Is the secret identity dead?

[JoeZhang]

I've been thinking of the secret identity (and associated plot developments) aspect of Superhero comics - is it basically dead in Marvel and DC comics as a focus for stories?

By that I don't mean literally dead but that it's relevance and prominence in titles is pretty much zero. For example, I was looking at some 1980s/1990s Superman titles and there are a number of stories where Clark Kent is investigating some case or Lois is doing the same. Moreover, by extension, the supporting cast had their own sub-plots that carried on over a number of issues - you had Perry White fighting against cancer, adopting Keith, Cat struggling with the death of her son etc etc.

I honestly can't remember the last Superman story that actually featured Clark Kent acting as a reporter (although there are quite a few smallville scenes) or people like Perry getting more than a few lines. Similarly, only a few years ago, Hal Jordan had a life as a military pilot, a girlfriend (cowgirl right?) and some sub-plots in those areas - when was the last time they really got mentioned? I honestly can't remember.

Similarly over at Marvel, Heros either don't have secret identities anymore or they simply don't figure very much into stories - well except for Spider-man and...em.. and?

 

[23skidoo]

There have been some twists in the concept in recent years, with Superman in a few comics (and animateds) saying out right that it's Superman that's the secret identity, not Clark Kent. And the whole "secret identity to protect your family" concept has been huge in comics as well. So I wouldn't call it dead. The overriding storylines just seem to be more focused on the heroics.

That said, although it's a conceit that we've come to accept over the generations (just like Star Trek relies upon viewers accepting the idea of a spaceship travelling faster than light and crossing the galaxy in a few hours), the fact Lois and everyone else on Earth were unable to recognize Superman under the Clark Kent glasses was getting to be harder to swallow with every passing year.

Alex