Do Superheroes Need SECRET IDENTITIES? || Comic Misconceptions || NerdSync
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- Опубліковано 12 сер 2014
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Most superheroes have a costume, but not all of them use it to hide their identity. Recently, it seems as if most superheroes choose to have their identity public. But is that really the best idea? Scott talks about his thoughts as to why it's better to have a SECRET identity! As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Every Wednesday, Comic Misconceptions explores fascinating trivia, crazy stories, and mind-blowing theories about the comic book universe from Marvel, DC, and beyond!
Hosted by Scott Niswander (@ScottNiswander)
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Committed: Secret Identities - Online Privacy & Invisible Disease
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I loved what Elastigirl said at the beginning of The Incredibles: "Of course I have a secret identity. Who wants the pressure of being super all the time?"
Actually Mr. Incredible was the one who said "Who wants the pressure of being Super all the time." Elastigirl said "Do you see me at a supermarket?" Although Mr. Incredible had also said "Every super hero has a secret identity. I don't know anyone who doesn't" even though public identities are common in comic books and according to the Kronos files on the DVD, Universal Man doesn't have a secret identity. Or even a civilian identity.
Super ladies... They're always trying to tell you their secret identity. Think it'll strengthen the relationship or something like that. I say girl, I don't want to know about your mild mannered alter ego or anything like that! I mean, you tell me you're a super mega ultra lightning babe? That's alright with me! I'm good. I'm good.
It depends on the hero, the flash actually doesn't need it, he can be anywhere anytime. But, green arrow does. People could force him to go too far, if they knew who he was. Some heroes have better excuses than others; batman has the excuse of: I had to run an errand for Bruce Wayne, the flash has no excuse other than: "I'm just late all the time." Superman has: "I was there, seeing the event play out." Captain falcon has at least three; smash, racing, or beating up space criminals.
@@aufishsd1445 some heros want privacy
But conflicts like that make for great stories.
If Superman wanted, he could just live in front of the sun and be superman 24/7. But that's boring. Superman loves being Clark Kent; he loves being human and interacting with people as a normal Person. Making his identity public would take that away. Batman does not love being Bruce Wayne, but he sees it as a necessity in order for the Batman to exist properly. If Bruce Wayne did not appear publicly, people would easily put two and two together.
I'm still surprised they haven't put two and two together after Nightwing's identity was exposed.
Yeah. What FSK said.
I knew there was a Superman title where, as soon as he revealed himself to the world, he never became Clark again.
No paper.
No Lois.
No Ma and Pa Kent (I think they were both dead).
@@swandive46 They didn't even need to do that. A millionaire whose parents were murdered by a burglar in from of him when he was a child goes missing for several years and then returns. Right after that, a vigilante, powered with hi-tech, probably very expensive gadgetry starts to prey on the criminals of the city. It's obvious for the very least that Bruce Wayne is funding Batman.
Someone in the old Toonzone forums once said that Superman and Batman have 3 personas each:
Superman
1. Smallville Clark (his real persona)
2. Superman (his job)
3. Metropolis Clark (his secret identity)
Batman
1. Batcave Bruce (his real persona)
2. Batman (the myth, the symbol, "Swear to me" voice)
3. Playboy, Waynetech Bruce (his secret identity)
In the Superman the Animated Series episode, "The Late Mr. Kent," where Clark Kent is seemingly assassinated in a car bomb which he of course survives but Clark Kent is presumed dead. His father says he just can't be Clark anymore to which Superman replies that he is Clark, he needs to be Clark. He'd go crazy if he was Superman all the time. We tend to forget, Superman grew up in Smallville as Clark, adoptive son of loving farmer parents.
I once did something nice for someone without them knowing and then my mum started thanking my sister and giving her money
jack ireland Hahaha
lol
So sad
haha
Wow, tough luck, at least if you were a superhero stopping crime then you'd know that your sister has no idea what she's missing out on with powers and whatever
If I were a superhero I'd have a secret identity, but I'd jokingly say stuff like "Well you've never seen me and SuperHero Dude in the same room at the same time."
And your secret is ouuuut!
+Phil Jackson I think that would only work if you said that about more than one superhero.
ProbeVoyages Yeah, I got to thinking and this is my revision: do everything the same except say "you never see me and (one of my villians) in the same room".
It’d be even better if you just tossed around random civvies’ names while you were in-costume. “You’ve never seen me and (your next-door neighbor) in the same room.” The next day, it’s, “You’ve never seen me and (your sister’s boyfriend) in the same room.” Change it up every day to keep people on their toes, and you may have reporters chasing so many different leads that they’ll never find out the truth.
I honestly think that way you'd totally be in the clear cause there would be so many people probably saying that that no 1 would ever believe you
This actually reminded me of the opening from the Incredibles when they asked why he wears a mask. I think he answered it perfectly, "who wants the pressure of being super all the time?"
Slaggathor12 I totally almost used a clip from the Incredibles! That is such a fun movie.
It seems logical to use a secret identity until it can no longer be maintained.
On a side note, why does every other Marvel hero have his identity revealed to the public, whereas in the DC universe, they are more secretive?
