I love the explanation on "american alien" when somebody told him "you look like superman" he just say "thanks i heard that a lot" people are not willing to belive a "god" could be a guy so normal and if he dont act weird about people start to think its just a coincidence
@@maxzapsgamingzepzeap2337 makes sense, I don’t know if people believe he is the god (because he has the same characteristics) but yeah your point makes sense, this is probably why when he is Clark , they think it’s a human who probably looks like and sounds like him (god acting as a human ? That’s weird)
EXACTLY!!!! In the movie he was cowardly and flinching while Lex Luthor was lifting weights, I legit looked at Clark and was like: That dude is not Superman he’s just a wimp
I also like what jimmy says in Supergirl. People wouldn't automatically assume that this reporter from Kansas is the most powerful being in the universe. They probably wouldn't want to believe either.
I came into this with the "Clark Kent is such a dumb disguise" mindset only to be thoroughly convinced that I was very wrong. This video was very well done and definitely enlightening!
I remember reading a story about Christopher Reed going to a diner while dressed up as superman, and he was swamped with people, and then later on he went to the same diner while dressed as clark kent, but no one noticed him. Might not have been true, but still helps the point you made about his posture and outfit thing
Martha Kent should get WAY more credit for all the effort she's put in to help Clark figure out who he is and how to basically operate. Someone should hire this woman as an advisor!
Mathew Kevern yes!!! Perfect!!! A sane person on the Trump team at last!!! The world would thank her for her services. She'd probably get the Nobel Peace Prize.
Uh guys please don't bring politics into this it's not a personal thing but when I talk comics I generally don't want to get into political discussions 😑
Another thing to consider: Those who know Clark Kent consider him a softie, a timid man who disappears at the first sign of danger, in complete opposition to Superman.
There's also the fact that superman doesn't really have distinct features, he doesn't have any scars or an unusual hair color he has regular features despite it all Superman looks like just that a man
one thing left out is how the public at large would know Clark compared to Superman. Superman is a very public figure of whom pictures are occasionally seen, however Clark would only be known to the public at large as a name on a byline of an article in a newspaper so not recognizable on site
I vaguely remember in one of the world's finest books, Supes tells Batman that when he has his picture taken as Superman he vibrates at a low frequency so that nobody will have an accurate picture of him.
That sounds like something zoom would do to be pety, and that's just making me think of him going through the it was me Barry meme, but Barry is a news reporter rather than a forensic scientist.
Henry Cavill sat outside a Starbucks in New York City wearing a Superman t-shirt and jeans underneath of a billboard for Batman v Superman and like 12 people recognized him. I think that alone proves that the glasses are a pretty damn good disguise.
I think the clark kent persona is clever, but first realisation came from all star superman, both the move and the comic. Here superman is a strong confident man who always do good while clark is smart but really clumsy and slouches a lot. I really though this is a great idea and it really is sad when hearing people saying that superman is not interesting yet there are proof out there that sups is a fun character, just need to know where to look.
coolmexican comic drake is definitely towards the top of my list for up and coming RUclips channels due to the impeccable quality of all of his videos I really see this channel picking up a lot of steam
Oh come on, He Man is WAY buffer and his voice is deeper than Adam's. Also He-Man is the alter ego, not Adam. It isn't like Superman or Thor (he's had a few alter egos like Siegfried and Donald Blake) .
People give Clark a lot of flack for his disguise but he actually tries to seem like a different guy when he's hiding from the public. I think Diana is the most unbelievable one, she doesn't act any different than when she's WW, and even goes around without her glasses at times lol
Anthony Starr, who played Homelander on Amazons The Boys is the real world example of why the Clark Kent disguise works. He actually duped people into thinking he’s not the same guy who plays Homelander.
Before I watched this video, I had learned that Superman acts differently as Clark Kent in order to make his disguise convincing. But it is nice for you to cover the subject in greater detail. So thank you Drake, for creating this informative video for all to see.
The video was great Drake!!!! I think you should've also included the American Alien explanation. (When the glasses are addressed by one of Clark's friends) "You must never be able to take off your glasses." "I take them off all the time." Clark answers. "What?!?!" His friend replies. "And you know what most people tell me? You look just like Superman..." This I think plays out with the psychological bias you mentioned. It's a big city, people look like other famous celebrities all the time, someone looking like Superman isn't that big of a deal in a city of millions of people!
There have been several studies done on just the glasses alone as a disguise and it works. Plus you add in the changes to his demeanor, the way he carries himself, the pitch of his voice, etc. Most people think he flies around saving others than goes home to his fortress of solitude just to do it all again the next day.
yeah that works for most of people & is brilliant, when you apply it to regular people and then there is Lois Lane & she should know (im pretty sure in the comics she knows by now or has been retconed so hard it doesn't matter) but the issue is in the tv/animated series is that she gets to see Supes & Clark from very close on a daily basis, & she never makes any conection
Your points make sense for the most part, but whereas this would work on most people, why doesn't Lois - who regularly sees both Clark Kent and Superman up close - recognize him? That's why I still think it's kind of stupid, because the only reason SHE doesn't see trough it is because the plot demands it, beyond all reasoning.
