Secret identity

A secret identity is a person's cryptonym, incognito, cover and/or alter ego which is not known to the general populace, most often used in fiction. Brought into popular culture by the Scarlet Pimpernel in 1903, the concept was widespread in pulp heroes and is particularly prevalent in the American comic book genre, and is a trope of the masquerade.^[1]

In American comic books, a character typically has dual identities, one overt and one covert. The false or public identity being known to the general public as the "superhero persona" and the other being the secret identity. The private or secret identity is typically the superhero's legal name, true identity, and/or "civilian persona" when they are not actively assuming the superhero persona. It is kept hidden from their enemies and the general public to protect themselves from legal ramifications, pressure, or public scrutiny, as well as to protect their friends and loved ones from harm secondary to their actions as superheroes.

Example

• Bruce Wayne's "playboy billionaire" is portrayed in all media as his "mask", or false identity, while his Batman persona is his "face", or true identity.
• Clark maintains three separate identities: one as the reporter Clark Kent and the other as the superhero Superman. These identities are kept separate from his Smallville farmer identity, in order to protect his family's privacy.
• Diana Prince, a diplomat, is the civilian identity of Wonder Woman, to blend in with society outside her homeland.
• Danny Fenton maintains two separate identities: one as the teenage boy Danny Fenton and the superhero Danny Phantom; these identities are similar to Spider-Man.
• Kit Taylor is the secret identity of the superhero Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. Both identities are kept separate in Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight.

Occasionally, this trope is inverted. Examples of this are:

• The Marvel Cinematic Universe film Iron Man (2008), which ends with the lead character declaring to the world “I am Iron Man”.
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), which ends with Peter Parker's civilian persona being permanently erased from the memory of the entire world as a result of a spell cast by Doctor Strange.

See also

• Alter ego
• Incarnation
• Operational cover