Comic book characters, whether they’re a friend or foe, often struggle with anonymity and the yearning to blend in. While many superheroes keep their private lives close to protect those they hold dear, villains often try to mask who they are so they can fly under the radar as they commit their evil deeds. This is why having a disguise is a popular trope in most pop culture and comic book references.
Inarguably, the poster child for the importance of disguises and safeguarding secret identities is Superman, the Man of Steel himself. A beloved comic book hero, the Kryptonian’s charm endures after all these decades, as evidenced by the fact that another film about him is set to release next year. In terms of his costumes, Superman is perhaps best known for his glasses, outside of his red and blue super suit. As journalist Clark Kent, the alien uses his unassuming eyewear to blend in plain sight and make him look less physically dominating than he is.
Over the years, this line of thinking has served him well, and it seems like other comic book characters have taken note. From fellow DC legends to more disturbed Vertigo baddies, eyewear as a form of disguise has become a character-building staple that fans have come to appreciate. If you want to know more about other iconic eyewear-touting characters and how you can cop their looks, keep reading.
The Corinthian
A rogue nightmare from the Sandman series, the Corinthian was originally designed as a means to reflect humanity’s innate darkness. Outside the Dreaming, the Corinthian could successfully hide in the shadows to indulge his dark desires, thanks to his dapper humanoid appearance. The only telling factor of his true nature was his eyes or lack thereof. Instead of eyeballs, he had two sets of teeth, which could talk, eat, and even breathe. To hide these, he always wore a pair of sunglasses, both in the day and at night.
If you want to copy this fan-favorite villain’s sartorial aesthetic, you must find a pair of flattering round shades. A perfect model for this is the Ray-Ban RB3447 Round Metal shades, which are among the styles you can personally assess using retailer Sunglass Hut’s virtual glasses try on technology. This means, you can try them on remotely using AR tech to overlay the shades to scale on your face. As such, you can see exactly how they hug your face, and you can verify that they give off the same dapper aesthetic that the Corinthian always preferred.
Diana Prince
Much like her one-time paramour, Diana Prince also prefers to use eyeglasses to separate herself from her true Amazonian roots. As Wonder Woman, the superhero, is all big hair, blue eyes, and unyielding ferocity. However, as her alter-ego, Diana Prince, she’s more often seen in smart casual attire, topped off with large-rimmed glasses. Although recent media interpretations have not put her in glasses, this eyewear is a callback to her representation in the 40s and the Lynda Carter TV versions.
Of course, since you want to ensure that your frames are as complementary as they are on the Amazonian, you can also use color analysis tools like the ones offered by LensCrafters. The popular eyecare provider is no stranger to pop culture: it’s previously partnered with Roblox, a famous virtual platform, to launch gamified eye health initiatives. That includes the Eye Oddysey series, which integrates reminders for younger users to book exams, get the necessary corrective specs, and care for their eyes with practices like the 20-20-20 rule. These efforts often redirect to many of LensCrafters’ resources, including its online eye exam appointment tool and its frame advisor guide for finding the perfect fit—and the latter feature is perfect if you want to emulate Prince’s iconic eyewear look. With this particular tool, you can receive custom frame recommendations that suit your face shape and skin tones, including model suggestions that come in colors Diana Prince has also been seen wearing in DC comics. This includes styles like the large red-framed glasses, like the Jimmy Choo JC3027, which is reminiscent of the ones Diana wore in Wonder Woman #790.
Dick Grayson
Before he grew up to become Nightwing, Dick Grayson was Batman’s first Robin. A ward of the billionaire superhero from a young age, Dick grew up under a cloak of protection and intense training. This meant that even when he was old enough to partake in his mentor’s crime-fighting escapades, he was strictly ordered to keep his real identity a secret. Interestingly, he often had to do this to his fellow superheroes, using a quirky pair of inverted triangle sunglasses. According to the lore, Batman asked Dick to do this to preserve some normalcy in his teen years.
Interestingly, given the unique silhouette of these shades, you’re more likely to turn heads than anything else. However, if you want to exude the same confident vibe as Dick does, then you can get yourself a similar pair from brands like First Lens or Ajio. Just make sure not to wear them while doing errands like DIck does, as the dark UV-blocking lenses may affect color and depth perception.
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