8 Pivotal Storylines Where Superheroes Alter Egos Were Exposed
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Alter egos are no longer in fashion in comic books. Alter egos were a creative invention in the 20th century and were useful as a story device in a pre-digital world. Now, in a world where there are cameras everywhere and in everyone’s hands, how can anyone maintain a secret identity? Here are eight stories where superheroes had their alter egos and undercover identities blown and revealed to the world.
1. Daredevil: Born Again
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The latest season of Daredevil: Born Again is garnering mixed reviews at best. However, the source material, a pivotal 1986 Daredevil storyline by the same name, is a cult classic in comic book fan circles. The idea of alter egos is slowly losing popularity now.
The Modern Age of Comic Books began when the original Born Again storyline began. Comic books were darker, grittier, and a reflection of real-world issues. Karen Page, Matt Murdock’s lover, has a drug problem and is doing seedy things to feed it. The Kingpin takes advantage of her and finances her habit as long as she tells him Daredevil’s true identity: she betrays Matt Murdock for her next drug fix.
Buy the 231-page paperback at Amazon now for only $11.98.
2. Forever Evil (Dick Grayson)
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Alter egos were not an issue in this storyline; only one hero’s alter ego was exposed. The Justice League, JLA, and Justice League Dark mysteriously disappear from Earth. In their place, the villainous Crime Syndicate from Earth-3 appears on Earth and starts to cause chaos. Lex Luthor forms an alliance of villains to try to stop the Crime Syndicate.
Nightwing was shown tobe Dick Grayson on national TV by the Crime Syndicate. However, Grayson was later killed by a bomb. It was a hoax; now that the world thinks Grayson is dead, he becomes a secret agent for the spy agency Spyral. Grayson, a young Nick Fury-style comic, ran for over 2 years.
Get Grayson: The Superspy Omnibus, a 792-page omnibus, for $56.42 at Amazon.
3. Superman
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In 2015, during the New 52 era of DC Comics, in a story called “Before Truth,” Superman had his alter ego and secret identity cover blown by Lois Lane. Superman was the victim of blackmail by a criminal, and Lois tells the world his secret so he would be free. The story was retconned later because many fans didn’t like the story.
When it comes to alter egos, the world seems to find that Clark Kent and Superman are often the same. Kent’s secret has been exposed almost a dozen times since the 1940s. In recent years, comic books have slowly been moving away from alter egos. In 2019, in Superman #18, Superman reveals that he is Clark Kent to the world. The character is now a world citizen, not just a protector of America.
Buy the 21-page landmark issue for $3.99 on Kindle now.
4. Civil War (Spider-Man)
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Most people think of the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War when they hear the term “civil war.” However, that film gets its source material inspiration from the 2006 comic book series of the same name. The U.S. government wants to register the alter egos and real names of every superhero.
Iron Man is on the side of the government, Captain America is against it, and the entire superhero community has to take a side. Spider-Man sides with Iron Man and reveals his identity on live TV in issue #2.
Buy the 208-page hardcover of this pivotal event in comics history for $43.75 at Amazon now.
5. Superman Exposes Batman’s Alter Ego (Injustice)
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Most gamers are familiar with the massively popular Injustice: Gods Among Us video game series from April 2013. However, there was a prequel comic book series that came out three months prior. The series is about a world where Superman is driven insane with grief after the Joker kills someone close to him; Superman later becomes a global totalitarian ruler.
Alter egos mean nothing in a world where Superman is a global fascist unafraid to impose his will to keep the world in order. Batman opposes him. In issue #28, Superman exposes Batman’s true identity on social media.
The 1,104-page Injustice Gods Among Us Omnibus 1 hardcover collects the first three volumes of this series and every tie-in comic of the era. Get it now for $53.10 at Amazon.
6. Iron Man Reveals His Identity While Saving Dog
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While Mike Grell is a famous comic creator, his Iron Man run is still controversial to many. For one thing, Grell was notorious for having Stark in his armor with his face exposed; this was a creative oddity in a pre-MCU world when comic book alter egos were commonplace. Grell’s run was in 2002, and alter egos were seemingly going out of fashion. In issue #55, Tony Stark was hurt in a battle with the Mandarin; he was gone for 2 weeks, hiding from the public while healing.
He holds a press conference to announce his return. Nearby, a dog is almost run over by a car. Stark transforms into Iron Man in front of the press to save the dog. No one is saying Iron Man should have let the dog perish; still, what was the narrative sense in revealing his identity afterward? It was a very anticlimactic way for Stark to reveal his identity, and the story divides fans even today.
Iron Man by Mike Grell: The Complete Collection is a 512-page paperback. Get it for $33.63 at Amazon now.
7. Green Lantern John Stewart
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Currently, most Green Lanterns don’t have alter egos, but that was not always the case. Until 2011, John Stewart kept his secret identity a secret. Then, he begins dating reporter Tawny Young. Stewart reveals his secret to her, and she later betrays him; Stewart’s secret makes news headlines.
Buy the 44-page comic DC Retroactive: Green Lantern – the 80s #1 for $3.28 at Amazon.
8. Ray Palmer (The Atom)
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Do you love Paul Rudd’s and Michael Douglas’ portrayal as legacy heroes who share alter egos as Ant-Man? Unfortunately, Ant-Man might be a ripoff character; Ant-Man made his debut in 1962 in Marvel Comics. DC Comics’ The Atom, meanwhile, debuted in 1961. Both characters have virtually identical powers. While Ant-Man is a household MCU name, most people have never heard of The Atom, unless you were a fan of the campy show DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
Ray Palmer is the Atom. He has the power to shrink to a small size. The character has been in many series but was never widely popular. In the 1983 series Sword of the Atom, Palmer retires from being a superhero and goes to live with tiny-sized aliens living in a rainforest. Meanwhile, Palmer’s identity is blown in a tell-all book.
Sword of the Atom is a forgotten 229-page paperback adventure. Buy it for $36.83 at Amazon now.
Are Alter Egos Necesary?
One of the coolest scenes in 2008’s Iron Man is the last scene in the film where RDJ’s Tony Stark reveals to the world that he is Iron Man. Everyone knows Steve Rogers is Captain America. Thor had a secret identity in the 1980s and 1990s, but not so much now. Superman gave up his secret identity in 2019.
In the digital age and with modern comic book fans having more sophistication, the secret identity schtick just doesn’t work anymore. This does not mean that comics books can’t be thrilling anymore, only that the genre has and must continue evolving.
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Allen Francis is a full-time writer, prolific comic book investor and author of The Casual’s Guide: Why You Should Get Into Comic Book Investing. Allen holds a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College. Before becoming a writer Allen was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including saving and investing in your own small business.
