Some Brief Thoughts On: "Superman: Secret Identity" · 5:41pm Jan 11th, 2021
(reposted from the original Marvel/DC group as I now own a physical copy)
On an Earth much like our own, where superheroes don't exist but Superman comics do, Mr. and Mrs. Kent decide to name their newborn boy Clark, as a homage to the fictional superhero. He is frequently bullied in school (and later in his life, at work) for his non-existent powers, and people try to jokingly hook him up with girls named Lois. One day on a weekend trip, however, the teenage Clark discovers that, seemingly out of nowhere, he has acquired real superpowers that seem to match Superman's in all aspects.
From that point onwards, he decides to secretly use his powers for public good, adopting a Superboy and later Superman costume. Later, as an adult, he starts collaborating with the US government agent Malloy and settles down with one of the former joke-hook-ups, Lois Chaudhari, whom he develops genuine feelings for.
(copied from TV Tropes)
I gotta admit, when I first heard about this story's premise I wasn't too terribly intrigued by it. But I recently finished actually reading the thing, and...
...wow. This just might be one of my new favorite Superman comics, at least as far as my fledgling readings go. Not my absolute favorite, but good enough that it's up there.
I think the thing I liked most about it is that in spite of being set in the "real" world, it never once tries to be dark. Or at least not as dark and gritty as the Dark Knight trilogy or the DCEU would make you believe a "realistic" take on superheroes would be. There is one scene that's kinda dark, but other than that, it's actually...well, not lighthearted, but definitely not grim. The ending is extremely optimistic and hopeful, with an aged Clark reflecting on this brave new world where human and superhuman now coexist. Not gonna lie, I was actually smiling as I read it. It made me feel good inside.
So yeah, this is another good one. Thumbs up from me.
This was one of the comics that made me a fan of the Man of Tomorrow.
Kurt Busiek really *got* how to tell a good story about Superman.