Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

*I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

As a Smallville fan, I love when DC acknowledges Clark and Lex's friendship. This graphic novel was a cute, short read. It is a middle grade graphic novel, and it feels like a younger middle grade at that, but as long as you know that going it its a pretty enjoyable, fast read. I really hope to see more of Clark and Lex's friendship / frenemy situation in the main series comics in the future.

The graphic novel was pretty slow and the characters seemed a bit out of character. I did, however, like the art.

I have been wanting superhero books for younger kids for a while now, so I was into the idea of this book. I'm less happy with the reality. The characters are shallow and the plot isn't especially logical. While I appreciate the way it approaches kids with super powers and how they'd likely respond to that fact, the scattered story is too sparse to fully develop it's ideas.

A middle school story about a Clark Kent with powers who is kind of a jerk. He's very full of himself. He gets invited to be part of a contest to be an intern for the Daily Planet over the summer which quickly and very obviously becomes something else. Clark and Lex become friends and Lex does a heel turn that isn't earned. Meh, this is OK.

This was one of the better DC graphix! I really enjoyed it, even if the pacing was a little fast. It really set up the tumultuous relationship between lex and Clark, which is obviously crucial to the Superman story. It felt a little speedy, but I still overall enjoyed it. Would have liked to get into the others’ powers more!

This book is adorable! I personally don’t care for the idea of Clark and Lex knowing each other at a younger age outside of Smallville, but this was a very interesting take that was able to build and tear apart a friendship in a realistic enough way while not rushing or dragging too much of it out. I really loved the art as well, I thought the way Clark was drawn was just adorable!

This was a pretty good introduction to Clark and Lex. I liked that in this iteration they were presented as childhood friends. I didn't really like how Clark was portrayed though. Don't get me wrong, I think he was acting like a brat, but I don't think that Superman was ever that rude and straight up mean. We also didn't get to see much of his relationship with his parents which I think is essential in making Clark/Superman who he is. His parents are the reason that he turns out to be the hero that is he.

Overall, I think that this is a good place for a kid to start if they are wanting to get into Superman comics. I wouldn't want this to be their only introduction though.

When the cover said a young superman graphic novel, I was not aware of just how young the story would be. Very quickly I realized I am not the target audience, which I can usually respect and still enjoy, but this was too juvenile for me.

This rendition of Clark Kent was so irritating; it painted him as arrogant, entitled and a downright brat. The story starts during a middle school football game, (the score is 55-0…seriously?) and Clark is a showoff and wants to use his power. In an interview after the game he says, “I’m the best player in the state and deserve this victory.” This is a different vibe than what we know of Clark Kent, and while I love different interpretations, this one was over the top and hard to get on board with. Some other examples of his dialogue: “Why do I have to hide all the time? I don’t want to act like I’m boring and normal,” “Name something I haven’t won lately.”

He is an annoying, arrogant kid that doesn’t want to hide that he’s special. It clashes a lot with the Superman everyone knows and loves, and while there isn’t as much material on Clark’s every day childhood, it is hard to introduce qualities and personalty traits that are so different than what we are used to, especially with a character as widely popular as Superman. This entire volume is Clark being overconfident and naive, overusing his powers and making mistakes typical for a kid his age, with much bigger repercussions.

And then there’s Lex. His character started off promising and then it seemed there was a time jump in his progression. He all the sudden was firmly on the “bad guy” path with such minimal development. Not to mention suddenly bald with zero explanation.

Plot aside, I like the art style in this edition. It is different than traditional superhero graphic novels, it has a more modern pop-art style that suits the younger demographic it is targeted for.

I was really excited for the concept of this volume, a young Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, how they meet, how their relationship progresses, but this just fell very flat.