This is a combination of other psychological affects, one being the _Halo Effect_ and another being personal bias. Lois has often been portrayed as a good judge of character, but somewhat cynical and less likely to believe in simple explanations; this was displayed even in the first time she _met_ Superman in most media, especially the 1978 movie. When Superman says he's here to fight for truth, justice and the American way, and she scoffs and responds "You'll be fighting every politician in the country!" Ironic, then, that in those films she _did_ put together his identiy via the context clues. You see a call back to this in *Superman Returns* when Richard White points out the physical similarities between Clark and Superman.... but then he and Lois just laugh, because Clark's change in voice and posture, along with his warm, slightly goofy "Beta male" act makes it seem _most_ unlikely that aside from the height, weight and dark hair, this unassuming farm boy has little in common with the Man of Steel. The basic idea is that Lois sees "Superman" as "everything exceptional" in a man, and Clark is... just Clark. He's sweet, decent, smart, and loyal, but there was no immediate attraction to him, when compared to this _obviously_ near-perfect, physical Adonis, God-powerful alien being with shattering blue eyes and dominant presence. Essentially, because Lois somewhat idolizes Superman and sees Clark as "simple and common," *it's her own biases which blind her to the truth.* Basically, "people see what they _want_ to see". It also helps [at least in the Chris Reeve performance] that Clark makes such a _drastic_ physical and personality distinction between the two identities; Superman is Alpha, serious, bold, objective oriented, stern, confident, heroic, and highly protective, as well as extrovert in his body language, tone and manner of speech. Clark, contrarily, is quieter, more contemplative, warm and quirky to the point of awkwardness, milder of manner to the point of being a push over at times, displays politely submissive body language, is smart but not at all showy, and at times even stammers in his speech. I prefered these distinctions in his character as opposed to the Jon Byrne rewrite, which made _Clark_ this educated former football player farm-boy turned GQ cover model reporter, and Superman this more stoic, less personable and more angsty hero. The two were so visually similar and with variations of similar behaviors that I never bought that people wouldn't see _some_ similarities, at least.
Well, to be fair, Kara and Supergirl have been seen together before thanks to the Martian Manhunter. I more have an issue with Superman being both *slimmer and shorter* than Jimmy Olsen! I also had an issue with them completely changing up the Jimmy/Kara dynamic before it was even properly started.
I'd say the differences between Clark Kent and Superman do enough. Clark Kent and Superman both have their own hairstyle, Clark wears glasses while Superman does not, change of voice as Clark and Superman, dude grew up in Kansas on a farm so it is fair to assume he'll be ripped
I used to think that it was a simple disguise but I also noticed Clark and Superman do act differently Clark is shy and polite and bumbly and superman is more sure of himself and confident
I don't know, man. There must be people out there who want to know who Superman is. If so, it's not too far-fetched to think eventually someone would figure it out, whether by looking at security footage or setting up their own cameras and studying the face. Police scanners... etc. Technology needs to be countered somehow in my opinion, in a world full of so much technology.
I think this is a brilliant analysis that really explains the situation. What really sold it for me however was the time Henry Cavil sat under a massive poster advertising Batman vs Superman that had him on the poster as Superman, but nobody recognised him. It’s THAT easy to disguise yourself amongst people.
Quote from adventurecomics on tumblr- "Evidence against the argument that Superman's disguise wouldn't fool anyone: -Dolly Parton once lost a Dolly Parton look alike contest to a drag queen. -Charlie Chaplin once failed to even place at a Charlie Chaplin impersonator contest. -Hugh Jackman went to comic con as Wolverine, only 2 people noticed him and one told him he was too tall, -Christopher Reeve used to go to a restaurant in costume when filming Superman. When he went in the Superman costume he was mobbed by people all the time. When he went in the Clark Kent costume no one realized he was Christopher Reeve."
I think what really sells the idea that they are different people is the massive difference between their mannerisms: Superman is very open, confident and charming, while Clark is shy, bumbling and awkward.
I know that in the Christopher Reeves Superman movies, whenever he is Clark his hair goes from right to left, and whenever he is Superman his hair is brushed in the opposite direction. Also Supes compresses' his spine to appear shorter as Clark. Now I don't know if it is true in the comics but it was shown in the first movie when Clark picks up Lois for their date.
This part is probably my favorite part about Superman's disguise: the fact you wouldn't know he had a secret identity to hide With how seemingly public superman is about his life, no one would normally think he was trying to pretend to be a regular person on the downlow
BIG freaking thank you! I always discuss that with my friends whenever we talk about Superman. I am on your side (because I actually read comics) and I´ll show them this video next time. Also, I loved your Drake Kent / Superdrake comparison. Really funny!
Honestly, anybody who doubts glasses will make an effective disguise either doesn't know anybody who wears glasses or has never seen a person take their glasses off. I wear glasses myself and, let me tell you, I look way different with them on vs with them off.
And usually heroes who wear domino masks usually operate at night so it’s hard to see their face anyways. And some versions of Green Arrow (actually all but that one from the Silver Age) also wear a hood so it’s even harder to make out the shape of his face. And Green Lantern spends most of his adventures (as of rebirth practically all of them) in space. So no one really cares in space.
All those heroes are loners. Their interactions with the police are minimal. They shouldn't have any interactions as their unmasked identities. The problem always comes when they interact with the people in their civilian life as their hero identity. Those are the people who might notice the similarities. Comics do that all the time for dramatic tension and it's dumb. Why are all the superhero girlfriends always getting in danger and needing to be rescued? To have the hero save them, of course. To increase the emotional stakes. Also, why date reporters at all? Are there no pretty girls anywhere else? The writers chose these women for their heroes because their job would lead them into damsels in danger situations and repeat the cycle.
superman has always been one of my favorites because of stuff like this, there was always more to him as a hero, one of the first super heroes, yet so different from so many that came after him
there actually one more rational explaination we all know that they are people out there that look like someone else (in fact several people make a living impersonating someone famous) so it sh ould be a surprise to anyone that someone else could have superman face.. Of course why this is never brought up no one knows.. but we have seen superman use a stand in sometimes to fool louis. she may think clark and supe just have a very similiar face but be totally different people
I also once read a comic where Clark Kent and Perry White were speaking about Superman with Perry saying Clark is a friend of Superman. with this those people close to him can simply think "eh, Clark called Superman and then ran away and that's why both are often seen at the same place at a similar time".
I like the whole idea of making his civilian identity the disguise and you made some good points, but there's one thing you didn't address. How did he fool Lois for years? They say love is blind, but she is an exceptionally skilled investigative reporter who sees him close up in both his identities whether anything hectic is happening or not.
