List of DC Comics Superheroes & Their Secret Identities
To be a superhero, you must usually have a secret identity -- a "normal" persona with which you can blend in with the masses. The superheroes from DC Comics are among the first comic book superheroes created and so have some of the most long-standing secret identities. Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Diana Prince and Hal Jordan are a few examples of DC Comics superheroes hiding in plain sight.
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Superman: Clark Kent
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Donning a skin-tight blue leotard and a trailing red cape, Superman is one of DC Comics' most well-known superheroes. One of the last survivors of the alien Kryptonian race, Superman gets his powers from exposure to Earth's sun. Nearly invulnerable and super strong, Superman has one weakness: Kryptonite, a radioactive piece of his destroyed home planet.
Clark Kent, on the other hand, is a shy, nervous and often bumbling reporter for the newspaper "The Daily Planet." Superman purposefully makes his alter ego unassuming in order to not stand out. However, Clark is intelligent and serious enough to perform his job.
Batman: Bruce Wayne
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Batman has been fighting villains in Gotham City since his 1939 first appearance. However, despite often fighting alongside the likes of Superman, Batman has no superpowers. Batman trains himself to be strong and agile and is a master of over 100 martial arts. He's also a trained ninja and can camouflage himself from his enemies.
Batman's secret identity is Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy. Since he's rich, he can afford to develop extremely technical tools and vehicles to help him fight his opponents. Nevertheless, he's careful to give off a capricious, impulsive demeanor in public as Bruce so no one suspects that he's capable of being the brooding, serious Batman. Because of this, Bruce feels that Batman is his true "secret identity" and that his Bruce Wayne is just a mask.
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Wonder Woman: Diana Prince
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Wonder Woman is an Amazon princess with super strength, senses beyond that of a normal human and even some forms of immortality. Native to a race of superpowered women, the secret identity she created for herself in the normal world is that of Diana Prince.
Diana has held a number of occupations over the years, including Army secretary, Army nurse and even fast food employee. Her most steady career has been in the U.S. Army, where she works as an intelligence officer who specializes in code breaking. Unlike Superman's shy and bumbling Clark Kent, for example, Wonder Woman's Diana Prince is confident and outgoing.
Green Lantern: Harold "Hal" Jordan
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The subject of a 2011 film, the Green Lantern wears a green and black outfit and gets near limitless superpowers from his alien power ring. Since the Green Lantern first appeared in comics in 1941, the character has had at least five alter egos; however, it's the second Green Lantern, Harold "Hal" Jordan, who's the most popular secret identity and the superhero in the 2011 film.
Hal Jordan is a test pilot who encountered a dying alien in a crash-landed alien ship. The alien bestowed upon him the power ring, which gives Hal his powers. Once becoming the Green Lantern, Hal quits his job and devotes himself to being a superhero full-time.
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References
- Superman Homepage: Who's Who in the Superman Comics: Kent, Clark Joseph
- Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe: The Unofficial Batman Biography
- Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe: The Unofficial Wonder Woman Biography
- Topless Robot: "The 6 Worst Jobs Wonder Woman Ever Had;" John Gutierrez; March 31, 2011
- Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe: The Unofficial Harold "Hal" Jordan Biography
