What if Superman were to reveal his identity to the world?

[Whirlysplat]

Many have probably noticed a strong resemblance. While it's never been said, alot of people think that Perry probably figured it out a while ago and just kept quiet about it because Clark's his friend. I also think that Lois, while she could have figured it out easily, was suffering from Sunnydale syndrom. As in, she (most likely subconsciously) ignored the clues because she didn't want to believe that Clark had been lying to her like that. The rest probably simply didn't take enough notice in Clark to makr the connection. He didn't sem to hang out with many people besides Lois, Perry, and Jimmy. Also, it's not like Superman's face is plastered everywhere. If memory serves, he intentionaly tries not to get his photo taken when he can avoid it so no one at the ofice can compare a pictire of him as Supes to him at work.

But truthfully we all know the disguise is silly, but it's fun!

- Whirly

 

[sethcohen]

regular people look remarkably like celebrities all the time... sometimes living in close proximity of those celebrities, either on accident or intentionally... many people dont believe Superman HAS an alter ego... they just assume since he doesnt wear a mask, that he is Superman all the time...

 

[Spike_x1]

What's wrong with a low teir villain? So he's not a criminal mastermind. Big deal. He never intended to be. He's a grunt. An enforcer. That's not what makes him a good or bad character.

I'm inclined to agree. Metallo had his place in those stories without relying on the kryptonite plot device spoken of earlier.

You say low tier villain as if it's a bad thing. Not every opponent should be another Brainiac or Luthor.

 

[The Question]

But truthfully we all know the disguise is silly, but it's fun!

- Whirly

Actually, I really think the only flaw with it is Lois not figuring it out, and there you can simply apply the Sunnydale Syndrome. She is fully capable of figuring out Clark is Superman, but subconsciously refuses to let herself do so because it would distrupt the world as she sees it.

 

[Whirlysplat]

I'm inclined to agree. Metallo had his place in those stories without relying on the kryptonite plot device spoken of earlier.

You say low tier villain as if it's a bad thing. Not every opponent should be another Brainiac or Luthor.

I actually disagree, Why shouldn't every villian be a Braniac or Luthor? I think a hero is only as good as the villians he faces, hired muscle has it's place but it does not make for good stories. Yes I think having the Metallos of this world as main protanganists leads to monster of the week stories. If that's what you like cool, i personally prefer story arcs which put the lad characters in situations where they are stretched low tier villians don't do this usually. Sometimes these characters can be used as interesting human interest stories, where their motivations and reasons for behaving the way they do can be examined. I would though consider most of these stories however enjoyable to be merely fillers.

Actually, I really think the only flaw with it is Lois not figuring it out, and there you can simply apply the Sunnydale Syndrome. She is fully capable of figuring out Clark is Superman, but subconsciously refuses to let herself do so because it would distrupt the world as she sees it.

Fair enough, personally I don't see a pair of glasses as a good disguise for someone as physically unusual as Superman.

- Whirly

 

[The Question]

I actually disagree, Why shouldn't every villian be a Braniac or Luthor?

Because not every villain has to be. And really, why does a villain have to be some kind of criminal mastermind to be a good character?

I think a hero is only as good as the villians he faces, hired muscle has it's place but it does not make for good stories.

Why not? How good a story is is not dictated by it's scope. You can have a great story about Superman having to deal with someone like Metallo or The Parasite.

Yes I think having the Metallos of this world as main protanganists leads to monster of the week stories. If that's what you like cool, i personally prefer story arcs which put the lad characters in situations where they are stretched low tier villians don't do this usually. Sometimes these characters can be used as interesting human interest stories, where their motivations and reasons for behaving the way they do can be examined. I would though consider most of these stories however enjoyable to be merely fillers.

None of that makes Metallo a bad character.

 

[The Question]

Fair enough, personally I don't see a pair of glasses as a good disguise for someone as physically unusual as Superman.

How is he physically unusual? He's tall and in good shape. Baggy clothes as Clark and tight clothes as Superman help to mkae a noticable different in build, and the glasses plust adjusting his overall posture and body language makes him seem "unclarkish" as Superman and "unsupermanish" as Clark. People who've seen both up close will see a resemblance, but not necessairily think they're the same guy right away. And, as I've said, it's not like there's alot of photos of Superman that get a very good look at his face. In fact, there are almost none.

 

[Whirlysplat]

How is he physically unusual? He's tall and in good shape.

He is in more than good shape. He is supposed to be "super" beyond human perfection, I really think baggy clothes and glasses are not an effective disguise. Try it sometime and see if no one who has met you recognises you, I suspect you are not as unusual as Superman.