~Thank you to DC Entertainment and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

In honesty, this is more of a 3 1/2 ⭐️ than 4 ⭐️ review. Loved the artwork, and some elements of the story, but the authors did lean a little hard into making Clark a little shit before he finally saw the light. Granted, he’s a middle schooler, so some tantrums are inevitable. I enjoyed the friendship with Lex, before his little turn as well. Clark’s parents were wonderful, which kinda made it a wee bit impossible to believe Clark’s attitude. Overall, this is the start of a series, so a few stumbles are expected. It might just be worth it to see how it continues to improve.
**Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy of this story.**

“Clark and Lex” by Brendan Reichs, with illustrations by Jerry Gaylord, is a graphic novel about Clark Kent and Lex Luthor as teenagers.

Clark Kent doesn’t understand why his parents don’t like him to use the superpowers he has to do things like play football or do his chores. When he gets a chance to win an internship for the summer in Metropolis he’ll do whatever it takes to win it. Along the way he meets a young Lex Luthor, whose father is sponsoring the contest, but all is not, as it seems in the contest, and Clark may need new allies to help out.

I always view these one offs as stories from an alternate universe so they don’t bother me as much as long as the characters look and act like I know them. I liked the story, but at some point it felt contrived, but I still think it’s a good read, especially for younger readers.

In Clark and Lex, a new graphic novel by Brenden Reichs and Jerry Gaylord readers get a story that feels like a Smallville episode. Clark Kent is shown as an overconfident teenager who doesn’t really listen to anyone. His father is initially portrayed as mean and frustrated with Clark but it’s soon revealed that it’s simply because Clark is basically a showoff. Clark’s father wants Clark to be safe and stay hidden, not rely on his powers to make it in the world. An opportunity arises and Clark decides to participate in a competition for an internship with the newspaper The Daily Planet. He travels to the city of Metropolis to compete for the internship along with several other young people.

Clark meets Lex Luther immediately, an equally confident teenager with a head full of auburn hair. Lex and Clark travel to a mysterious island for the competition, meeting other kids their age who are also there to compete. Things get strange when Clark realizes that his powers don’t work well on the island and competing against Lex is hard since Lex takes everything as a personal insult.

When other competitors start to go missing Clark must decide on if he will save himself and escape or help the others get off the island.

Clark and Lex is an interesting take on the classic Superman story. While the story starts off with two friendly competitors joking around, Lex’s tantrums reveal a deeply insecure and wounded person. One theme remains the same, Lex’s need to be accepted by his father and Clark’s success on a few of the challenges causing him to doubt his own capabilities.

Clark on the other hand needs to learn patience and to think situations through before being impulsive. The common theme of needing to save anyone near him who needs it is prevalent in this story, although Clark finds himself in trouble more often than not. With themes like family and teamwork, Clark and Lex is an entertaining graphic novel from DC Comics!

I Need and New Life

Brendan Reichs and illustrator Jerry Gaylord team up to write a fast pace story about Superman’s early years with themes of family, honesty, and self-reliance. After winning at everything in Smallville Middle School, Clark Kent is frustrated at having to hide his super powers. Leaving his father disappointed in his flashy behavior. An opportunity to leave his small town arrives when a mysterious foundation, called Brainwave, sets up a test to win an internship to Metropolis’ own Daily Planet. Clark will do anything to win, even if it means cheating. Clark is tired of not being the best, but his best might not be enough in the big city.

This is an alternate universe version of Clark Kent. As his parents, friends, and his tentative friendship with Lex Luthor are quite different than most comics. Clark is an energetic Middle School student who wants to be great at everything, but is having a hard time putting the slower effort into everyday work. His father values the unhurried foundation of farming, while Clark is excited to jump straight to success. Including cheating on a test created by a suspicious foundation, involved with Luthorcorp. Where Clark meets Lex Luthor, and causes all sorts of trouble. The scientists at Brainwave are up to something, and it is not journalism. Clark is up for the challenge, but his impulsiveness often gets him into trouble.

Clark learns a lot about himself in this book. That he cannot always rely on his powers to win, and that it is easy to lose friendships if he only thinks of his own goals. His integrity comes from empathizing with others, and working together to solve this mystery. Lex does not fare as well, as his fear of failure drives him to distrust, and he sacrifices everything for acknowledgement. Clark and Lex is an entertaining superhero story about learning how to be a true super hero.