My response is from four Superman movies himself, Christopher Reeve. "When I would go to the local diner joint for some food dressed as Superman, during filming. I would have dozens of people stop me and ask for autographs but, when I went there as Clark Kent, I blended in, and no one noticed me, so I was left alone".
I love that the movie [Mystery Men] lampooned this: "Lance Hunt IS Captain Amazing!" "That's ridiculous, Lance Hunt wears glasses, Captain Amazing doesn't!" "Duh, when he puts on his costume, he takes off his glasses!" "That's just silly, how would he see?"
That's pretty neat and simple changes like the acting, costuming and openness as Superman really does make a big difference the same way that sort of thing can enhance scenes in a play or movie. All that time people have been complaining about Cark's glasses I've been wondering why so few people ever question how domino masks suffice to hide someone's face. They don't benefit from distance nearly as much as Superman does.
Don't forget that Clark Kent has met superman (martian Manhunter in disguise) and also superman (Clark kent) met clark kent (mzypitlik) further more convincing his co-workers that he's not infact superman
A few years ago, Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (who sort of looks like Superman) went around interviewing people for Redskins.com. He wore a pair of glasses and a tight polo shirt. He asked them questions like who their favorite player was and he obviously tried to steer them towards himself... and they had no idea who he was. That convinced me that the glasses were a better disguise than we realized.
When The Fifth Element came out I was surprised to see Gary Oldman's name in the credits. I'd watched him in a couple of other movies that week and his Zorg was so different I just didn't make the connection. I can see the same thing happening with Supes but it's still fun to mock the glasses. Especially with Lois since she's an ace reporter. :D
Thank you for talking about this. Too many people just wrote this off as lazy writing when it is the complete opposite of that. Superman is so good at acting like a goof that no one in their right state of mind would consider Clark Kent and Superman are never in the same room. Superman's disguise is better than Barman's in that regard. Even if Superman didn't have X-ray vision, it wouldn't have been too hard to find Bruce out. Not too many of the one percent in Gotham care about the city's well-being enough to be perceived as Batman. Batman may act differently as Bruce Wayne, but Bruce is still well-known as a night-owl.
It is a great disguise except for when it comes to anybody that interacts with both of his personas up close regularly like Lois, Jimmy, or Lana. There's probably a good analogy to be made with an actor we are familiar with who appears in another movie looking different (though not disguised with heavy prosthetics, makeup, or CGI) that you recognize even though you didn't know they'd be in the film, but I can't think of anything at the moment in particular.
Since we live in a world where a virtual super villain is the front runner as one party's candidate, we have to admit that here, that whole Clark Kent thing would totally work.
Clark Kent is also 5'9" while Superman is 6'2", so there's a 5-inch slouch that he employs. Superman:The Movie showcases this perfectly when Superman goes to Lois' apartment and he decides that he's going to reveal his identity to her. He takes his glasses off, stands up straight and says, as Superman "Lois, there's something I have to tell you. I'm really..." and thinks better about it and goes back to his disguise - Christopher Reeve does a great job of employing this slouch and using a higher, softer voice. Richard Donner got it better than most others.
The acting idea is actually shown in Superman (1978). After Superman has flown Lois around, Clark shows up to take her to dinner. Clark takes off his glasses, straightens his posture, and his voice changes. As the viewer, we can see Christopher Reeve almost become an entirely different person.
I did know about the glasses stuff and how they change his eyes but I didn't know about all the other stuff that went into protecting his identity. Great Video!
I think that's why Christopher Reeve is the best Superman, I heard something about his performance that being Superman is easy, but that Clark Kent is the challenge, the real character that people have to believe, the scene in the first movie after he flies with Lois and comes back as Clark we see him go from one character to another when he removes his glasses, he stands a little straighter and the tone of his voice changes and then back to being Clark.
The Clark Kent ting actually worked so well that Lex couldn’t believe it. It’s because Clark is so...well, human. Heck, all that’s faked in his “civilian” side is his klutzy nature. He’s still a smart guy who’s pretty shy. That’s why people can’t see him as Superman, the confident man of steel
I have a pair of reading glasses that I use to look at fine print, and I've looked at myself in the mirror while wearing them. I look a little bit different wearing them than I do when not.
I just wanna say that one scene with Chris Reeve where he almost tells Lois who he is and you can see Clark become Superman-that's why the disguise is so great, and also cemented Reeve as the best actor to play him.
Thanks for the psychology recap theres NO WAY if Superman was real that I would recognize him as a random civilian in the street even if they kinda look the same. The fact that Lois who get to see both Superman and Clark Kent upclose on a regular basis doesn't recognize him is the only real hole in this thing, this trope alone as it is repeated in A LOT of Superman Comics made this joke such a big thing.
They would still see Superman on the news. He doesn't shy away from the camera. It would have worked in the days before television and internet, but probably not after
Closeup pictures of superman do exist and are quite common with the age of the internet or TV reporters running around trying to get a hold of superman even if they aren’t in any personal danger(.i.e. Superman stopping a train or car to prevent an accident from occurring).
I've never seen the disguise as silly like so many other people do. Especially given that so many well know celebrities have lost their own look alike contests to ordinary people. OH! theres also that time Henry Cavill walked around times square in his Clark Kent clothes while there was a TON of Superman promotional material about and no one recognized him!
This is an old post, but I have to add this which I think was overlooked in the video: with all the details about Martha's and Clark's steps to hide the similarities, what's not mentioned is the additional step Clark takes, which Christopher Reeve so brilliantly demonstrated in both Superman I and II: his posture. In I, after the first interview of Superman by Lois, Clark considers telling her his secret; when he does, he stops slouching and visibly straightens up, appearing to add a couple of inches to his already impressive height (as well as the already mentioned deepening of his voice). When Lois returns and he decides against it, he virtually SHRINKS into his "mild-mannered" Clark Kent posture (and heightens the register of his voice).In Superman II, he does it again after he trips and falls into the fireplace and Lois sees he's not burned, giving away his secret.