- Whirly

 

[Whirlysplat]

Because not every villain has to be. And really, why does a villain have to be some kind of criminal mastermind to be a good character?

No but the scope of a Metallo is limited

Why not? How good a story is is not dictated by it's scope. You can have a great story about Superman having to deal with someone like Metallo or The Parasite.

How many parasite stories are very similair? Dosen't make them bad per se just not really good either. For more detail read my original post.

- Whirly

 

[The Question]

He is in more than good shape. He is supposed to be "super" beyond human perfection,

He just looks like a tall guy who's in good shape to me.

I really think baggy clothes and glasses are not an effective disguise. Try it sometime and see if no one who has met you recognises you, I suspect you are not as unusual as Superman.

And how many people has Superman met personally? Sure, he's saved thousands of people's lives, but it's not like he's personally aquainted with them. And I don't think any of those people have seen Clark (besides passing him on the street, maybe). The only main problem is Lois, and I've already talked about the Sunnydale Synrome.

No but the scope of a Metallo is limited

So? Doesn't make him a bad character. Let me give you an example:

Bullseye. Bullseye is an assasin. A hired gun. Not what I'd call a criminal mastermind at all. And he is considered by many to be one of Daredevil's best villains. That is not because of his scope, but because the writers took time to develope him as a character and his relationship with Daredevil. Scop has nothing to do with how good the story is.

How many parasite stories are very similair? Dosen't make them bad per se just not really good either. For more detail read my original post.

I actually wouldn't know. Haven't read as many Parasite stories as I'd like to.

 

[Ben Urich]

Superman revealing his ID would be even more ******ed than his "death" all those years ago.

 

[Super Mark]

It might be nice to see a "what if" kind of thing, taking an honest look, in a non-continuity story, what revealing his ID would be like. Right after, six months later, 10 years later...
Mark

 

[Delta-Recon-1]

i still dont understand how people cant tell clark kent is superman. Metropolis IQ average = 65.

 

[The Question]

Well, I doubt any more than ten percent of Metropolis would know who you're talking about if you mentioned Clark Kent, and far less would know what he looks like.

 

[Super Mark]

>> I still dont understand how people cant tell clark kent is superman.

Clark Kent is Superman?

 

[The Leaguer]

Well, I doubt any more than ten percent of Metropolis would know who you're talking about if you mentioned Clark Kent, and far less would know what he looks like.

On the contrary, I'm sure quite a few people would know who Clark Kent is, at least by name and reputation. I'm sure he's been on television quite a few times.

 

[BrianWilly]

I don't think Clark is as public a reporter as Lois is. He's more of a columnist writing his articles than an active Dianne Sawyer-esque persona that regularly goes on TV and interviews everyone. A lot of more intellectual types might recognize his name and face, but regular Joes on the street? You might as well ask them to describe Matt Roush or Eric Snider.

 

[The Question]

Also, even if they recognise his name, I doubt any many would recognise his face. I mean, I'd think he'd shy away from the camera so no one makes comparisons between Clark and Superman photos while reading a newspaper.

 

[The Leaguer]

I don't think Clark is as public a reporter as Lois is. He's more of a columnist writing his articles than an active Dianne Sawyer-esque persona that regularly goes on TV and interviews everyone. A lot of more intellectual types might recognize his name and face, but regular Joes on the street? You might as well ask them to describe Matt Roush or Eric Snider.

I never said he was as big as Lois, and I never said he was a Dianne Sawyer-esque persona. I said that quite a few people would know who Clark Kent is, if only by name and reputation. I mean, just look at the number of people who tell him, "I read your column!" Even Plastic Man knew who Clark Kent was, for God's sake. And you don't have to be able to describe someone just to know their name. Hell, he's one of the people who broke the story about Superman.

Also, even if they recognise his name, I doubt any many would recognise his face. I mean, I'd think he'd shy away from the camera so no one makes comparisons between Clark and Superman photos while reading a newspaper.

See both of my above statements.

 

[The Question]

Very true. I'm simply saying that I doubt that everyone in Metropolis knows who he is, let alone knows what he looks like.

 

[sethcohen]

this thread hurts my head
(yes... im aware that rhymed)

 

[Whirlysplat]

He just looks like a tall guy who's in good shape to me.

So how many people do you see on a daily basis in the sort of shape Superman is in. Up until the confusion of his origin with birthright he was the pinnacle of Kryptonian genetic engineering. That makes him perfect. It's a silly disguise plain and simple.

i still dont understand how people cant tell clark kent is superman. Metropolis IQ average = 65.

Agreed.

On the contrary, I'm sure quite a few people would know who Clark Kent is, at least by name and reputation. I'm sure he's been on television quite a few times.