The Review

This was a fun and engaging read. The balance the author struck between life-lesson storytelling and DC Comics lore was remarkable to see play out on the page, as the author and illustrator used Clark Kent’s journey to show how he evolved into the hero we know him to be today, rather than the selfish or driven young man that he begins the story as.

The almost animated television style of artwork that the illustrator brought to life on the page and the captivating origin story of one of DC Comics' greatest rivalries made this a stand-out publication for DC Comics. The exploration of Clark and Lex’s childhood friendship and how it would inevitably lead to the deterioration of their relationship and their turn from children to hero and villain respectfully was so well done and elevated perfectly. The way the author drew attention to things like DC Comics’s Crisis events, or the multiverse as a whole, made this story stand out as a potential multiversal story that fans won’t be able to put down.

The Verdict

Creative, memorable, and heartfelt, author Brendan Reichs and illustrator Jerry Gaylord’s “Clark & Lex” is a must-read graphic novel for middle school-aged kids and DC Comics fans alike. The unique inclusion of diversity in the cast of characters, even with the slight change to Clark’s Earth parents Jonathan and Martha Kent, and the rich story-driven book will keep readers eager for more.

I just couldn't get into this. I didn't like Clark or Lex, and the entire plotline was pretty unrealistic (even for a superhero story).

*ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Am I old? Genuinely curious here.... I know 24 is approaching me like a freight train, but I don't usually feel mentally that old... well, until I read this book.

The Art:
Honestly, I like this kind of pop-art style especially in kids graphic novels. It kind of blends the realms of graphic novel art with cartoon tv show art allowing for a lot of really cool effects. I won't say the style is my absolute favorite, but it definitely adds a new dimension.

The Plotline:
Clark is your standard "OH WOE IS ME!" character. We all know a common plot point is how Clark plays football, and gets frustrated when his parents tell him "Don't use your powers to create a disadvantage or to allow you to win." But this book takes it to a whole other overtly dramatic level. Like I felt like I was watching a dramatic comedy, like the "so-bad-its-good" except I never personally found the 'good'.

I will admit I loved the diversity in this comic. It's not something we see very often in Superman, but honestly, it adds to his character depth, and could've led to a lot of interesting concepts and discussions had the graphic novel taken it that route. (And this is the only reason I gave the comic two stars).

-- I should probably also talk about Lex since this is also about him. His character was actually done pretty well overall. But I felt like there was a lot left missing and out of place.

Overall:
I'm honestly kind of sad. I was so excited when NetGalley provided me with this graphic novel, because I grew up on Superman, and I'm so glad another generation will be able to see the hope that Superman brought to so many other generations over time. I felt like this graphic novel had a ton of potential, but just fell short. If another book in this Superman series is released, I'll gladly pick it up in hopes that maybe it will shine a light on some of the more unique aspects it has to offer.

The art was interesting, but I feel like they went against Clark's character to portray him as a rebellious teen trying to get away from his rural life. I mean, it's not invalid, but it's ground that I already treaded like twenty-two years ago with Smallville. I do like the idea of a young Superman with an equally young and powerful cast of characters around him, though, it reminds me of the time Clark spent in the future.

Brendan Reichs crafts an enjoyable story with popular characters — humor, cartoonish approach, and a wonderful way in for new fans of the DC universe.

Fun graphic novel about Clark and Lex. Not knowing much about Superman it was a fun little read. It did feel like it jumped around a little much without any indication as to what was coming next. This could get a little confusing for kids.

Overall though, I enjoyed it.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Clark & Lex is a reimagining of beginning of the feud between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. This DC Zoom title is by far my least favorite. At each turn, the story felt like a missed opportunity. Very much main character energy where only Superman gets anything close to an arc. Other characters felt flat, which is a disservice to middle grade readers who are capable of understanding deeper stories.

Recommended for purchase where DC Zoom and Ink titles are very popular.