When I was a child, I always preferred Batman. But now that I've grown, I've realized that I'm much closer to Clark Kent — minus the glasses. A stable journalism job at a major city print publication with his own apartment? Clark Kent is living the reporter's dream!

Most superheroes have day jobs where they wear different kinds of suits. Take Matt Murdock/Daredevil: He's a defense attorney, showing he's a man who jumps to champion righteous causes and, also, a self-martyr. That Matt practices the law by day but takes it into his own hands at night also adds fundamental tension to his character. In the words of foundational "Daredevil" writer Frank Miller, only a Catholic like Matt Murdock could be a lawyer and a vigilante.

What about Superman, though? Since his first appearance in "Action Comics" #1, Clark Kent has been a journalist — but what does that say about his character?...