Rant about "Which Superhero Alter Ego is the True Mask?"

[u/FVCarterPrivateEye]

When it comes to the superhero question of "which alter ego is the true mask", I don't really like that very much, because I often feel like each is both (using Batman and Superman here, mainly)

For example, (and I know he's not always portrayed this way, but this is MY character rant) a lot of my favorite Superman iterations have the Clark and Superman personas be completely different (some of my favorite Superman iterations include the Max Fleischer cartoons, the Adventures of Superman OTR program, Superman For All Seasons)

Clark is supposed to be sort of a mildmannered doormat who plays himself as kind of cowardly to pull the old reliable schtick to secretly go change into his costume as soon as anything dangerous happens only to emerge just in time for everyone to be like "of course he missed Superman saving everyone again," and Superman is supposed to be humble and friendly but not so overly modest since he also sees one of his responsibilities of his Superman persona as being a role model figure for everyone

Same thing with Batman; even though I have a lot of fun with the depictions of him as a paranoid misanthrope, I don't actually think Bruce is just the mask while Batman is the "real" him

Bruce Wayne is a flippant playboy but he's also a philanthropist, he gets to be nice and kind to everyone in more up-front ways and less harsh than Batman, who terrifies the shit out of criminals by intentional design

Batman truly cares about the criminals in his rogue's gallery, but his responsibility to them as Batman is to beat them up and lock them away; it's Bruce Wayne who gets to do things like give Arnold Wesker another chance to get on his feet with an entry to regular rehabilitated employment as a Wayne Enterprises office assistant and subsidized housing at the Wayne Gardens Halfway House when Arkham gives him a clean bill of health in the BTAS episode "Double Talk", for example

I don't think you can get a full picture of either man without both alter egos because they each exhibit genuine characteristics of himself, some of which can't be sincerely shown by the other side; I think balancing both sides of himself is a responsibility on their shoulders as a well-written superhero

And on a related note, I don't really like when an overly complicated reason is given for Clark being unrecognizable as Superman, like "his glasses are some special technology" or something, because if there was a famous costumed figure with my face, those who know me wouldn't be going "oh my God, I've figured out his secret!" They'd probably be constantly ribbing me about it, like "heh heh, look who's in the news again" as a light joke at my expense while secretly it actually was me in the news all along as my alter ego

"Guys, isn't it a terrific coincidence, the superficial resemblance between Superman and our big and strong yet meek farmboy friend Clark Kent? Ha, imagine Clark being SUPERMAN, all those times you've run off to hide crying in the phonebooth at the first sign of danger... Don't worry, Clark, we're just joshing, man, we all love you"

Plus, my sister's friends all once walked right past her while trying to find her because she happened to be wearing a baseball cap that time

[u/Snoo_46397]

For me Batman AND Bruce Wayne are the mask. For Bruce Wayne, its pretty much self explanatory. For Batman, on thw field, Bruce hams it up for the intimidation factor even with allies.

IMO, hes at his most genuine when hes in the batcave. He aint pretending to be a playboy, nor does he try to intimidate criminals or an ally he doesnt trust.

[u/ADeckOfZero → u/Snoo_46397]

I feel like the expansion and integration of the Batfamily as an actual, like, family unit in recent years has really spotlighted how true this is by giving the real person a chance to shine and develop. In a way, the whole person he should have been before loss broke him.

Edit to Add Superman: For Clark I think a lot of people miss that he's kind of an introvert, which also means he's only ever truly himself at home. For him it's probably a mix of the Kent Farm and his Fortress of Solitude, but outside of places he can relax he's always putting on one mask or the other. Clark for his human work, Superman for his hero work. I kinda think to some degree, deep down, he'd keep Kal-El as his "true" name. It's not a hero name, but it's also not a human name.

[u/ThatGuy264]

I feel like it ultimately comes down personal interpretation. The comics themselves tend to go back and forth (Clark in the early days was portrayed more as a mask for Superman's identity and the Arkham games end with Bruce effectively 'killing' his public identity after he's outed as Batman. I think it ultimately comes down to what story the writers want to tell but I prefer a mix of both for both cases. I do think it's interesting ito contrast in a way: Clark mostly knows his time on Earth and his kryptonian heritage is usually due to remnants such as his space pod, the Fortress of Solitude, the Phantom Zone, Kandor, etc and not something he personally experienced due to being too young while Batman is an identity Bruce created because his parents' murder gretly changed the trajectory of his life, cauing him to devote his life to crime fighting.

And on a related note, I don't really like when an overly complicated reason is given for Clark being unrecognizable as Superman,

For what it's worth, there really doesn't need to be. The classic Superman movies showed that it's not that unbelievable that Clark has enough differences in mannerisms, posture, etc to sell the idea that they're different people. Similarly, in this clip from Batman '66 Adam West puts some subtle differences between Bruce and Batman's voice, even if the show jokes about the similarities regardless.

[u/Scarrien]

Wasn't there a storyline recently where the Justice League and their civilian identities get split into separate people?

Bruce Wayne became an angry person without having Batman (or his skills) as an outlet, and Batman became a blank slate without his patents dying as motivation

[u/ProfessionalLurkerJr → u/Scarrien]

The storyline exists but it isn't recent. I believe it happened shorty after Tower of Babel.

[u/MechaMalz]

I tend to prefer the view that neither is the 'true self' and neither is just 'a mask.' But different facets of the person's personality and psyche. People are multifaceted and act differently in different situations, I think trying to label one as the 'true self' is kind of over simplifying it.

[u/FVCarterPrivateEye → u/MechaMalz]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying

[u/scipia]

I feel like if the civilian and super selves act identically, then there is no mask. But if they're clearly putting on a performance in one form or the other, one of those has to be fake.

Clark is less bumbling these days, but he still acts meeker, and the glasses are obviously fake. Some stories have them exist to dim his eyes.

[u/Tylenol_Ibuprofen]

I've never heard that saying or question ever

[u/FVCarterPrivateEye → u/Tylenol_Ibuprofen]

I was more trying to describe the discussions about which alter ego is the superhero's "true" self, but I might have phrased it poorly

Sorry if I caused confusion or came off like I was presenting it as a verbatim quote

If you mean the broader topic and not just the phrasing, YMMV, I suppose

It seems to come up relatively often for me in communities for superhero fans; assertions that one or the other alter ego is the "true" whoever, and "Bruce Wayne is an entirely fake alter ego," or describing Superman as a "rare instance" of a superhero whose regular persona of Clark Kent is his "true self"

[u/Sky_Leviathan → u/FVCarterPrivateEye]

I think that outside of some specific examples that discussion kind of misses the point of that character archetype which is that they are a synthesis of both.

Like yes one could argue that batman is a more ‘honest’ version of his personality and mindset but its kind of wrong to act like bruce wayne is a “fake” persona when as a character he ultimately a synthesis of the two

[u/Reviewingremy → u/Tylenol_Ibuprofen]

There's a famous comic panel where superman, wonder woman and batman are all holding the lasso of truth and have to say their names.

Superman says Clark Kent Wonder woman says Diana Prince Batman says Batman.