MovieChat Forums > Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) Discussion > Why does he wear the glasses before he's...

Why does he wear the glasses before he's Superman?

posted 12 years ago by headfulofghosts126
13 replies | jump to latest

Sorry if this has been asked before, but just curious about something. In this take on Superman, they depart from the more popular (and frankly more interesting) view that Clark Kent is the identity which allows Superman to explore what it means to be human.

The conceit of this show is that Superman is just a disguise. I'm not crazy about this as it tarnishes something that makes the character unique amongst other superheroes (it's not a question of which one is the disguise because both are very real and that's the whole point - belonging to two worlds and neither of them at the same time), but fine - that's the conceit of Lois & Clark and every interpretation is certainly allowed their own take on the material.

However, if Superman is Clark's crime-fighting disguise then why is he wearing the glasses BEFORE he decides he needs a secret identity?

This not only highlights how horribly this contradicts the character's true nature (since when does a secret identity reveal a better look at you?), but just in terms of basic logic - what possible reason would Clark have for the glasses prior to the invention of his alter-ego?

Did I miss something? Is this explained somewhere in the pilot? I feel like maybe there was a line of dialogue I didn't catch or something. Or did they actually just sort of glaze over this part?

P.S. - Say what you will about the show, but the last scene between Supes and Luthor in the pilot is pretty great. "If you ever need to find me, just look up..."

[–] spacemanspiff00 12 years ago

This show is based on the John Byrne interpretation of Superman and this seems to be the best explanation:

There is the obvious .. "It had to be done, get over it" aspect of this. In fact, when he discusses with his mother whether or not he'd be recognized and he does the "glasses off" thing, she basically shrugs allowing the audience to just move on.

That being said, the dialogue indicates that Clark has done whatever he can to fit in and seem normal. I would say that the glasses are a way for him to be reserved and hold back his true self. For instance, when he used his heat-vision, he has to knowingly tip down the glasses and get them out of the way.

Also, he removes them once when he believes he is alone in the alley and is about to fly home to visit his parents. As if he's relaxed and being himself.

Essentially for years he has been hiding his true self .. he holds back his actions and physically appears to be reserved by wearing the glasses. Its the "face" that he has chosen to portray to the world. As you mentioned, it goes well with the fact that his parents both wear glasses, and it would thus help him fit in.

Now in terms of the time that Lois comes to the door and he puts on the glasses .. when I read you post I thought he scrambled to get them on before she seems him. No, he's essentially just out of the shower, the glasses are right there on the way to the door and he rather casually picks them up and puts them on so that she sees the look that he wants people to see.

Again, ultimately its just something they had to get past. I think they did the best they could.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/archive/index.php/t-458743.html

[–] headfulofghosts126 12 years ago

I knew they were influenced by Byrne's take, I was just wondering if there was an actual explanation for this in the show that maybe I missed. It's pretty weak that the audience has to fill in this gap on their own (especially since most of their audience had probably never read Byrne's Man of Steel run - or any comic for that matter).

I'm actually not crazy about Byrne's take on Clark, but the great thing about these iconic characters is how malleable they are to different interpretations. So I'm not saying Byrne or Lois & Clark's assertion that Superman is just a disguise isn't valid, I just personally don't think it's as interesting as other versions.

Oh well. Once you get past the pilot it doesn't even really matter.

[–] Tjanssen411 12 years ago

no express in universe explanation

I always chalked it up to the generic 'Glasses make you look smarter/nerdier.' stereotype

- in the show they established Clark as having been something of a Jock in high school and when he arrived in Metropolis it was after having toured the world spending time in 'less than developed' regions

so between those two things I assumed he'd used the glasses as a way to appear A more studious and B less threatening.

and the Joke from Martha after the 'spandex montage' was

One thing's for Sure, No one will be looking at your Face... they Don't call 'em tights for nothing"

[–] Knightbringer 11 years ago

I always assumed the glasses were keeping his vision powers from accidently going off. Every time you see Clark trying to use his vision powers like x-ray he always tips the glasses down. Obviously he would melt his glasses if he used his heat vision through the glasses but why would he tip them down to use x-ray vision or to zoom his vision on something...That would explain him having glasses before he became Superman.

[–] vividly_pathetic 11 years ago

Clark Kent is the ultimate hipster :P

[–] Tinkerbella8 11 years ago

I thought it was to do with his parents wearing glasses.

Get use to my spelling I've dyslexia. Deal with it.

[–] Duragizer 11 years ago

In this take on Superman, they depart from the more popular (and frankly more interesting) view that Clark Kent is the identity which allows Superman to explore what it means to be human.

