Secret Identities
Oct. 13th, 2005 02:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethhttp://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/InfiniteCrisis/CrisisCounseling01.htm
One of the big things was that over the years we have lost the whole purpose of secret identities. Starting with the big three, Bruce Wayne became a minor player in the Bat Books, Superman’s marriage to Lois rendered Clark Kent moot and Diana Prince was retconned out of existence. Throughout the DCU, in my opinion, you would be hard pressed to find a character whose personal life varied greatly from his or hers costumed identity. I think that’s a shame because the whole concept of the secret identity is something that all super heroes are built in.
... they really don't read for the same reasons I read...
'Secret Identities' are crazy making symptoms of mental illness. Super heroes are people with more than ordinary power who stand up and make a difference. WW doesn't need a secret identity - she is an ambassador trying to represent the lifestyle of her people. Superman finally managed to stop lying to the person he loves, and she can handle it, and still there is drama in his life, so its all good. Bats is unbalanced - his problem isn't lack of secret identity, its being *all* secrets. He needs a life. Three very different situations.
Its like, Superboy used to go to school as Superboy. Clark decided he should impose his multiple personality disorder on the poor sod and set him up as 'Connor' (because the DCU only has a few names to go round, and maybe he liked GA2). That wasn't a good thing. That was screwed up and creepy, and pretty much designed to make Kon screwed up and creepy. But hey, superheroes have secret identities, so it happens. I can see why Superman would do it. I can see why the writers would do it. I just dont see it being the best thing for the character as a character or as a teenager, trying to figure out who he is.
As ever, I say diversity is key. We need the whole spectrum - creepy spilt personality Rose&Thorn, oddly empty RL Batman, how does he fool anybody anyway Superman, not really fooling anyone but we like him so we pretend Ollie, through Booster Gold and Guy Gardner, single identity and proud of it, up to Wonder Woman, single identity and trying to make it mean something.
Cops don't have secret identities unless they go undercover, which isn't as common as the movies make out. Most people do good by putting on a uniform and going to work. There should be room for that attitude in the superhero world too.
I'm like one paragraph in to that article and already I write the essay in reply. I go read the rest with worry.
One of the big things was that over the years we have lost the whole purpose of secret identities. Starting with the big three, Bruce Wayne became a minor player in the Bat Books, Superman’s marriage to Lois rendered Clark Kent moot and Diana Prince was retconned out of existence. Throughout the DCU, in my opinion, you would be hard pressed to find a character whose personal life varied greatly from his or hers costumed identity. I think that’s a shame because the whole concept of the secret identity is something that all super heroes are built in.
... they really don't read for the same reasons I read...
'Secret Identities' are crazy making symptoms of mental illness. Super heroes are people with more than ordinary power who stand up and make a difference. WW doesn't need a secret identity - she is an ambassador trying to represent the lifestyle of her people. Superman finally managed to stop lying to the person he loves, and she can handle it, and still there is drama in his life, so its all good. Bats is unbalanced - his problem isn't lack of secret identity, its being *all* secrets. He needs a life. Three very different situations.
Its like, Superboy used to go to school as Superboy. Clark decided he should impose his multiple personality disorder on the poor sod and set him up as 'Connor' (because the DCU only has a few names to go round, and maybe he liked GA2). That wasn't a good thing. That was screwed up and creepy, and pretty much designed to make Kon screwed up and creepy. But hey, superheroes have secret identities, so it happens. I can see why Superman would do it. I can see why the writers would do it. I just dont see it being the best thing for the character as a character or as a teenager, trying to figure out who he is.
As ever, I say diversity is key. We need the whole spectrum - creepy spilt personality Rose&Thorn, oddly empty RL Batman, how does he fool anybody anyway Superman, not really fooling anyone but we like him so we pretend Ollie, through Booster Gold and Guy Gardner, single identity and proud of it, up to Wonder Woman, single identity and trying to make it mean something.
Cops don't have secret identities unless they go undercover, which isn't as common as the movies make out. Most people do good by putting on a uniform and going to work. There should be room for that attitude in the superhero world too.
I'm like one paragraph in to that article and already I write the essay in reply. I go read the rest with worry.