CREDITS: Written by Mark Millar; art by Neil Vokes and Terry Austin.
REVIEW: Secret identity dilemmas were done frequently in the Silver Age, and the DCAU Superman comics certainly have a strong Silver Age vibe, at least to their story ideas, but the modern twist on it can't prevent an outrageous Silver Age resolution. Rubber masks? Clark posing as Lex at a LexCorp party so Luthor can be "Superman", and Bruce Wayne posing as Clark? And how did they know whistle-blower Brad Wilson was going to be there, and try to force Superman's hand by falling off a building? It doesn't stand up to even the most shallow scrutiny.
Everything leading up to that moment is pretty good, however. Brad uses different light and sound frequencies to screw with Clark Kent, making him think his secret is exposed while everyone around him is actually oblivious. Clark playing innocent when old school bully Brad breaks into his apartment. How he has a ticket stub for a Superman fancy dress costume in his wallet for just such an eventuality (hm, did Brad check the date on that?). Superman flying through sewers to avoid being followed. But as you can see, there are logic problems even here.
The final page, an illustrated letter from Brad to Clark, apologizing and thanking him for the job he next gets at Waynetech might be a nice moment and an expression of Superman's forgiveness, or it might be cheesy and out of character for an angry ex-jock turned criminal. I'm not sure I know.
REREADABILITY: Medium - A retro story with a better set-up than resolution.
Comments
This would be my summary of Millar's entire oeuvre.