The most enduring characters in superhero comics reach that status not just on their own merits, but because they have a great lineup of villains and supporting characters backing them up. The fact that Superman’s supporting cast has often been so downplayed and marginalized in the New 52 is one of the reasons the franchise has struggled in recent years. But that drought has clearly come to an end. Where Greg Pak is doing fantastic work with Lana Lang in Action Comics, Geoff Johns is devoting the early part of his Superman run to reacquainting us with the Daily Planet crew.

With that in mind, it’s interesting to note how much of a secondary player Superman seems in this issue. The majority of the time he does appear, it’s as Clark Kent, overachieving journalist rather than costumed hero. And this is by no means a bad thing or a momentum killer. If you crave a more action-oriented Superman comic, there are plenty of other options.

…