When the first superhero went public during World War II, the world responded with wonder. We treated the original superhero like a famous writer or singer, heaping on him the riches of international celebrity. Others came after him, as noble, as mighty. Committed to a fate that set them apart from normal humans, the new superhumans eventually became as natural as pop stars. Today, long after the retirement of the original superhero, hundreds of extraordinary individuals grapple with their place in society. Are they heroes? Villains? Are they volatile or do they contribute to the betterment of mankind? Lain Grey is just such a person, but at 16, he's far less moved by his budding powers than he is by sexuality, or his natural mother, who died when he was an infant. And there are others. Kathleen, the young woman who channels dead philosophers through her dog. Or Vernon Hood, the most powerful man alive, who ducked out of public life to raise normal kids. Then, there's Geoffrey Gilman, the original superhero himself, who's finding that retirement is an uncomfortable stepping stone to the grave. In more ways than one. Enter The Superhero's Closet, where secrets, lies, and the shadows of the past fester, giving life to new dangers, new villains, and tragic surprises for everyone.

When the first superhero went public during World War II, the world responded with wonder. We treated the original superhero like a famous writer or singer, heaping on him the riches of international celebrity. Others came after him, as noble, as mighty. Committed to a fate that set them apart from normal humans, the new superhumans eventually became as natural as pop stars. Today, long after the retirement of the original superhero, hundreds of extraordinary individuals grapple with their place in society. Are they heroes? Villains? Are they volatile or do they contribute to the betterment of mankind? Lain Grey is just such a person, but at 16, he's far less moved by his budding powers than he is by sexuality, or his natural mother, who died when he was an infant. And there are others. Kathleen, the young woman who channels dead philosophers through her dog. Or Vernon Hood, the most powerful man alive, who ducked out of public life to raise normal kids. Then, there's Geoffrey Gilman, the original superhero himself, who's finding that retirement is an uncomfortable stepping stone to the grave. In more ways than one. Enter The Superhero's Closet, where secrets, lies, and the shadows of the past fester, giving life to new dangers, new villains, and tragic surprises for everyone.