As a kid you took Superman’s powers for granted. You never questioned his ability to fly, his laser-beam eyes, or the fact he could outrun a train at full tilt. That was who he was and, unlikely as it may have been, you accepted it as part of the narrative. The same goes for all the other superheroes, and it remains the case. Where necessary, our disbelief is readily suspended.
But, even as a child, there was one aspect of the superhero archetype which was far harder to swallow: The fact they found it so easy to keep quiet about their alter-egos, and the endless day-saving feats for which they were responsible.
