Secret Identities in today's comic book universe

@Timandm: I loved Identity Crisis, because of the brilliant way Brad Meltzer handled it. To me, its right up there with Watchmen and The Long Halloween in terms of quality. But, finding out a super hero's secret identity wouldn't be as simple as you'd think. The simple fact is, databases and search engines, whether on your own PC, or in use by the FBI, CIA, etc., don't work that way. They all work by keywords, not general information, like someone's possible height/weight, or even hair color. That's why almost any Google search, w/o the filters on, will turn up some kind of pornography. And, contrary to the way its presented on TV, there's no giant, networked database b/w the CIA, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies. Facial recognition software DOES exist, but its not NEARLY as accurate as you'd think. Any detective will tell you that even with access to a national database (which I believe most police departments have access to), the network can take days to weeks to turn up a match. Now, the reason you can't run cross reference such varied types of info., is b/c ALL computers we use, still run on binary, good ole' 1 and 0. Quantum computers, which operate on multiple integers at once, DO EXIST, but they're still in development, and my mind boggles at the idea of programming for them. Now, DNA results CAN actually be done in a matter of hours, but the reason this doesn't happen IRL is b/c there's such a HUGE backlog of testing to be done. They could confirm Bin Laden's DNA so quickly because, well, the friggin' PRESIDENT told them to..... Which should give you a pretty good idea of how long these tests take. The CSI Effect, indeed.....

Another issue closely related to this issue, is when a superhero/heroine conceals a salient aspect of what he or she is- either his/her race([pace the Blue Marvel or the Black Panther), or religious affiliations- (pace the Thing- everbody knows that Ben Grimm is the Thing, but conversely how many know that Ben Grimm is also Jewish?) or being Roman Catholic( pace Photon/Pulsar, the Human Torch/Invisible Woman) or their past life(pace Wolverine and Airstrike's background as an agent of the Canadian Secret Service and a KGB officer respectively) or refuse to explain the provenance of their powers(pace Seraph, whom I think is a mutant but refuses to confirm OR deny this fact).

The reasons for this are many and varied, does your religion or racial heritage really matter when you're a superhero? Surely you're entitled to be seen as a hero and not just "The Jew/Catholic/Muslim" hero/heroine. And in Wolverine or Airstrike's past, shady though they might be, surely it no longer matters if they are now"on the side of the angels"?

Terry

to me, very few, like batman, could be able to keep their ID's secret,as batsy is very good at the detective game, he can easily escape that kind of thing.

but I guess he has flaws, like the pre-N52 riddler showed and tim drake too

to me, very few, like batman, could be able to keep their ID's secret,as batsy is very good at the detective game, he can easily escape that kind of thing.

but I guess he has flaws, like the pre-N52 riddler showed and tim drake too

I think secret identities are a joke. I mean seriously Clark, who can't decipher that your Superman just because you put on a pair of glasses. I think it's absurd the people of metropolis aren't questioning the resemblance.

@Timandm: I find all of those on TvTropes and some other i think on reditt, still it shows that most of people would be clueless about who Batman could be.

@clemj said:

to me, very few, like batman, could be able to keep their ID's secret,as batsy is very good at the detective game, he can easily escape that kind of thing.

but I guess he has flaws, like the pre-N52 riddler showed and tim drake too

Batman's identity would be pretty easy to figure out for a lot of super villains. Speedsters and invisible people could manage it and anyone with access to nanotechnology or other kinds of sophisticated robotics.

@clemj said:

to me, very few, like batman, could be able to keep their ID's secret,as batsy is very good at the detective game, he can easily escape that kind of thing.

but I guess he has flaws, like the pre-N52 riddler showed and tim drake too

Batman's identity would be pretty easy to figure out for a lot of super villains. Speedsters and invisible people could manage it and anyone with access to nanotechnology or other kinds of sophisticated robotics.

@Timandm: I loved Identity Crisis, because of the brilliant way Brad Meltzer handled it. To me, its right up there with Watchmen and The Long Halloween in terms of quality. But, finding out a super hero's secret identity wouldn't be as simple as you'd think. The simple fact is, databases and search engines, whether on your own PC, or in use by the FBI, CIA, etc., don't work that way. They all work by keywords, not general information, like someone's possible height/weight, or even hair color. That's why almost any Google search, w/o the filters on, will turn up some kind of pornography. And, contrary to the way its presented on TV, there's no giant, networked database b/w the CIA, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies. Facial recognition software DOES exist, but its not NEARLY as accurate as you'd think. Any detective will tell you that even with access to a national database (which I believe most police departments have access to), the network can take days to weeks to turn up a match. Now, the reason you can't run cross reference such varied types of info., is b/c ALL computers we use, still run on binary, good ole' 1 and 0. Quantum computers, which operate on multiple integers at once, DO EXIST, but they're still in development, and my mind boggles at the idea of programming for them. Now, DNA results CAN actually be done in a matter of hours, but the reason this doesn't happen IRL is b/c there's such a HUGE backlog of testing to be done. They could confirm Bin Laden's DNA so quickly because, well, the friggin' PRESIDENT told them to..... Which should give you a pretty good idea of how long these tests take. The CSI Effect, indeed.....

Good points. The one thing that caught my eye was the DNA point. Sure, many villains could grab a sample of Peter's blood or some other DNA sample, but what would it matter? He's just some guy of millions in one of the largest cities in the world. They could run a sample of his DNA, but would get what? DNA, and that's it. It's not like every New Yorker's DNA is on file somewhere.
 
