Wednesday, October 24, 2012

‘Superman’: Clark Kent leaves the Daily Planet


Oct. 23, 2012 |LA Times




Clark Kent is quitting his job at the Daily Planet in the latest issue of the “Superman” comic series.
In issue No. 13, in stores Wednesday, Superman’s mild-mannered alter ego decries the state of journalism in a heated discussion with Morgan Edge, the owner of the Daily Planet’s parent company, Galaxy Broadcasting, and quits in front of the entire newspaper staff.
“This is the beginning of a multifaceted story line that will challenge Clark on all levels – personally and professionally, as both himself and as Superman,” a DC Entertainment representative said in a statement. “This is not the first time in DC Comics history that Clark Kent has left the Planet, and this time the resignation reflects present-day issues – the balance of journalism vs. entertainment, the role of new media, the rise of the citizen journalist, etc.”
In the comic, by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Kenneth Rocafort, Clark Kent complains to the paper’s publisher Perry White about pandering to the public demand for entertainment instead of providing news and calls out Lois Lane for covering a sex scandal. He also chafes under pressure to write more stories about Superman. The changes are part of an effort to bring Clark Kent and Superman into the 21st century.
“Rather than Clark be this clownish suit that Superman puts on, we’re going to really see Clark come into his own in the next few years as far as being a guy who takes to the Internet and to the airwaves and starts speaking an unvarnished truth,” Lobdell told USA Today. “I don’t think he’s going to be filling out an application anywhere … He is more likely to start the next Huffington Post or the next Drudge Report than he is to go find someone else to get assignments or draw a paycheck from.”
Issue No. 13 is a prelude to the upcoming “H’el on Earth” story line, in which Superman crosses paths with H’el, a tragic character from Superman’s home planet, Krypton. The series is part of DC’s New 52 relaunch, which rewrote the back stories for many of its main characters, including Wonder Woman and Batman.
It’s been a big month for the big blue Boy Scout. DC announced last week that its co-publisher artist Jim Lee and fan-favorite writer Scott Snyder are teaming up for a new Superman title in 2013, the same year that Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” is slated to hit theaters.
Check out “Superman” No. 13  the links below for larger images.
Cover | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7

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