All Right. The Secret Identity

[AaronJ]

You'd find that attitude a tough sell in current DC editorial.

As someone born in 1987, it's extremely offputting to see innovative stuff constantly sacrificed in favour of nostalgia for an era I'm not the least bit nostalgic for, and which I find, in most respects, markedly inferior (especially in Wonder Woman's case).

It's a good thing I'm not making an argument to DC Editorial, then, isn't it?

I didn't start reading comics until recently, so I have zero nostalgia for ANY era. I'm interested in characters I like and stories I want to read. And, for the most part, that's what I get.

You say that they are sacrificing innovative stuff (that no one reads) for nostalgia (I assume you are talking about things like Green Lantern) that turn out to be successes. If that's the way you want to look at it, then fine.

[CaptainCanada]

I was mostly talking about Wonder Woman's title; no particularly strong feelings about Green Lantern.

[Tiberious]

Racism in comics has been around even longer! Let's have blatantly racist books, too!


Just because something's been around for a long time isn't an argument for keeping it around.

I love having you here Aaron! Only you would compare Diana Prince to racism. Good stuff.

We ALL pick and choose the pieces we like and justify them while discarding and down playing those we don't.

I love the idea of Diana Prince-not nastalgia but the concept.

You love Johns work; a lot of which is Silver Age stuff.

You started reading Wonder Woman in the last few years so that is who she is to you. I've been reading the stuff from the beginning so that's who she is to me.

I really wish these boards had been around when Volume 2 number 1 came out. You could be arguing how great it was to be free of Diana Prince and I could be arguing how it ruined the character to take it out. Missed opportunities....

[nightforce]

I am a 70's guy, I grew up watching The Superfriends, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, Spider-man the Live action show. While the Superfriends didn't showcase her "Secret Id" I knew it existed. And seriously anyone who reads comics know that a "Secret Id" "Private Id" (Thanks Kurt Busiek) exist for a reason. Powergirl said it beautifully well in issue 5 of "Powergirl". People that you are close to can get hurt or killed.


Superheroes are supposed to protect the Human race regardless if you know them or not. But when a "Best Friend" is hurt because the villain knows your secret id and is trying to get the attention of said Hero? I call that sad. Why would a hero who is open to the public want to have human friends then? Better stay by yourself and surround yourself with OTHER superpowered Heroes. Heck I haven't even Read the Story but isn;t that what Happened to Diana's friend "Sister" Vanessa who got turned into the Silver Swan? Was it "Wise as Athena" to be friends with humans and knew you were Wonder Woman 24/7?

I have heard all the reasons why she shouldn't have one, like "It is Lying". Ok, but if a lie can save someone's life why wouldn't you do it?

I love this reason the best "It is illegal to have a fake persona". It is ILLEGAL to be a VIGILANTE and to take the law into your hands but I have noticed that no one brings that up.



Another reason is "Diana is the Goddess of Truth". That reason is such a turn off I can't even have a reply to that.

[scary harpy]

I like it. She has to interact with others in a different way.

[Laughing Fangirl]

I'll be succinct:

There's nothing in comics I hate more than "Diana Prince".

[dumbstruck]

I hate the idea of Wonder Woman having a secret identity. Wonder Woman is Diana of Themyscira. That's who she is. Everybody knows that. The Wonder Woman persona isn't a role she takes on like Clark's Superman or Bruce's Batman. If she wants to walk around without the constant attention, why doesn't she walk around without her tiara? In so many previous stories, Diana is shown in her civvies, but wearing the tiara. Why?

[Tiberious]

I hate the idea of Wonder Woman having a secret identity. Wonder Woman is Diana of Themyscira. That's who she is. Everybody knows that. The Wonder Woman persona isn't a role she takes on like Clark's Superman or Bruce's Batman. If she wants to walk around without the constant attention, why doesn't she walk around without her tiara? In so many previous stories, Diana is shown in her civvies, but wearing the tiara. Why?

If Paris Hilton put a tiara on her head would you no longer know who she was?

[AaronJ]

I hate the idea of Wonder Woman having a secret identity. Wonder Woman is Diana of Themyscira. That's who she is. Everybody knows that. The Wonder Woman persona isn't a role she takes on like Clark's Superman or Bruce's Batman. If she wants to walk around without the constant attention, why doesn't she walk around without her tiara? In so many previous stories, Diana is shown in her civvies, but wearing the tiara. Why?

No one knows, man. No one knows.

[hamstah]

HATED it very, very much, initially. But as time has passed, I've softened to the general concept of it, even though I still don't care for it's current incarnation. Most of my dislike comes from how poorly it was re-introduced. It made zero sense for the character. Her motivation for using it was out of character (She doesn't "know who she is"? PLEASE!), her choice of job was ridiculous, and she didn't even have much control over what was happening, since it seemed to all be laid out for her by Batman. The whole thing was sloppy, and did the character no services. It's the worst kind of thoughtless fanboy nostalgia. It still hasn't been satisfactorily rationalized, IMO.

Now, if the secret identity disappeared next issue, I wouldn't miss it at all. But it's probably going to stick around for a while, so the best I can hope for is that you'll find a way to make it work. I will say, though, that even though a "private identity" can work for Wonder Woman, I don't think it's necessary for her to have a job as "Diana Prince." Being a superhero AND an ambassador of her people AND having another career in addition to all that is just overkill, and makes it seem like the-powers-that-be have no idea what to do with her, and she ultimately seems totally directionless. It can function just as a way for her to go about ordinary daily activities like going grocery shopping or seeing a movie without drawing attention to herself, and enable her to get to know people who aren't mystified that they're talking to Wonder Woman. But whatever direction the secret identity thing goes, she certainly shouldn't be a secret agent for the American government.

it says a lot about US National Security that an Amazon non-US citizen can just work as a Secret Agent for the US....and the disguise (is it just glasses or does her look change entirely when she "spins/sparkles"?) has also not been clearly defined. I would buy it more if her whole look/height/shape / voice / accent changes - let's see DP being blonde or short or redhead - as opposed to Lynda Carter wearing glasses. Other than that, no purpose and no real justification for a DP ID.

[dumbstruck]

If Paris Hilton put a tiara on her head would you no longer know who she was?

To the public, the tiara would operate like Clark Kent's glasses. People focus on the tiara, which is identified with Wonder Woman. Without the tiara, people wouldn't automatically see her as a celebrity. She'd just be another stunningly beautiful woman.

[dupersuper]

She'd just be another stunningly beautiful woman.

Ho-hum...a dime a dozen...

[Tiberious]

No one knows, man. No one knows.

Tons of posters have given you reasons. You just haven't found one that is stronger than your opinion of what Wonder Woman should be. Just like I haven't heard one anti Diana Prince reason that is stronger than who I think Wonder Woman should be.

There is no right or wrong answer to this debate. Either she stays and makes some people mad or she goes and makes other people mad. Its a no win situation that we should never have been put in the first place.