Reminds me of the episode of JL when Lex Luthor switched bodies with the Flash. He takes his own mask off to discover his identity, and had no idea who he was looking it.

@Timandm: IIRC, I think Flash discovered Batman's identity through the use of his super speed - don't quote me on that though :P

Good points. The one thing that caught my eye was the DNA point. Sure, many villains could grab a sample of Peter's blood or some other DNA sample, but what would it matter? He's just some guy of millions in one of the largest cities in the world. They could run a sample of his DNA, but would get what? DNA, and that's it. It's not like every New Yorker's DNA is on file somewhere.  Reminds me of the episode of JL when Lex Luthor switched bodies with the Flash. He takes his own mask off to discover his identity, and had no idea who he was looking it.

• Sex (male)
• Causian
• Hair color
• Eye color
• Blood type
• etc....

That information could help narrow your search.  Once you have your candidates, draw blood (with or without consent) and verify...   I admit, this would be easier for villains...

@Timandm: IIRC, I think Flash discovered Batman's identity through the use of his super speed - don't quote me on that though :P

@xerox_kitty said:

It's funny how Secret Identities used to really bug me when I was getting into super hero comics. After all, taking your glasses off doesn't make someone completely unidentifiable ;)

Strangely, this doesn't bother me so much any more (even though I now wear glasses... Or do I?? ;)

With glasses: O_O Without glasses: o_o

@Timandm said:

@guttridgeb said:

@Timandm: IIRC, I think Flash discovered Batman's identity through the use of his super speed - don't quote me on that though :P

it wouldn't surprise me. In fact, it makes perfect sense.

I just checked and it was Superman not Flash so it might have been through the use of x-ray vision. But yeah, it makes sense :)

It's just a feature of the superhero universe like people being able to withstand gunfire. The Secret identity is actually extremely safe to the point where villians will capture the hero and NOT immediately remove his mask (or stab him in the throat). They let him lay there unconscious for a hour or two. Dude wakes up TOTALLY FINE, mask on, wallet still in pocket, everything. For instance "Death of the Family". Joker catches THE ENTIRE bat family and tricks them into THINKING he messed them up, but he didn't. This is the same guy who would punt a toddler off a bridge on his morning stroll, but once he catches his arch enemies he's so creative and polite that he only wants to prank them. This kind of treatment from villians can't be bad writing, it has to be some kind of natural law in these universes that the secret identity cannot be cracked, unless the hero himself decides to tell.

as if knowing their identity was some kind of kryptonite. knowing their identity is only helpful against some heroes, that's why you dont see every villain focused on it, it's only important for some

as if knowing their identity was some kind of kryptonite. knowing their identity is only helpful against some heroes, that's why you dont see every villain focused on it, it's only important for some

@Timandm: loved how you jsut jumped to conclusions. i never said heroes dont need it, I said it's not important for some. you know differences between the total of something and a part of something dont you? also, I said "as if it's some kind of kryptonite", because I was questioning the idea that comics need to actually have their heroes cover their identities really well and it has to be realistic. as I said, some have no useful need for it, they just like not being known for what they do, so it really doesnt matter if their way of hiding it is realistic or not.

so yeah, I just freaking love these "hurr durr identity secret" threads, specially because then someone comes here and attacks someone who doesn't see the point of complaining about it. so yeah, feel free to keep attacking and misreading everything

PS: as if those heroes's personal lives getting owned by their identities being out and know to the public wasn't just some writer gimmick

@Timandm: loved how you jsut jumped to conclusions. i never said heroes dont need it, I said it's not important for some. you know differences between the total of something and a part of something dont you? also, I said "as if it's some kind of kryptonite", because I was questioning the idea that comics need to actually have their heroes cover their identities really well and it has to be realistic. as I said, some have no useful need for it, they just like not being known for what they do, so it really doesnt matter if their way of hiding it is realistic or not.

so yeah, I just freaking love these "hurr durr identity secret" threads, specially because then someone comes here and attacks someone who doesn't see the point of complaining about it. so yeah, feel free to keep attacking and misreading everything

PS: as if those heroes's personal lives getting owned by their identities being out and know to the public wasn't just some writer gimmick

Funny enough, the one with the "worst" cover - Superman - has had an explanation in the past (just not something universally accepted): he's subconsciously hypnotizing people to disassociate Clark & Kal in their minds. If this were the case, I'd imagine it would extend to viewing photos of them side by side because a machine wouldn't be fooled by hypnosis......however, if the viewer was never near Superman (and "exposed" to the hypnosis), then theoretically they could put 2 & 2 together and realize Clark Kent is Superman.

@Timandm: great, you spite, then you pretend to not care. coooool. next time, leave the comment alone instead of misreading and unleashing hell on it

@Timandm: great, you spite, then you pretend to not care. coooool. next time, leave the comment alone instead of misreading and unleashing hell on it

Funny enough, the one with the "worst" cover - Superman - has had an explanation in the past (just not something universally accepted): he's subconsciously hypnotizing people to disassociate Clark & Kal in their minds. If this were the case, I'd imagine it would extend to viewing photos of them side by side because a machine wouldn't be fooled by hypnosis......however, if the viewer was never near Superman (and "exposed" to the hypnosis), then theoretically they could put 2 & 2 together and realize Clark Kent is Superman.