10 Things You Might Not Know About SUPERMAN

10 Things You Might Not Know About SUPERMAN

Editorial Opinion
By WarNoodle - Jun 27, 2010 02:06 PM EST
Filed Under: DC Comics
Source: newsarama.com

Found this and thought it would be cool to share! I didn't know several of these.

By Alan Kistler

1. It’s not just about the glasses.

Clark's disguise isn't as simple as slicked back hair and glasses. The lenses of his glasses are slightly tinted, changing the shade of his eyes. Thanks to incredible control over his muscles and vocal cords, Superman actually gives himself a different voice when he’s Clark Kent. Looser clothing and slouching over gives a different impression of his body. And thanks to studying some acting techniques, he completes the disguise by employing very different body language as Clark. There’s also the advantage of our next fact ...

2. Clark Kent and Superman HAVE been seen together.

The DC Universe has heroes with various abilities. On occasion, friends of Superman who have the ability to shape-shift have masqueraded as Clark Kent, allowing the famous reporter and the Man of Steel to be seen and photographed together. To the general public, they are friends who simply bear a great resemblance to each other.

3. The “S” isn’t just for Superman.

The famous S-shield is not just Superman's family crest. First hinted at in the 1978 feature film, in the comic book story “Superman: Birthright” and the series “52,” we learned that it's also a Kryptonian symbol that means “hope.” Interestingly, drawing the S-shield upside down changes the meaning to “resurrection.”

4. Even superheroes need safeguards.

Clark actually wasn’t thinking about secret identities when he started wearing glasses as a freshman in high school. Around this time, Clark’s full powers were finally emerging and he had a tough time learning how to control them. Martha Kent had noticed that his heat-vision didn’t burn through the rocket that had brought him to Earth, so she took glass pieces from its window and put them into frames. Now if Clark’s heat-vision ever sparked up accidentally when he got excited, the glasses would block it and no one else would be the wiser.

5. It wasn’t always the “American way.”

Originally, Superman’s catchphrases called him the “champion of the oppressed” and said he was dedicated to “truth and justice.” Folks didn’t say he also fought for “the American Way” until the 1940s during radio broadcasts of that era, and the phrase became an iconic part of Superman lore when the TV series starring George Reeves began airing in the 50s.

6. Superman’s a time traveler.

As a kid in high school, Clark was visited by the Legion of Super-Heroes, super-powered teens from the 30th century who had been inspired by his legend. Seeing he was desperate for a chance to hang out with kids who were more like him, the Legion regularly brought Clark into the far future to join them in adventures. Whenever Clark returned home, part of his memories were clouded so he couldn’t alter his own future. These trips with the LSH helped Superman learn to become a hero and are part of the reason he maintains an optimistic view of the human race. He believes we’re worth it because he’s seen what we achieve 1,000 years from now.

7. He wasn’t always able to fly.

When Superman first appeared in 1938, the comic said that he was incredibly strong, could withstand anything less than a bursting shell from a tank, and was able to leap 1/8th of a mile. And that was it! His ability to fly first showed up in the radio series and his original cartoons. In the comics, he officially gained the ability to fly in 1941, nearly two years after his first story. In the years since his creation, he's been given new abilities and had some later taken away. Nowadays, his arsenal includes heat-vision, incredible strength/stamina, enhanced senses, X-Ray vision, arctic breath, super-speed, increased healing, near-complete body/muscle control, and a skin-tight force-field that makes him invulnerable to most forms of harm.

8. He didn’t always date Lois Lane.

Reporter Lois Lane is his wife, but she wasn’t the first one to capture Superman' attention and heart. In high school, Clark had deep feelings for his best friend Lana Lang, who was also the first person outside of his foster parents to learn about his strange powers. As a teen, Clark also had a crush on Saturn Girl, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. In college, he seriously dated a girl named Lori Lemaris, who turned out to be a mermaid from Atlantis. During a time travel adventure to Krypton’s past, Superman became involved with Lyla Lerrol, a famous Kryptonian actress. And for a while, Superman had a crush on Wonder Woman (hey, who wouldn’t?).

9. Batman owns Superman.

Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you’d be surprised how much Bruce Wayne is a part of Clark’s life. Bruce owns the building that Clark and Lois live in and, in fact, gave them their apartment as a wedding gift. And some years ago when it needed a new financial backer, Wayne Enterprises bought the Daily Planet newspaper, where Lois and Clark both work.

10. Kryptonite isn’t his only weakness.

Superman has faced many alien and superhuman enemies whose strength rival his own and whom have been able to injure him. Since he draws his power from our yellow sun, standing in the light of a red sun (such as the one Krypton orbited) immediately robs Superman of his powers, leaving him vulnerable to fists and bullets like anyone else. Clark also lives in a world where magic is real and simply being an alien offers no special protection against most sorcery. In fact, the chaotic energies of magic disrupt his force-field, meaning demons, vampires and werewolves can draw blood if Superman lets them get close enough.

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superotherside
superotherside - 6/27/2010, 2:39 PM
cool
DaenerysTargaryen
DaenerysTargaryen - 6/27/2010, 2:51 PM
Lol
airbeyonder18
airbeyonder18 - 6/27/2010, 2:52 PM
Love it.
ROMACK
ROMACK - 6/27/2010, 3:29 PM
Very cool. There were a few things there that I did not know. Thanks!
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/27/2010, 3:37 PM
lololol. Just because his glasses change his eye color doesn't mean he wouldn't be recognizable. if someone i know walked in the door right now with a business suit on with glasses and slicked back hair, but GREEN eyes instead of brown, i'm pretty sure i would recognize him, lol.
Denn1s
Denn1s - 6/27/2010, 3:50 PM
batman owns superman either way. remember their fight in hush? kryptonite ring...he kicked his ass...
STOOPUDR
STOOPUDR - 6/27/2010, 7:03 PM
I could never understand why they never just made it part of his powers to be unrecognizable or to modify his appearance by flexing his face and changing the bone structure. A lame explanation like that would be better than the glasses and slouching.

