When not saving the world as the beloved Superman, the hero presents himself to the world as the mild-mannered Clark Kent. Nothing helps distinguish between the two personas more than an image that compares how the two look and act completely different.
Though raised as the son of Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark took notice of the differences that separated him from others early in his childhood. After honing his amazing abilities, he was ready to step into the spotlight as Superman while keeping his personal life private. The two halves of the hero's life couldn't be more opposite, with Superman being the more bold heroic figure and Clark being seen as a nebbish and goofy everyman. For some fans, the idea of no one in Clark's life being unable to recognize him as the Man of Steel is a bit too unbelievable, even for a story about a flying man.
However a fan noted that it isn't just a pair of glasses that keeps Clark's identity a secret. On Twitter, user @TheQuiver_ posted an image of models for Clark Kent and Superman complimenting Frank Quitely's ability to draw the two as distinct individuals. The image comes from Quitely's work on All-Star Superman, the seminal 12-issue series he created with Grant Morrison. Shown on the left is Clark: messy hair, slouched posture, and looser fitting clothes. On the opposite side is Superman: hair neatly coiffed, standing up straight, with his costume stretched across his impressive frame. Responses to the tweet likened the dynamic to Christopher Reeve's portrayal of the Man of Steel in Superman: The Movie.
Sure, on the surface, the most obvious difference between the two is that Clark wears glasses while Superman doesn't. And yes, that might be hard to accept in a world where facial recognition is a standard technology. But Quitely's image really illustrates that body language and attitude are just as valuable a resource as a few clothing modifications when it comes to protecting his identity. After all, when Clark is presenting himself as mousy and unconfident, who could take him seriously as the man that regularly fights monsters and aliens?
Suspension of disbelief is an important thing in fiction. It asks the reader to throw out a bit of critical thinking to enjoy a grander story. But an internal logic always strengthens a fictional world and makes for a more satisfying read. Seeing Clark put the work into his disguise to throw off suspension adds a layer of believability to no one being able to discover his secret identity. With Kent presenting himself as smaller, weaker and shabbier than he actually is, he becomes the sort of person anyone would look over when trying to place a name on the Man of Steel. More than anything else, Frank Quitely's image serves as one of the best references to how Superman keeps his private life so private.
Source: @TheQuiver_