WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Superman #19, by Brian Michael Bendis, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Danny Miki, Julio Ferreira, Oclair Albert, Alex Sinclair and AndWorld Design, on sale Jan. 22 from DC Comics.
The secret's out: Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same. The Man of Steel has divulged his identity to the DC Universe at large and is prepared to deal with the consequences for his double-life. With the revelation affecting every aspect of his life, Clark loses his job at The Daily Planet, only to regain it almost immediately.
Introduced in 1940's Action Comics #23, The Daily Planet has employed Clark as a journalist for much of the hero's time in comics. The paper, which also employs Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane, has always been a place for Superman to connect with the more human elements of his life on Earth and help him maintain his cover.
In DC's preview for Superman #19, Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White brings Clark, Jimmy and Lois into his office. Due in part to pressure from lawyers and insurance companies, Perry fires Clark due to having not had all the facts when he hired him. However, on the very next page, Perry rehires Clark. Perry, who's finally a step ahead of everyone after being in the dark for years, has already convinced The Daily Planet's owner to go along with his plan to rehire Clark, as having Superman writing for the paper will really help move copies.
There are, of course, limits on what Clark can do. He'll no longer be able to quote "Superman as a separate source." Additionally Perry -- thinking Clark's habitual lateness with assignments was meant to throw people off the scent -- also believes the hero's superspeed should mean he no longer turns in articles late, though much to his chagrin that deadline trouble wasn't an act.
The reveal also has consequences for Lois, who will seemingly no longer be able to use her husband as a source either. Perry also learns Clark has been leaving typos in his work as "an act of marital solidarity" with Lois, who is a notoriously bad speller. This will almost certainly have to change, though in response to the revelation, Perry kicks them out of his office.
Although there are certain to be a lot more consequences for Superman, his job as a journalist is seemingly safe, at least for the time being. The Daily Planet, due to its close relationship with the hero, has always been the target of those wanting to find a way to get at Superman, as evidenced by such stories as Kingdom Come, in which the Joker killed the entire staff. Still, Perry remains fearless in the face of that danger and confident in Clark's abilities, especially since the reveal will really help bring in readers. The Daily Planet also means a lot in terms of keeping Superman human and grounded, so continuing to write for the paper should help ease his transition into living entirely in the light.
Superman #19 releases Jan. 22 from DC Comics.