Correct - I'm suggesting that Superman put down the reporter identity after a few years. He'll always be Clark the farm boy to a certain extent, but he doesn't need to be Clark the Daily Planet Reporter forever.
Sure I do... I don't quite understand the point you're trying to make though. Just because he was raised as Clark on a farm doesn't mean he might not someday naturally become Superman - the full-time protector of Earth.
I agree, but disagree. One of the traits of Superman is that he's often a reluctant hero. He gets pushed into being a hero by Martha and Jonathan, or he chooses that route, and then he figures out that the price he has to pay is pretty steep. When he's given the opportunity to leave that behind, he take it and enjoys it.
Granted, I'm all for a change of characterization (hence my great enjoyment of Superman's portrayal in Earth One and MOS as an outsider), but I still think that Clark struggling to balance who he is against who Superman is, is a far more interesting story than a Superman who abandons his human side to be Superman 24/7.
I mean, if you have a story idea, I'd love to hear it. Maybe your take on it would be fabulous. It's just that by making Superman too alien, he becomes less interesting. The most interesting story I've come across so far that relates to this is in Superman/Batman, where all the aliens are manipulated (by having their own feelings of feeling out of place amplified) into deciding to take over Earth. Superman has a great, emotional struggle in that storyline, where he faces one of his biggest fears, and his greatest longings. He wants to be human, but he never really can be one...and he's afraid that people who say that they can accept who he is really don't.
This is more poignant to me than the idea of Clark abandoning who he is in favor of being Superman. Once that happens, I think the character arc is pretty much done. He may have other, great adventures, but god!Superman (which is what he'd basically be) is not that intriguing.
If it's so important, than why not progress the theme by making his identity something he struggles with. Clark is a great way to connect with humanity at first, it's true, but for how long? Eventually, it'd be natural that the Clark personna would begin to show signs of wear. Because keeping secrets... not being able to tell your friends the truth... being stuck in the same job purposely forever... I doubt that's exactly the ideal way that Superman would like to retain his humanity.
Perhaps MOS's approach is going to be less about secrets. Think about it; some people in the military might be able to figure it out, Perry might, Smallville probably knows why the aliens were there...
This could be a total change in the Superman secret-identity story. The secret identity isn't so secret...but it's protected by people who value both Clark and Superman.
That would be awesome. I like that kind of change. You can play around with it.
I disagree, though I do see your point of view... I just think it's not showing enough imagination. As you say, this story has been done before. More than that, I'd say it's the natural progression of Superman's third Act. Superman can struggle to fit in without the Clark personna; in fact, it'd be that much more difficult for him, creating even more of the human drama that you're calling for.
Perhaps as a final, final moment in Superman's story. I like Clark/Superman. It'd be fun if they had Clark actually do something besides be a reporter. I loved in MOS that he did do other things; dishwasher, working a fishing trawler. I can easily envision him in other jobs, whereas pretty much all Clark ever has been in comics is a reporter. MOS did a good thing by not having Clark Kent, reporter, be in the story until the end.
What is a storyline you would do with Superman giving up Clark?
Nicely said... but I'd slightly disagree. Clark CANNOT exist without Superman. That's exactly what MOS was about. The personna of Clark is one that is stuck in a rut. He can never truly connect with others because he's living a secret. In that way, Clark is both Superman's greatest tool to connect with humanity, but it's also his greatest hindrance. Because it's based on an inherent lack of trust in those around him. Jimmy might be Clark's good work friend; they might get a beer every now and again. But Clark can never tell Jimmy what he's really feeling about a given situation. For as long as he continues to hide, he'll always be that kid holding back while being heckled by bullies. Clark is doomed to that fate, whereas Superman doesn't have to be.
Interesting! But I would say that Superman is the tool, not Clark. We each see what we like best, obviously.
It's a fun debate!