It might work better if Superman used a different accent compared to Clark, I hear that a Kansas accent if pretty distinctive.
Vex Godglove
The Kansas accent (although it varies depending on a number of factors) is pretty non-existent. It runs fairly close to the “non-accent” they teach TV personalities to use.
Deathstalker
Being from Kansas, aside from a few things like washed (and i half think that was my best friend pulling my leg), no one has picked out an accent.
I’ve been to Europe, and been understood without problem by non native english speakers, who were amazed about that. (As they had trouble with most others.) Granted, I’ve been told I should do radio on a few occasions, as well.
Liam
Yeah, inexplicably we’re like that in DC as well. I’ve heard people from Kansas and Nebraska and they sound virtually identical to us.
That happened once. Lex used facial recognition, but dismissed because he couldn’t conceive of someone having that kind of power and choosing to be a meek reporter instead of a dictator.
I’m pretty sure if Superman decided to moonlight as a dictator, somebody would have noticed the dictator’s invulnerability to assassination and his awesome eye-beams of judgement.
Like Hitler? Now that guy survived way too many assassination attemptions to dismiss him as a mear mortal.
Josh
That guy was so overpowered, the only person who could kill him was himself!
StClair
Pretty sure those showed up in RED SON eventually, yeah.
Marcos Dantas.
A reporter from Kansas with the same FAAAAAAAAACE
Rex Hondo
The “vibrating face” theory also explains why Lois puts up with the problems inherent in being Superman’s significant other. 😉
Jetstream
Did they ever actually state that. I know Jay Garrick had that as part of his whole thing, but I don’t remember ever reading it for Superman.
TheBenenator
I remember some snippet on Superdickery that revealed that Clark has subtle, subconscious hypnosis powers that prevent people from making the connection in person, too. And something about the Kryptonian glass lenses amplifying it.
AckAckAck
The problem is when someone try to compare them via photos then there’s no way Clark can hypnotize him.
Scott
No no, he vibrated his molecules so that he was “blurry” ALL THE TIME. People literally couldn’t differentiate between Superman and Clark because he was moving his body in such a way that their brain didn’t trigger that sense of familiarity you get with even a face that you recognize but you’re not sure from where.
Also, in the post-Crisis universe, no one thought he had a “secret identity.”
He doesn’t appear to be hiding anything. Everyone knows his real name – It’s Kal-El. The dude doesn’t wear a mask. He was very forthcoming about being an alien. Everyone knows he has a fortress somewhere, so they just assumed that when he wasn’t saving somebody that he was just kicking back in his fortress or possibly just saving someone else.
In a way, it’s the best disguise ever.
thomas0comer
Until somebody catches a glimpse at him and recognizes his testosteriffic physique. I mean, really. In some appearances his shoulders are broader than his torso is tall.
AckAckAck
Maybe people presume that he’s your typical Kansas farmer boy with muscles from working in the field?
StClair
Go watch Chris Reeve again. Particularly the scene in Lois’ apartment where he goes from “Clark Kent” to “Superman in Kent’s suit” just by taking off his glasses and straightening up. You will believe a man can lie.
That movie was actually kind of underrated. I dug it.
Rex Hondo
Absolutely. For me, it was Lady in the Water where he lost the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to like it, I really did, but I haven’t bothered seeing one of his movies since.
AckAckAck
Good, less people watch Airbender. Stupid movie is so stupid.
That was the story in the original comics. It was an early retcon. According to one flashback, she spotted Spidey coming out of Peter’s window before she officially met him.
The best part is, she spotted him the very first time he ever left his house in costume. Which was like, several minutes before he started his superhero career.
Discussion (148) - “Alter ego”
Jen Aside
Aww…? ^_^;
David Herbert
Yeah, that was my reaction too.
Resne
It’s sweet…but not sweet enough to warrant a full Awww.
begbert2
Well, Jen did only give it two out of three.
David Herbert
She’s found her perfect man.
Yotomoe
“I like my men Geeky and Stupid”
Aizat
Like my coffee.
Random Guy
Weak and with way too much sugar?
Wonder Wig
From Colombia?
Tucker
Triple filtered?
QuantumPolagnus
Thrown into a burlap sack and smuggled across the border?
Kaj
Used to hide cocaine from customs?
AngryBamboo
Handpicked from the feces of wildcats?
AckAckAck
Hand picked and crapped out by a Luwak?
Andiemus
I would reference Krieger here, but someone might hurt me.
Plasma Mongoose
Ground up and drenched with boiling water.
Zap Rowsdower
Sterilized via boiling.
Twirls
Covered in bees
DEG1377
Who are you and how do you know that joke?!?!
Alex Franklin
Purchased ethically in South America?
otusasio451
Hey at least Amazi-Girl wears a mask. As far as I’m concerned, Lois Lane and ALL of Clark Kent’s supporting cast are dumber than Danny is right now.
Plasma Mongoose
And when facial recognition software becomes common-place, how will Clark Kent ever hope to conceal the face that he is Superman?
David
I think a part of the mythos that used to float around is that Clark always vibrated his face in photos so it’d always show up blurry.
Plasma Mongoose
Would’t that mean that if Clark ever went to London, his face would be vibrating non-stop due to all the CC cameras.
Ian
If that’s true then Lois would be a very lucky woman on that trip.
Aizat
That and the fact that ordinary people sees Superman as this larger than life guy. They wouldn’t suspect a reporter from Kansas.
Plasma Mongoose
It might work better if Superman used a different accent compared to Clark, I hear that a Kansas accent if pretty distinctive.
