Superman’s secret idenтιтy is a sacrosanct part of his characterization in most DC movies and shows, but there are plenty of moments where that idenтιтy absolutely should have been revealed. This even takes into account the notoriously difficult-to-believe disguise typically comprising a pair of glᴀsses.

Throughout many Superman movies and shows, Clark Kent often relents and reveals his idenтιтy as Superman. Nevertheless, this rarely happens early in the narrative. Most of the time, it’s rather mind-boggling that it takes so long for people to learn the truth.

As the DCU’s Superman rounds the corner, James Gunn confirmed that Superman’s secret idenтιтy will be kept alive thanks to Clark Kent sporting a pair of hypnotizing glᴀsses. This, surprisingly, is based on comic book precedent – though this isn’t explicitly stated in most other adaptations.

Instead, audiences are presumably supposed to believe that Clark Kent’s glᴀsses and suit are all he requires to keep his idenтιтy under wraps. Nevertheless, even if this disguise was airтιԍнт, there are plenty of moments that should have raised more than a few eyebrows.

8

Clark Kent Races A Train

Occurs In Superman (1978)

Before embracing his Superman persona in 1978’s Superman, Clark Kent is seen having fun with his powers. As Clark Kent is seen coming of age in a flashback montage, as a teenager, he kicks a football into the horizon and then sprints alongside a speeding train.

A young Lois Lane witnesses this extraordinary feat and attempts to point it out to her parents before they dismiss her. Lois then resigns to reading a book and says no more on the matter.

The problem is, Lois and her parents weren’t the only ones on that train. The driver certainly witnesses Clark Kent pulling off an incredible athletic feat as he leaps past the train moments before it runs him down.

It is somewhat baffling that nothing more was said of the teenage boy who could run faster than a speeding train, nor does Lois make the connection to Clark Kent later in life.

7

Clark Kent Is Hit By A Car (& Destroys It)

Occurs In Superman (1980)

As Clark Kent crosses the street in Superman II to meet Lois, he inadvertently steps directly in front of a speeding taxi. Apparently embracing the hapless side of his Clark Kent persona a little too well, Kent stops in its path, causing the taxi to crash into him.

Lois, however, says nothing more on the matter aside from pointing out Clark Kent’s clumsiness.

Unsurprisingly, Clark emerges entirely unscathed. The taxi, however, does not. Instead, Clark Kent’s enhanced physiology destroys the car, leaving the taxi with a huge dent, smoking in the middle of the street.

This was in plain view of Lois Lane. The taxi driver additionally calls Clark a “freak,” recognizing how unbelievable the situation was. Lois, however, says nothing more on the matter aside from pointing out Clark Kent’s clumsiness.

Neither, for that matter, does anyone else. Clark Kent’s revealing mishap happened in plain view of everyone on the street and the buildings that line it, but nobody bats an eye.

6

Clark Kent Saves A School Bus

Occurs In Man Of Steel (2013)

Another moment in which a young Clark Kent displays his superpowers in plain view occurs in Man of Steel‘s coming-of-age sequence. In this scene, a school bus being ridden by Clark and his high school peers veers off the road and falls into a large body of water, endangering the cohort on board.

Clark Kent then jumps into action, exiting the bus and pushing it back to dry land with little to no effort. This feat is witnessed by Lana Lang and presumably everyone else on board. Nevertheless, Lang does not connect Clark and Superman later in their lives.

This isn’t the first time Clark Kent is seen using his superpowers without acting as Superman in Man of Steel. Nevertheless, his later embrace of the nerdy Clark Kent idenтιтy is rarely questioned, save for a notable few like Lois and Lex.

Instead, audiences are presumably supposed to believe that Clark Kent’s immense feats of strength are not documented by the time he reaches adulthood.

5

Clark Kent Opens His Shirt (In Public)

Occurs In Superman (1978)

Superman boasts one of the most iconic and memorable sH๏τs in superhero cinema in the sequence that depicts Superman saving Lois Lane for the first time. As Lois begins to fall from a helicopter, Superman leaps into action by walking away and ripping open his shirt to reveal his Superman logo beneath.

