The Obsession of American Superheroes with Secret Identities

When discussing the wondrous and fantastical world of superheroes, one recurring theme that emerges is the necessity of secret identities. This phenomenon is not unique to modern comic book tales, but rather can be traced back to the inception of the genre itself.

The Birth of Secret Identities

The riddle of secret identities can be attributed to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, creators of Superman. In the 1930s, when they were conceptualizing their iconic character, they gave him a dapper persona: mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent. This sudden transformation from a powerful alien to a shy civilian was the progenitor of the secret identity trope.

Pre-Superman, the concept of secret identities was already present. Characters like The Shadow and the Scarlet Pimpernel, with their affluent playboy backgrounds, paved the way for the superhero to lead a double life. However, with Superman's massive popularity, the idea spread like wildfire, and the secret identity became a standard fixture in comic books.

Evolution of the Secret Identity Trope

As the superhero genre evolved, the way secret identities were handled became a cliche. The hero's real identity was known to only a select few, often including their sidekick or love interest. Typical reasons for this secrecy often revolved around the belief that keeping the hero's identity a secret protected loved ones from potential harm.

An amusing example of this trope can be seen in Batman's early years when he had a dog with a secret identity. Despite this amusing detail, the core concept remained unchallenged—heroic characters needed to maintain their secret personas, even from those closest to them.

The Timeline of Secret Identities in Comics

Comics of the 1960s and 1970s saw a multitude of superheroes with secret identities, including the Fantastic Four. However, not all comics followed this rigid rule. The Teen Titans, in their original iteration, provided an interesting counterpoint. By 1969 or 1970, the characters were treated as real people, and they began referring to each other by their real names, signaling a shift away from the expected tropes.

The New Teen Titans reboot in the 1980s solidified this shift, with a prominent slogan "The Titans are Family." This familial relationship was impossible to maintain if the characters couldn't even share their true identities. This shift reflected a deeper level of trust and intimacy between the characters, marking a significant departure from the typical superhero storyline.

Clark Kent's Unique Situation

Even as an adult, the concept of secret identities continues to plague the character of Clark Kent. In my personal experience, growing up reading comics, there was a clear disconnect between Superman's and Clark Kent's lives. As a teenager, this seemed somewhat unrealistic, and as an adult, it evoked a sense of frustration.

Reflecting on these comics, I penned a piece of fan fiction about an adult Clark Kent returning to Smallville after the death of his mother. In this story, his high school girlfriend, Lana Lang, and his old nemesis, turn cheerleader-turned-billionaire Lex Luthor, both knew his secret identity. This scenario, while diverging from the norm, offered a compelling perspective on what might have been.

I believe that Superman's secret identity could have been better balanced with his personal life, allowing for a more realistic and nuanced character development. This is not to say that the secret identity trope doesn't serve a functional purpose; it highlights the hero's duality and the risks they face in leading a double life. However, it can also create unrealistic scenarios and character development issues.

So, while the obsession with secret identities in comic books serves an intrinsic purpose, it's clear that there is room for improvement in how these stories are told. The evolution of the concept from the early days of Siegel and Shuster to the more modern iterations in the Teen Titans and beyond underscores a growing recognition of the value of trust and authenticity in storytelling.

In conclusion, the history of secret identities in superheroes is a fascinating journey that continues to captivate and perplex audiences. As the genre progresses, it's essential to balance the need for realistic character development with the traditional tropes that have defined the genre for over eight decades.