Secret identities IMO should only go so far as to villains and normal people.
Keeping your closest friends and family and loved ones appraised at the very least would be much appreciated.
Secret identities IMO should only go so far as to villains and normal people.
Keeping your closest friends and family and loved ones appraised at the very least would be much appreciated.
Kind of off topic but I definitely disagree with this. The three runs mentioned are far from being the only good runs in earlier decades.
That being said, I also strongly disagree with the notion that comics today are worse. I think memorable runs pop up just as much now as they did back in the day.
Scans daily has a summary of an interview Brian Michael Bendis gave on Word Balloon. Here's what was said about secret identities.
https://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/8564598.html#cutid1
* Talking with people made him realize just how much the very concept of the secret identity has fallen out of the pop culture discussion thanks to the MCU, and how the primary equivalent cultural association these days is anonymous folks online where that often manifests in far more troubling ways (not that he considers that at all an equivalent to superhero secret identities, but that it's a huge association now).
I would agree with this 100%! While there are other series that I read, Daredevil is by far and away my favorite character in comics. One of the principle reasons for this is the close connection that he has to his city and how he tries to make it a better place. In the best Daredevil runs Hell's Kitchen becomes a character in and of itself. In addition, I like that Matt's "civilian life" as a lawyer is also a way in which he helps people and makes him feel more connected to his city. Even his look out of costume is iconic enough that one could cosplay as him and it would be instantly recognized. You can't say that about to many other superheroes.
That's an interesting way of looking at it. Perhaps secret identities aren't so popular anymore, not just because of the MCU, but because of how in real life, concealing one's identity has become increasingly associated with those who subvert democratic processes and norms and foment hatred, discord, and outright violence from the comparative security and anonymity of a computer (or smartphone) screen.
Even Spider-Man, you could cosplay as Peter Parker or Miles Morales or even Miguel O'Hara, but he'd have to have something from the costume or the web-shooters (in Peter's and Miles's cases).
The spider is always on the hunt.
I don't think this makes or breaks a story, but secret identities is kind of what attracted me to comics in the first place. Kind of the idea that each hero's code identity is their alter-ego, somebody their civilian identity is not.
You hit the nail on the head for me. I love the duality of heroes and villains, these days, characters like Cap, no longer have civilian lives and supporting casts. That Rob's something from them. Sure celebs like the FF don't need this duality, but it's not a one size fits all scenario. I don't remember the last time Cap had a secret ID on a run that I followed... maybe Heroes Return?
I'm in the camp of the suspension of disbelief being fine. We don't need everything being rigid with realism or we start chipping at the fun.
Yes!!! I was always amused by this! Heck Cavil even stood in Times Square in a Superman shirt and NO ONE recognized him hah.
Last edited by Shockdingo; 11-01-2019 at 04:59 AM.
Voice Actor and Symbiote Fanatic -- Hoping for Anti-Venom's return daily.
Depends on the hero. In general not really though. Someone like superman I always hated he had one but went out of his way to unmask others. But the thing I hated most is people acted like he was all truth but everyday of his life and all of his interactions were a lie. How can the biggest liar be the keeper of truth.
Don't let anyone else hold the candle that lights the way to your future because only you can sustain the flame.
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#conceptualthinking ^_^
#ByeMarvEN
Into the breach.
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Actually thinking about this further in the current marvel u where mutants are rampant it doesn't make sense. I mean it does again now since they have their own island though it could be used as propaganda against them depending on what the hidden superpowered person does. Anyone who goes out there and thinks I have to hide my identity because if people knew I had powers they would go after my family as leverage or what not should have a basic understanding of what it must feel like to not have the option of such duality.
Don't let anyone else hold the candle that lights the way to your future because only you can sustain the flame.
Number of People on my ignore list: 0
#conceptualthinking ^_^
#ByeMarvEN
Into the breach.
https://www.instagram.com/jartist27/
I've felt similar about X-Men. They NEED to mix around with the rest of the universe... well Planet. I hate mutants in space concept. I remember back when the X-Men had human roommates, some had human jobs, some had human friends, human families. half their adventures were involved with protecting humanity from evil mutants... They had ties and connections to the world around them. The Xavier's dream of peaceful existence with a world that hated and feared them.... Now it's all mutants all the time mutants live in their own commune, they only deal with mutant problems, They're friends are all mutants any human friends and family have been killed off or dropped. Now when they aren't fight themselves, their main enemies are always humans AGAINST mutants and even their worst enemies are now official members.... And that was all BEFORE house of X.... Now they've double downed on that. Oh... and any human friends who may be left... they're mutants now too..
It's like someone trying to write a book about Black people who used to be heroes... deciding to only be around other black people and only deal with black problems and only see black people in their own little island... and not wanting anything to do with the rest of the world... It's crazy. This segregation of the mutants has lost a huge reason they were popular in the first place. The metaphor is broken in a way that would never be acceptable in any other setting.... you need those connections to humanity to make it work.
Really? Secret ID's have been a major part of a LOT of stories.... even if you don't like the concept it's hard to argue the importance that peter Parker's jobs, friends, family have had to his stories.
As a fan of Spider-Man, a guy who's secret identity is very important to his character, I really do not get how people are saying all heroes need a secret identity as if that's the only way to tell a story and have tension and drama, and quite frankly it isn't.
Like why does Captain America need a secret identity? He's a US soldier and an in-universe propaganda figure it doesn't really make sense, I mean I have to imagine there was a ton of ads during the war showcasing how he used to be a skinny kid until he joined the war effort and became the peak human being.
Secret identities imsleep
Yikes, my grammar has gone to ****. Rip