Previous Post ... In that, in all of the examples you cited, the "secret identity" isn't anywhere near as secret as guys like Quesada think it should be, since - as I already pointed out, in my original post - all of those "secret identities" are surrounded by entire support crews of people who know their secrets (since you're alluding to the movie versions of Spider-Man and Batman). Thus, I would contend that the "secret identity" that's kept hidden indefinitely, from everyone, including the "one true love" of the protagonist(s), is already well on its way out, in most places except for American superhero comics. Hell, one of the things my mom's students like about Ultimate Spider-Man (and I can't believe I'm saying good things about Bendis) is the fact that literally every single one of Peter's close school friends, AND Aunt May, now know his "secret identity."

There have been few, if any, truly secret identities in heroic fiction. Even in the Silver Age:

Batman had Alfred, Robin, Superman.

Superman had Batman, Supergirl, even Jor-El showed up in time travel stories and knew about his double life.

Spider-Man would have the Osborns (when they weren't repressing the memory of it).

Want to look even further back? Green Hornet and Kato. The Spirit and, er, whomever his sidekick was. The Lone Ranger and Tonto.

There's never been a secret identity that's been "hidden indefinitely." Really, your contention (surprise, surprise!) is that the hero's romantic interest not knowing his secret identity is out of favor as a plot device, which is an entirely different argument. And, really, not a thesis you can justify because you've talked to some students' in your mother's classroom. It certainly can't be proved with the argument that the internet has made people less willing to believe in the idea of a secret life.



> ... In that, in all of the examples you cited, the "secret identity" isn't anywhere near as secret as guys like Quesada think it should be, since - as I already pointed out, in my original post - all of those "secret identities" are surrounded by entire support crews of people who know their secrets (since you're alluding to the movie versions of Spider-Man and Batman). Thus, I would contend that the "secret identity" that's kept hidden indefinitely, from everyone, including the "one true love" of the protagonist(s), is already well on its way out, in most places except for American superhero comics. Hell, one of the things my mom's students like about Ultimate Spider-Man (and I can't believe I'm saying good things about Bendis) is the fact that literally every single one of Peter's close school friends, AND Aunt May, now know his "secret identity."