TickedOff Priest That really is a good question that I've thought a lot about. Maybe I'll make a video about it someday.
Sweggy GamingNerd As far as I can tell from the comics, the registration act did not force heroes to publicly announce their identities. Spider-Man did it as a favor to Iron Man, but everyone else just had to register with the government. It wouldn't be made public knowledge, and the heroes' identities would still be kept a secret from the masses.
I am way more of a DC fan but, we have heroes without secrets also. I mean two Green Lanterns are not secrets! Pisses me off to!
TickedOff Priest This is actually an easy one and is representative of what I think the differences between marvel and dc:
DC is more in to the hero identity, and with the exception of a few heros and storylines, really doesn't spend much time on each hero's private life and daily routine.
Whereas Marvel does intentionally delve into daily routines of each hero (nearly everyone) and their picadillos, how they make money, personality flaws, and chores, family, quandries, etc.
Thus, Marvel is more relatable than DC and thus more real, while DC has heros that are larger than life, and seemingly don't have much of a life outside herodom. Remember, there are exceptions to this rule, but my statements are presented as a general guideline.
In summation: Marvel has hero's we can relate to, DC has heroes we look up to.
Think I'm wrong? Tell Scott about it, and mebbe he'll do an updated vid on this subject again. It is about time for that one, anyway.
James L Yes, but why does the public need to know?
Daredevil is a great example of many of these points. When Matt Murdock admitted, in court, that he was Daredevil, he didn't just affect Matt Murdock (He got disbarred from practicing law.) He also affected Daredevil. Before, no one who didn't know his secret identity knew what Daredevil's powers were. They didn't know he was blind. They didn't know his other senses were enhanced. They just knew that he had some sort of preternatural awareness of his surroundings. Enemies who intentionally used his blindness and enhanced senses against him usually only did so because they had some sort of info on him, usually from Kingpin or some other person who knew who Daredevil was. Revealing his secret identity didn't just make Matt Murdock more vulnerable by revealing him to be the man without fear. It made Daredevil more vulnerable because, instead of the man without fear, his enemies now see a blind lawyer from Hell's Kitchen, costume or no.
Norrin Radd Excellent points. I'm so glad that everyone is giving more examples in the comments about this stuff. Truly great point about how enemies won't just know who you are, but will also know your weaknesses. That could screw you over big time! Thanks for the insight!
***** As a note on the value of secret identities. Tony Stark is a good example of a superhero who isn't particularly well served by his public identity. If I were famous for having a heart condition that needed constant maintenance I wouldn't be advertising that I were a superhero. Iron Man has recently become famous as a superhero that went public five minutes after gaining his powers but I'm pretty sure the story of his public identity is more complicated than that. The origin of Iron Man's public identity might make a good video.
Norrin Radd That's a wonderful idea! As I often say, I try not to do plain old origin stories on characters unless there is a grander point. But doing a video specifically around the point when Iron Man decided to go public seems interesting. I just hope there's an interesting story there!
***** I don't know much about it. As my name suggests, my interest lies mostly in the cosmic. Daredevil is the only New York hero who I really follow. I do know that Iron Man maintained a secret identity when I first started reading comics and only became a public figure about ten years ago. I remember it being a pretty disastrous event actually, much different from the nonchalant press conference from the movie.
Norrin Radd I'll look into it!
Wait ... how does Jim Gordon not recognize his own daughter's voice?
+DreadMan Not to mention this is someone you know and have been around their entire life. Her hiding just part of her face is not going to fool you for a second. Same color hair, Eyes aren't covered, same height, build, voice. This man has been a cop for what a little over 20 years? It's no way he doesn't know.
gamesmaster35 Jim Gordon was probably in denial.
Maybe she uses a voice changer
+DreadMan He,s the best dad ever.. Thats why
+gamesmaster35 your applying real life logic to a comic book. Doesn't work
If I were a superhero NO WAY would I reveal my secret identity! Are you crazy?! In this modern age that would be like signing a death warrant for you and your loved ones.
PhatGirlLuvr68 True story.
if you were super what if you saved somebody who later came after the people you care about
Only tell people I can trust like first choices are my family and my best friend.
If I was a super hero, I'd have a separate identity to make it easier to get food and stuff without being swarmed by the news and all the villains and stuff, but my super hero identity would be my main identity
Draybolt4 Great, but how do you get money? If being a super hero takes up most of your time, then you don't have time to have a day job.
I'll be the secret owner of a successful business
he could work for shield after civil war all heroes work for shield and get paid but I think that's over now after all the superhuman registration act files were deleted
ebrahim alward Or I could just say screw Fury and all his technicalities and have a successful business
Draybolt4 you could charge for saving people.
