enjoyed by people who've never read a single DC comic before, and by hardcore DC veterans who can catch all the little references and interesting takes on established DC universe characters. And also by people like, well, me, who fall somewhere in between those two extremes. Love it love it love it.
2 people found this helpful
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