Superman The Stranger #2 (of 6) is written by Wes Craig and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Wes Craig, colours by Jason Wordie and letters by Tom Napolitano. Main cover art (left) is by Wes Craig & Jason Wordie.
Superman The Stranger #2 (of 6) is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Clark’s crusade for the downtrodden has hit some walls. He wants to do the most good, but he feels the people who need him the most are the most invisible. All of that changes when he stumbles upon Lois Lane, an intrepid reporter who’s made it her mission to make the unseen seen. With information gleaned from her articles, can Clark begin to turn the tide in his mission to uplift the people of Metropolis?!
Review
Clark Kent may not be an intrepid reporter for the Daily Planet, but as a janitor at the paper, he stays close to the action! As he continues his double life, he starts to question whether his vigilante antics are actually helpful or fulfilling.
His saves have been somewhat foolhardy, leaving him to question the nature of criminality and whether he is punishing desperate people who turn to crime out of necessity. Should he go after people who steal bread or the wealthy who mistreat the lower classes? This is, by far, one of the most philosophical Superman stories I’ve read in recent years. And one that holds the character to the fire to see what he’s made of.
Clark says, “It’s not easy being so close to what you want and not being able to grab it.” From a 1930s, depression era point of view this is interesting. He wants to be a truth teller, a reporter, but all he can do is mop the newsroom floor. It is a powerful insight into the character, as Wes Craig taps into what makes Superman compelling! It’s never been his super-powered side but his human side. Clark has hopes and desires, but he won’t take them with brute force. Nor by exploiting his abilities to fast-track his gains. What he has he wants to earn through hard, honest work.
One thing I love about this take on the Golden Age Superman is his slight unpredictability. He’s a bit more dangerous. At one point, Superman uses frightening intimidation tactics against a criminal. No one would blink at that if it were Batman. So seeing Superman go this route is fascinating. Seeing a version of Clark with a slightly darker, hard-boiled edge is a unique angle. Will these edges smooth out or get harder as the story goes on? How far will this version of Superman go for justice?
Superman The Stranger is an interesting experiment in what exactly makes Clark Kent Superman. By disrupting various Super-Tropes and clichés, it challenges what makes him heroic. And what heroics mean. The meta question Stranger seems to ask is Clark a hero because of his upbringing or something innate? This Clark grew up in an orphan. However, the character has been defined by his upbringing in Smallville with the Kents. They once served as his moral anchor, However that is entirely out of the picture. Craig’s decision to omit them (at least so far) has proven wise and compelling. It also adds to the extreme isolation of Clark.
Interestingly enough, there is a beat that is pulled directly from Smallville the TV series. A mysterious voice commands that he is “to rule them.” We’ve seen this idea more recently in James Gunn’s Superman (2025), but poorly explored. Even Smallville let this concept down. But, I am intrigued to see what Craig has in store. We’ve yet to really see a version of Superman forced to grapple with the idea that he could conquer humanity!
Lois Lane also makes her debut in this issue. Her scene pops with that fierce Lois Lane attitude readers will love. Lois in a ‘30s male-dominated newsroom is no easy space. But she more than holds her own! That said, her scenes felt more performative than a progression. And while I understand Clark is the ultimate wallflower, I think establishing some connection between Lois and Clark would’ve been better.
Nevertheless, this book is rich with character and drama, and Craig’s art and Jason Wordie’s colours are a delight. Not to mention the elegant letters by Tom Napolitano, which complement the panels and never distract from scenes.
Dare I say it, Superman The Stranger gives the Absolute line a serious run for its money. This is a universe I wouldn’t want to see milked the way the Absolute books have, but like Frank Miller’s Dark Knight series, this has the potential to continue beyond its six issues. My hope is that Craig and Wordie keep the door open to expand upon this world, showing us how this Superman reacts and responds to different eras, from WW2, to the Red Scare, and beyond.
Verdict
Superman The Stranger is quickly shaping up to be the Man of Steel equivalent of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. It’s bold, unsettling, and challenges what readers expect from a Superman story with its noir spin and Craig and Wordie’s evocative art deco style. This is the Superman story you must read!
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