Not part of the hiding identity but a fun fact about the glasses Jon Kent lined them with led as Clark developed his X-ray vision at school. As one would think blinking and suddenly talking to meat on a skeleton would be frightening, so good thinking pa Kent
About Clark's muscles, in case anyone ever gets suspicious, he did grow up on a farm, so he's presumably no stranger to hard work. Beyond that, I figure a lot of people think Clark resembles Superman (surely photos of Superman aren't hard to find), but there's no reason to therefore conclude Clark is actually Superman. Or, if people do, I wonder if it's a common thing for people to suspect they work with a guy who's secretly Superman? Like there's probably a Blois Blane at a travel agency who she thinks she works with Superman, and there's a Glois Glane at a grocery store who thinks she works with Superman, and so on.
I understand that It's made from non-earthly materials, but if you've seen his 2008 movie, he slouches and talks differently. It's not just the glasses, its the way he holds himself and talks to not draw attention to himself. EDIT: 2:45 THANK YOU! everyone talks about how he mind wipes people, and you've hit the nail on the nose!!
The older I get, the more I realize the brilliance behind the disguise. People don't pay a lot of attention to what's going on around them in real life. Also, if someone were even to utter, "Hey, that guy looks like Superman." Most would probably reply, "That wimp? Get outta here."
Have any of you read JLA: The Nail? There's this great bit towards the end about disguises- the simpler the better. If it gets too fancy or complicate, it's harder to sell.
I really liked how Christopher Reeves did this in his Superman films. When as Clark, he slouched and went full on dork, but when Supes, back straight and powerful
When I got adopted I got a name change, that year I also got glasses, so one day I was playing with my friend and my glasses fell then he said “John” he thought I was a hole different person
Superman and Metropolis Clark are crafted personas. His actual real persona is how he acts when he is back on the farm with Ma ( and sometimes if he is kept alive) Pa Kent. That is why it is a huge deal when Clark takes Lois to the farm when they begin dating, or that only a select few JLA members Bruce being one of them has actually gone to the Kent Farm. While Superman is true in the sense that his birth name is Kal El, that he was from the destroyed planet called Krypton, how he speaks and acts and his mannerisms are just as much an act as his Reporter from Metropolis Clark Kent. How he acts when returning to Smallville, and being on his family farm is his true self, his mannerisms and voice are authentic there. Batman has a similar approach to this too. Both his Batman and Playboy personas are an act while how he interacts with Alred (his parental figure) in the privacy of his home is his authentic self; and just like Superman, Batman only allows a select special few to see the real him.
I love the explanation on "american alien" when somebody told him "you look like superman" he just say "thanks i heard that a lot" people are not willing to belive a "god" could be a guy so normal and if he dont act weird about people start to think its just a coincidence
But he is not a god in most versions, he is a super powered alien.
@@fadidabban The point is he's so powerful he's sometimes considered a God by regular Humans
@@maxzapsgamingzepzeap2337 makes sense, I don’t know if people believe he is the god (because he has the same characteristics) but yeah your point makes sense, this is probably why when he is Clark , they think it’s a human who probably looks like and sounds like him (god acting as a human ? That’s weird)
@@fadidabban Superman doesn’t have the characteristics of god.
@@GingeryGinger Doesnt make him a god. A god is a supreme being or one rooted in mythology/religion.
I liked Clark Kent in All-Star Superman. He was drawn as intentionally slouching and bumbling to further hide his identity as Supes.
I really hated that version as the differences were creepy and uncanny.
I love how in the movie adaptation he fooled a mastermind Luthor. xD
Unpopular opinion i don’t like 👍
EXACTLY!!!! In the movie he was cowardly and flinching while Lex Luthor was lifting weights, I legit looked at Clark and was like: That dude is not Superman he’s just a wimp
he also does that in smallville
I think the Clark Kent persona is more thought-out than what people give credit for.
I for one agree
dude, sometimes the best disguise is no disguise
@@Fiiwse5676 and just all around different mannerisms
Factoid
Brilliant it is
I also like what jimmy says in Supergirl. People wouldn't automatically assume that this reporter from Kansas is the most powerful being in the universe. They probably wouldn't want to believe either.
I came into this with the "Clark Kent is such a dumb disguise" mindset only to be thoroughly convinced that I was very wrong. This video was very well done and definitely enlightening!
I remember reading a story about Christopher Reed going to a diner while dressed up as superman, and he was swamped with people, and then later on he went to the same diner while dressed as clark kent, but no one noticed him. Might not have been true, but still helps the point you made about his posture and outfit thing
Carey Daniels Christopher reeve
ah thank you, my mistake
Carey Daniels I mean, it could've been the superman outfit.
Hrishi Venkatesh But nobody recognised it was Christopher Reeves
BuilderBoy That is kinda cool.
Martha Kent should get WAY more credit for all the effort she's put in to help Clark figure out who he is and how to basically operate. Someone should hire this woman as an advisor!
"you don't owe this world a damn thing"
and by "someone" I assume you mean Donald frumps campaign/administration team yeah ?
Mathew Kevern yes!!! Perfect!!! A sane person on the Trump team at last!!! The world would thank her for her services. She'd probably get the Nobel Peace Prize.
Uh guys please don't bring politics into this it's not a personal thing but when I talk comics I generally don't want to get into political discussions 😑
illumiNATI I respect that. Fair enough.
Another thing to consider: how many newspaper reporters do you know by face, let alone by name? I sure as heck don't know... any.
Do newscasters count?
@@seand7042 No, because Clark isn't one.
a particular weather girl...
Herbert sherbet
Pierce Morgan
Another thing to consider: Those who know Clark Kent consider him a softie, a timid man who disappears at the first sign of danger, in complete opposition to Superman.
There's also the fact that superman doesn't really have distinct features, he doesn't have any scars or an unusual hair color he has regular features despite it all Superman looks like just that a man
Yeah, he's pretty much just a generically handsome white man. One of the reasons he's been able to pretend to be Batman so often.
