If I didn't read American Alien earlier this year I would say this is the greatest Superman story of all time. I still enjoyed American Alien a bit more, but this story...goddamn was this a great story. So many good things about it, where the hell do I start?

So the story is about Clark Kent, but not the same one we all know from the comics. In this real world setting this boy, named after Clark Kent from the comics, begins his life as a regular kid. Then his powers form and he learns to use them through the next few pages. He's heroic, but nervous, excited, but scared. He doesn't want to be caught so he uses his powers quickly, saving people, but never sticking around after.

The story is cut into four parts of life. Kid-Teeanger/Young Adult/Adult Life/Older years.

And they're all given respectful looks at this Clark Kent, the man with the power of Superman, and how he deals with it. Watching him grow on the pages is amazing. If American Alien summed up one of the best versions of Clark Kent and the true origin to Superman. This story tells us about a man who lives his life out and begins to understand what it's all about just when he gets old enough to reflect it all.

I can't even decide on which part is my favorite. I love watching Clark as a kid, learning how to deal with these powers. Young adult is about love, about how his powers can effect everything, including the love of his life. The third part deals with family, and what you would do to protect them. It's both beautiful and scary. The final part sums up our thoughts as we get older, finding what we all hope to have, a legacy and a family to watch grow.

This is a wonderful comic, one of the best I ever read. I'll have to check out more of Kurt Busiek.