How important is Clark Kent?

[LibrarianThorne]

I started reading comics after the Crisis on Infinite Earths. I never knew the "Superman, disguised as Clark Kent" Superman. I knew Superman as Clark Kent, and also Kal-El of Krypton. For years, he was my favorite character, a hero from another world who had adopted ours as its protector.

But now I see this sentiment amongst many to return to the pre-Crisis days of Clark Kent not being real. Of Kent being the disguise that Superman wears, instead of it being the other way around. And to those that vouch for that point of view, I ask why? Superman never knew Krypton. He didn't visit it, he didn't grow up amongst its flora and fauna, and his only contact with his parents was a hologram. He grew up on Earth, as a basically normal Earth kid raised by farmers. He came to know of Krypton and who he really was, but Krypton is dead, and Earth isn't. To make Superman fundamentally an alien trying to fit in with human society destroys what is to me his most interesting characteristic. He's a normal guy who has been gifted with "powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal man." Clark's struggle to define himself and who he is as a human being, despite his otherworldly powers, is a great story, and does much to make Superman more than a man who beats on bad guys while wearing his underwear on the outside.

[Pariah128]

Yeah, I personally prefer clark kent being superman..I mean he was probably an ahole as PC superman because of the fact that he was just playing clark kent, atleast when hes normal you can somewhat identify with the situation, if written well he can be an incredible character, its just a shame how he was handled sometimes

[Zeta]

Someone else put it best. "Superman is really Clark Kent. Bruce Wayne is really Batman". That's the way the characters feel to me. I can't have sympathy for Superman, the God who is trying to fit in amongst humans. I CAN muster sympathy and even interest in an average joe who finds himself settled with the responsiblity of being earth's mightiest protector.

To make Superman fundamentally an alien trying to fit in with human society destroys what is to me his most interesting characteristic. He's a normal guy who has been gifted with "powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal man."

Not to mention Martian Manhunter is more suited to that schtick, anyways.

[Sean Whitmore]

I can appreciate that being a "hero disguised as a civilian" is a novel idea, but that's doesn't make it a good one.

In every version of the mythos, Clark lived his life until adulthood as a human. In some versions he always had powers and in other versions they came later, but he always grew up human. Just because he eventually decided to dress in a garish costume and fight crime was no reason for him to effectively give up his human life, relegating it to a mere "disguise".

And if he's genuinely not interested in living a human life, why be Clark at all? Ever? Seriously, why not just be Superman 24/7 and retire to his Fortress when he gets weary? What is the point of disguising himself as a human if he has no interest in living a human life?


SEAN

[dancj]

It worked pre-Crisis. Krypton was a much bigger part of Supes's life then with Kandor and trips to the phantom zone. I think he had loads of memories and things implanted too.

The current way is better though