@@Nulono I don’t care about race, but he is one SUPER hero
@@Nulono yeah, supes and Bruce even share the same lego face print most of the time (except the times when Bruce looks like a not bald lex luthor)
@@applefarm6126 and he's white. Why did you need to mention that you didn't care about race though?
no one cared who he was until he took off the glasses...
I see what you did there
*Everyone cared who he was until he put on the glasses
What's the joke?
Inan Jarif no they got it right
@@foreverred97 it’s referring to bane’s line in the dark knight rises where he said, “No one cared who I was until I put on the mask”
one thing left out is how the public at large would know Clark compared to Superman. Superman is a very public figure of whom pictures are occasionally seen, however Clark would only be known to the public at large as a name on a byline of an article in a newspaper so not recognizable on site
I vaguely remember in one of the world's finest books, Supes tells Batman that when he has his picture taken as Superman he vibrates at a low frequency so that nobody will have an accurate picture of him.
Just like what the speedsters did in the flash
That sounds like something zoom would do to be pety, and that's just making me think of him going through the it was me Barry meme, but Barry is a news reporter rather than a forensic scientist.
Henry Cavill sat outside a Starbucks in New York City wearing a Superman t-shirt and jeans underneath of a billboard for Batman v Superman and like 12 people recognized him. I think that alone proves that the glasses are a pretty damn good disguise.
I heard that nobody recognized him...
Was he wearing a moustache or a creepy CGI mouth? These things can confuse you
Was just about to bring that up.
Batman: spent billions of dollars to create a disguise
Superman: a pair of glasses
I think the clark kent persona is clever, but first realisation came from all star superman, both the move and the comic. Here superman is a strong confident man who always do good while clark is smart but really clumsy and slouches a lot. I really though this is a great idea and it really is sad when hearing people saying that superman is not interesting yet there are proof out there that sups is a fun character, just need to know where to look.
So where does Clark stash his clothes when he's Superman? We know about the glasses.
@@johnbockelie3899 With his parents
i was just watching one of your videos i think your one the most underrated channel on youtube
coolmexican that is so true
Comic Drake I'm glad to be a subscriber of both of your channels
This. I couldn't have said it better myself.
he is bro, he is.... a true genius in relating the comic stuff... because drake!
coolmexican comic drake is definitely towards the top of my list for up and coming RUclips channels due to the impeccable quality of all of his videos I really see this channel picking up a lot of steam
Whoever has thought Clark's disguise is the dumbest has never seen He-man's. Great explanation Drake!
chow down He-man's disguise is genius when you think about it. You'll mostly focus on his chiseled abbs that you won't even focus on his face.
Oh come on, He Man is WAY buffer and his voice is deeper than Adam's.
Also He-Man is the alter ego, not Adam. It isn't like Superman or Thor (he's had a few alter egos like Siegfried and Donald Blake) .
i.stack.imgur.com/mp27t.jpg
Maybe in the comics he's buffer but I was joking about the show xD
IDK maybe it's just that his abs are more pronounced without the shirt.
Yeah, He-Man doesn't wear the baggy clothes so the only difference is the tan he has and the deeper voice.
People give Clark a lot of flack for his disguise but he actually tries to seem like a different guy when he's hiding from the public. I think Diana is the most unbelievable one, she doesn't act any different than when she's WW, and even goes around without her glasses at times lol
Anthony Starr, who played Homelander on Amazons The Boys is the real world example of why the Clark Kent disguise works. He actually duped people into thinking he’s not the same guy who plays Homelander.
Wow, this is actually pretty smart. I always thought it was just glasses, but there's way more to the disguise than that. Great video Drake!
B. G. I Burgie Burgie Too
Before I watched this video, I had learned that Superman acts differently as Clark Kent in order to make his disguise convincing. But it is nice for you to cover the subject in greater detail. So thank you Drake, for creating this informative video for all to see.
The video was great Drake!!!! I think you should've also included the American Alien explanation. (When the glasses are addressed by one of Clark's friends) "You must never be able to take off your glasses." "I take them off all the time." Clark answers. "What?!?!" His friend replies. "And you know what most people tell me? You look just like Superman..."
This I think plays out with the psychological bias you mentioned. It's a big city, people look like other famous celebrities all the time, someone looking like Superman isn't that big of a deal in a city of millions of people!
There have been several studies done on just the glasses alone as a disguise and it works. Plus you add in the changes to his demeanor, the way he carries himself, the pitch of his voice, etc. Most people think he flies around saving others than goes home to his fortress of solitude just to do it all again the next day.
Im loving the videos lately. You really seem to be hitting your stride!
also in superman returns, when richard suspected that clark is superman, then he saw clark do something goofy and he was like "lmao nevermind."
yeah that works for most of people & is brilliant, when you apply it to regular people
and then there is Lois Lane & she should know (im pretty sure in the comics she knows by now or has been retconed so hard it doesn't matter) but the issue is in the tv/animated series is that she gets to see Supes & Clark from very close on a daily basis, & she never makes any conection
Your points make sense for the most part, but whereas this would work on most people, why doesn't Lois - who regularly sees both Clark Kent and Superman up close - recognize him? That's why I still think it's kind of stupid, because the only reason SHE doesn't see trough it is because the plot demands it, beyond all reasoning.
Well that was BEFORE she married him. Afterwards she sees right through it.
This is a combination of other psychological affects, one being the _Halo Effect_ and another being personal bias. Lois has often been portrayed as a good judge of character, but somewhat cynical and less likely to believe in simple explanations; this was displayed even in the first time she _met_ Superman in most media, especially the 1978 movie. When Superman says he's here to fight for truth, justice and the American way, and she scoffs and responds "You'll be fighting every politician in the country!" Ironic, then, that in those films she _did_ put together his identiy via the context clues. You see a call back to this in *Superman Returns* when Richard White points out the physical similarities between Clark and Superman.... but then he and Lois just laugh, because Clark's change in voice and posture, along with his warm, slightly goofy "Beta male" act makes it seem _most_ unlikely that aside from the height, weight and dark hair, this unassuming farm boy has little in common with the Man of Steel.
