Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.

As much as I love Superman, I have always had it on my mind how people don't recognize him. I know its only make believe, but seriously could they have came up with something better. Any other point of views out there?

It's not his glasses that are his secret identity, it's Clark Kent completely. He must come off as frail and shy. Everything Superman isn't. In the old days it was enough to just use imagination, it just....works.

Have you read this graphic novel called "It's a bird...."? It's a good read when it comes to the science of Superman and how modern time can take him seriously.

Super hypnotism.

What's funny is of all characters, Ambush Bug immediately saw right through Superman's 'disguise.' He even commented on how ridiculous it was that people actually fell for it:

http://s1d3.turboimagehost.com/t/1433415_ab1.jpg http://s1d3.turboimagehost.com/t/1433416_ab2.jpg

I think the best explanation came from Jeph Loeb during the arc where he introduced Supergirl.

Upon seeing Superman's statue, she commented that since people see him a so much "larger than life", no one would even think to look for him mingled in with regular people.

also people have seen them in the same palce at the same time before

lois at one point was told that they were brothers when she saw him at the kents farm

yup, not to mention j'onn has done it, and all those superman robots too...

People are stupid.

Once for on a night out my friends and I dressed as geeks. I put glasses on and slicked back my hair. I bumped into a close friend and she looked at me blankly, not realising it was me.

People aren't that observant.

Originally posted by SuperkatmanX
As much as I love Superman, I have always had it on my mind how people don't recognize him. I know its only make believe, but seriously could they have came up with something better. Any other point of views out there?

The best take on this IMO was Morrison with All Star Superman. He actuially physically reconfigures his body, his spine his flesh to look fatter, less in shape and ordinary when he's Clark.

So when you see him outside the suit he looks different enough that the resemblance is negligible.

Originally posted by Eel O'Brien
I think the best explanation came from Jeph Loeb during the arc where he introduced Supergirl.

Upon seeing Superman's statue, she commented that since people see him a so much "larger than life", no one would even think to look for him mingled in with regular people.

I see what your saying but come on,, Lois Lane in love with superman and chilling with Clark Kent everyday of her life.. should she just dye her hair blonde and act ditsy.

Originally posted by SuperkatmanX
I see what your saying but come on,, Lois Lane in love with superman and chilling with Clark Kent everyday of her life.. should she just dye her hair blonde and act ditsy.
you do realize that she knows who he is right?

but before then she thought they were brothers, thats what the kents said when she saw him at the farm. Also the fact that she has been with both of them at the same time has thrown her off. She has suspected it numerous times though

Also they actually look pretty different, you wouldn't make the connection unless you knew both of them

Originally posted by SuperkatmanX
As much as I love Superman, I have always had it on my mind how people don't recognize him. I know its only make believe, but seriously could they have came up with something better. Any other point of views out there?


At one point i was ok with Supermans secret identity. Like Scythe said, Clark Kent has nothing common with Superman.

However, Superman is unlike most superheros because he is very candid with the media. He has no problems with being seen by mass gatherings of people or even having a conversation with the common guy on the street. Because of this, Supermans face would be burned into everyones mind.I mean, he is EArths savior. Along with his great physical stature no one would be able to mistake Clark Kent for anyone other than SUperman. So, yes, Supermans Secret identity is the worst disguise in comic history.

Originally posted by jinXed by JaNx
At one point i was ok with Supermans secret identity. Like Scythe said, Clark Kent has nothing common with Superman.

However, Superman is unlike most superheros because he is very candid with the media. He has no problems with being seen by mass gatherings of people or even having a conversation with the common guy on the street. Because of this, Supermans face would be burned into everyones mind.I mean, he is EArths savior. Along with his great physical stature no one would be able to mistake Clark Kent for anyone other than SUperman. So, yes, Supermans Secret identity is the worst disguise in comic history.

all the things you mentioned about how great superman is are exactly why nobody even considers that he might need a secret identity. he has the fortress of solitude. he has the justice league. at face value, his life doesn't seem to be lacking anything that a secret identity would provide...

Originally posted by jinXed by JaNx
At one point i was ok with Supermans secret identity. Like Scythe said, Clark Kent has nothing common with Superman.