I think it depends a lot about the life style of the hero. Look at heroes like Captain America, Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, Zatanna, Hawkeye, the X-men, Fantastic Four or the Doom Patrol. These heroes tend to be single, they don't have a family, they are adults and in the case of the Fantastic 4 and the X-Men they live in buildings with high-tech security measures and they live with other heroes. Sometimes a hero can't really have a secret identity due to a physical mutation (colored skin, animal-like etc.) that is too difficult to hide. What I found so refreshing about the second volume of Wonder Woman pre-new52 is that Diana did not have a secret identity. I found it refreshing that she preferred to be called Diana even in costume. For example, as weird as this sounds, I like the arc where Diana was broke, living in an apartment basement and working at a taco joint because it wasn't her secret identity doing this, it was Diana. It was WONDER WOMAN doing this stuff. She knew she was a celebrity in many people's eyes but she did not once see herself as being above her situation. Heroes without secret identities have opportunities for unique and interesting storylines. But I do see why many heroes do need them, especially if you are a street-level hero, still in school and/or have a family. You have people to protect, so it is understandable. If people knew who the bat family was in Gotham, they would be screwed because a lot of them still live in Gotham and since they don't have the resources or the protection of say an Iron Man or a Fantastic Four, someone can break-in into their homes and attack at any time. My point is, being a superhero without a secret identity is possible, but you have to live a certain way for it to work.
Trenton Gilstrap z
If I were a Superhero I would wear a costume similar to Spider-Man's to where you Can't see an inch of my skin so that even people who aren't white like me could picture themselves and idolize/look up to my alter ego.
Genius
Cameron Damelio You got that from Stan Lee!
Cool :)
Cameron Damelio Nice idea. You'd sweat a lot, though.
WalterLiddy Unless his super power is not sweating. Genius
Stan Lee once said "If I were a super-hero I wouldn't keep it a secret" which is probably why the Fantastic Four don't have secret identities....also Luke Cage Power-Man doesn't have a secret identity.
Yo, 2020 comment here. Who tf is power man?
@@Quaden0 That's what Luke Cage calls himself.
Whether I'd have a secret identity or not really depends on the world I live in (This is assuming I have superpowers. I, personally, wouldn't even entertain the notion of becoming a superhero without them.)
If I lived in a world that was like a comic book with all the tropes and trimmings thereof, then I'd probably have a secret identity, but make a point to tell my close friends and family about it so they have a heads up and can protect themselves to a degree from baddies who may want to hurt them.
If I lived in the real world as we know it? Then I'd probably not be a superhero at all. Let alone one with a secret identity. Sure, I'd stop a mugging if I came across one or whatever, but I wouldn't put on a costume and make a big spectacle of myself. The government would so not be okay with a one man army running around a highly populated area dishing out vigilante justice.
The collateral damage alone would be enough to assemble a task force to take me out, if not outright kill me then open me up and see how my powers work/science the hell out of my body to make super soldiers or something. It would be like Man of Steel but with more crying.
Well if you're invulnerable or have an uncanny healing-factor like Wolverine and Deadpool, then there's not too much to worry about. But yeah if they capture you, they'll definitely capture/kill your family, which brings a whole new level to the Civil War in Marvel. The ones you're supposed to be afraid of attacking your families isn't super-villains, it's your own government.
To quote Mr Incredible in The Incredibles, "Who wants the pressure of being super all the time?". Having a secret identity is way more practical then not having one, but I reckon you should have a trusted ally or two who can help you keep it secret (cover for you when you have to suddenly 'disappear' for one thing).
I have another reason:
Superheroes need a public identity because _they'd probably end up going mad without one_. They need to be able to take their super-hats off from time to time and develop lives of their own.
For example, my idea of Superman is that he needs Clark Kent to ground him and force him to appreciate non-powered humanity. If he spent all his time in that costume of his, zooming around helping people 24/7, he'd probably go "This is the 47th landslide/107th volcano/etc. I've seen." It'd get...routine, monotonous, after a while.
It's why he's a journalist: He's got all these great powers, but he chooses a job in which he has to make _perfect words_. Any old fool can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but to craft sentences which can stir a frozen heart or whip people into action...That takes a lot of skill and a lot of emotion.
It's a complicated question, really. Different superheroes have different reasons for maintaining a secret identity. For people like Superman and The Flash, I assume at least part of the reason is self-preservation. If the government doesn't know who you are in day-to-day life, it makes it that much harder for them to trap you and experiment on you to find the nature of your biology. For others, like Batman, it's about being a force that's larger than life, and if everyone knows who you are, you can't be that symbol. Then comes the issue of the families and friends of these heroes. It's not unheard of for a psychopathic criminal to go after a cop's family, and the people that comic book superheroes fight are way worse. I know, if I had superpowers, there's no way I'd use them without a mask. Don't wanna end up in a cage.
Elastigirl said it best in the Incredibles. Of course I have a secret identity, can you imagine trying to buy groceries as Elastigirl?
kissarmy1979 Haha. Man, that's a good movie.
So did mr incredible, as he said “who wants the pressure of being super all the time?”
It depends on a lot of factors. If my powers were strong enough, if my family was hidden or non existent, or if I wanted to become instantly famous and make money I would go public and register as a hero. Definitely. Hell maybe even assist the government if they assist me with tons of money and jurisdiction. It would be an interesting life being a pro superhero. Apart from the out of character evil shit he was doing, I am team Tony all the way.
I smell a plot for a possibly awesome comic book lol
LuffyBlack Already exists! Read OnePunch-man...same scenario
There went my film idea :/
Captain America: Civil War.
