In Superman’s seventy-five plus year history, Landis’ American Alien is the only series that comes close to All-Star in so completely capturing so much of what’s core to the character.

Clark’s emigration from Smallville to Metropolis changed him as profoundly as his escape from Krypton to Earth.

“I teach you the Superman! Mankind is something to be overcome…The Superman is the meaning of the earth.”

The sublimity of Landis’ script is that such interconnectedness never comes across as contrivances. Every familiar face that interacts with Clark progresses the plot while keeping true to their character.

Easily the best Superman story since All-Star… navigating successfully between being reverently referential and refreshingly original