Vex Godglove
The Kansas accent (although it varies depending on a number of factors) is pretty non-existent. It runs fairly close to the “non-accent” they teach TV personalities to use.
Deathstalker
Being from Kansas, aside from a few things like washed (and i half think that was my best friend pulling my leg), no one has picked out an accent.
I’ve been to Europe, and been understood without problem by non native english speakers, who were amazed about that. (As they had trouble with most others.) Granted, I’ve been told I should do radio on a few occasions, as well.
Liam
Yeah, inexplicably we’re like that in DC as well. I’ve heard people from Kansas and Nebraska and they sound virtually identical to us.
Historyman68
That happened once. Lex used facial recognition, but dismissed because he couldn’t conceive of someone having that kind of power and choosing to be a meek reporter instead of a dictator.
bunivasal
Lex Luthor: not actually that smart.
AckAckAck
Lex Luthor: Graduating alongside Homer. Yep, he’s SMRT.
begbert2
I’m pretty sure if Superman decided to moonlight as a dictator, somebody would have noticed the dictator’s invulnerability to assassination and his awesome eye-beams of judgement.
Plasma Mongoose
Like Hitler? Now that guy survived way too many assassination attemptions to dismiss him as a mear mortal.
Josh
That guy was so overpowered, the only person who could kill him was himself!
StClair
Pretty sure those showed up in RED SON eventually, yeah.
Marcos Dantas.
A reporter from Kansas with the same FAAAAAAAAACE
Rex Hondo
The “vibrating face” theory also explains why Lois puts up with the problems inherent in being Superman’s significant other. 😉
Jetstream
Did they ever actually state that. I know Jay Garrick had that as part of his whole thing, but I don’t remember ever reading it for Superman.
TheBenenator
I remember some snippet on Superdickery that revealed that Clark has subtle, subconscious hypnosis powers that prevent people from making the connection in person, too. And something about the Kryptonian glass lenses amplifying it.
AckAckAck
The problem is when someone try to compare them via photos then there’s no way Clark can hypnotize him.
Scott
No no, he vibrated his molecules so that he was “blurry” ALL THE TIME. People literally couldn’t differentiate between Superman and Clark because he was moving his body in such a way that their brain didn’t trigger that sense of familiarity you get with even a face that you recognize but you’re not sure from where.
Historyman68
That has just the right combination of real-sounding science and silliness to make it a reasonable explanation.
Rex Hondo
It doesn’t hurt that he can laser lobotomize anybody who does figure it out from orbit. Between panels, of course.
AckAckAck
The problem is when someone knock him out cold he will stop vibrating and people will notice.
Narf
Good thing it sounds pretty difficult to knock Superman out cold, hehe.
Jeff K!
Also, in the post-Crisis universe, no one thought he had a “secret identity.”
He doesn’t appear to be hiding anything. Everyone knows his real name – It’s Kal-El. The dude doesn’t wear a mask. He was very forthcoming about being an alien. Everyone knows he has a fortress somewhere, so they just assumed that when he wasn’t saving somebody that he was just kicking back in his fortress or possibly just saving someone else.
In a way, it’s the best disguise ever.
thomas0comer
Until somebody catches a glimpse at him and recognizes his testosteriffic physique. I mean, really. In some appearances his shoulders are broader than his torso is tall.
AckAckAck
Maybe people presume that he’s your typical Kansas farmer boy with muscles from working in the field?
StClair
Go watch Chris Reeve again. Particularly the scene in Lois’ apartment where he goes from “Clark Kent” to “Superman in Kent’s suit” just by taking off his glasses and straightening up. You will believe a man can lie.
Yotomoe
However, He’s on level with every character that knows Robin.
Max G.
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/clarksuperman_330_3985.jpg
A good example of how posture and how you hold your face can change a lot of how you’re seen.
Historyman68
Very strongly considering making that my profile pic. Or maybe avatar on this site…
I.care.0
Sadly, link doesn’t work for me. =|
Wonder Wig
Spoilers! Amazi-Girl kills Dumbledore with Rosebud.
otusasio451
While revealing to Danny that not only is she his father (YES, his FATHER), but they’re also the same person.
Wack'd
And that she’s just a hallucination and/or dead.
Yotomoe
And that she’s aging backwards Just in time for Junior prom!
Usayasha
And in the end, it was all a dream, and Danny wakes up in bed with Suzanne Pleshette.
Bickendan
Not Rosebud! MY LIFE IS RUINED! RUINED, I TELLS YOU!
Poor sled 🙁
begbert2
Rosebud was a SLED?!?!?
Narf
lol i get it
Rex Hondo
And Ruth is actually just a costume the faculty keep in the shed to keep the students from wandering into the woods.
Historyman68
That movie was actually kind of underrated. I dug it.
Rex Hondo
Absolutely. For me, it was Lady in the Water where he lost the benefit of the doubt. I wanted to like it, I really did, but I haven’t bothered seeing one of his movies since.
AckAckAck
Good, less people watch Airbender. Stupid movie is so stupid.
otusasio451
That movie hurt me. I went to see it at midnight. AT FREAKIN’ MIDNIGHT.
GoldStarz
But MJ always knew Peter was Spidey…
DiDi
Huh? Since when?
RaijinK
That was the story in the original comics. It was an early retcon. According to one flashback, she spotted Spidey coming out of Peter’s window before she officially met him.
Yotomoe
Wow…Peter was kind of a fuck-up.
Jenny Creed
The best part is, she spotted him the very first time he ever left his house in costume. Which was like, several minutes before he started his superhero career.
AckAckAck