Just read an excerpt of Grant Morrison's new book, 'Supergods.' The excerpt covers the origins of Superman, and the book looks like a good read!
NPR: Supergods And though this refers to the more nerdy Clark Kent, he has a good point:
Clark was the soul, the transcendent element in the Superman equation. Clark Kent is what made him endure. In Clark, Siegel had created the ultimate reader identification figure: misunderstood, put-upon, denied respect in spite of his obvious talents as a newspaperman at Metropolis's Daily Planet.