The basic idea is that Lois sees "Superman" as "everything exceptional" in a man, and Clark is... just Clark. He's sweet, decent, smart, and loyal, but there was no immediate attraction to him, when compared to this _obviously_ near-perfect, physical Adonis, God-powerful alien being with shattering blue eyes and dominant presence. Essentially, because Lois somewhat idolizes Superman and sees Clark as "simple and common," *it's her own biases which blind her to the truth.* Basically, "people see what they _want_ to see". It also helps [at least in the Chris Reeve performance] that Clark makes such a _drastic_ physical and personality distinction between the two identities; Superman is Alpha, serious, bold, objective oriented, stern, confident, heroic, and highly protective, as well as extrovert in his body language, tone and manner of speech. Clark, contrarily, is quieter, more contemplative, warm and quirky to the point of awkwardness, milder of manner to the point of being a push over at times, displays politely submissive body language, is smart but not at all showy, and at times even stammers in his speech.
I prefered these distinctions in his character as opposed to the Jon Byrne rewrite, which made _Clark_ this educated former football player farm-boy turned GQ cover model reporter, and Superman this more stoic, less personable and more angsty hero. The two were so visually similar and with variations of similar behaviors that I never bought that people wouldn't see _some_ similarities, at least.
that's one of the biggest reasons i don't like the Supergirl tv show
Well, to be fair, Kara and Supergirl have been seen together before thanks to the Martian Manhunter. I more have an issue with Superman being both *slimmer and shorter* than Jimmy Olsen! I also had an issue with them completely changing up the Jimmy/Kara dynamic before it was even properly started.
Shenruss jimmy just got a growth spurt
The Clark Kent persona has always been brilliant. Although I always guessed there was more to it that glasses, so I may have a bias.
Also most people especially if they're from a big modern city like metropolis won't give a 2nd thought to a guy that looks like a normal businessman
I'd say the differences between Clark Kent and Superman do enough. Clark Kent and Superman both have their own hairstyle, Clark wears glasses while Superman does not, change of voice as Clark and Superman, dude grew up in Kansas on a farm so it is fair to assume he'll be ripped
Superman is clearly such an underrated character and clearly such an underrated mythos.
I used to think that it was a simple disguise but I also noticed Clark and Superman do act differently
Clark is shy and polite and bumbly and superman is more sure of himself and confident
exactly, also change of hairstyle. plus, why would people think superman would walk among people doing regular human things lol
I don't know, man.
There must be people out there who want to know who Superman is.
If so, it's not too far-fetched to think eventually someone would figure it out, whether by looking at security footage or setting up their own cameras and studying the face. Police scanners... etc. Technology needs to be countered somehow in my opinion, in a world full of so much technology.
A detail I love with frank quitely’s art in all-star Superman is how he draws clark hunched over but Superman standing up straight
I think this is a brilliant analysis that really explains the situation. What really sold it for me however was the time Henry Cavil sat under a massive poster advertising Batman vs Superman that had him on the poster as Superman, but nobody recognised him. It’s THAT easy to disguise yourself amongst people.
Quote from adventurecomics on tumblr-
"Evidence against the argument that Superman's disguise wouldn't fool anyone:
-Dolly Parton once lost a Dolly Parton look alike contest to a drag queen.
-Charlie Chaplin once failed to even place at a Charlie Chaplin impersonator contest.
-Hugh Jackman went to comic con as Wolverine, only 2 people noticed him and one told him he was too tall,
-Christopher Reeve used to go to a restaurant in costume when filming Superman. When he went in the Superman costume he was mobbed by people all the time. When he went in the Clark Kent costume no one realized he was Christopher Reeve."
I think what really sells the idea that they are different people is the massive difference between their mannerisms:
Superman is very open, confident and charming, while Clark is shy, bumbling and awkward.
I know that in the Christopher Reeves Superman movies, whenever he is Clark his hair goes from right to left, and whenever he is Superman his hair is brushed in the opposite direction. Also Supes compresses' his spine to appear shorter as Clark. Now I don't know if it is true in the comics but it was shown in the first movie when Clark picks up Lois for their date.
That scene was AWESOME! I saw Clark Kent change into Superman. And back.
"Because Comics".
Love Your catchphrase XD!
This part is probably my favorite part about Superman's disguise: the fact you wouldn't know he had a secret identity to hide
With how seemingly public superman is about his life, no one would normally think he was trying to pretend to be a regular person on the downlow
BIG freaking thank you! I always discuss that with my friends whenever we talk about Superman.
I am on your side (because I actually read comics) and I´ll show them this video next time.
Also, I loved your Drake Kent / Superdrake comparison. Really funny!
People who don't wear glasses mock the superman thing BUT as soon as I have mine off they act like they've never seen me before.
In the Chris Reeve Superman films I frequently felt Clark was smiling in inner amusement as he spoofed everyone with the mild mannered persona.
Honestly, anybody who doubts glasses will make an effective disguise either doesn't know anybody who wears glasses or has never seen a person take their glasses off. I wear glasses myself and, let me tell you, I look way different with them on vs with them off.
Idea (Not original):
On how those domino masks protects identities. Nightwing, Robin,
Green Lantern, Green Arrow, etc.
It's because you don't have their full face
And usually heroes who wear domino masks usually operate at night so it’s hard to see their face anyways. And some versions of Green Arrow (actually all but that one from the Silver Age) also wear a hood so it’s even harder to make out the shape of his face. And Green Lantern spends most of his adventures (as of rebirth practically all of them) in space. So no one really cares in space.