Agreed.

And how many people has Superman met personally?

What from Bibbo to the kids and staff of the Orphanage. Star Labs etc. etc.

So? Doesn't make him a bad character. Let me give you an example:

Bullseye. Bullseye is an assasin. A hired gun. Not what I'd call a criminal mastermind at all. And he is considered by many to be one of Daredevil's best villains. That is not because of his scope, but because the writers took time to develope him as a character and his relationship with Daredevil. Scop has nothing to do with how good the story is.

Thank you for your example, but it is because of scope of protagonist, Bullseye is a threat to Daredevil on his scale. He pushes a grim and gritty Daredevil story on. Remove gimmicks and Metallo is not a threat to Supermans world. As Byrne said about his Superman "he is an Earth bound God". Earthbound Gods require "epic" stories.

I actually wouldn't know. Haven't read as many Parasite stories as I'd like to.

Look for them in the bargain bin at your comic shop.

- Whirly

 

[The Question]

So how many people do you see on a daily basis in the sort of shape Superman is in. Up until the confusion of his origin with birthright he was the pinnacle of Kryptonian genetic engineering. That makes him perfect. It's a silly disguise plain and simple.

His build doesn't look so unusual that it couldn't be hidden with some baggy clothes.

What from Bibbo to the kids and staff of the Orphanage. Star Labs etc. etc.

Ah yes, true.

Thank you for your example, but it is because of scope of protagonist, Bullseye is a threat to Daredevil on his scale. He pushes a grim and gritty Daredevil story on. Remove gimmicks and Metallo is not a threat to Supermans world. As Byrne said about his Superman "he is an Earth bound God". Earthbound Gods require "epic" stories.

No, they don't. There can be (and have been) good Superman stories that I wouldn't consider epic. Epic is not a requirement for Superman. There's nothing bad about Metallo as a character. Is he some kind of criminal mastermind? No. Is he going to be holding the world ransom? No. Is he a bad character? Hell no. And is he still a threat top Superman. Definite yes. Metallo's only a bad character when he's written poorly.

 

[Whirlysplat]

His build doesn't look so unusual that it couldn't be hidden with some baggy clothes.

Depends who is drawing him. He often looks more like Dorian Yates than Brandon Routh in comics.

No, they don't. There can be (and have been) good Superman stories that I wouldn't consider epic. Epic is not a requirement for Superman. There's nothing bad about Metallo as a character. Is he some kind of criminal mastermind? No. Is he going to be holding the world ransom? No. Is he a bad character? Hell no. And is he still a threat top Superman. Definite yes. Metallo's only a bad character when he's written poorly.

Let's break this part of your post up.

1)Why do I think epic is the way to go with Superman, because of his basic premise of course. Alvin Schwartz one of Supermans creators on Supes. Superman is a Messiah figure.

http://theages.superman.ws/GiftShop/alvin_schwartz.php

Read these informative web pages expanding the concept.

http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/superman.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiahs_in_fiction_and_fantasy

Even Singer gets in on the act.

http://159.54.227.3/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060614/LIVING/606140356/1004

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/you/vidvibe/view_article.php?article_id=5144

2) Nope nothing bad about Mentallo as a character he is a generic cyborg With a plot device enabling him to hang with Supes. Do I like generic characters as main protagonists in slugfests?

Ah yes, true.

- Whirly

 

[The Question]

1)Why do I think epic is the way to go with Superman, because of his basic premise of course. Alvin Schwartz one of Supermans creators on Supes. Superman is a Messiah figure.

http://theages.superman.ws/GiftShop/alvin_schwartz.php

Read these informative web pages expanding the concept.

http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/superman.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiahs_in_fiction_and_fantasy

Even Singer gets in on the act.

http://159.54.227.3/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060614/LIVING/606140356/1004

http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/you/vidvibe/view_article.php?article_id=5144

I get the whole mesiah thing. But that still doesn't mean every one of his stories has to be one big epic tale.

2) Nope nothing bad about Mentallo as a character he is a generic cyborg With a plot device enabling him to hang with Supes.

Okay, I'm assuming you're being sarcastic there. What's generic about Metallo? He's a cyborg. Sure. There are alot of cyborgs in fiction. That doesn't make him generic entirely. And it has been said before that he is fully capable of going toe to toe with Superman without Kryptonite.

Do I like generic characters as main protagonists in slugfests?

You mean antagonist, right? Anyway, if you say Metallo's generic, then Lex Luthor must also me generic. I mean, he's one of many criminal masterminds in comics. Being one of many doesn;'t automativally m,ake a character generic. What matters is how you use them as characters. There's nothing wrong with Metallo.