Clark Kent: Real human

After reading “Thy Kingdom Come” in JSA, I got to thinking about an interesting contrast between E-22 Superman in this story, and Superman as presented in the movie a couple of years ago.

As I stated back when the movie came out, one of the ongoing themes in Superman Returns is the progressive degradation of Clark’s humanity. He is less and less Clark Kent, more and more Kal-El. The moment that’s meant to show “who he truly is,” is when you see him hovering high in space, ready to descend upon blighted humanity at every need. A demigod among men. The role of the Kents is minimized, the “dead hand” of Jor-El is maximized, even to the point of Superman going to his newly found son and echoing the words of Jor-El to him while he sleeps.
Now, on the other hand, in Thy Kingdom Comes (and also in the original of course), one of the ongoing themes is the way in which Clark “died” the same day that Lois did. The scene where “our” Lois goes to talk to E-22 Superman is one that’s heartbreaking on a few levels. The flashback, adding a few details that weren’t found in KC (the last words of E-22 Lois), and her final words “don’t lose… Clark”.

Then, at the very end, after he decides to return to his own Universe, we’re reminded of the scene from the original, where Diana gives him a pair of glasses, to help him “see” better. Obviously, it’s not the physical “sight” but the more important ways of seeing. The philosophical and spiritual implications of embracing his humanity. That he may have the powers of a demigod, but that his essential humanity is his core. Without that, he loses who he is.

I truly think that gets to the core of Superman better than anything else. Clark Kent is not a “mask” that he hides behind. In many ways, “Bruce Wayne” carefree billionaire playboy is an essentially unreal person. There is no Bruce Wayne, there is only Batman. Bruce Wayne, as much as Matches Malone is just a “face” that he puts on at times to further his mission. However, with Superman, Clark is part of the very core which makes Superman who he is.
It’s odd in a way, that Batman is the one who keeps collecting kids to “raise”. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Cassie Cain. Each of them has been stung by their proximity to Batman. Being a human “father-figure” is not a role that Batman wears comfortably, or frankly, especially well. On the other hand, I could easily see Clark stepping into the role of raising an orphan, and doing a far better job of it. That’s because Clark has a better connection to his own humanity. Clark is a real person, where Bruce is not.