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Superheroes are already masters of disguise, truthful it’s nary sweat for them to bust retired a caller costume and a mysterious caller codename erstwhile the juncture calls for it. Sometimes, they bash this arsenic portion of a meticulous program to propulsion a peculiarly persistent villain (or Lois Lane, probably) disconnected their trail, but it’s conscionable arsenic often a spur-of-the-moment determination borne of desperation. Personally, I similar to ideate each leader hunkered down successful their hideouts successful the mediate of the night, frantically sewing a caller costume earlier anyone cottons connected to what they’re doing.
To clarify, I’m not talking astir heroes who alteration their individuality connected a semipermanent oregon imperishable basis, similar erstwhile a sidekick grows up and eliminates the “kid” oregon “girl” from their name. This nonfiction is conscionable for those times erstwhile superheroes follow a secondary individuality for conscionable 1 communicative — conscionable agelong capable to lick an acute occupation — and past enactment it distant forever, ne'er to beryllium spoken of again. (And aft each that effort they enactment into sewing the costume!)
As you work done each of the profiles below, spot if you tin conjecture who each leader is earlier everyone other did! We’ll commencement with an casual 1 (hint: cheque retired the ‘stache).
Spare Parts Man
Appeared in: Iron Man #196 (1985)
Background: With 2 sets of Iron Man armor moving rogue and the existent Iron Man obscurity to beryllium found, a caller leader arose: an anonymous idiosyncratic who was capable to decision them some earlier overmuch harm was done.
Who Is He?: Iron Man…ish
Why, Though?: At this point, Tony Stark was nary longer Iron Man and had nary concealed identity. So erstwhile the juncture called for him to bash immoderate sneaky investigating, helium had to slap an outfit unneurotic but fast. This isn’t treated arsenic a enigma successful the comic itself: we get to spot Tony digging done the Avengers’ lost-and-found bin to enactment this beauteous ensemble together. Hawkeye responds by dubbing him “Spare Parts Man” and “Nothing-in-Particular Man.” Tony is not amused.
Lightning-Man
Appeared in: World’s Finest #89 (1957)
Background: Superman has ever been the large leader of Metropolis, but erstwhile Clark Kent starts having fainting spells, a caller leader emerges to grip the emergencies that the mysteriously absent Man of Steel fails to tackle. He gains specified renown that helium is adjacent selected arsenic the president of the newly-formed Club of Heroes. But is Batman close to fishy that Lightning-Man’s debut is connected with Clark’s unusual affliction?
Who is He?: Superman
Why, Though?: That troublesome Kryptonite is to blasted for this one. A chunk of the worldly got caught successful orbit astir Earth, causing Clark to make amnesia whenever it flew implicit Metropolis. Despite forgetting his Superman identity, helium remained determined to prevention lives, truthful helium made a caller costume from a model curtain and went retired to combat crime. Well, it’s little silly than wearing his underwear connected the extracurricular to bash the aforesaid job.
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Supernova
Appeared in: Various issues of 52 (2006-07)
Background: After Supes, Bats, and Wondy each vanished, Booster Gold hoped to capable the powerfulness vacuum arsenic the world’s top hero, lone to beryllium upstaged astatine each crook by the little flashy Supernova. Only Elongated Man, a maestro detective, seemed to person immoderate thought of who this feline was, though Wonder Girl suspected/hoped it mightiness beryllium the deceased Superboy — and indeed, the costume was based connected 1 Superman himself erstwhile wore erstwhile helium was depowered. Then Booster died, leaving Supernova arsenic the city’s caller hero…
Who is He?: Booster Gold
Why, Though?: Booster had to subsume his tendency for fame, fake his ain death, and airs arsenic a caller leader successful bid to sneak nether Skeets’s radar. Skeets, his robot buddy from the future, had been corrupted by Mr. Mind and turned villain. In portion acknowledgment to the “Supernova” ruse, Booster was capable to prevention Skeets — but lone aft seemingly losing him successful a country that volition marque your teardrop ducts implode.
Mighty Maid
Appeared in: Action Comics #260 (1960)
Background: Despite Lois Lane’s changeless attempts to triumph Superman’s affections, helium finds himself won implicit by another: Mighty Maid, a super-powered pistillate from different dimension. Much to Lois’s horror, Supes proposes to this Jill-come-lately and announces his program to determination to her dimension, forever.
Who Is She?: Supergirl. Y’know, Superman’s cousin. Superman’s underage cousin.
Why, Though?: Superman wanted an excuse to marque it look similar helium was leaving Earth to propulsion immoderate aggravated aliens disconnected his track. Apparently, the champion and lone mode helium could deliberation to bash that was to, uh, marque retired with his teenage relative successful public? I’m not definite the Earth is worthy it.
The Golden Archer
Appeared in: Captain America #179 (1974)
Background: After discovering the existent depths of corruption successful the U.S., Captain America could nary longer telephone himself by that name. As Steve Rogers, helium moped astir for a portion until helium recovered himself targeted for harassment by a caller villain, the Golden Archer. Goldie seemed to cognize who Cap was, but Cap had ne'er met him before…or had he?
Who is He?: Hawkeye
Why, Though?: Hawkeye was grateful for each the years of grooming and patience Cap had showed him, and helium didn’t similar to spot his aged pal truthful down. So helium came up with the thought to telephone himself the Golden Archer, presumably aft stopping for a Big Mac, and torment Steve with atrocious poesy until helium rediscovered himself. Steve appreciated his efforts and took his proposition to travel up with a caller identity: Nomad, who had a neckline conscionable arsenic indecent arsenic ol’ Goldie’s.
For much superheroes and their super-identities, cheque retired our superheroes tag!
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