Disguised As Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, And the Creation of the Superhero

Disguised As Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero offers a powerful and eye-opening exploration of how Jewish writers and artists helped shape the foundations of the American superhero mythos. This insightful book draws a direct line between the cultural identity of many Golden Age comic creators and the characters they brought to life—icons that would go on to define 20th-century pop culture.

For years, mythologist Joseph Campbell captivated audiences by dissecting humanity’s recurring archetypes—the “Hero’s Journey,” the reluctant savior, the moral compass. Campbell unearthed the universal themes in global mythology, and in many ways, superheroes are the modern continuation of that lineage. But if you look closer, especially at characters like Superman, you’ll find more than just echoes of Greek or Norse gods; you’ll find deeply rooted Jewish storytelling traditions transformed into mainstream myth.

Take Superman, for instance. His story mirrors that of Moses—sent away from danger in a vessel (or spaceship), discovered by adoptive parents, and raised to become a savior of his people. Whether consciously or subconsciously, Jewish creators like Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster channeled their cultural heritage, personal struggles, and dreams of justice into the superhero narratives that would eventually shape a generation.

Disguised as Clark Kent delves into these connections with both scholarly insight and emotional resonance. It unpacks how persecution, immigration, assimilation, and identity found expression in the pages of comic books. These creators weren’t just crafting heroes in tights—they were building modern-day mythology that, while born from the Jewish experience, carried universal messages of hope, resilience, and transformation.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of religion, identity, and pop culture. It’s also a reminder that beneath the capes and cowls, the best superhero stories are deeply human at their core.