Superman is the most important superhero in history. He is the formative superhero, his early stories creating the language of comics that would become codified over the decades. His dual identity of Clark Kent wasn’t the first time a hero had a mild-mannered alter ego, but it’s one of the best. Kent is as iconic as Superman and the two are inextricably linked in the minds of fans the world over.
Recently, Clark has stepped back from being to Superman in order for his son Jon to take over. While this has played out rather well, there are lots of reasons why Clark should be the one and only Superman.
10 He Has The Name Recognition
Clark Kent is Superman in the minds of nearly everyone. As an example, when it was announced that Jon was going to come out as bisexual, many fans thought it was Clark, sparking controversy among the more reactionary and bigoted. People can’t really think of anyone else as Superman besides Clark Kent.
It’s hard to beat that kind of name recognition. Comics aren’t read by nearly as many people as they used to be. Superman is a cultural icon and if a kid picks up a Superman comic without Clark in the costume, they might not be interested. Few characters in pop culture have the cultural cache of Clark Kent as Superman.
9 Every Time He’s Replaced He Comes Back
Jon Kent is only the latest in a long line of characters who have replaced Superman. Before this, the most well-known time was the “Reign of the Supermen,” when four different heroes took over as Superman. Everyone knew that wasn’t going to last, and that’s pretty much the feeling with Jon. Jon is a great character but there’s no way he’s Superman forever.
It’s gotten to the point where replacing Superman feels like a waste of time. DC isn’t going to make a lasting change; no comic company would replace a character like Clark Kent forever. This takes any teeth out of these storylines.
8 His Costume Is Perfect
Every time a new Superman shows up, they modify the costume to match. While the costume usually keeps recognizable elements, none of them are ever as good as the original Superman costume. Superman’s costume is arguably the greatest superhero costume of all time; it’s also synonymous with Clark and wouldn’t work on any other Superman.
Clark Kent’s costume is so linked to him and so perfect that never seeing it again would be a huge tragedy. Keeping a character around just because of their costume may seem shallow but Clark’s is so good that losing it forever isn’t worth it.
7 Clark Is A Great Character
When most people think of Superman, they think of his powers first, but this is a huge mistake. Clark Kent doesn’t get a lot of credit for how important he is to the whole equation or just how great of a character Clark can be. Everyone looks at him rather simplistically but there’s so much beneath the surface that’s fun to explore.
Clark is what happens when a god tries to be human, which is what makes him so interesting. His choices show much about him. Jon is a good character but he often just feels like zoomer Clark; Clark is an original and it’s apparent on every page.
6 He Is The Justice League
The Justice League has always combined DC’s most powerful heroes. Superman isn’t always a member of the team but there are few heroes out there who exemplify what the Justice League is about like he does. While all heroes are committed to justice, few are as synonymous with it as Superman. He’s the consummate hero and even when he’s not there, the Justice League follows his example.
New blood is always a good thing but Clark Kent is the perfect encapsulation of what the Justice League is. Clark is a man who does everything he can to not only protect the weak but inspire others. That’s the League in a nutshell and it’s one of many reasons he’s so important.
5 Jimmy Olsen Is Too Great Of A Character To Lose
Jimmy Olsen is Superman’s best friend and one of DC’s most fun characters. He’s been through years of changes in the comics and is one of pop culture’s most well known sidekicks. Any time a new Superman comes about, Olsen gets lost in the shuffle, which is a tragedy as he is just too great of a character to lose for any reason.
One of the great things about Jimmy is just how mutable he is. Whether it be literally changing into a superhero or a giant turtle monster or character changes that keep him relevant, Jimmy works in any era. While he’s a good enough character to work with all kinds of characters, he’s at his best with Clark. They play off each other brilliantly.
4 Lois And Clark Are Comics’ Defining Couple
Lois Lane is the most important character in the Superman mythos not named Superman. She and Clark’s relationship has always been iconic and she’s saved the day when her famous spouse couldn’t. She’s still a member of her son Jon’s supporting cast, but Lois and Clark are too good to keep separated for any reason. She may be Jon’s mother, but she’s Superman’s partner.
Seeing Lois and Clark in action is always worth the price of admission. They play off each other in ways that no other comic couple do. There’s a reason they are the defining couple in all of comics and they work better when Clark is Superman.
3 His Villains Work Best Against Him
Jon Kent is turning out to be a pretty great Superman but it’s still early days for him. He doesn’t really have a rogues gallery of his own and one can see him fighting more and more of his father’s foes to prove himself. Superman has some amazing enemies and one can argue that they’d work just as well against Jon but that’s not really the case.
Every time Jon faces one of Superman’s old enemies, the specter of Clark will always be there. The fights will be more about hurting the son of Superman than anything else. The fights are still more about Clark than anything else because they work best against him.
2 He Has The History
Establishing new characters is integral to the survival of the comic medium and Jon Kent is a great addition. He’s starred in some great comics and has a lot of fans but that doesn’t mean he completely belongs as Superman. Clark Kent has been Superman for just shy of a century; some of the best comics of all time have starred him as Superman.
Throwing away a character who defines Superman in the way that he does is a mistake. He’s the one who made the mantle great and has the history to back up his title as the world’s greatest hero. Clark Kent is a Superman in a way that is indelible and he has the history to prove it.
1 All-Star Superman Proves That He’s The Definitive Superhero
All-Star Superman is easily the greatest Superman story ever, possibly the greatest comic ever. Written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely, it is the definitive statement on superheroes in general and Superman in particular, making an argument for the character as a modern myth. All of that mythmaking is tied up in who Clark Kent is and what he represents as Superman.
After reading All-Star Superman, it’s hard to see any other character as Superman. Clark Kent is such an important part of that story’s equation and it wouldn’t work as well without him. This is Superman in microcosm- another character can certainly become Superman but they’ll never do as well as Clark.
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