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Secret identity
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{{Short description|Personal identity less known to a public than another identity}} A '''secret identity''' is a person's [[code name|cryptonym]], [[disguise|incognito]], [[Cover (intelligence gathering)|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 (trope)|masquerade]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Markowitz |first1=Judith A. |title=Robots That Kill: Deadly Machines and Their Precursors in Myth, Folklore, Literature, Popular Culture and Reality |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland |page=105}}</ref> 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== {{unreferenced section|date=May 2024}} *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 (comics)|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 film)|Iron Man]]'' (2008), which ends with the [[Iron Man|lead character]] declaring to the world βI am Iron Manβ. *''[[Spider-Man: No Way Home]]'' (2021), which ends with [[Peter Parker (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Peter Parker]]'s civilian persona being permanently erased from the memory of the entire world as a result of a spell cast by [[Stephen Strange (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Doctor Strange]]. ==See also==<!-- Please respect alphabetical order --> *[[Alter ego]] *[[Incarnation]] *[[Operational cover]] == References == {{reflist}} ==External links == *[http://io9.com/5199289/whos-wearing-the-mask-on-the-nature-of-secret-identities Who's wearing the mask] *[http://io9.com/the-many-many-people-who-know-batmans-secret-identi-1591555803 The Many, Many People Who Know Batman's "Secret" Identity] *[https://www.escapistmagazine.com/no-more-secret-identities-the-trouble-with-alter-egos/ No More Secret Identities: The Trouble With Alter Egos] {{Superhero fiction}} [[Category:Fictional elements introduced in 1903]] [[Category:Adventure fiction]]<!--as with Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro--> [[Category:Code names]]<!--press has described code names as secret identities--> [[Category:Espionage]] [[Category:Pseudonyms]] [[Category:Secrecy]] [[Category:Superhero fiction themes]]
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