Rating:  -
I don't read comic books anymore. Even when I did as a teenager, it was never Superman. But when I heard of the synopsis of Secret Identity I couldn't wait to pick it up.
And there are no regrets!!!
This is the story of a teenager who's name is Clark Kent. Yes, his parents thought they would be funny but Clark has to put up with all the joking at school. However, Clark wakes up one morning to find out that he does have the powers of Superman.
One thing I liked about this book is that you feel the pains and frustrations of Clark Kent. I've never identified with a character as much as the Clark Kent in this book because it isn't the powers that this book focuses on, but the burdens that come with the powers. Dispite the flying, heat rays, X-Ray vision, and other powers, this Clark Kent is real with real life problems.
Another thing I like is that this is a complete book. It takes you right before Clark's life changes forever and ends with Clark being old and silver-haired while watching over his posterity.
I would highly recommend this because this is just simply a great story with fantastic characters in it. It was different picking up a book told in comic book format, but the artwork is very well done and it takes nothing from the story.
Rating:  -
Busiek has to be one of the best writers in the industry today. He writes PEOPLE, not characters and it's a joy to read a book he writes. This book is no exception. Clark, SuperMan, Lois, etc all come across very naturally and real. I'm a big fan of Busiek's Astro City stories and if you like this, you like Astro City as well.
Comics are an artform and the art for this book is very well done and supportive of Busiek's storytelling. Immonen is a fine artist and this is the first time I've seen his work. I hope to see more from him.
A fun and interesting read.
Rating: -
Simply put, SECRET IDENTITY may be the best comic offering ... ever. In a time when writing seems to take a back seat to flashy art, Kurt Busiek remains the readers' best amigo. Rarely have I finished a comic and had a big smile on my face, or found myself nodding in agreement and happiness. S.I. did both for me. In this unique imagining of the Superman mythos, Busiek and artist Immonen place *story* way ahead of flashy action or villains. This world has no heroes, no villains. A young lad, who happens to be named Clark Kent, endures the childish taunts of his peers because he shares the moniker of a popular comicbook hero. Funny then, that, Clark eventually discovers he *has* superpowers!
Of course, a flying do-gooder causes our government to be suspicious, and they try to nab "Supes." And this Supes is *scared.* He just wants to live as normal life as possible (with the big exception of occasionally saving people from major disasters!). He eventually makes a "deal" with the covert side of our gov., gets a girlfriend, then gets married, then has twin daughters. Busiek's storytelling soars (pardon the pun) as you genuinely feel what Clark (and wife Lois) are going through.
I'm not even a big DC fan, but with anything Busiek gets his hands on, I, or anyone else, doesn't have to be. Just savor every written word, and in this case, Immonen's phenom pencils and inks. It's worth every penny.
Rating: -
This is basically a stand alone story that has no ties whatsoever to the DC Universe or any other superheoes for that matter. It is basically a story of an unfortunate young man in real life who is comically named Clark Kent. He later on discovers that not only does he share the comic book character's name but that he also has superpowers. The story follows Clark from his high school years and concludes with him growing old. The end result is you have a very moving and poignant story. A lot of credit muct be given to the writer Kurt Busiek who writes the entire story from the POV of Clark Kent and writes it in real-time. He manages to draw the readers into his direction of story-telling, so that you eventually stop caring and questioning the whos and whys of Clark's powers. And instead of being concerned with the past, you are eager to follow Clark Kent into the future. This is a surprisingly good story that has nothing to do with Superman and would have worked just as well with anyone names Frogman, Garbageman etc. But naming him Superman, just gives you a hint of familiarity. Do youself a favor and pick this up.
Rating: -
I just want to say that this is the best graphic novel I've read to date. As stated in the book's excellent intro, it is simply a collection of "stories" rather than a "series" that focuses on more of the reality of being Superman rather than the powers. There are no battles with super villans or anything you're normally used to, however, the book is so good and so well paced that the normalities you may be used to are not even missed. As a matter of fact, it's this aspect that contributes to the masterpiece it is. I usually read through other comics very quickly, one after the other. After reading this one, I just want to sit back and take it in. It truly is that good and deserves to be up there with the best of them. This one is a must have. Own it.
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