BY TERRY MORROW

By TERRY MORROW
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
"Identity Crisis" by Brad Meltzer with Rags Morales, artist (DC Comics, $3.95/issue).
Mystery writer Brad Meltzer is looking at life through Clark Kent's glasses this summer.
He's also pulling off Batman's mask, following Wonder Woman home and tracing the whole Justice League's lives in "Identity Crisis," a seven-part comic book series.
In it, a member of the League is slain, causing dramatic ripples throughout the team.
"This story is basically a murder mystery set in the DC Universe, with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and others," he said. "This is my chance to play with the biggest characters that exist in comics. I write mysteries for a living anyway, and DC let me write a story using the characters in their toy box, which is obviously a dream come true for someone like me."
It isn't as if Meltzer doesn't have other things to do.
Tongues wagging
"Jack & amp; Bobby," a television drama he helped create, has been picked up for the WB's fall schedule. It's about two brothers, one of whom is destined to be president.
"The Zero Game" and "The Tenth Justice," political thrillers he wrote, have been best sellers on the New York Times lists.
But it is "Identity Crisis" that is setting fans' tongues wagging this summer. Issue One is now in stores.
"You know when you walk down a street and you have a feeling someone is looking over you shoulder?" he asks. "Well, it's my job as a writer to make you feel that way."
He wrote "Identity Crisis" while finishing up "Zero Game."
The comic book has been so secretive that DC Comics has required journalists to sign nondisclosure agreements before reading the issues, a rare request in the comic-book world.
But the identity of the victim is not the only twist in the book. The reason for the murder and its implications for the Justice League also are key elements of the story.
It's more mystery than the usual tights and fights fare.
Need for secrecy
Long before he was a best-selling novelist, Meltzer was a comic book fan. A couple of years ago, he gained a loyal following when tackling a monthly gig writing the adventures of the Green Arrow.
"Identity Crisis" will examine why it's important for superheroes to keep their everyday identities a secret. Superman doesn't want the world to know he's Clark Kent because of what it could mean to the ones he loves. What if villains discover Batman is really billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne? The villain could use that information to strike at the hero's loved ones.
"Identity Crisis" looks at what that kind of private information means to the personal lives of superheroes.
"This is my take on superheroes," Meltzer said. "Yes, we can roll our eyes when we talk about superheroes. But if they did exist, they would be dealing with issues of trust. It would be like being a fireman. You would be putting your life on the line everyday. That's an interesting concept to write about.
"It's about taking risks. When people write stories about superheroes, a lot of writers leave out that part, the part where they are always putting their lives on the line. I just wanted to stop for a second and really examine it."
XVolume 1: "Coffin," was released in June and is now in stores. It also boasts the talents of Mike Bair as inker, Alex Sinclair as colorist, and Ken Lopez as letterer.