Superman's Biggest Moment is Totally Ruined By Jimmy Olsen
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Superman #18!
Superman has finally revealed his true identity to the world - but how did Jimmy Olsen find out? Secret identities seem to be going out of fashion in DC Comics, with the Man of Steel outing himself to the world as Clark Kent. Naturally, the consequences of this revelation are going to be enormous, and Clark Kent can never be treated as a normal person again.
Of course, before Superman reveals his true identity to the world, there are some old friends who deserve to hear the truth. Superman #18 sees Clark Kent approach Perry White in his office, in a tremendous series of panels that's all the more emotional because writer Brian Bendis chooses not to include the dialogue. Instead, he trusts artist Ivan Reis and the rest of the artistic team to tell the story in pictures alone for that page. But with that task complete, Superman decides it's time to tell Jimmy Olsen as well.
Jimmy has always been seen as Superman's Pal, and so this time round the Man of Steel swoops out of the sky and asks to take him aside. He flies Jimmy out of Metropolis and to a Gotham rooftop, and puts his Clark Kent glasses on. Superman's goal is to allow Jimmy to make history with the first photo, but to his bemusement Jimmy doesn't seem to get it. "All I see is Superman with glasses on," Jimmy insists. Finally, he begins to crack up, unable to hold back the smile, and Superman realizes that Jimmy already knows. It turns out Lois has already given him a call and told him.
It actually makes sense for Lois Lane to decide she should be the one to break the news to Jimmy. As she notes when talking to Clark later, "I've known Jimmy longer than I've known you!" This may seem to have been done for humor, but in truth the scene makes an important point. Superman isn't the only one to be keeping his identity a secret; everyone who's known it all these years, most notably his own family members, has had to close a part of themselves off from the world. That was most poignantly seen in the aftermath of 1993's "Death of Superman" arc, when Lois could never really allow her friends to understand her grief. Given this context, Superman's decision to give up on this double-life allows Lois to truly open up to those closest to her.
Jimmy's reaction, of course, is absolutely brilliant. According to Lois, he was very emotional at first. He then clearly decides it's time to play the fool and wind Superman up, as a sort of payback for the many years of well-meant deceit. It's also a subtle way of testing the truth, because of course Superman's response - to completely fall for it, and fumble the reveal - is so very Clark Kent. If there are any doubts in Jimmy's mind, they are dispelled. Meanwhile, of course, the criticism of the glasses is a perfect nod to a common criticism, that it should really be harder for Superman to hide his true identity than just put a pair of glasses on.
Superman #18 is on sale now from comic book shops.