Another example is Superman, who does not wear a mask when he is in costume, but wears eyeglasses and appears mild-mannered when he assumes his secret identity of Clark Kent. For example, the superhero Batman's secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a billionaire who is known to the public for his affluent playboy lifestyle. To help further preserve the anonymity of secret identities, characters may use eyeglasses, particular clothing, or display a different set of personal characteristics when assuming the secret identity persona. This is in contrast to the superhero identity, which often utilizes a pseudonym, theatrics and sometimes a mask to complete a costume to conceal the superhero's secret identity. The secret identity commonly consists of the superhero's given birth name and may involve an occupation they had before becoming a superhero. 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. 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. The public identity being known to the general public as the 'superhero persona' and the other being the secret identity. In American comic books, a character typically has dual identities, one public and secret. Brought into popular culture by the Scarlet Pimpernel in 1903, the concept is particularly prevalent in the American comic book genre, and is a more genre-specific version of the broader trope of the masquerade. Wikipedia (1.00 / 6 votes) Rate this definition:Ī secret identity is a person's alter ego which is not known to the general populace, most often used in fiction.

My secret identity is a secret