# Pointless superhero secret identities **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064 "2012-03-07T19:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/21 "2012-03-07T21:50:10Z")
There’s a difference between a secret identity and an alter ego. Even if you don’t have a secret identity, it might make sense to have an alter ego for the same reason you have a costume: It’s flashy and cool. A number of celebrities in our world do something like this. It’s no secret, for instance, that Lady Gaga is actually Stefani Germanatta, but the alter ego lets her be more glamorous. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/22 "2012-03-07T22:41:14Z")
> [@Rubixcube](#): > > Wasn’t it explained that Odin forbid Thor from revealing his identity because he exiled him to earth in the first place to teach him humility, and having him reveal his identity would defeat that purpose? In the origin story, Dr. Blake doesn’t even know he’s Thor…he’s been exiled to Earth with no memories of being an Asgardian. It’s only when he finds the “walking stick” that’s actually a disguised Mjolnir, and raps it on a rock or something, that he transforms into Thor, and learns about being exiled. In addition (at least, up through the early 1980s), there was also an enchantment on Mjolnir (placed there by Odin) which caused Thor to revert to Blake’s mortal form if he let go of Mjolnir for more than 60 seconds. The enchantment was removed by Odin, and transferred to Stormbreaker (the Mjolnir-like hammer which Odin had made for Beta Ray Bill). ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/23 "2012-03-07T22:44:26Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > the absolute most pointless one is the Shadow. > [@DocCathode](#): > > Ya know, Cranston wasn’t his real identity either. It was revealed after many years that Cranston was a cover ID as well and he was really Kent Allard. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Kent Allard? I think the “secrets within secrets” deal worked out very well for him. that was in print which i’ve never read. only know some of the radio where it only was Cranston after the Shadow became a character. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/24 "2012-03-07T22:48:52Z")
There’ve been a couple stories where Superman considers giving up the ‘secret identity’ thing. It don’t result in people going after the Kents, or stepping up their efforts to go after Lois or Jimmy (ie, going after them to get to him, rather than just because they have a tendency to look for trouble on their own), because he didn’t reveal that Clark and Superman were the same person, he just let Clark’s life go fallow for a while. What happened was that he was run ragged because whenever he went to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat, people were asking him why he wasn’t out superheroing. The idea that a superhero might need to take a mental health day, or even stop and catch his breath now and then, just didn’t occur to them. (And telling them to stuff it, he just stopped a Rao bedamned tsunami and he needed a break before going out to do more never occurred to him, more justifiably.) ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/25 "2012-03-07T23:01:00Z")
I’m watching the old Lynda Carter Wonder Woman [online](http://www.thewb.com/shows/wonder-woman) (and you should too - they’re hilarious). I can see no reason whatsoever why she just can’t be Wonder Woman the whole time. It also doesn’t say much for our military that those glasses were totally fooling everyone. I’m pretty sure I’d recognize someone as drop-dead gorgeous as Lynda Carter even if her disguise was that rubber suit from American Horror Story. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/26 "2012-03-07T23:14:25Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I like how they inverted it – Superman was the secret identity and Clark Kent was the real guy. It makes sense to me that he would want to be a regular guy. Superman’s really been all over the place, through the years. Back in the Silver Age and Bronze Age, he essentially had three different identities: Superman, crime-fighter and protector of Earth; Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter; and Kal-El, last surviving Kryptonian (other than his cousin, that is. And the Phantom Zone criminals. And that city of Kryptonians he kept in a carboy in his den.) After the John Byrne reboot in the 80s, the Kryptonian heritage back-story changed, and the Kal-El persona fell by the way-side. But then we saw a second side to Clark: he wasn’t just the shy, awkward disguise that Superman put on when he worked at the Daily Planet, but also the more relaxed, open Clark when he was at home with the Kents in Smallville – just this guy who grew up on a farm, talking with his folks. Since then, depending on the writers and various changes in continuity, I think there’ve been times when the big guy’s been juggling all four identities. And people think Batman’s the screwed-up one. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/27 "2012-03-07T23:24:05Z")
> [@Rubixcube](#): > > . . . I at least understand from a plot standpoint why they’re necessary for some characters. > [@Chronos](#): > > . . .it might make sense to have an alter ego for the same reason you have a costume: It’s flashy and cool. Well, I’ve always thought that secret or alternate identities are never really about plot function at heart – or even coolness. These stories are pretty much modern versions of fairy tales, which have always had their appeal in the transformations of the principle character–c.f., Cinderella, Ugly Duckling, etc. That’s [what delights Butters most of all by becoming Professor Chaos](http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/episodes/s06e06-professor-chaos) on South Park: the idea that the other kids don’t know it’s actually him. What he does as Professor Chaos is almost irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/28 "2012-03-07T23:43:06Z")
