Warning: Spoilers for My Adventures with Superman #3

Summary

• Clark Kent isn't cool enough to be in the same room as Superman: a plausible reason for his secret identity.
• The My Adventures with Superman comic addresses an overlooked plot hole in classic Superman lore with an explanation that makes perfect sense.
• Issue #3 provides a believable portrayal of why Clark and Superman are never seen together.

The Clark Kent secret identity for Superman just got a lot more plausible thanks to My Adventures with Superman. Superman's disguise outside his superhero work is a classic character template, but also the easiest to ridicule. Some audiences find it implausible for citizens to have trouble recognizing Clark as Superman just because he slicks his hair back and wears glasses.

However, that disguise becomes far more believable following My Adventures with Superman #3 by Josie Campbell and Pablo M. Collar, the latest installment of the animated program's tie-in comic. Not only is Clark not recognized as Superman, but his nerdy demeanor is proven to disqualify him from being cool enough to even be in the same room as Superman.

The moment recontextualizes an overlooked plot hole in classic Superman lore in a way that makes perfect sense for everyone involved. Truthfully, especially now as Superman's identity is a secret again, this explanation should be used for the official canon of the DC Universe.

Clark Kent Isn't Cool Enough to Breathe the Same Air as Superman

Overshadowed by Actual Friends of Superman

In this issue, Clark is held captive by Robert DuBois of Checkmate — otherwise known as Bloodsport — after being caught sneaking into a secret military lab. While breaking down coincidences, it seems obvious that Agent DuBois is about to crack Kent as being Superman, but instead, he says the investigative reporter is snooping around for an opportunity to impress Superman. Because Superman is always seen hanging out with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, but never Clark, DuBois suspects Clark is just tired of being shafted by his friends and wants his own adventures with Superman.

On paper, it should be easy to figure out why Superman is never around when Clark Kent is, and vice versa.

In the main DC Universe, it's rare to see characters acknowledge that Clark Kent and Superman are never in the same room at the same time. One of the more infamous moments comes when Batman and Superman switch places and costumes to throw off Lois' suspicions in a story from World's Finest Comics #71 by Al Schwartz, Curt Swan, Stan Kaye, Ira Schnapp, and Pat Gordon, but the point still stands.

On paper, it should be easy to figure out why Superman is never around when Clark Kent is, and vice versa. This secret identity-specific trope plagues most classic superheroes, and thus, largely goes ignored in-universe. Readers are just expected to accept the obvious.

This Superman Moment Makes Sense of a Senseless Superhero Trope

An Explanation for the Official Canon

In this moment, however, that same trope gets a believable explanation that would seem just as plausible in the official DC Universe as it does in that of My Adventures with Superman. Clark Kent's character is nerdy enough for the people of Metropolis to believe that he's not around Superman because he's just not cool enough to be around Superman, unlike Jimmy and Lois. Because Clark is traditionally so uncool, it adds a layer in making Superman's secret identity all the more believable in any universe.

My Adventures with Superman #3 is available now from DC Comics.