Secret identity - Wikipedia





	
	

	
	

	Secret identity

	
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A secret identity is a person's 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 is particularly prevalent in the American comic book genre, and is a trope of the masquerade.[citation needed]

In American comic books, a character typically has dual identities, one public and secret. The 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.


See also[edit]

	Alter ego
	Incarnation
	Non-official cover
	Official cover


References[edit]




External links[edit]

	Who's wearing the mask
	The Many, Many People Who Know Batman's "Secret" Identity
	No More Secret Identities: The Trouble With Alter Egos


		v
	t
	e


Superhero fiction

	Media	
	Comics
	Film
	Television
	American


	Animation
	Kamishibai




	Plot elements	
	Superhero
	Supervillain
	Superpower
	Secret identity
	Alter ego
	Comic book death




	Continuity	
	Continuity
	Canon
	Retroactive continuity
	Reboot
	Crossover




	
	 Superhero fiction














Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Secret_identity&oldid=995017002"


		Categories: 	Adventure fiction
	Code names
	English phrases
	Espionage
	Pseudonyms
	Secrecy
	Literary concepts
	Superhero fiction themes
	Masks in fiction


Hidden categories: 	Articles that may contain original research from September 2017
	All articles that may contain original research
	Articles needing additional references from September 2017
	All articles needing additional references
	Articles with multiple maintenance issues
	All articles with unsourced statements
	Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020




	




	





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		 This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 19:24 (UTC).
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