Superman: Secret Identity - Kurt Busiek & Stuart Immonen
The premise of this four-part book is a little bizarre, with convoluted origins (explained in the preface) that probably aren't worth explaining. Basically, in this world, superheroes are comic book stuff, and everyone knows about Clark Kent and Superman. But out in a small town (not Smallville) in Kansas, the Kents decide to name their son Clark, just for fun, and of course he grows up getting teased about it all the time. He even looks like the Clark Kent of the comic books. He grows up envying Superman not so much for the superpowers, but because in his world nobody knows or cares who Clark Kent is.
Until, of course, one day Clark discovers that he is Superman. That is, he has the same powers, more or less. What is it like to live in a world where you're named after Superman and then somehow end up with his powers? The four parts take part in four different stages of Clark's life: adolescence, young adulthood, fatherhood, and then old age. Busiek uses Superman as a metaphorical "secret identity," exploring the inner selves that we keep from others.
Immonen's art is well-suited to the story: it's muted instead of being vibrant and electric, which matches the mood of Clark's inner thoughts. The story is pretty good, too, once you get past the bizarre premise, and it's an interesting look at a Superman with a different storyline, one who ages and gets married and has kids.
Fed to jonathan's brain | May 02, 2005
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