Watchmen
Look! It's that guy who caused massive property damage! Let's all sue him!
As MJ from Spider-Man PS4 once said: I get why they do it, but I never totally loved the heroes hiding behind masks thing. Feels like part of being a hero is standing behind your actions, being willing to say "Yeah, that was me", that's the sort of hero I wanna be at least.
I can see villians posting hate comments on hero's UA-cam channels
😆
I just watched both sides of the argument:
Although I do feel having a public superhero identity would its benefits. If I was a cape crusader I would keep a secret identity. There are countless dangers that come with having a public identity.
First, if you have a public identity your home wouldn’t be that hard to find. Say you’re returning home from a long day of crime fighting, you are just completely exhausted, when suddenly a small group of super villains we’re waiting for you in your kitchen. You wouldn’t stand a chance against them. Not to mention any of your neighbors could easily be caught in the crossfire. Yes, people like Bruce Wayne have the security in their homes to keep criminals out but most people don’t have the money to get those kind of Devices. And even at that Wayne Manor has been broken into once or twice.
Second, as soon as your identity is revealed the militaries of the world will want to hire you to be there next super soldier or force you to retire. Whether you’re a fan of Marvel or DC comics you’re most likely aware of storylines where the government tries to enroll superheroes or wipe them out. Similar to my previous point what would stop the swat team from entering your home? In the eyes of the public, a superhero like you could be a dangerous vigilante.
Third, your professional life will be destroyed. You’ll likely be too busy fighting crime to hold up at a stable job regardless, but at least when you have a secret identity you have a chance of getting a job. Chances are most businesses wouldn’t want to be associated with a vigilante nor risk coming into contact with any of your rogues gallery.
Fourth, your social life will be destroyed. No one will want to spend time with you since they’ll likely (and possibly accurately) assume super villains are following you around. And if that wasn’t bad enough, public criticisms would be through the roof. Anyone who’s played Spiderman PS4 will let you know for every person rooting for Spiderman there seems to be two people who hate what he does. And if you ever fail in the eyes of the public as a superhero, they’ll never let you hear the end of it. And that’s not even mentioning the bunch of people that would probably want your autograph all the time. At least when you have a secret identity this won’t reflect on your social life.
Finally, if you have a public identity and you die one day everyone will know that both the man and the superhero are dead. If you have a secret identity some criminals may still believe that you’re out there, it also means that anyone could take up the mantle of the superhero. For example, let’s say Bruce Wayne was assassinated and Dick Grayson took up the role of Batman. Most criminals won’t be able to tell the difference since all they’d see is Batman. While on the other hand if Tony Stark was assassinated and James Rhodes Took up the mantle of Iron Man everyone would know that he wasn’t the real Iron Man since everyone knows Tony Stark and Iron Man are one in the same.
Now obviously there are a lot of upsides to have a public superhero identity. For example you’ll never have to make an excuse of why you can’t show up to something since I’m sure everyone will understand. And of course there is the branding rights you’d get by being a superhero (Example: Booster Gold.) but I feel the negatives of having a public identity outweigh the positives.
I once spent a whole night cleaning my little brother's disaster zone room and when he woke up I told him about the cleaning monster and how he (the cleaning monster) must have paid him a visit. I have never told him that it was me.
"Do superheroes need secret identities?" Well, yeah. After all, superheroes can't be around for 24 hours a day. They need a kind of secret identity in order to live normal lives on a regular basis.
Robert Polanco You don't have to be the superhero all the time to have a public identity. People just need to know that you are that superhero.
I loved this quote by He-Man from Injsutice vs Masters of the Universe about the importance of the secret identity:
"I know. I know about the monster you are now, and the man you used to be. I know you were once a seeker of truth. A "Reporter". Ever since Lois died, though, you've stopped looking for the truth. You accepted lies. You lied to yourself. You told yourself that this was the only way and that you were doing what was best for everyone, while heroes and innocents died. And worst of all, you decided you didn't need the reporter anymore. That you could be Superman without Clark Kent. But you needed Clark as much as He-Man needs Prince Adam. Because without him you've forgotten your humanity."
It depends on the characters badassness
billy worm Truth.
They did that very point about Iron Man in the comics. The Mandarin used the fact that Tony Stark, an alcoholic, who had to drink with the Agardian Dwarves to get the special armor to fight... anyway, the Mandarin used this fact to make people not want a drunk flying a highly destructive weapon.
All Superman does it wear glasses.
Jonathan Petrosky That's definitely one aspect, but it's definitely a more credible disguise than people give it credit for.
His thoughts on why Superman's diguise works are interesting (and corroborated by the comic book). I don't necessarily agree, but it's worth watching.
Matteo Prayer Galletti Thanks for watching!
***** Thank you for putting so much effort into it.
Matteo Prayer Galletti I'm just glad to see that people like the show. Haha
I would. Even with or without a family, enemies would use bystanders against you. If they knew who you were and were just hanging out or having dinner, etc., what's to stop them from finding you can then hurting/killing people near you?
Not just protection for loved ones and friends, but you take away the manipulation that they can use against you.