@@hulkinglasses7174 Oliver Queen doesn't have a secret identity its open
@@adamcolebaybayboom7846 I'm talking about post crisis, new earth and rebirth Oliver Queen who still has a secret identity
All those heroes are loners. Their interactions with the police are minimal. They shouldn't have any interactions as their unmasked identities. The problem always comes when they interact with the people in their civilian life as their hero identity. Those are the people who might notice the similarities. Comics do that all the time for dramatic tension and it's dumb. Why are all the superhero girlfriends always getting in danger and needing to be rescued? To have the hero save them, of course. To increase the emotional stakes. Also, why date reporters at all? Are there no pretty girls anywhere else? The writers chose these women for their heroes because their job would lead them into damsels in danger situations and repeat the cycle.
A famous psychiatrist once said "The mind only sees what it expects to see"
Great job I never knew the disguise had so much work put into it!
superman has always been one of my favorites because of stuff like this, there was always more to him as a hero, one of the first super heroes, yet so different from so many that came after him
there actually one more rational explaination we all know that they are people out there that look like someone else (in fact several people make a living impersonating someone famous) so it sh ould be a surprise to anyone that someone else could have superman face.. Of course why this is never brought up no one knows.. but we have seen superman use a stand in sometimes to fool louis. she may think clark and supe just have a very similiar face but be totally different people
I also once read a comic where Clark Kent and Perry White were speaking about Superman with Perry saying Clark is a friend of Superman. with this those people close to him can simply think "eh, Clark called Superman and then ran away and that's why both are often seen at the same place at a similar time".
I always thought it was a stupid disguise, but when I saw this video it all makes so much more sense now.
superman's secret identity is brilliant
in the new movies the hair thing is reversed, Superman's hair is gelled and slicked back and Clark's hair is poofy and without product
Never thought of it that way. Awesome video Drake!
I finally seen this and it's totally make sense why his disguise would work. Your example is perfect
My dad occasionally wears glasses, and a friend of mine didn't recognize him in Wal-Mart with them on.
I like the whole idea of making his civilian identity the disguise and you made some good points, but there's one thing you didn't address. How did he fool Lois for years? They say love is blind, but she is an exceptionally skilled investigative reporter who sees him close up in both his identities whether anything hectic is happening or not.
My response is from four Superman movies himself, Christopher Reeve.
"When I would go to the local diner joint for some food dressed as Superman, during filming. I would have dozens of people stop me and ask for autographs but, when I went there as Clark Kent, I blended in, and no one noticed me, so I was left alone".
I love that the movie [Mystery Men] lampooned this: "Lance Hunt IS Captain Amazing!" "That's ridiculous, Lance Hunt wears glasses, Captain Amazing doesn't!" "Duh, when he puts on his costume, he takes off his glasses!" "That's just silly, how would he see?"
I love the comedic way disguises are handled in early Invinicble.
That's pretty neat and simple changes like the acting, costuming and openness as Superman really does make a big difference the same way that sort of thing can enhance scenes in a play or movie. All that time people have been complaining about Cark's glasses I've been wondering why so few people ever question how domino masks suffice to hide someone's face. They don't benefit from distance nearly as much as Superman does.
But what if someone knocks Clark’s glasses off. I would be surprised if they didn’t think that his clothes aren’t baggy and who Superman is
Now that I know all of this, it's pretty brilliant
I think the persona would have been a bit more convincing if Clark wear a Burnet wig and a mustag.
Don't forget that Clark Kent has met superman (martian Manhunter in disguise) and also superman (Clark kent) met clark kent (mzypitlik) further more convincing his co-workers that he's not infact superman
It is also shown (in recent times) that those that closely interact with Superman are able to determine that Supes and Clark are one and the same.
A few years ago, Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (who sort of looks like Superman) went around interviewing people for Redskins.com. He wore a pair of glasses and a tight polo shirt. He asked them questions like who their favorite player was and he obviously tried to steer them towards himself... and they had no idea who he was. That convinced me that the glasses were a better disguise than we realized.
When The Fifth Element came out I was surprised to see Gary Oldman's name in the credits. I'd watched him in a couple of other movies that week and his Zorg was so different I just didn't make the connection. I can see the same thing happening with Supes but it's still fun to mock the glasses. Especially with Lois since she's an ace reporter. :D
I've loved the Clark Kent costume since hearing the monologue in Kill Bill.
Machines wouldn't be fooled by the hypnotic glasses, so that picture of Facebook recognizing Superman as Clark would work.
Thank you for talking about this. Too many people just wrote this off as lazy writing when it is the complete opposite of that. Superman is so good at acting like a goof that no one in their right state of mind would consider Clark Kent and Superman are never in the same room. Superman's disguise is better than Barman's in that regard. Even if Superman didn't have X-ray vision, it wouldn't have been too hard to find Bruce out. Not too many of the one percent in Gotham care about the city's well-being enough to be perceived as Batman. Batman may act differently as Bruce Wayne, but Bruce is still well-known as a night-owl.
It is a great disguise except for when it comes to anybody that interacts with both of his personas up close regularly like Lois, Jimmy, or Lana. There's probably a good analogy to be made with an actor we are familiar with who appears in another movie looking different (though not disguised with heavy prosthetics, makeup, or CGI) that you recognize even though you didn't know they'd be in the film, but I can't think of anything at the moment in particular.
Since we live in a world where a virtual super villain is the front runner as one party's candidate, we have to admit that here, that whole Clark Kent thing would totally work.
That was brief and cool
Keep it up drake
He also shifts the muscles in his face when he is Clark.
Clark Kent is also 5'9" while Superman is 6'2", so there's a 5-inch slouch that he employs.
Superman:The Movie showcases this perfectly when Superman goes to Lois' apartment and he decides that he's going to reveal his identity to her.
He takes his glasses off, stands up straight and says, as Superman "Lois, there's something I have to tell you. I'm really..." and thinks better about it and goes back to his disguise - Christopher Reeve does a great job of employing this slouch and using a higher, softer voice.
Richard Donner got it better than most others.
