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!

Superman: American Alien #3 is an interesting comic. As a story completely on its own, it’s really fun, entertaining. But, when you start to think about the comic, it’s completely absurd in many ways.

Written by Max Landis, this third issue is an interesting one. Each comic has looked at one aspect of Clark Kent’s evolution in to Superman. This issue takes him to young adult hood and has him impersonating Bruce Wayne in a case of mistaken identity. Plus Oliver Queen is there… and add in Deathstroke! Yeah, it’s all a little weird and as long as you don’t think too hard, the comic is fun and entertaining. But, the situations Clark is put in to are so over the top unlikely with too many known characters that factor in later in his life. Then there’s also questions that are left open like what happened to the pilot that was with Clark. Yeah, silly is a good way to describe it.

The comic is supposed to be a way for us to reflect upon Clark’s humble beginnings versus that of Bruce versus that of Oliver, all of whom later become superheroes. But, a much more effective way would have three different stories bouncing between the three individuals at this similar point in their lives. The plot Landis uses to have this discussion is just too out there for me to really get in to it and enjoy the “debate.”

The art by Joelle Jones is great as always. Jones style gives us a cool design that makes it believable that Clark could be mistaken for Bruce. The hedonism is fun, the art matches the vibe really well and Clark actually was presented as drunk in as believable way as you can on the printed page.

I can see what Landis was trying to do here, I just think it could have been done in a better way that wasn’t so over the top unbelievable and a ridiculous scenario. As part of the overall series, this could work, but as a stand alone, it misses the mark.

Story: Max Landis Art: Joelle Jones
Story: 6.8 Art: 7.9 Overall: 6.9 Recommendation: Pass

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review