Masonb30 That's very true. You take away any possible leverage they could have against you. But still, the writers always find some way that the hero's loved ones get kidnapped or put in danger even if the hero's identity is a secret. Haha
Always a loophole.
As someone with an invisible illness, thank you for mentioning that we have them an the struggles we go though daily x
Secret identity because A) I would be able to separate myself from my hero self, making me but a speck and nothing to notice to the villains when I'm not wearing my costume. B) If I'm ever deemed as a public threat, it will be easy for me to sneak away as long as I'm not in costume for a good while before anyone gets the chance to catch on. C) I wouldn't have a swarm of fans or be given special treatment and separated from my other friends because of it, because that's not what I want. D) I want to keep my family from being a target, dammit. There are many other reasons but I think you get the point
I would retain a secret identity so that I can pursue the role of anti hero. Being an anti hero means people will not expect me to save them, thus making my presence an unknown factor. With the secret identity, I can also perform dangerous acts without having an impact on my daily life. The only problem is when my identity is found out and everything spirals out of control.
Characters back then: “Id rather die than let ______ know my identity!”
Now: *casually unmasks self in front of world*
Spider-Man revealed his identity and unmasked himself to the world in the Civil War event.
What happened after the event? Kingpin hired an assassin to snipe Peter, Peter dodged the bullet and Aunt May got shot instead. The guy must’ve regretted it by then if he didn’t beforehand. At least Fisk got his ass beat by Peter Parker and not Spider-Man (it’s symbolic or something) in front of whole bunch of prisoners.
I'd have a secret identity and try to have a mask that covers my face completely and even disguise my voice so it'd be hard for people to find out it's me
I’d love to see comics spend some time exploring the different levels of secret and non-secret identities along with their main stories and how they effect everyone else including the public. The Avengers kind of hint at this in the MCU where Captain America is made to star in disciplinary videos shown to students, Thor get recognized on the street, Bruce Banner is still a famous scientist despite his whole Hulk thing, and Tony Stark is constantly being covered by the media as a proper celebrity. Meanwhile in things like Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse we get to see people’s perceptions of Spider-Man almost more as a public figure than a person. I think I’d be really interesting to see things like this explored in comics like the X-Men were the large ensemble cast allows you to explore a lot of the different levels and elements of this while also tying it into the message. For example you have heroes like Storm who have to balance being both a large international figure along with being a mutant. Meanwhile you have people like Angel and Beast who, despite their opinion on public image have no choice in how much they show of their mutant status. Then you also have characters like Rouge and Kitty who have the option to make their mutant status much less public but still have to deal with it. Throw all these characters in a room together and you could have some very interesting conversations.
Broadcasting your secret identity to the whole world is just stupid, as seen in Ironman 3. However, telling your closest family and friends can actually help protect them and create allies you can rely on, as seen in the Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes pre-New 52). As for the whole best friend/ family member turning into a villain/ kidnapped, just think about how many times that happens because there was a misunderstanding because the hero never told them so they were. Like if a superhero's mom was being held hostage, all she would have to do is call her superhero son and it's over (BTW that actually happened in the Blue Beetle)
I play games at arcades and when I win tickets I leave them there and walk away so that someone else can appreciate the tickets, does that count?
Mikie Lee Absolutely!
Awesome!
There has to be at least one TMZ-style website in each major universe dedicated to unmasking superheroes. This is something I want to see Shazam dig into with Freddy being a superhero fan before becoming first superhero-adjacent and then one himself.
I would say pretty much everyone on the Avengers have public identities established in their own way. Tony Stark outed himself as Iron Man so he wouldn't have to answer complicated questions that he couldn't avoid. Captain America was a product of the US Government, pre-Hydra of course, so when Cap took his ice-nap, after a few years, Steve Rogers' records could be declassified because nobody would have known if he would ever wake from his coma-sicle. This same government is the one who knows Bruce Banner is the Hulk, and therefore are not shy about publicly identifying him to the nation as they hunt him down. Thor is Thor and has no identity at all, and finally Black Widow and Hawkeye are SHIELD agents, so their hero identities are just mere code names used as fancy dressing.
Do you know how troublesome it could be to go to the store for food when everybody knows you are a hero/villain?
I think that the idea of a public identity can also play at a good super hero. If I saw a super hero behind a mask reveal who he truly was to just be a average person, then I could look at him as a symbol of what anyone can do.
Kloqdq That's very true as well.
Kloqdq Yeah but if he's some 6ft5, bulky muscular white guy with good looks, it would be harder for say a chinese disabled ugly, fat kid to relate to him or look up to him, whereas in a costume, he could be anyone, relatively.
From a writing POV; I think it's dependent on the character's personality (Tony Stark is totally the kind of guy who would want the glory of being a superhero), their connections (F4's family IS the team so hiding won't protect anyone any more than normal), their resources (got the money to keep people at bay? Go public) or their heroic goal (If you want to be a symbol - stay a secret. If you want to be paid - go public).