Remember when the X-men could not be photographed in the comic books (they were dead/ ghosts). It worked, make it part of his powers that no one can exactly remember his face.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/27/2010, 7:05 PM
@ tea

I know right?? if he was slunching instead of standing straight, i wouldn't have a chance in hell of recognizing his face, lol.

i'd be like, "whats up chris, what did you do to your back? and why are you dressed like a fig?????"

maybe the glasses are those old Charlie Chaplin disguises, with the big bushy eyebrows and moustache, lol.

@ hammertyme

i can understand people that barely know Clark. but what about people like Jimmy Olson and Lois, who work closely with the guy every day, and have had tons of run-ins with Superman and know exactly what he looks like? they would have to be complete idiots not to recognize him.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/27/2010, 7:11 PM
and on that note...

redson
redson - 6/27/2010, 7:15 PM
Some of this was posted already, but just in case some didn't know . . .

1. Clark/Superman can vibrate his face so he is unrecognizable.

2. He has also used his "muscles" to make himself look fat as Clark.

3. Even in one instance using "super-hypnotism" to make Clark appear bald and skinny to others.

He may use glasses to help disguise himself, but it's not the only thing.
ButtNakedSmurf
ButtNakedSmurf - 6/27/2010, 8:13 PM
NICE
zephyr
zephyr - 6/27/2010, 8:57 PM
A big reason why he goes unnoticed is because the people of Metropolis (most of them) see Superman as a god and they would never, even for a second, think that he walks amongst them on the street or anywhere else. Alot of it is psychological.
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 6/27/2010, 8:59 PM
very nice. I had no idea on most of those. I knew some of them from various documentaries
prototype87
prototype87 - 6/27/2010, 11:15 PM
dude! good stuff! thanks for all the info!
WarNoodle
WarNoodle - 6/27/2010, 11:26 PM
Your welcome guys! I don't post much on here... but I sure do enjoy reading up on everything thats going on!
Kyos
Kyos - 6/28/2010, 1:10 AM
Good article! Although I have to say the Clark Kent "secret identity" still sucks and only works because the people he works with are complete morons. ;)

Well, seriously, you have to admit at least in the movies it's just the [frick]ing glasses...
Ven0m
Ven0m - 6/28/2010, 6:37 AM
Batman pwns Superman all the time.
Stumblin
Stumblin - 6/28/2010, 8:33 AM
I knew most of these, but some of them are a stretch, like mentioned, he vibrates his face to hide his identity? Really...Bull shit.

His glasses are tinted to change his eye color but does not effect his skin color? That makes perfect sense...

Sorry but a six foot something guy slouching is still going to look like a six foot monster slouching. People need to give it up that Superman's alter ego is a pretty weak attempt. He may be one of the original superheros of comic books, but I guess that's why they're so many issues with his character.
redson
redson - 6/28/2010, 9:26 AM
@ Stumblin

John Byrne is credited for having superman blur his face at times from people when he took the helm of the six issue mini-series: 'Superman - Man of Steel.'

In any case, it's a comic book. It's fictional people.
Stumblin
Stumblin - 6/28/2010, 11:23 AM
That's fine that it was used in the comics, I wasn't disputing that, I just think it's a weak ass attempt to justify his weak ass alter ego. Yeah it's fictional Sherlock, but that doesn't mean I have to like the poor excuse for Superman's mild manner form. Superman was never a favorite of mine, I always felt he was one of the weakest characters, sure his character started it all but that's it, for example Batman's is well refined. He actually has a personality and complexity compared to Superman.

Which I do understand why Supes is the way he is, but I find that makes him an incredibly boring character as a whole.
WarNoodle
WarNoodle - 6/29/2010, 12:45 AM
hmmm... I dont know why you say superman is weak as a character you say...(not physical of course). The thing about Superman is that when he turns into clark kent... he is portraying himself as how he sees humans on earth through his eyes. Clark Kent is weak, clumsy, a coward at that and so much less, this is how he sees people... but as superman, we all know what kind of charming, strong willed, hero, leader and the list goes on so much more! he really is. So I think if one could look at superman through his eyes just as well with batman, we can find both characters equally complex and exciting as a character...
Stumblin
Stumblin - 6/29/2010, 10:00 AM
I tried WarNoodle, but I can't get into Superman. I have respect for his creation but he is a flat single linear character to me.
marvelguy
marvelguy - 6/29/2010, 11:31 PM
Warnoodle,

Good article. Knew most of it, but still enjoyed.

Here's what people are forgetting: that the world is so taken aback by Superman's nearly limitless power, it doesn't occur to them he would walk among us. Sure, Lois is so much a part of his adventures, she should eventually figure it out. Again, in the context of being the first hero (circa Byrne's reboot), he is amazing. Standing next to him, they're probably in awe. C'mon, that wouldn't get old. He has all the best powers except telepathy.
And at the end of the day, willing suspension of disbelief is the cornerstone of enjoying any work of fiction regardless of medium.
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