More interesting? Sure -- if you like pseudo-intellectual, deconstructionist bullcrap that paints Superman as some aloof alien god who views humans as pets or -- at best -- children.

I, frankly, find it more interesting when Superman is portrayed as someone who feels human and considers himself a part of humanity even if he isn't physically human.

I'm Laura Bertram's husband in another universe.

[–] transmentalist 10 years ago

When Yuji Okumoto guest starred (can't recall character's name), he mentioned sharing an optometrist with Clark

So maybe Clark actually DOES need glasses when he's not using his superpowers

After all, he's not x-ray visioning or telescoping sighting everything all the time

Maybe his "neutral" position is actually nearsighted, something he could correct consciously but chooses not to for reasons of style or even laziness

[–] arnebarnard 10 years ago

Most every fan of Superman knows that the glasses are just one of THREE things that separate Clark from Superman. The other two are, over exaggerated timidness and the famous "spit curl".

In the comics, Clark Kent was just a pose away from his alter-ego. The producer of this show took Byrnes concept that Clark should be MORE interesting than Superman, rather than just be a "spineless milksop" like he was in the comics.

There is NO "conceit" to this at all.Deborah Joy Levine took the WOMAN'S side for this incarnation of Superman, hence the title "Lois and Clark". She wanted to show that Clark Kent was indeed his OWN person, rather than just a fall guy.

A superhero must also have a "Secret ID" lest harm befall those, who would be hurt by the lack of a "Secret Identity".

If LOIS AND CLARK had just been ANOTHER "Superman Show", it would have been canceled BEFORE Season one had a chance!

WE ALL know what SUPERMAN can do-been there done that-it's expected.

NOW, it's Clark Kent's Turn to show that he is MORE than just "spineless", even though DEAN CAIN spares us THAT old saw! Yes , Mr. Cain is cautious but not ONCE does he ever do the "comic book thing" by going "OHHHHH, I'm sick! Got to get out of here!"

Perry White catches Clark in the much famed "Store Room" in the PILOT, but Clark explains himself OUT of it!

The "milksop" has come a LONG way!

[–] arnebarnard 10 years ago

When Clark uses his various vision powers in the comics, he goes right ahead and does it!

He does not "lower his glasses" first, because there IS a reason for that. This also brings up MORE differences between the comics and the TV show, but it's ALL good!

Oh, and this has to do with his costume also, which DJL was not aware of, in the comic books.

In the PILOT , Clark lowers his glasses BEFORE he uses vision powers (heat,X-Ray) for TWO reasons!

One, it's a signal to the TV audience that he is about to use his vision powers-a "tip off" if you will. A dramatic device.

Two, it's also because his vision powers would DESTROY ordinary glasses! That's what he has, just regular eyeglasses!

Also in the PILOT, Clark flies home for dinner, in his STREET CLOTHES and lands at his folks house with a wrecked jacket, which Ma Kent repairs for him.

Later on, in the Pilot, when Ma Kent sews what would eventually become the MAN OF STEEL'S costume, she does it with EARTH MATERIALS!

*********************************************************************Pause!

In the comics, Superman's Costume was made of the blankets and whatever was included in the rocket that propelled him to Earth. Since Kal-El would become invulnerable, it was assumed that the blankets would assume the SAME quality!

The same went for his "Glasses". Superman could focus his vision powers THROUGH his glasses, because his glasses came from the WINDOW MATERIAL from the SAME Rocket! Therefore, Clark could focus his vision powers through his glasses and NOT have them melt!

It is NOT until Episode 2, that Clark begins to realize, the he IS from another world!

Therefore, in the PILOT, Superman's Costume is made from EARTH FABRIC, but CANNOT be as invulnerable as SUPERMAN himself!

So, it is a kind of conceit, that while SUPERMAN can deflect damage to himself, his EARTHLY Costume, cannot do the same!

HE would have to FLY HOME every week, just so Ma Kent could repair his "Super Suit"!!!

[–] arnebarnard 10 years ago

And EVEN if Ma Kent had ACCESS to that SAME "Super Material", her sewing machine needle would have SHATTERED against the "Invulnerable Material" from another World!

Only Kal-El could have cut the fabric himself, by using his HEAT VISION!

[–] arnebarnard 10 years ago

You can also refer to ACTION COMICS # 1!!!!!!!!!

Clark Kent was wearing glasses....

Even back then......

Oh yeah, Superman could only "Leap Tall Buildings In A Single Bound!!!!"

Eventually, Superman would *FLY*!!!!