Personally I'd probably stay secret. My social life isn't super busy anyway, and if I can webswing in real life, I don't need video games anymore. The secrecy just sound like fun honestly. Of course, it'll become a drag later on but that's where the other mentioned factors come in; I'm not one for the spotlight and so the alter ego would help me to better express the different sides of myself with little consequence, I wouldn't want my family & friends endangered of course (and I guilt trip HAAAAARD), I've got a pretty low income, and being a symbol sounds like a better crime deterrent than being humanized. All that said, I give it a few months before I trip up big time and get outed globally in the most embarrassing way possible!
With that said; the biggest threat to a secret super powered hero is human government paranoia. They will find out and you can face a choice of becoming their tool (a scary prospect) or being forced to retire with very real consequences for non compliance.
A public identity would be less of an issue as the general public's adoration could act as a bit of protection.
Scary prospects of becoming a superhero irl to be honest...
You got me to subscribe because of the wink. A subtle way to ask without demanding or begging for it
I thought the fallout of Pete revealing who he was in Civil War basically said it all....
Once his identity came out, May and Mary Jane were targeted, and I think....not remembering, I don't have them in front of me, I think that May got critically injured because of it....
I always felt the idea of villains going after loved ones was a little stupid, I mean most heroes even if the don’t have strict codes of ethics usually go out if their way to prevent the deaths even of villains, however going after loved ones basically removes that, not only that but it’s the one thing that can put the hero on a warpath. Who wants an angry Captain America, Iron Man, Thor or Doctor Strange coming after him?
I mean being the loved one of a superhero is basically the ultimate bodyguard
This very argument the video discusses the main points in Civil War. There are indeed good points of each side but ultimately, in this time and age, separating yourself and your other identity does make a difference. :)
You have indeed added another subscriber to your channel! Good job and keep making more cool content! :D
iamantzmc Thank you very much!
I'm just waiting for this channel to skyrocket. I really love these videos. They need more views!
Alyx A.M. I agree! Haha. Actually, recently the channel has started to skyrocket a bit. Our analytics show us getting a TON of views and subscribers these past few weeks. So thank you for watching and commenting!
I like to think that if you have enough powers or don't have many important people or a real important personal life then you probably would be fine with a public identity a good example would be the green lantern now most of the human green lanterns have secret ids but Guy gardener and john stewart are known as public heroes and to this day nothing serious or life threating has happened to their social lives and loved ones (to my knowledge anyways correct me if im wrong) so in reality having a public identity might not be a serious bad thing in truth it could actually save you a lot of problems and you might actually get thanks yous and rewards outside your hero persona it might just depend whos writing the stories and what direction they have planned for the characters in general
Energized and friendly performance yet informative and accesible. One more subb for you, good sir.
Azmodeus87 Wow. Thanks for the kind words!
Awesome vid dude!
I’m not a superhero fan, but when I’m making one, their secret identities are extremely important. Whenever they’re exposed to the public, some politics would steal their powers, and give it to the military to create super soldiers, but what’s worse is some will abuse their powers and use it for evil. If that happens, it would be catastrophic to the entire planet, just like how we abuse nuclear weapons during the Cold War after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It’s kinda like the 1954 Gojira where not only that the movie features a monster that symbolizes nuclear weapons, but there’s an important subplot where Serizawa created the Oxygen Destroyer he didn’t want to show it to the public, especially when he’ll use it to kill Godzilla, but not without destroying all of his research and sacrificing himself to prevent the public from stealing his work and develop a weapon more deadly than a nuclear bomb.
I guess whether your identity is secret relies on the villains you face and whether your actions are positively accepted.
I wouldn't want people to know I was the one that messed up there insurance rates when I was thrown into there car totaling it, but at the same time showing your face can make you a more relatable symbol
and now because of that other video I have "Everything is awesome" stuck in my head.
so this is me on the fence
With the amount of paparazzi, kickbacks, and all that stuff would make it extremely hard for any superhero, without a secret identity, to live a normal life because people would know. Also, let's face it people would be coming by your house asking for your help with mundane chores, press on your front lawn, and every family secret would be displayed out there. Your family will disown you. Every mistake you ever made as a superhero will follow you everywhere. You can't get a normal job. On the other side, if you had a secret identity. Your family is likely hate you because you are constantly letting them down. Your normal job is dependent on you having work as a superhero meaning one or both of those suffer. You have to get your superhero gear secretly. So, there are pros and cons to having a secret identity and not having one. Personally, I would have a secret identity, but I would probably tell a few people so to help me keep up the façade of not being a superhero.
Great video as always!
4thwallcrysis Thank you so much!
I just subscribed. I love this channel.
People would literally bother you - ALL THE TIME - if they knew you were an actual superhero. You'd never have a rest from it. It would piss you off after a while, not having an identity to slip into.
cqtaylor Unless you're Tony Stark.
Servill Edward Cunanan Who can afford an estate with a gate, and the capacity to travel. Peter Parke lives in Queens with his elderly aunt. Queens, NY, dude.
cqtaylor And he's Tony Stark, a guy who probably would have no quarrel with turning his suit's weapons on you if you bother him long enough
cqtaylor Not just you, either. Even well-meaning fans would constantly harass your family. Look at how celebrities are pursued by paparazzi in the real world. Imagine a super-hero having a baby - the invasive media coverage etc. That kid could never go to school.
again, unless you're Tony Stark.
