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Superman is the archetype superhero. He is the brand template, the gold standard (or red, yellow, and blue). He is ubiquitous with the term 'superhero.' Clark Kent, however, is the exact opposite. Has anyone ever referred to you as 'mild-mannered'? Probably not. That title belongs to Mr. Kent. The bumbling, hapless, unassuming, giant, corn-fed, Smallville expat working at the Daily Planet. As a child watching the classic Christopher Reeve Superman film, I wondered how no one could tell Clark was Superman. 

He was huge! He hid behind a pair of nondescript glasses and mostly drew attention to himself by knocking things over or being in the way. You would be a fool not to know they were one and the same. As an old, cynical, self-centered man, I can attest that it is a pretty damn good disguise and an example of intentional visual design. 

Why? Because no one is paying attention to you or analyzing you during the day. Humans are not built for daily, detailed scrutiny. What an exhausting way to live that would be. Adults have things going on and are preoccupied for 98% of the day. The other 2% goes to finding food. With that in mind, look at Superman's disguise. He's your generic co-worker. The guy at the water cooler who asks how the weekend was and never looks you in the eye as he speaks. It is a minimalist misdirection. Clark Kent's appearance and demeanor transform the mighty Superman into the unassuming antithesis of a superhero. That being a human.

Clark Kent: The world's most famous secret identity

It's a punchline at this point. Clark Kent is a terrible disguise. Allow me to disagree. Clark is just far enough from who Superman is in aesthetics, stature, and mannerisms that the general public could easily overlook him. It's not just the glasses. It's how he carries himself, the things he does, and the way he blends. Clark works to be the antithesis of Superman. A wallflower. Someone forgettable. Despite his height and build, Clark often fades into the background in a crowd of louder, more boisterous personalities, such as Louis or Perry White. Kent wants nothing more than to blend in and observe, while Superman's bold colors, physique, and S-shield draw the attention of villains and signal to the citizens of the world that he is there to help.

I watched a video of Jonna Mendez, former CIA Chief of Disguise, breaking down disguises in films. Her analysis of the effect disguises fits Clark Kent fairly well. She does call his glasses ridiculous, but that is neither here nor there. It's not just about putting on a pair of glasses and pretending not to be Superman. The disguise only works if you adopt the characteristics of the persona you want to play. That's why Christopher Reeve's portrayal of Superman/Clark Kent works so well. He not only dons the glasses, but he also rounds and slumps his shoulders, making himself appear shorter and less intimidating. He acts clumsy and meek, which is off-putting, causing people to avert their gaze and not focus on him. He plays the part so well that no one gives him a second thought, as he exists on the periphery of their lives. He's a damn alien spy!

Superman: Palette swap ninja

Superman is a bold sort of fellah. Bright primary colors, a big ass flapping red cape, a honking big shield on his chest, a chin carved from granite, and a body like a guy who doesn't skip leg day. He draws attention. That's what I'm saying. Now look at Clark. He's so very beige. The very definition of beige. From his clothing to his attitude. He blends. A stark contrast to his heroic alter ego, The Man of Tomorrow. His goal is to look different, blend away, and avert attention through distractions. There is nothing more boring than an ill-fitting or off-color suit on a clumsy oaf of a man. It screams 'professional' and avoids 'personality,' making Clark an uninteresting topic for any passer-by or co-worker to pay much attention to. Kent is visual Benadryl.
 

The Clark Kent Glasses

Let's talk about those ridiculous glasses. Those bad boys are a joke, but they do serve a purpose. Narratively, they signify the transition between Clark and Superman. They also reframe Clark's face so it looks slightly askew. Depending on the lenses in a pair of glasses, they can significantly alter a person's appearance. Take Tina from Bob's Burgers. Her prescription is so strong that her entire eyeball encompasses the frames. If you remove her glasses, her eyes are tiny and change the way she looks. While Clark doesn't go to that extreme, the large frames reshape his face and soften his features. Coupled with a change in hair (where exactly does that S curl go?) and a tucked chin, that guy is not a super person.

Supermannerisms of Superman

In the James Gunn Superman movie, Clark agrees to be interviewed by Lois as Superman. The dialogue starts with Clark chatting casually with Lois. There is a moment when Clark leans forward and switches to Superman with a single word. It's a great example of the subtle changes needed to become a different person. He utters her name in a more confident and commanding voice, transforming into the Man of Steel. Clark's mannerisms are a key part of his secret identity. Fumbling slightly, changing posture, and being generally awkward are all tools in the secret identity utility belt. It's a matter of extremes. The dark, brooding, reclusive, and shadowy nature of Batman is juxtaposed with his flamboyant socialite lifestyle, which he puts on to distract people. Misdirection. Clark Kent is a giant, awkward man who couldn't possibly save the day without tripping over his own feet. Superman is overly capable and utterly unstoppable. It's all in the perceptions.

No one cares

As I mentioned at the start, it bears repeating. This point is, in fact, the crux of Clark Kent's secret identity. The reason he gets away with it so deftly (outside of the fact that he isn't a real person) is that no one in Metropolis cares. Well, no adults. A child could see through his disguise because children are inherently inquisitive. They also notice things because they are looking and absorbing. Adults don't care. They have everything else in their life going on; they can barely keep track of the friends they have. Clark Kent offers nothing in the way of a visual 'hook.' Nothing to land your eye on and focus on. He's a giant beige blob roaming the halls of the Daily Planet. His appearance is designed for oversight.

Here is an exercise. Pick a random co-worker you don't work with directly often. Now, try to picture them in your head. Out loud, say what their eye color is. Try to picture their preferred outfit, or if they have a favorite scarf they wear every day. You can't do it. Admit it. Why would you be able to? You focus on your job, your day, your family, and your back pain (I am just describing myself at this point). You aren't paying attention to those details because you don't need to. You recognize their outline and general presence, and you move on. 

That's how Clark slips through the day. Apathy from people and blending into the background. It's a fantastic example of how to blend in. It isn't just a pair of glasses and a haircut. It's a persona, it's misdirection, and it takes advantage of the lack of focus people have. Kent is all about taking advantage of human perception, creating some visual misdirection, and building an alternate, polar opposite brand to his Superman persona. Clark is associated with being a demure wallflower. He created a secret identity that takes advantage of people's focus and, with that, walks among the citizens as a silent protector. And one who must be warm, wearing all those layers. That costume looks warm.

James Gunn's Superman is flying into theaters soon enough, and Popverse has all you need to prepare. Refreshing your cinematic memory with our Superman movie watch order, learn what we know about the upcoming Superman movie, Superman's S-Shield through the ages, and read about what DC is doing ahead of their flagship hero's triumphant return.