Comic Title: Action Comics #305
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: October 1963
On Sale Date: August 29, 1963 Copyright Date August 29, 1963
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1963

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "Why Superman Needs a Secret Identity"
Pages: 14

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Leo Dorfman
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: George Klein

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents Superman Vol. 4 TPB (2008)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #72; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #137)

Supporting Character(s)

• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #72; next appearance in Superman #165)
• Perry White (last appearance in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #72; next appearance in World's Finest Comics #137)
• Lois Lane (imaginary appearance)
• Lana Lang (imaginary appearance)

Villain(s)

• Benny the Blaster (a hold-up artist; no further appearances)
• Lex Luthor (imaginary appearance)
• Members of a masked gang and a crime syndicate (imaginary appearance)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Superboy (imaginary appearance)
• Jonathan Kent (imaginary appearance)
• Martha Kent (imaginary appearance)
• Police Chief Parker (imaginary appearance)
• Jimmy Olsen Fan Club (imaginary appearance)

Other Character(s)

• An unnamed doctor (no further appearances)
• Various citizens of Metropolis and Smallville (imaginary appearance)

Comments:
This story presents several hypothetical scenarios in which Superman were to abandon his Clark Kent identity. Each case ends tragically, explaining why Superman needs a secret identity.

Parts of this story are imaginary. The events depicted are not part of regular continuity.

Synopsis:
Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen witness a hold-up by Benny the Blaster. Clark is hampered from preventing the hold-up because he must protect his secret identity.

Superman’s secret identity is revealed to be important through three imaginary scenarios. In the first scenario, he reveals his identity as Superboy. Criminals then go after the Kents, killing them. Superboy grows up and becomes very lonely because he must isolate himself from other people to protect them.

In another scenario, criminals discover his secret identity and are able to plan a trap for him. Using Gold Kryptonite they remove Superman’s powers permanently.

In a third and final scenario, when his secret is exposed, Superman assumes the new identity of Mark Trent. However, he lacks a birth certificate and credentials, preventing him from finding work. He becomes a homeless vagrant and is jailed.

Knowing it is important to protect his secret, Clark uses his powers at invisible super speed to disarm Benny’s nitro bomb, stopping the crook, and protecting his secret.