Selective blindness or stupidity?

[GregX]

Lex Luthor can spot the Justice Lords as imposters at the end of "Better World" just by viewing them on television, but can't spot that Clark Kent is Superman with a pair of glasses on.

[Livy1213]

Has Lex ever even met Clark?

[MacGyver]

Has Lex ever even met Clark?

"Last Son of Krypton pt. 3"

[creativerealms]

Lex Luthor (At least comic Lex) does not believe that Superman has a secret identity. And if he did it would be one that suited the man of Steal better then a weakling reporter does.

There was an early post crisis Superman comic where a female excecutive of Lex's searches for the Identity of Superman. her finding were 100% confermed that Clark Kent was super man based on countless tests, body comparisons and so on. Lex dismissed that possibility because of how Lex thinks. Lex believes that when you have the type of power a Superman has you don't try to hide it, you show it off and use it as much as possible.

The idea that Superman can live among humans is an impossiblity in Lex's mind.

DCAU Lex being based mainly on Post Crisis Lex probably thinks the same way.

[Sage Shinigami]

Glad somebody remembers that, though I thought it was a computer....

[Anthonynotes]

Here's an oldie but a goody:

In Pre-Crisis Superman lore, media tycoon Morgan Edge bought the Daily Planet and made Clark Kent the news anchor of WGBS-TV in Metropolis. Millions of people saw Kent on tv every night and thanks to our intrepid reporter beaming out a bit of super-hypnotism via television cameras, Superman convinced the people of Metropolis that he and Kent don't actually look much alike. So, explanation: mass hypnosis.

You're getting very sleepy.....

They published this as a possible explanation in the late 70's run, but quickly dropped it, for obvious reasons (including general reader reaction to it and that it doesn't make sense given stories where Batman disguised himself as Clark or Superman). Thus, the pre-Crisis explanation was still the "suspension of disbelief" bit (like in every other version, since as the "Superman Returns" movie hints, even a five-year-old would see they're the same person... :-) ).

Elliot Maggin's Superman novels in the 70's/80's presented the interesting notion that Lex assumed that Superman probably had *multiple* secret identities in case of such identity-snooping/etc., and that it would be pointless to waste time uncovering such a thing.

I just assume it's thanks to Clark's superb abilities and the fact no one would suspect, say, Walter Cronkite as being a superhero, that helped cover his secret identity while anchoring the evening news.

[reflection]

Why would Superman need a secret identity when he can be Superman when everybody else wishes they could be Superman? I can definitely understand the belief that Superman is Superman all the time. He doesn't wear a mask.

I like that explanation just like the explanation of Bruce Wayne as Batman. Would you believe that Paris Hilton is a superhero?

[Livy1213]

If you've ever seen "The Late Mr. Kent" Superman states how he would go crazy if he had to be Superman all the time.

[reflection]

If you've ever seen "The Late Mr. Kent" Superman states how he would go crazy if he had to be Superman all the time.

Of course I know and other viewers know. We're talking about the perspectives of ordinary people in the DCAU. They wouldn't think Superman would need a secret identity.

[Sage Shinigami]

They published this as a possible explanation in the late 70's run, but quickly dropped it, for obvious reasons (including general reader reaction to it and that it doesn't make sense given stories where Batman disguised himself as Clark or Superman). Thus, the pre-Crisis explanation was still the "suspension of disbelief" bit (like in every other version, since as the "Superman Returns" movie hints, even a five-year-old would see they're the same person... :-) ).

Elliot Maggin's Superman novels in the 70's/80's presented the interesting notion that Lex assumed that Superman probably had *multiple* secret identities in case of such identity-snooping/etc., and that it would be pointless to waste time uncovering such a thing.

I just assume it's thanks to Clark's superb abilities and the fact no one would suspect, say, Walter Cronkite as being a superhero, that helped cover his secret identity while anchoring the evening news.

I'm reminded of Lex in a recent issue of All-Star Supes saying that if Clark were to work out a bit more his physique might match Superman's. :D

I would also like to note that in an issue of Secret Files it is said that everything about Clark from his mannerisms to his very voice are different than from when he's Superman.

[Anthonynotes]

>>
I just assume it's thanks to Clark's superb abilities and the fact no one would suspect, say, Walter Cronkite as being a superhero, that helped cover his secret identity while anchoring the evening news.<<

Well, guess should amend my previous statement, since in the Silver Age comics, Lois *did* suspect Clark's secret (guess that makes the investigative reporter as observant as said five-year-old at least ;-) ), and tried often to prove it, only to be "proven wrong" somehow (through some deception on Superman's part---a robot, Bruce Wayne dressed as Clark, some other means...). Such attempts were a trademark of 50's and 60's comics, but got dropped in the 70's (by the time Clark got moved to being an anchor for WGBS), with the accompanying change in Lois' character to being more or less her modern self...

[creativerealms]

Glad somebody remembers that, though I thought it was a computer....

It was a computer but it was the female excecutives program on the conputer that figured out they were the same person. It got her fired.

[Wolf Boy2]

Glad somebody remembers that, though I thought it was a computer....
It was both. It was a computer operated by a female scientist.

Here's something else cool. Her name was Amanda Walker. Very similer to Amanda Waller. And she existed before Waller was created in 1986.

Any theories on this....?

[HaagenDas]

Another line of questioning which was brought up before.

Gotham in BTAS...very dreary and pre 1950s like. Black and white tv.

Metropolis in STAS...the opposite: very cheery, cars are modern and sleek.

They are both in continuity.

Oh yea, and that whole Orion and Aquaman exclusion in Destroyer.