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Do Superheroes Still Need To Keep Their Identities Secret?
Yes--they're an essential part of the genre 100%  100%  [ 11 ]
No---they're outdated and irrelevant 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
Total votes : 11
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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:28 pm 
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Hen Teaser

Joined: 05 Apr 2011
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It used to be that only a handful of people knew Batman's secret identity.When anybody learned he was really Bruce Wayne,it was a real "Holy Crap!" moment.Now,it seems half of Gotham City is in on the secret,including Batman's enemies.
This goes for the rest of the Caped Crusader's cowled colleagues.More and more,a mask is just a formality.Superheroes wear them even when their identity is public knowledge,as Wally West did during his run as the Flash.Sometimes,the comics try to have it both ways;Daredevil is known to be Matt Murdock,yet he's not bothered because he denies being Daredevil.Implausible,even for comic books.
This cavalier attitude to secret IDs has spread to the movies.Spider-Man whips off his mask in public every chance he gets.Tony Stark doesn't even bother denying he's Iron Man.
So today's question is:Are secret identities really necessary?

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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:31 pm 
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Joined: 22 Aug 2004
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Depends on the character.


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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 2:46 pm 
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Friendly, Furry, Ellipsoidal

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Wait... Batman is Bruce Wayne?

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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:59 pm 
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Mr. IMWANKO

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
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THE Bruce Wayne? That rich, orphan playboy?

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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:02 pm 
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Pure Evil Gold!!

Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Beachy wrote:
THE Bruce Wayne? That rich, orphan playboy?


No. I know this because in the old TV show, Commissioner Gordon suspected this might be the case, but wrote it off. And Chief O' Hara agreed with him.

:ohyes:

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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:06 pm 
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Pow-Lo

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No secret identities means no masks, which is part of the appeal of the genre. If writers and companies are sloppy with the idea, I guess that's just par for the course.

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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:09 pm 
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Case by case basis.

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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:20 pm 
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Helpful Librarian

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Alfred should know all superheroes' true identities, but each hero should think that Alfred knows only his or her own true identity.

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 Post subject: Secret (?) IDs
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:45 pm 
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