Superman is Clark Kent and he works at the Daily Planet. Why is it that...?

Question

when he turns into Superman he just throws off his glasses. Nothing else on his head changes. No mask, no physical transformation like the "Thing" or the "Hulk". But no one can tell that it is still Clark Kent? Lois Lane was not the brightest bulb. Nor Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, or any resident of Metropolis. What's even worse is that I used to read that stuff as a child and bought into it. Any thoughts?

All the responses are great. By the way,did you notice that I mentioned being a child when "buying into" Superman? Did you believe in Santa as a small child? Please lighten up. It's all in jest.

Poetess 4U; And what level are you at? And why does it matter? Is this THAT important? My question wasn't.

Answer 1

I can't remember where I heard this, but someone suggested that Superman has the power to cloud people's minds, sort of like the Shadow. It's not that people can't recognize Clark Kent without his glasses, but somehow Superman confuses people around him.

I've also heard that those glasses are made from clear lead, not glass. It's the only way Superman can control all of his 'vision powers' when he's disguised as Clark.

Answer 2

They bought it because Clark Kent was so meek and mild and wimpy--such a loser could never be Superman. Of course, that's no excuse for the expression of shock on Lois's face when she finally found out in the comic.

Answer 3

Superman has had many powers in the past, most notably in the sixties. During this time, he was found to have in his Super Arsenal: (All Super) Ventriloquism, Eating, Smelling, Shouting, Muscle Control, Memory, Coordination, Kissing, and Hypnotism. It is this last power that he uses, in conjunction with his Super Muscle Control, to keep people from deducing his true identity.

Answer 4

Okay. Yes it's fiction, but so is most of literature. Anyway, when John Byrne rewrote the Supes Myth in 'The Man Of Steel', he put in the idea that he would vibrate his facial features at super-speed, hence blurring them to the naked eye. Lame, but true.
Clark also had to work at being himself, with posture, stance, and his interaction with other people.
Last bit -- in today's comic, there's a whole slew of characters who are in on the secret. Hell, I think even Spiderman knows!

Answer 5

Totally - did you ever see Teri Hatcher on SNL?

Although - if you watch the old Superman movies with Christopher Reeve, he takes of the glasses but he also changes the way he stands and talks. You think someone would notice, but it is more believable.

Answer 6

Hes simply a journalist and he had to work because everybody admired him but nobody gave him a free meal. I think everybody was so impressed with his presence that they didn't notice he was Clark Kent.

Answer 7

WELL IF YOU ARE A BIG SUPERMAN FAN LIKE MY SELF YOU WOULD KNOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CLARK KENT AND SUPERMAN :
SUPERMAN HAS A STRONG CHARACTERISTICS


BUT CLARK HAS MORE OF A GOOFY CHARACTERISTICS

Answer 8

You don't see the logic in that, but you are OK with the idea that an alien being can fly, lift locomotives and bullets fly off of his body?

It's fantasy. If it has to make sense, then it isn't fantasy.

So pretend he can soar through space without air. And pretend that when he takes his glasses off, no one can reconize him.

Answer 9

HELLO, It's made for kids. It's called a comic book. What's next? Want to debate the reality of Mickey Mouse?

Answer 10

Yeah, I've always thought that myself. Just because you lose the glasses doesn't mean people can't recognize you.