Wasn’t there a storyline where Oliver Queen decides to reveal that he’s Green Arrow, and everyone tells him, “Uh…it was supposed to be a secret? OK then. So that was why you were so shy about putting on your costume.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/29 "2012-03-08T00:07:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Legal liability. If people knew it was Tony Stark inside that Iron Man suit, he’d be getting hit by lawsuits five times a day. By maintaining the fiction that he and Iron Man are two separate people he avoids this personal liability. There was also that time during the “Armor Wars” storyline where Stark publicly “fired” Iron Man. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/30 "2012-03-08T00:46:09Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Thor. > > They work it into his story that he falls in love with his nurse and blah blah blah must maintain secret identity to protect her blah blah blah but they never needed to go there with him. He’s a freakin’ GOD. There was no reason for him to have to disguise himself and have a day job playing doctor, when he could have/should have just spent his days professionally asskicking. Thor at least tried harder than Hercules, who occasionally called himself “Harry Cleese”, and wandered around looking exactly the same, and talking with his usual speech patterns. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/31 "2012-03-08T00:53:19Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Legal liability. If people knew it was Tony Stark inside that Iron Man suit, he’d be getting hit by lawsuits five times a day. By maintaining the fiction that he and Iron Man are two separate people he avoids this personal liability. > > Sure, they can sue Stark Industries but that’s what limited corporate liability is for. plus with him being blitzed half the time, I’m sure the lawsuits would skyrocket 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/32 "2012-03-08T00:53:19Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > Thor at least tried harder than Hercules, who occasionally called himself “Harry Cleese”, and wandered around …doing a silly walk? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/33 "2012-03-08T01:17:52Z")
How about the Elongated Man? If I recall correctly, he made his alter-ego of Ralph Dibney public knowledge, so apparently, he didn’t see the need to even maintain a secret identity. Also, aren’t the identities of the Fantastic Four, Reed and Sue Richards, Johnny Storm; and Ben Grimm widely known in their fictional universe? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/34 "2012-03-08T01:20:29Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/35 "2012-03-08T01:22:51Z")
Nevermind. I accidentally quoted myself. D’oh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/36 "2012-03-08T01:32:32Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > How about the Elongated Man? If I recall correctly, he made his alter-ego of Ralph Dibney public knowledge, so apparently, he didn’t see the need to even maintain a secret identity. Well, but his wife later got murdered. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/37 "2012-03-08T01:37:15Z")
The biggest example I know of are superheroes of a different sort: The Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. They keep their identity secret due to a decree from on high (Zordon). But the main reason most superheroes keep secret identities is invalid. It doesn’t in any way protect their loved ones because–get this–the bad guys already know their secret identities, and always have. There is a second reason that sometimes comes up for secret identities: to let the heroes also have an ordinary life, free from fans treating them differently. Thing is, you can fanwank that this is the reason, but it never comes up in the show at all. In fact, later seasons have Rangers whose identities are not secret, and their lives are the same either way. Oh, and they had some comics, so they still count. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/38 "2012-03-08T01:39:12Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Also, aren’t the identities of the Fantastic Four, Reed and Sue Richards, Johnny Storm; and Ben Grimm widely known in their fictional universe? OTTOMH Ben had no living relatives when he became the Thing. Johnny and Sue only had eachother. Reed’s father later turned out to be alive and in another dimension, but as far as he knew Reed had no living relatives when the FF formed. There were no relatives to protect. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/39 "2012-03-08T01:46:02Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The biggest example I know of are superheroes of a different sort: The Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. They keep their identity secret due to a decree from on high (Zordon). But the main reason most superheroes keep secret identities is invalid. It doesn’t in any way protect their loved ones because–get this–the bad guys already know their secret identities, and always have. Strangely, the bad guys only take advantage of this in one story. In one episode, they kidnap the Rangers parents and make them give up their power coins. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064/40 "2012-03-08T02:13:21Z")
Doc Cathode: > [@](#): > > Johnny and Sue only had each other. Their father was still alive when they got their powers. Franklin Storm was killed by the Super-Skrull, which underscores the danger of super-heroes having open identities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pointless-superhero-secret-identities/615064.md?page=3)