Some thoughts on Superman/Clark Kent...

[enyawd72]

I just began watching The Adventures of Superman on DVD...it's the first time I've seen it since the late 80's when it was on television.

I really, really like it! I'm surprised actually at how much so. The deeper I get into the series, the more I like Reeves, especially in his portrayal as Clark Kent.

Comparing this series to the Christopher Reeve films got me thinking more about the character of Clark. I feel Christopher Reeve's Clark Kent was much too timid to be an effective reporter, and I just can't see Perry White hiring him. I mean, Clark fainted while Lois was being mugged. I know he's just pretending to be cowardly, but there's no way you're gonna send this guy into a crisis situation to report on it.

An investigative reporter would need to be much more aggressive. That's where I like George's Clark better.
I think Dean Cain got this also...his Clark is pretty no-nonsense as well.

What are your thoughts?

[MIB41]

Perry White: "Lois, Clark Kent may seem like just a mild-mannered reporter, but listen, not only does he know how to treat his editor-in-chief with the proper respect, not only does he have a snappy, punchy prose style, but he is, in my forty years in this business, the fastest typist I've ever seen."

[thunderbolt]

George's Clark was much more a hard boiled reporter type than the milksop that Christopher Reeve's was. Usually Clark wasn't portrayed as that much of a wuss. Timm's was more from the George mold and John Byrne stated that his was based there as well.

[kept back]

What Kent wears – the glasses, the business suit – that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself, he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race.

[enyawd72]

What Kent wears – the glasses, the business suit – that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself, he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race.

I don't know if I agree with that...I don't think Superman looks down on people like that.

[knight errant00]

Say what you will about Christopher Reeve's Clark Kent, but he's the only one that's made me believe that even people who know both Superman and Clark would think he's two different people.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

I have always liked the stories, like Byrne, where they are written that Clark Kent becomes Superman rather than Superman disguised as Clark Kent. Ironically, George's Kent was portrayed as his own person but was described as the latter in the opening credits.

[madmarva]

I've always liked George Reeves' portrayal of Clark best. I do think Christopher Reeve did a nice job of making Clark and Superman very different, but it was way over-the-top. I love all the versions of Superman on TV and big screen for their own merits, though some are definitely better than others. They are all part of the tapestry that is Superman to me.

The first season of 50s Superman show was really good. With the second season, the show toned down some of the violence and became even more of a children's show, but it's still enjoyable. It was really the first Superman stories I was exposed to because I started watching it before I learned how to read. But even as a kid, I figured out the show was more about Clark than Superman, but I didn't mind. I do prefer Phyllis Coates' Lois to Noelle Neil's, who was only slightly less dopey than Lucy Ricardo.

[samurainoir]

What Kent wears – the glasses, the business suit – that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself, he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race.

I see what you did there.

[huedell]

What Kent wears – the glasses, the business suit – that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent? He's weak, he's unsure of himself, he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race.

I say this with sincere respect---but I feel a lot of pessimism in your estimation kept back---either in human beings or in the character himself (which is a whole different brand of pessimism, since the character is fictional).

I believe Superman to be a highly optimistic (if imperfect) "human being". And that's why I used the word "pessimistic" to pinpoint where I feel there may be a warped view of your take on Supes' take on Kent's persona.

Superman is essentially a Christ-like archetype, and, as everyone understands the Christ archetype, if you view Kal-El's view on the world similarly to Christ's, then I think Clark's persona will be easier understood.

Something along the lines of: The Kent persona allows Supes the ability to show humility (that he KNOWS he NEEDS) that while being Supes he doesn't really have the opportunity to show much of.