One of the best things about James Gunn directing the upcomingSupermanmovie is that he’s a true lover of the source material. Although the film has yet to be released, interviews and trailers have already made it clear that Gunn is not only respecting the comics but honoring them in ways even the most die-hard Man of Steel fans can’t help but applaud.
In a recent August 09, 2025,interview with ComicBook.com, James Gunn revealed yet another way he’s honoring Superman’s comic book legacy. This time, he addressed one of the most hotly debated aspects of the character’s lore: the glasses.
Gunn admitted that, like many fans,he struggled even as a kid to believe that something as simple as eyewear could conceal Clark Kent’s identity.But after a conversation with comic writer Tom King and a closer look at established comic canon, Gunn found a grounded explanation that makes it work, and he’s bringing that solution to the big screen.
Hypno-Glasses: James Gunn Is Bringing Back a Forgotten Piece of Superman Lore
Finally! Even the Harshest Superman Critics Can Buy Into His Disguise
During his conversation with ComicBook.com, James Gunn confirmed thathis movie will place more emphasis on Superman’s double life than previous film portrayalsof the Man of Steel. This means thatDavid Corenswet’s Clark Kentwill not only look different but also behave differently from his Superman persona.
When it comes to his visual disguise, fans already know the basics: a different hairstyle, altered posture, baggier civilian clothes, and of course, the famously debated glasses. However, before anyone rolls their eyes at this“flimsy”disguise,Gunn confirmed that there is more to Clark Kent’s look than just a regular pair of glasses.
Like many fans, Gunn hadtrouble believing that something as simple as glasses could prevent the entire world from realizing Clark Kent is Superman. Fortunately, when he voiced this concern, writer Tom King, known forBatman(2016-2019)andWonder Woman(2023-), reminded him that there is actually a canon explanation for why the glasses work so well.
As longtime Superman fans know,Clark once wore glasses made from a material that could subtly hypnotize people. With that piece of lore in mind, the disguise becomes much easier to accept. Gunn has confirmed that this long-overlooked and forgotten detail will be included in the film.
James Gunn: That’s canon in the comics. It’s kind of been forgotten, but that’s from the comics. I was sitting with Tom King, the comic book writer, and I was like, ‘you know the thing that I just don’t really know how to reconcile in myself is the glasses because the glasses always bothered me as a kid.’ They bothered me because I just don’t have that much suspension of disbelief to believe that.
You know, they’re two different people, even though I think out of all the actors that have played Superman, Corenswet looks the most different as Clark Kent to Superman, even more so than Chris Reeve. But he said, “You know, there’s an answer for that in the comics; it’s canon that they hypnotize people.”
Superman’s Hypnosis Glasses, Explained
Even Superman Knew His Glasses Disguise Made No Sense
Martin Pasko, Al Schroeder III, and Curt Swan’sSuperman#330 (1978) famously featuredClark beginning to question the believability of his own disguise.In a notable panel, he looks at himself while putting on his glasses and concludes,“… That’s the dumbest disguise I’ve ever seen! What am I supposed to look like? A totally different person??”
This makes it clear that, at some point in canon, even Clark didn’t fully buy into his own disguise, finding the whole glasses idea just as ridiculous as many fans do. However, he later learns that thesecret to his disguise lies in the unique properties of his glasses, specifically the lenses, which were made from the plexiglass window of the rocket ship that brought him to Earth.
The comic explains that the lenses amplify Clark’s super-hypnotic abilitieswhenever he wears them, causing people to perceiveClark Kent as someone who is decidedly not Superman. Some fans might do a double-take at the mention of hypnotic powers, as this piece of Superman lore has largely fallen out of fashion and been forgotten by many.
Does Superman Really Have Super-Hypnotic Abilities?
James Gunn Revives a Forgotten Golden Age Power That Explains Clark Kent’s Disguise Perfectly
As many Golden Age fans know,Superman once had even more powers than he does today.Many of these abilities had a limited shelf life and are no longer used in modern comics. Among the powers that eventually fell out of fashion was Clark’s super-hypnosis. Originally,Superman could use this powersimply by looking at someone and concentrating.
Over time, however, its depiction became increasingly convoluted, with some versions showing him using props, such as a pocket watch, to hypnotize people. Clark’s glasses amplifying his hypnosis was just another way this ability evolved in Superman lore. Byunknowingly using Kryptonian technology,he successfully hypnotized others into believing his otherwise flimsy disguise for years.
On occasion,he even used the lenses to brainwash some of his most dangerous foes, including Parasite. However, Superman’s hypnosis powers and his amplifying glasses were eventually dropped from DC canon. This led to a new explanation for the believability of his disguise: people never questioned Superman’s identity because they didn’t expect him to have a civilian persona as mundane as Clark Kent.
That explanation, however, never sat well with James Gunn. Now, the director isbringing back the idea of Superman’s hypno-glasses, offering fans a far more plausible reason no one recognizes Clark Kent. It’s a clever nod to old-schoolSupermanlore that longtime fans will no doubt celebrate.
