Just TELL Her, Already!

[deird_lj]

You know, I have a real problem with superheroes not telling people about their superpowers.

Not that I think Clark Kent should fly round Metropolis yelling "I'm Clark Kent! Really! I'm just wearing this cape as a disguise!", but he should at least tell Lois.

(Of course, by "Lois", I mean sensible tv-series Lois - generally to be found in Lois&Clark, among other shows - not original comic book Lois who couldn't handle anything, ever.)

Likewise, Peter Parker should tell MJ that he's really Spiderman.

Why do I care?
Mainly because superheroes - and those two superheroes in particular - have this tendency to not tell the women they like that they have superpowers, and justify this by saying "Oh, but I want her to love me for who I really am, rather than just because I'm a superhero."

...except that she doesn't know you're a superhero, idiot. And who you really are, as far as she's concerned, is a moron who shows up late with really lame excuses, can't be relied upon, and disappears at the first sign of danger.

Whereas, if she knew that you're actually someone who daily risks his life to help people you don't even know, and you go out of your way to protect people from danger, and the time you were an hour late for her birthday party was because you were rescuing a baby from a burning building... maybe she might think you were a worthwhile person?

Silly angsty superheroes...

Comments

[neutralalienist.livejournal.com]

And maybe she wouldn't be blindsided when someone tried to kidnap her! ;p

Seriously, the "I CANNOT TELL THE ONES I LOVE" crap really doesn't make sense. It would make things easier and safer for everybody.

[deird1]

Exactly.

It'd be much more sensible...

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

And also, of course (and this is the Buffy fan in me jumping up and down and going "ooo! Me! Me! I know this one!"), that superhero is part of who they are. Bruce Wayne and Batman don't exist independently of each other. They know this - yet they deliberately hide half of who they are. (OK, Batman gets a pass on that one since he's psychotic.)

Then there's the other excuse: "I can't tell her (it's always a her) because it'll just put her in danger." Yeah, I can see how that would be distracting. Eeeeeeexcept for the fact that 9 out of 10 adventures involve the supervillain kidnapping the hero's loved ones anyway - either because he's figured it out, or simply by blind chance. Because, y'know, when Doc Ock runs amuck downtown, the odds of him picking up Aunt May out of 8 million New Yorkers are always going to be about 1 in 3.

No wonder Lois gets pissed off now and then.

[deird1]

that superhero is part of who they are

Entirely. "Who They Really Are" includes the superhero bit.

Because, y'know, when Doc Ock runs amuck downtown, the odds of him picking up Aunt May out of 8 million New Yorkers are always going to be about 1 in 3.

Hee! Absolutely!

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Current comics Lois and Clark is a whole different animal. In fact I adore current Lois (well, as of 4 years ago. I haven't been reading for a while.) She originally has that big crush on Superman but eventually realizes that's not who she wants - that she loves kind, gentle, heroic in a quiet way Clark Kent. And when he tells her who is really is, she gets pissed and breaks things off.

But eventually she comes around and I love them together. She's the one constant in his life and he'd do anything for her. And this Lois often doesn't need saving. She's a tough cookie and has even saved Clark a few times. My kind of girl.

[deird1]

Ooh... she sounds fun.

My knowledge of comics!Lois is almost entirely due to Superdickery excerpts - they're mostly from ages ago.

[nwhepcat.livejournal.com]

I have been in agonies watching this season of Smallville, dying for him to tell Lois. I'm not sure if you've been watching SV, but the gorgeous slow build of their yen for each other is wonderful, and it's reached critical mass and is now KILLING ME.

And SV Lois is awesomecakes.

[deird1]

Haven't seen much of SV past season 2, so I've experienced very little Lois Lane - but I agree with you. From what I've seen/heard, she sounds awesome.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sabik_/]

My problem with Lois is that, for a journalist, she's just not very observant, is she? Wouldn't that be a handicap in her line of work?

Wouldn't know an alien if one bit her on the...

η

[deird1]

She's really not, is she?

There's an episode of L&C (still my very favourite Superman show), where a guy from the future tells her that everyone's ultimate Lois Lane question is very simply:
"How dumb WAS she?"

...he then proceeds to demonstrate, in detail, how ludicrous the glasses-as-the-ultimate-disguise concept really is.

[carlos-v-b.livejournal.com]

From a more modern standpoint it makes sense; no point telling the missus just in case things turn sour ("Dump me will he? Well let's see who is laughing when I reveal the secret identity!")

[catherinebruce.livejournal.com]

Yeah I know, this was from November, but I just found this and I'm procrastinating making a trip to Burger King ;) So hello person I probably don't know! *waves enthusiastically*

I really don't like the whole 'I won't tell the woman I love for her own protection' thing, either.

On another note, I also really hate when the hero decides to break up with their love interest 'for her own protection.' Clark did it in LnC, and really, what was the point? If he broke up, that would imply they spend less time together. They spend less time together, and she's more likely to think 'hey, I don't need him, I can do stuff on my own!' which of course, she did. Arg.

And John Crichton... grrr. I love the man, really... But come on!

(And ooo yay, seeing your interests, I realize that this last one will more than likely make sense to you! Weeeeee!)

[deird1]

So hello person I probably don't know! *waves enthusiastically*

*waves back* Hi!

On another note, I also really hate when the hero decides to break up with their love interest 'for her own protection.' Clark did it in LnC, and really, what was the point? If he broke up, that would imply they spend less time together. They spend less time together, and she's more likely to think 'hey, I don't need him, I can do stuff on my own!' which of course, she did. Arg.

Oh, absolutely. These superheroes really need to learn to think things through a bit more...


(Crichton! Whee! *loves him, but he can be an idiot*)