However, Superman is unlike most superheros because he is very candid with the media. He has no problems with being seen by mass gatherings of people or even having a conversation with the common guy on the street. Because of this, Supermans face would be burned into everyones mind.I mean, he is EArths savior. Along with his great physical stature no one would be able to mistake Clark Kent for anyone other than SUperman. So, yes, Supermans Secret identity is the worst disguise in comic history.
people have seen both of at the same time on numerous occasions. They just think they look alike

I understand that the people, as in society maybe just brush past him.. But what about the people that work with him everyday his friends.. They have huge front page pictures of him, probably on every angle he could possibly be.. They could at least play with it a little.. just say Clark walking around one day and a civilian comments.. Jeez he looks a lot like superman...

Originally posted by jalek moye
people have seen both of at the same time on numerous occasions. They just think they look alike

I dont think ive seen this before.. how does it happen?

Originally posted by SuperkatmanX
I dont think ive seen this before.. how does it happen?
he has superman robots make appearances and somtimes manhunter has filled in for him. there are a few other ways also

Originally posted by Raoul
all the things you mentioned about how great superman is are exactly why nobody even considers that he might need a secret identity. he has the fortress of solitude. he has the justice league. at face value, his life doesn't seem to be lacking anything that a secret identity would provide...


That's a good point. I never looked at it like that.


Back in the early days of Superman, though, when Superman was first conceived and through his first couple decades. Clark Kent was a sorry excuse for a secret identity. This may have evolved over the years, being better elaborated on by writers but it wasn't always like that. The important thing, though, Clark Kent is of no importance to the Superman character or story. The only reason it was so important for Superman to even keep his identity safe was to protect the people he cared about but that's irrelevant because he is Superman I think this is why no one ever really cared or even questioned it that much. Sub consciously they realized, Clark Kent is not Superman. Clark Kent isn't even an alter ego of Superman, Clark Kent is fake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfAvN6rXdkM

I see what people are saying in this thread but still supermans face is edged in the minds of evryone on earth. Look at those reporters at the daily planet, they take pictures of him all the time and yet they cant recognize him when he walks by with his hair done differently and some glasses on? Arent reporters supposed to be observant? Its quite far fetched imo.

Originally posted by Naija boy
I see what people are saying in this thread but still supermans face is edged in the minds of evryone on earth. Look at those reporters at the daily planet, they take pictures of him all the time and yet they cant recognize him when he walks by with his hair done differently and some glasses on? Arent reporters supposed to be observant? Its quite far fetched imo.
they honestly know they look alike they just assume they look the same. they've seen them both on numerous occasions. I think a bigger issue is no one cares, to them he doesn't hide anything so they might think it in their head but never ask.

It's lame as hell. No explanation so far has changed that

Originally posted by Galan007
What's funny is of all characters, Ambush Bug immediately saw right through Superman's 'disguise.' He even commented on how ridiculous it was that people actually fell for it:

http://s1d3.turboimagehost.com/t/1433415_ab1.jpg http://s1d3.turboimagehost.com/t/1433416_ab2.jpg



Do you happen to know the comic (it was in the PC era I'm pretty sure) where Clark is looking in the mirror, putting on his glasses, and remarking to himself how absurd the disguise was? Something to the effect of, "This is stupid. I don't look like a different person. I look like Superman with glasses. When someone gets glasses for the first time, no one says, 'Who is that guy?' No, they say, 'Hey so-and-so got some new glasses.' I'm not going to fool anyone like this."

...I'll try to find the scans later, still don't know the comic they came from though.

Originally posted by Enyalus
Do you happen to know the comic (it was in the PC era I'm pretty sure) where Clark is looking in the mirror, putting on his glasses, and remarking to himself how absurd the disguise was? Something to the effect of, "This is stupid. I don't look like a different person. I look like Superman with glasses. When someone gets glasses for the first time, no one says, 'Who is that guy?' No, they say, 'Hey so-and-so got some new glasses.' I'm not going to fool anyone like this."

...I'll try to find the scans later, still don't know the comic they came from though.

Thatd be awesome,, itd be better if they played around with civilians recognizing him a lil rather then villains and himself

Originally posted by SuperkatmanX
As much as I love Superman, I have always had it on my mind how people don't recognize him. I know its only make believe, but seriously could they have came up with something better. How about T-vo? Not full volume, of course, just enough to skew ordinary mortals' perceptions.

even so man, this is beyond just a skew of perception. What can they do about it now anyways.