Superman fan has 16 years of surgery to look like the Man of Steel

Amazing transformation... Herbert Chavez now, and before surgery (Credit: Facebook/Rex Features)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a Filipino guy who sort-of looks like Superman!

Although Clark Kent famously used a phone booth to change into Superman, it seems that there's another way to transform into the iconic DC superhero... nineteen bouts of cosmetic surgery.
Herbert Chavez, a mild-mannered dressmaker from the Philippines, has done just that - spending over 300,000 pesos and 16 years to turn himself into a real-life Clark Kent… complete with cleft chin and a hastily-gelled quiff.
[Josh Brolin was considered for Batman vs. Superman]
"I feel like a Superhero whenever I pull on the costume," he explained. "But my mission is not to save the world but to help in my own small way and bring a smile to the faces of local children."

Taking to streets in a full Superman costume, he considers it his mission to bring good morals to the kids of Calamba City… while looking (almost) like a real-life Clark Kent.

Master of disguise... Hugo in his bedroom (Credit: Rex Features)

"If you talk about super heroes, the expectation of people is that they are flawless, they do not get hurt, they do not die. But as human beings, we can only copy their looks."
The 35-year-old Superman fan from Calamba City, Philippines has had all manner of cosmetic surgery in his attempt to look like the classic comic book icon. Nose jobs, skin whitening, lip liposuction, jaw realignment, pectoral implants and even abdominal implants are just a small price to pay in order to become a real-life superhero.

"I have very Asian features," he explained. "And did not look like the caucasian Superman. So when I was able to save enough money to alter my features, I chose to copy those of Superman."
"It is hard living up to people's expectations as a living superhero. That is the reason I have had so many surgeries because I undergo maintenance procedures that need performing.

Spending around £4,400 on his Superman look, it's an absolute fortune compared to the Philippines'' 90p an hour average wage… but apparently, it's entirely worth it.
"I don't have any regrets at all," he added. "People come up to me in the street all the time and want their picture taken with me. They are all really excited to see a real-life Superman in the Philippines."