Source: Superman vol.1 #19 (1942)
Type: Movie character inside a comic book universe
Are you ready to have your mind blown to smithereens? Because THIS USED TO BE CANON!
In the 1940s, there was of course a Superman cartoon on America's movie screens, courtesy of Fleischer studios. We've met that Superman. This isn't that Superman. No black "S", for one thing. No, this is the Superman cartoon IN the DC Universe, the one the characters themselves might go and see. And that's exactly what Lois Lane decides she wants to do, dragging a reluctant Clark along. And the Superman animated movie is exactly what most of this story is, a perfectly fine little story about a mad scientist and giant robots, with the conceit of those "film" frames (above) to separate it from the framing tale. So clearly, Superman told his story to the producers, leaving out some of the more "secret" details, right? WRONG ON BOTH COUNTS, READERS!
Siegel and Shuster exist in the DCU and they're PSYCHICS! That's right, the movie clearly shows that Superman is Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter at the Daily Planet. So there's just one thing Clark CAN do...
...and that's draw Lois' attention away every time that information is about to be revealed. "Let's go get a drink of water together, Lois." "Lois, you dropped your pocketbook."
And the classic "Lois, there's too much action, I feel dizzy, let's leave." Ahhh, the number of times I've used THAT one. Of course, it doesn't change that fact that a blockbuster shown across the world is telling everyone ELSE your secret identity. What are you gonna do about THAT, Superman? Remember, this is before the days where you could just phone up Zatanna for a quick memory spell. (Maybe the Spectre is available?) Or shouldn't I take this so seriously?
Supes, dude, winking at yourself is just rude to the people on the other side of the fourth wall.
Type: Movie character inside a comic book universe
Are you ready to have your mind blown to smithereens? Because THIS USED TO BE CANON!In the 1940s, there was of course a Superman cartoon on America's movie screens, courtesy of Fleischer studios. We've met that Superman. This isn't that Superman. No black "S", for one thing. No, this is the Superman cartoon IN the DC Universe, the one the characters themselves might go and see. And that's exactly what Lois Lane decides she wants to do, dragging a reluctant Clark along. And the Superman animated movie is exactly what most of this story is, a perfectly fine little story about a mad scientist and giant robots, with the conceit of those "film" frames (above) to separate it from the framing tale. So clearly, Superman told his story to the producers, leaving out some of the more "secret" details, right? WRONG ON BOTH COUNTS, READERS!
Siegel and Shuster exist in the DCU and they're PSYCHICS! That's right, the movie clearly shows that Superman is Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter at the Daily Planet. So there's just one thing Clark CAN do...
...and that's draw Lois' attention away every time that information is about to be revealed. "Let's go get a drink of water together, Lois." "Lois, you dropped your pocketbook."
And the classic "Lois, there's too much action, I feel dizzy, let's leave." Ahhh, the number of times I've used THAT one. Of course, it doesn't change that fact that a blockbuster shown across the world is telling everyone ELSE your secret identity. What are you gonna do about THAT, Superman? Remember, this is before the days where you could just phone up Zatanna for a quick memory spell. (Maybe the Spectre is available?) Or shouldn't I take this so seriously?
Supes, dude, winking at yourself is just rude to the people on the other side of the fourth wall.
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