The acting idea is actually shown in Superman (1978). After Superman has flown Lois around, Clark shows up to take her to dinner. Clark takes off his glasses, straightens his posture, and his voice changes. As the viewer, we can see Christopher Reeve almost become an entirely different person.
I did know about the glasses stuff and how they change his eyes but I didn't know about all the other stuff that went into protecting his identity. Great Video!
I think that's why Christopher Reeve is the best Superman, I heard something about his performance that being Superman is easy, but that Clark Kent is the challenge, the real character that people have to believe, the scene in the first movie after he flies with Lois and comes back as Clark we see him go from one character to another when he removes his glasses, he stands a little straighter and the tone of his voice changes and then back to being Clark.
The Clark Kent ting actually worked so well that Lex couldn’t believe it. It’s because Clark is so...well, human.
Heck, all that’s faked in his “civilian” side is his klutzy nature. He’s still a smart guy who’s pretty shy. That’s why people can’t see him as Superman, the confident man of steel
Hypnotic glasses? And very good acting. Super acting. Just like a mask.
I have a pair of reading glasses that I use to look at fine print, and I've looked at myself in the mirror while wearing them. I look a little bit different wearing them than I do when not.
I just wanna say that one scene with Chris Reeve where he almost tells Lois who he is and you can see Clark become Superman-that's why the disguise is so great, and also cemented Reeve as the best actor to play him.
Thanks for the psychology recap theres NO WAY if Superman was real that I would recognize him as a random civilian in the street even if they kinda look the same. The fact that Lois who get to see both Superman and Clark Kent upclose on a regular basis doesn't recognize him is the only real hole in this thing, this trope alone as it is repeated in A LOT of Superman Comics made this joke such a big thing.
They would still see Superman on the news. He doesn't shy away from the camera. It would have worked in the days before television and internet, but probably not after
Closeup pictures of superman do exist and are quite common with the age of the internet or TV reporters running around trying to get a hold of superman even if they aren’t in any personal danger(.i.e. Superman stopping a train or car to prevent an accident from occurring).
now that it's been explained it makes allot more sense.
I've never seen the disguise as silly like so many other people do. Especially given that so many well know celebrities have lost their own look alike contests to ordinary people. OH! theres also that time Henry Cavill walked around times square in his Clark Kent clothes while there was a TON of Superman promotional material about and no one recognized him!
This is an old post, but I have to add this which I think was overlooked in the video: with all the details about Martha's and Clark's steps to hide the similarities, what's not mentioned is the additional step Clark takes, which Christopher Reeve so brilliantly demonstrated in both Superman I and II: his posture.
In I, after the first interview of Superman by Lois, Clark considers telling her his secret; when he does, he stops slouching and visibly straightens up, appearing to add a couple of inches to his already impressive height (as well as the already mentioned deepening of his voice). When Lois returns and he decides against it, he virtually SHRINKS into his "mild-mannered" Clark Kent posture (and heightens the register of his voice).In Superman II, he does it again after he trips and falls into the fireplace and Lois sees he's not burned, giving away his secret.
Not part of the hiding identity but a fun fact about the glasses
Jon Kent lined them with led as Clark developed his X-ray vision at school. As one would think blinking and suddenly talking to meat on a skeleton would be frightening, so good thinking pa Kent
About Clark's muscles, in case anyone ever gets suspicious, he did grow up on a farm, so he's presumably no stranger to hard work. Beyond that, I figure a lot of people think Clark resembles Superman (surely photos of Superman aren't hard to find), but there's no reason to therefore conclude Clark is actually Superman. Or, if people do, I wonder if it's a common thing for people to suspect they work with a guy who's secretly Superman? Like there's probably a Blois Blane at a travel agency who she thinks she works with Superman, and there's a Glois Glane at a grocery store who thinks she works with Superman, and so on.
I understand that It's made from non-earthly materials, but if you've seen his 2008 movie, he slouches and talks differently. It's not just the glasses, its the way he holds himself and talks to not draw attention to himself.
EDIT: 2:45 THANK YOU! everyone talks about how he mind wipes people, and you've hit the nail on the nose!!
Luthor: Clark Kent?
*Takes off civilian clothes*
Luthor: Clark Kent in a Superman costume?
*Takes off glasses*
Luthor: SUPERMAN?????
The older I get, the more I realize the brilliance behind the disguise. People don't pay a lot of attention to what's going on around them in real life. Also, if someone were even to utter, "Hey, that guy looks like Superman." Most would probably reply, "That wimp? Get outta here."
Have any of you read JLA: The Nail? There's this great bit towards the end about disguises- the simpler the better. If it gets too fancy or complicate, it's harder to sell.
I really liked how Christopher Reeves did this in his Superman films. When as Clark, he slouched and went full on dork, but when Supes, back straight and powerful
via the magic of video editing we finally see Comic Drake and Superman in the same room. I remain unconvinced.
When I got adopted I got a name change, that year I also got glasses, so one day I was playing with my friend and my glasses fell then he said “John” he thought I was a hole different person
So Clark is the crafted persona, and Superman is the real one. Except when it's the other way around. Depending on the author ... cool.
Superman and Metropolis Clark are crafted personas. His actual real persona is how he acts when he is back on the farm with Ma ( and sometimes if he is kept alive) Pa Kent. That is why it is a huge deal when Clark takes Lois to the farm when they begin dating, or that only a select few JLA members Bruce being one of them has actually gone to the Kent Farm. While Superman is true in the sense that his birth name is Kal El, that he was from the destroyed planet called Krypton, how he speaks and acts and his mannerisms are just as much an act as his Reporter from Metropolis Clark Kent. How he acts when returning to Smallville, and being on his family farm is his true self, his mannerisms and voice are authentic there. Batman has a similar approach to this too. Both his Batman and Playboy personas are an act while how he interacts with Alred (his parental figure) in the privacy of his home is his authentic self; and just like Superman, Batman only allows a select special few to see the real him.