It isn’t easy to believe that Clark Kent isn’t seen removing the rest of his clothes to expose the Superman suit beneath.

As iconic as this sequence is, it doesn’t make much sense. Clark Kent slinks off to remove his overclothes, but he is still in the middle of the streets of Metropolis.

It isn’t easy to believe that Clark Kent isn’t seen removing the rest of his clothes to expose the Superman suit beneath. In fact, it may have made more sense for him to have switched clothes while still in the vicinity of Lois Lane, and the crowd was distracted by the ordeal.

4

Lois Romances Clark And Superman

Occurs In Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994)

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman depicts the classic love story between the тιтular characters. This leads to a somewhat perverse love triangle between Superman, Lois, and Clark Kent, with Lois being none the wiser to Clark’s true idenтιтy as she falls in love with Superman.

Although Clark Kent professes his love for Lois early on, Lois slowly develops feelings for Clark Kent in addition to Superman. Unsurprisingly, this leads to romantic moments being shared between Lois and Superman and Lois and Clark.

Nevertheless, despite being so close to both of them (figuratively and literally), Lois does not see through Clark’s disguise. Although Clark Kent does a great job putting on a character, it is difficult to believe that Lois doesn’t see the glaring similarities.

3

Clark Kent Constantly Uses His Superman Powers

Occurs In Smallville (2001)

The celebrated Superman series, Smallville, delves into the life of a young Clark Kent and his earliest days as Superman. During this time, Clark’s powers develop as he attempts to keep his extraterrestrial origins and superpowers under wraps.

As a result, it’s hard to accept that Clark’s superpowers haven’t been spotted and pointed out by his peers and other citizens of Smallville.

The majority of Smallville also precedes Clark Kent’s embrace of the Superman persona, with him instead earning various other monikers like “The Red-Blue Blur” through his exploits. Nevertheless, Clark Kent repeatedly uses his powers throughout the series in public.

Clark Kent gets the Red-Blue Blur moniker from a picture in which his super speed makes him appear as a blur.

For example, he is seen catching a falling car whilst being watched. He also makes quick work of his enemies, displaying his incredible strength on multiple occasions.

It is unusual for Clark Kent to perform so many incredible feats before he embraces the Superman persona. As a result, it’s hard to accept that Clark’s superpowers haven’t been spotted and pointed out by his peers and other citizens of Smallville.

2

Clark Kent Disappears While Superman Is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ

Occurs In Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice featured the death of Superman at the hands of Doomsday. This unsurprisingly removes Clark Kent from the picture, leading to an obituary in the same newspaper reporting on Superman’s death.

This obituary suggests that Clark Kent lost his life when reporting on the cataclysmic final fight. While this highlights the often-cited issue of Clark Kent’s continued first-hand experiences with Superman, it is doubly suspicious that Clark Kent apparently died at the exact same time as Superman.

Having Clark Kent return after the Daily Planet reported on his death is on another level, however. Although Superman’s resurrection probably isn’t all too surprising for the citizens of Metropolis, it would take a lot for them not to piece together the fact that Clark Kent re-emerged at around the same time.

1

Superman Is Constantly In The Media

Occurs In Multiple DCEU Appearances

In the modern era, Superman’s secret idenтιтy is especially difficult to justify. For example, in a rather notorious scene in Justice League, Superman is filmed by a young fan’s phone camera. It is probably safe to ᴀssume that this is a pretty standard occurrence for Superman.

Superman offers plenty of spectacles that will no doubt be filmed repeatedly. The fact that he willingly stops for interviews means that close-ups of his face and mannerisms are likely prolific online.

With that in mind, there must be at least a handful of internet sleuths who have pieced together Superman‘s secret idenтιтy. Add to this such newfangled features as facial recognition software, and it makes it impossible for Clark Kent to continue getting away with his secret.