Batman, Superman, and secret IDs in the League

[The Old Maid]

How do you predict the League will learn Batman and Superman's other names?

Superman might volunteer his. After all he has to regain everyone's trust after the events of "Legacy." There's room for irony there, though, since one purpose of a secret ID is to protect his family. Can he do both?

Batman may resist telling them. He'd lose the fear factor if he did. So it's a question of whether he wants their trust that badly. Also, people tend to dismiss him when they learn he's Bubblehead Bruce. Even Superman did it in the "World's Finest" episodes. Superman lost his own secret identity when he let Bruce follow him home. He might have been more careful around Batman. But an airhead like Brucey Wayne? Never crossed his mind.

Also am wondering how "WF" would have been different if Bats had lined his cowl with lead. Guess we're going to find out, but with different characters.

Maybe Martian Manhunter? He learns a great many things with his telepathy. Sometimes he wants to know. Sometimes he doesn't want to know.

So, who's gonna blab, and why? Will the League respect the players more, or respect them less?

[Karkull]

Whether he's Bruce or Batman, the League members will respect him anyway. Why? Because he paid for their Watchtower headquarters and equipment (taking over the role that Oliver Queen had in the comics).

In the current JLA comic book Superman, Martian Manhunter, and the Flash knew (who served with Nightwing in the Titans). Superman obviously would know here, along with Martian Manhunter (who would find out--telepaths are tough to keep secrets from). As for the others, they'll probably find out eventually...

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

How many of the JLA members in the new animated version actually HAVE secret IDs? I think the only candidates are the Flash and Hawkgirl, but even their identities are public knowledge in the comics world.

Of all the members of this JL, I think everybody other than Batman will just come clean once they decide to form the League, and that Superman and J'onn will respect Bruce's desire for privacy. I'm probably heavily biased by the Grant Morrison/Mark Waid JLA comics (if you haven't read any of them, run-don't-walk to your local comics store and get the "New World Order" trade paperback -- best $10 you'll spend for a month). In those, half the reason why Batman is a Leaguer at all is because he doesn't trust that much super power in one place at once, and wants to keep an eye on them (and take them out, if necessary). However, that kind of worldview still still seems to make sense in the DC Universe as envisioned by Bruce Timm.

-- Ed

[Karkull]

Originally posted by Ace the Bathound
In those, half the reason why Batman is a Leaguer at all is because he doesn't trust that much super power in one place at once, and wants to keep an eye on them (and take them out, if necessary).

Good call, and welcome to the boards, Ace the Bathound!

In fact, one of the storylines that people keep bringing up on this board is Mark Waid's Tower of Babel. I could see Batman making plans just in case--after all, Superman did lose control in Legacy and Bruce did have that piece of kryptonite on Batman Beyond.

[Tim Drake]

I've never read Tower of Babel. It is a graphic novel like Kingdom Come? Or it is more along the lines of The Dark Knight Returns??

[Clayface]

Originally posted by Tim Drake
I've never read Tower of Babel. It is a graphic novel like Kingdom Come? Or it is more along the lines of The Dark Knight Returns??

It was a multi-issue story in the JL comics. Its now been reprinted in a collected volume.

[kid_flash]

Actually, the collected volume just came out. Get it!

I don't think the secret IDs should be shared right away. That way, when they finally are, it's more dramatic. As for who has secret IDs....

Superman: Clark Kent
Batman: Bruce Wayne
Flash: Wally West
Green Lantern: John Stewart (it'll be interesting to see if he actually uses his secret ID)
Martian Manhunter: John Jones (really hope they make it known he has a secret ID)
Hawkgirl: Shayra Hall (apparently she will have a secret ID)

So, really, the only one without a secret ID it Wonder Woman, assuming the above heroes actually have theirs.

[EarthX]

I think they could get a lot more mileage out of Martian Manhunter if they give him multiple identities like he had in his solo series. They opened up lots of possiblities in that title until, in what looked to be a panicky editorial move to "add stability", MM verbally announced he would only use the Jones identity from now on.

MM with multiple identities is a nice contrast to those without any.

Also, this would be an great device to use for the cartoon to explore international settings and cultures, given that all the other heroes live in the U.S.

[Clayface]

Its possible that Batman just never reveals his identity to the group. Superman knows who he is and can vouch for him - they may respect his annonimity.

[kid_flash]

EarthX, yeah, I love seeing J'onn have multiple IDs, but I've always liked the idea of his main secret ID being John Jones.

[Hypestyle]

Batman will NEVER reveal his ID to the rest of the Leaguers-- to do so would be a vulnerability that Batman's post-Crisis hyper-obsessive traits would not allow-- the 60's Batman? sure-- but now? Forget it...

Batman considers himself the ultimate crimefighter, and to give up his secret ID would be "potentially disastrous" should the team-mate "go rogue" or is mind-controlled or tricked somehow into revealing it... as selfish and elitist as that sounds, that's how it is...

[DisneyBoy]

I enjoyed how in the 80's relaunch, Diana (WW) didn't come up with a fake ID. After all, how is she supposted to earn the trust of mankind if she hides behind false names?

As for the rest of the group, I now see how incorporating their other identites could cause problems. Look at the brief scene in Clark Kent's apartment in Secret Origins. I've been stressing over the fact that he is still a bachelor!! Either that, or he and Lois have seperate bedrooms, which doesn't seem likely! He looks like he's close to his forties, especially standing next to the remarkably trim and fit Batman, who's been doing the hero thing for longer! Maybe Kal-El should take a trip to a Lazurus Pit...

N-E-Ways, my point was that if that one scene could raise continuity questions for fans, imagine what would happen if they started to incorportate Lois, Batgirl, Dick or even Tim (imagine the mess!), let alone Wally's squeeze, that other reporter lady. Man, oh, man! As much as I too want these character's other identites fleshed out (which would eventually round out the heroes themselves) I doubt we'll see much if any of it until the main cast has become so familiar that the show needs to add a new edge to them. Doing the multiple identity thing will probably have to be done over time....it's a careful process :cool:

[redneckgoliath]

What exactly happened in Legacy, i don't think I saw that episode.

[The Mad Hatter]

I don't want to spoil it for you since it'll soon be showing on Cartoon Network, and it's two episodes you MUST see. But suffice to say that at the end of the episodes, almost nobody trusts Superman anymore.

[redneckgoliath]

when when will it be shown on Cartoon Network, i must know, I must make plans

[cysurf]

I didn't read the issues, but didn't the justice league reveal their identities to each other recently in JLA #50? I think it had to do with Batman "betraying" them earlier, and they realized there couldn't be any secrets in the JL. I find it kind of weird that they all know that Batman is Bruce Wayne. I mean everytime they get a new member are they going to say "okay everyone, take off your masks!"