Jul

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Super-heroes and Super-lenses!

Filed Under Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear 


I must admit that the world of superheroes and supervillians is somewhat inundated with the covering of the eyes. This is fitting, considering the majority of our fictional superheroes live dual lives. Consider the most famous of all superheroes- Superman.

Superman works by day in the offices of a newspaper company. He wears glasses and appears to fit the typical nerd stereotype. Superman is the reverse of all other superheroes in that his disguise is the nerdy-bespectacled gentleman who fits loosely into the status quo. Most other superheroes wear a disguise when they are saving the world—or at least saving the day. Superman is unique in that he is himself when he is a hero.

The second most popular superhero, arguably, is Spiderman. Interestingly enough, Spiderman also works for a newspaper– as the photojournalist. He is also a nerdy youth, though this is his ‘real’ self and not the mask. To take action, Spidie must cover his eyes, which are, as we know, windows to the soul. His identity is only secure when his eyes are covered. Interestingly though he is blocking access to his expressions through the mask, the design inflates the size of the eyes and thus draws attention to their blankness.

Though not as popular as the aforementioned, the X-men have one among their group whose whole character is supported by lenses. Lasers shoot from his eyes and he protects the unsuspecting public by simply wearing sunglasses. How convenient for the unfortunately named Cyclops. You’ll notice that the rest of the crew (in the original comics and cartoons, not the real-life, Hugh Jackman rendition) also wear eye coverings. I ask myself, since mutants were openly known of in this fictional setting, why were they hiding their features? No on in any film or flick was ever confused about the source (Xavier’s School for the Talented) of this strangely-spandexed troupe.

super-lensesThe covering of the eyes to hide one’s identity seems ludicrous to me, whose friends recognize me with or without my spectacles and with or without a hat. However, Bruce Wayne’s friends must be somewhat less observant as they fail to recognize their wealthy comrade behind his sexy bat themed body-suit and partial face covering. Zoro, a hero from the south, is an ordinary man made powerful in justice as he battles an uncompromisingly cruel regime. This daring rouge masks his wealth and charm behind a tiny strip of fabric over the eyes and a hat and cape. If there were a modern day hero of this sort, I can rest assured that the media would discover his identity—black fabric eye coverings or no.

Though I personally have not fallen madly into the Harry Potter crazy, I think that his image as a powerful and dangerous character in the silly world of witches and brews is ironic, given his minute stature and ridiculous thick-rimmed glasses. There is no identity hiding for this ‘superhero,’ but he does follow in Clark Kent’s massive footsteps in terms of cutting an image of simplicity and innocence—at least until he face his arch rival no-nose.

The final hero in this silly diatribe is Stan Lee, whose square and tan lenses are a Hallmark of the comic industry. Indeed, he is the god of the superheroes and it is fitting that he himself wears a mask.

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