It depends on the situation. there are some advantages and disadvantages to a secret identity. Advantage you family can be safe. Advantage you can be a symbol and more than just a person. Advantage you can act so different that you can be overlooked as the hero. Disadvantage you have to lie to the people who don't know. Disadvantage there could be a manhunt and get innocent people harmed because they have a similar appearance to you. Disadvantage people may not trust you as much. Disadvantage it is hard on a day job and you can't cash a check as the hero. Disadvantage you could be put in a situation where the hero is needed and you can't change into the hero because you're in jail or a hostage.
sean edwards True stuff. Which way would you lean if you had to choose?
I'd go secret because the advantages way more to the disadvantage.
Good call! Mostly because I want to win this debate. Haha
Another advantage you can have somewhat of a normal life.
There was a spiderman moment were he got a check as reward for catching this guy an he couldn't cash it because any one could dress in a costume and say he was spiderman
He forgot one thing "do you want to know my secret identity"
Dude! Your hair is amazing!
I would definitely have a secret identity. I would prefer villians not target my friends or family
@Falcon Shadow Nova Seriously man. If you have a family or literally anything to lose why would you reveal your identity to people who want you dead. Like I understand Punisher not caring but with guys like Spider-Man, Iron Man, or Ant-Man it makes zero sense.
It again depends on the hero and the stories that revolve around them. Spider-Man CANNOT have a secret identity. Civil War proves this. But The Fantastic Four manage just fine because of how they deal with the associated risks.
Just happened upon your channel. Nice work. You have a good delivery on-screen.
Thank you very much!
The best coverup for your secret identity is make it a running joke in your friend group that you are the superhero to throw them off
Closed Captions: You said "part bat", they say "quite fat". lol
This is why Marvel isn't as realistic as some say. Spider-Man for some reason is the only marvel character that gets consequences for revealing his identity. Of course it matters to keep it secret. I would keep my identity a secret.
Haven't watched the video yet, but I know it's gonna be great. Love the channel.
John Bankson Thanks, John!
Nice fantomex avatar :)
"The UA-cam channels you're subscribed to... wink" LOL XD you just earned a new sub
I have a wife, kids, pets, family, a lot of friends, and the finest in-laws you could ask for. Hello, face-mask and gravelly voice, goodbye social networking account!
If I was a superhero, I'd do it like superman
kenonerboy His true self is the hero, and his mask is Clark Kent. That would be kind of interesting.
< superman fan
btw, would you mind getting on skype scott?
kenonerboy for what purpose?
a lil talk man. thats all
kenonerboy His true self is clark kent the persona is superman hence the speech in Kill Bill volume two.
Having a secret identity is like having a pickup truck, when everyone knows you've got one there go your weekends.
Loved that format, having two sides or a comic book question/debate explained is neat ! I want more :) Maybe as another series on this channel. Maybe with a Two-face punny title. I'm just saying...
Jessica Moreau Thanks! Honestly, I'd love to start a series wherein we debate with other nerdy UA-camrs! That'd be a ton of fun! And I'm all for a punny title!!! Haha
*****
but dont get too much into the drama. youtube is full of it. aahh what, I trust you, you wouldnt do that :)
BEST CHANNEL EVAA
kenonerboy You're the man!
This video is damn old, so you probably will never notice this message of mine, but I want to say it anyway:
I Always wonder why the hell *BATMAN* keeps his *public identity*.
I mean, Bataman is Batman 100% of the time, he just use *Bruce Wayne* as a public alias, mostly a way to make money for his gizmos and sometime to infiltrate... but what's the point?
Keeping a secret identity is a pointless risk, also he's a master of disguise, he don't need to be Bruce Wayne to be invited to a fancy party.
Being *BATMAN* all the time, without the awkward sit-com complications would be the best solution... after all, he can't care less about a normal life, he DON'T WANT IT!
So I often think about it: "why *Batman* just don't find an another smart trusted orphan and legally give him *Wayne's* everything? Then he can fake *Bruce*'s death and leave the business to someone else?"
Batman all the time, more time to rest, no need for fake alibis and similar brusshits and the money will still keep coming from a safe source.
Now, I apologize for my english and thank you for your time.
-BETMARK-
Three words: Zur En Arrh. Bruce Wayne is necessary to keep him sane. Also, it forces him to stop every now and again. And forget villains, ALFRED would kill him if he decided to be 24/7.
Batman still needs a break and has real life friends, family and loves. Imagine his villians gallery marching on Wayne Mannor, chasing Duck Grayson and Tm Drake 24/7 and how his time would be drained by lawyers chasing buck for his violent brand of justice.
Being both Bruce Wayne and Batman allows the man to attack crime from multiple angles. The Bat can do as the bat does and punch and scare crime out of existence. Bruce can use his money to support programs and policies and whatever to keep crime from happening to start with and to keep criminals from repeat offending by giving them opportunities to not need to be a criminal.
Batman needs Bruce Wayne's money & tech too
If he would try this Alfred would probably grab his Cape and drag him up into the Manor and forced him to have Fun.
