In this feature, I spotlight comic book covers that follow a specific theme. Here is an archive of all the cover themes we’ve spotlighted so far.
Today we look at examples of Superman's secret identity about to be revealed, actually being revealed or at least SEEMINGLY being revealed!
Enjoy!
NOTE: This is not EVERY cover that fits this theme. But still, it's FORTY covers, so be happy with that rather than complain that some cover wasn't featured.
Thanks, as always, to the Grand Comics Database for the covers!
Here we go!
1951's Action Comics #163 has a Win Mortimer cover with a woman threatening to use her mental powers to reveal Superman's identity...
The very next issue of Action Comics has another Mortimer cover showing one of Superman's trophies threatening to reveal his identity...
In 1952's Action Comics #171, Mortimer draws a cover of a recording Superman made that was designed to be viewed after his death but might be viewed too soon and ruin his secret identity!
1955's Action Comics #202 has Wayne Boring and Stan Kaye showing Lois Lane's temporary X-ray vision revealing an interesting secret...
Al Plastino drew 1955's Superman #98, which has a movie based on Superman possibly revealing his secret identity!
Does the Great Cosmo really know Superman's identity? Al Plastino suggests he does on the 1955 cover of Superman #103...
Five issues later, Plastino has Superman stuck in a sticky situation on the cover of Superman #108...
1956's Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #17 has the first of a couple of Jimmy Olsen cover where Jimmy uses his seeming death to get Superman to tell him his secret identity on this Curt Swan and Ray Burnley cover...
On the 1957 cover of Superman #119, Curt Swan and Stan Kaye show the problems that arise when Superman switches places with a hero on another planet for a day....
1959's Action Comics #250 has Clark Kent tied to a lie detector and asked if he is Superman (art by Curt Swan and Al Plastino)...
Curt Swan and Stan Kaye show black magic revealing Superman's secret identity on the cover to 1960's Action Comics #269...
Later in 1960, Swan and Kaye show us the second appearance of Lois Lane's X-ray vision with this cover to Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #22...
That very same month in Superman #142, Swan and Kaye show Clark's identity seemingly revealed by a common event...a Kryptonian Flame Dragon blasting his clothes off. Sounds like the plot of a DCU porn film. "Oh no, this Kryptonian Flame Dragon has burned our clothes off! I guess there's nothing we can do but get freaky!"
In Action Comics #282, Swan and Kaye draw ANOTHER common occurrence, plastic solvent has dissolved the fingers of the Clark Kent robot Superman was using to trick Lois Lane into thinking Superman isn't Clark. Sounds like every other Monday in Metropolis!
The very next issue has Swan and Kaye showing Clark, Lois and Jimmy encountering a statue made of red kryptonite. Isn't that just Clark's luck?
On the cover of Action Comics #288, Swan and George Klein show a real jerk trying to expose Superman's secret identity. Just let him blow up, Superman!
Later that year, on the cover of Action Comics #297, it is Perry White of all people who screw Superman's pooch on this Swan and Klein cover...
On 1963's Action Comics #301, Swan and Klein put Superman in a tough spot having to prove his innocence of murdering Clark Kent without, you know, revealing that he is Clark Kent...
A few months later, Swan and Klein show WHY Superman needs a secret identity on the cover of Action Comics #305...
On 1964's Swan and Klein cover of Action Comics #313, it is Supergirl's turn to be the one who reveals Superman's secret identity!
Go to the next page for the NEXT twenty covers in this theme!
On the cover to 1964's Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #78, Swan and Klein have it be Jimmy Olsen's turn to sell out Superman's secret identity...
Superman #173 from 1964 has Swan and Klein showing Brainiac and Luthor figuring out Superman's secret identity...
1965's Superman #176 has the court causing Superman problems again, on another Swan and Klein cover...
Soon after, Swan and Klein have Clark Kent trying to hid his identity, Shawshank Redemption style on the cover of Action Comics #323...
On Action Comics #345's cover in 1966, it is Allen Funt's turn to reveal Superman's secret identity (cover by Swan and Klein)...
Homer Ferret is WAY too confident on this 1968 cover to Superman #211 (by Swan and Jack Abel)...
On this Swan and Neal Adams cover to Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #121 in 1969, Jimmy is pulling the ol' "I'm dying!" routine again...
In 1970, Swan and Murphy Anderson have Jimmy rat out his friend once again on the cover to Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #132...
It's Superman himself who has to reveal his identity on this Swanderson cover of Action Comics #407 in 1971...
Nick Cardy draws one of life's recurring problems on the cover of 1972's Superman #256 a Tiger-Woman tearing your clothes off (hmmm...sounds like the plot of another smut film)....
Now it is Lois Lane's turn to reveal Superman's secret identity on the cover to Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #130 in 1973 by John Rosenberger and Vince Colletta...
Nick Cardy puts Superman in a difficult position on the 1973 cover of Action Comics #431...
1974's Superman #277 cover has Nick Cardy showing some other dumb jerk trying to get Superman to reveal his secret identity by saving him...
On 1975's Action Comics #446, Bob Oksner has Lois Lane narrate her day. "Here I am, walking down the street. I am putting my left foot down. Now my right foot. Now my left again"....
Rich Buckler and Frank Giacoia have Superman have a different kind of warddrobe malfunction on live television on the 1978 cover to Superman #326...
Ross Andru and Dick Giordano show Jonathan Kent returning from the grave and blowing up Superman's secret identity at the same time on the 1980 cover to Action Comics #508...
This 1983 Superman #383 cover by Paris Cullins and Dick Giordano is one of the few times you'll ever see Superman in a phone booth on a comic book cover...
The "Secret is Revealed" on this John Byrne cover to Superman #2 in 1986...
Kerry Gammill and Brett Breeding show the REAL revelation of Superman's identity on the 1990 cover to Action Comics #662...
Finally, in the story leading into the "Death of Clark Kent" storyline, Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke show Superman's identity revealed at Clark Kent's apartment!
Okay, that's it for this week! If you have ideas for future cover themes, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com