One of the most recognisable superheroes of all time, Superman turns 75 this year. He doesn’t look it. Blame the Kryptonian DNA. Check out our series of the top five Superman comics to prep for the upcoming Man of Steel.

Secret Identity

“Maybe I had a ‘secret identity’, but then when you think about it, don’t we all? A part of ourselves very few people ever get to see. The part we think of as ‘me’. The part that deals with the big stuff. Makes the real choices. The part everything else is a reflection of.”

No Krypton. No aliens. No adoption. Just a married couple, last name Kent, who name their son Clark, as a gag. It’s a bit of a shock when he starts leaping tall buildings in a single bound.

In a world without superheroes, or ice-bound fortresses, without mad scientists or meglomaniacal gorillas, one kid just woke up floating in the air. Initially using his abilities to avoid bullies and get away from the angst typical of the teenager, he quickly finds himself rescuing people from accidents and bombings. Throw in some shady government types, human experimentation, love, loneliness and conspiracy theories and you get Secret Identity.

Split into 4 sections, each dealing with key moments in his life, from his first flights all the way to playing with his grandson, and how he tries to live up to the ideal of a character he doesn’t particularly like. This Clark is alienated by his name and attitude, preferring to write on a clapped out typewriter than go out with friends. He’s happier flying among the clouds than walking on the streets. He’s not an outsider because of his place of birth, but because of his attitude. His editor describes him as a “detached observer, not a participant.” It’s not a compliment. The happiest, most beautiful images are of his flights, alone at first, but as he grows and develops as a person, more and more people join him, culminating in the final few pages with his own Superfamily joining him on a flight into the sunset. We get to see him go from a sulky kid to a well-rounded, happy old man.

Written by Kurt Busiek, with stunning art by Stuart Immonen, it was recently reissued by DC comics. Highly recommended.

Donal O’Connor