I saved the life of 3 adults and a child that was in a car accident i happen to pass, I illegally rushed them to hospital in my car lol, hero 8-) .
Remnants Rants Nice!
Remnants Rants you are a good dude
IllegalRushCarMan
I dont own spandex sadly ananthusarat
Remnants Rants
Just wear a hat
You pegged it sir. And helped me with my lesson plan. Thanks!
brielle erdie Lesson plan? Wait a minute, are you some kind of teacher?
Can you do a video about the different villain organisations like Hammer etc..? By the way great video! I Think heroes have costumes to protect their loved ones and also, so they can go to the theaters without everyone rushing towards then for pictures and autographs ahahah
stammer001 Y'know it's funny. This is me being super egotistical, but I always hope someone recognizes me when I got out in public, but no one ever does, haha. I'm sure it will not happen ever, but it'd be fun.
what is the best option? DEPENDS on the seting, if the "superpowered individuals,metas,mutans. are seen as "the X-men" i would go "secrect" if people LIKE heroes THEN i would go public,
Ramiro Galletti If you were the first super powered person, how would you know how the public would react?
secret identity until i am sure is safe
Excellent argument and evidence as usual.
6:23 i am actually wearing that spidey shirt while watching this
What mic do you use? The sound is great!
To be fair, Peter Parker associating himself as Spider-Man’s photographer actually has an upside too which is providing him with a good cover-up type reason for why Peter keeps having to bail on people while secretly having to go save lives as Spider-Man (plus he usually needs the money that comes with)
I created my own superhero and am currently working on the first issue to the comic series but I'm having a hard time with his secret identity. Do you have any videos on tips to create a secret identity?
I agree, ever thought Peter Parker created Spider-Man persona for safety of beloved ones but everyone knows only he can take Spider-Man pictures and see him as Spider-Man's friends...
One thing a secret identity gives to superheroes is grounding them and making them able to relate to ordinary people. A hero with a secret identity is one of us with super powers, and will have the best interest of the community they live in and people they love in mind. One without is a god who is above petty mortal concerns and doesn't care what those beneath him thinks is important. Secret identities are the connection to their humanity.
when i watched arrow there were so many times where im yelling at my screen "JUST TELL THIS PERSON THAT YOU ARE ARROW IT WILL ACTUALLY PROBABLY MAKE THEM SAFER"
Owl Eyes Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking, tell your loved ones. At least, you won’t be lying to them all the time.
Secret identities can also help give a hero a reason to act on his or her own accord rather than take orders from those in power like a cop or a soldier
Interesting bit about invisible circumstances to overcome like the costume and health issues
Scott, do you read Kurt Busiek's Astro City? One of his stories is about a young superheroine, Astra Furst, dealing with some problems caused by having a publicly known identity. Astro City Special: Astra #1-2, or Astro City (collected): Shining Stars.
I subscribed when you quoted Mr. Feeny. XD
I always thought the superheroes only wear the costume and mask to hide the side of them that is human when they need to get into combat against the bad guys in violent and savage ways.
I think it depends on context. Some use there secret identity to protect the ones they love, like Peter Parker. Some use it to not be crowded around like a celebrity, kinda like Superman. Batman's whole thing is that he's making a myth in Gotham to provoke fear in his enemies, so he cannot show people who he really is. However, Captain America's a soldier, Iron Man does it for fun, and Thor is just... Thor (except the new one). You don't have to be a superhero to hide your identity. It's just what's sensible in the character's perspective whether or not they give there identity to others.
On Secret Identity
I don't have a Huge social life, but I have a lot if acquaintances so I would have a secret identity being myself. So my main life would be being a super hero. If I for some reason need to hide I would have people to keep me protected from suspicion. My "friends" wouldn't know me well enough to figure out I am Superhero Man or whatever, but enough to make them think they know me enough to have found out
We (a small art collective) have been working on an animated web comic in which the civilian persona is the wanted and hunted side to the character and the costume's mask is to hide from that while fighting back. A sort of counterintuitive secret identity.
I'm surprised you didn't mention Identity Crisis, which had a big point about the superhero secret identity, with this line by Green Arrow to The Flash: "And when it comes to family, we can't always be there to defend them. But the mask will."
Given the kind of messes characters with public identities get into I would say that it's best to keep it a secret.
Didn't Peter Parker's Aunt Mae DIE when he was outed as Spider Man? Sounds like a good reason to keep it secret. The whole symbol thing is an awesome idea, too.
Another reason to have a secret identity is so that the super hero identity can become a symbol, not have to be tied to one person, allowing some to pick up where they left off after they retire or die.
If I were a superhero, I'd have a secret identity so that I could protect my friends and family from my enemies. I'd only reveal myself to my closest allies, but only on the condition that they'd unmask themselves to me at the same time (assuming they even have a mask in the first place).
great job best misconception yet
Tay Boy Thanks! I appreciate it!
***** oh and I have something to add on the reasons to have a secret identity lets say someone like peter parker tells her aunt may he's spiderman when he goes to fight the green goblin aunt mays worried that he might not come back home to his aunt
knowing the danger of people knowing too much about you has always been around. heroes are fine getting to know. people aren't always fine to get to know.