Action Comics #792 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 2002. It was published on June 26, 2002.
Synopsis for "Big City, Little Man"
On a cold winter day, Clark Kent gets a newspaper hot off a heater, to keep him warm, in exchange for some vittles for an elderly Costa Rican man running a newsstand in Metropolis named Valentin. He tells Clark about the amazing things Superman has been doing lately...
Flash forward to a number of other times, same scene, different day. The man tells Clark about the exploits of Superman, gleefully recounting the actions of his hero.
Later, he starts talking about not being around, despite his daughter nearly finishing medical school. Then, soon after, he is gone. Clark starts asking questions.
Later, on Kamehameha, Superman puts a cap on an erupting volcano. Wonder Woman asks him what's distracting him. Superman says nothing, citing that he's just saved two million Hawaiians.
Clark looks around the area for his friend. Lois consoles him, tells him that in big cities, sometimes people just leave. Clark doesn't believe it. The two then seek out what happened to Clark's friend. They use Lois' "charm" to get an address. Inside, Clark uses his x-ray vision to see Valentin's daughter, looking distraught. They find her, ask her to lunch, and ask about her father's disappearance. She says that he was just not there. He had no enemies, he had no plans to travel, he didn't drink; no vices of any sort. They start looking, but Clark is called away by the JLA. Lois reassures him that she will keep looking.
After being summoned to his team, Batman offers Superman two pieces of advice: check where the police didn't, and also, know that he just can't save everyone. Superman thanks him and takes off.
At his apartment, Superman pulls out a memory/diary book. After reading the book, Clark tells Lois that Valentin made some bets to keep his daughter in high school. Lois has a line on where the bets were placed. They go to examine what happened.
The shady at the gang hang out tells Clark that Valentin "went home". He said that when he found out that his daughter was pregnant, Valentin told her to leave. Clark points out that he is lying, knowing by his heart beat. The thugs draw their guns. But the scene goes dark, and Clark and Lois are soon outside, talking about how to find out what really happened.
Superman follows the leader of the gang until he confesses to killing the man, then dropping him in the bay, for winning a large bet. At the pier, Superman retrieves Valentin's body, as his daughter looks on.
Appearing in "Big City, Little Man"
Featured Characters:
- Superman (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Valentin Reyes (Flashback and main story) (Deceased)
- Maribella Reyes
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
See Also