Superheroes have come a long way since the "Man of Steel" was introduced in 1938. Each of these inventive tales shows us how even the greatest of heroes are, much like ourselves, all too human.

Cleansed and set in gold /Matthew Sturges -- Where their worm dieth not / James Maxey -- Secret identity / Paul Cornell -- The non-event / Mike Carey -- Avatar / Mike Baron -- Message from the bubblegum factory / Daryl Gregory -- Thug / Gail Simone -- Vacuum Lad / Stephen Baxter -- A knight of ghosts and shadows / Chris Roberson -- Head cases / Peter David and Kathleen David -- Downfall / Joseph Mallozzi -- By my works you shall know me / Mark Chadbourn -- Call her savage / Marjorie M. Liu -- Tonight we fly / Ian McDonald -- A to Z in the Ultimate Big Company Superhero Universe (villains too) / Bill Willingham.