Who's the mask? Secret IDs thread.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:19 am

My comments in the Hulk thread made me think, just which personality is the mask and which the true one?

Is Bruce Wayne just a mask Batman wears in the daylight? Is Clark Kent just a false front that Superman maintains for personal reasons? Is Peter Parker just a thin layer over the Spiderman? Or is it the other way around?

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:26 am

Bruce Wayne is just a mask for bats, check out the Bruce Wayne murdere/fugitive line for an example as to how willing he is to ditch his "weaker" half.

Peter Parker defines himself by Spiderman but has abandoned his role a few times until his sense of morals made him start helping people, which made him re-don his costume. I'd say that Spiderman is the mask.

Bruce Banner and the Hulk are two opposite entities entirely.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:31 am

Bruce Banner and the Hulk are two opposite entities entirely.

Negative. Hulk(the first one, more came later) is just Banner's rage. Built up from his childhood through to his adulthood from rejection and isolation. The Hulk is the part of Banner that never grew up, angry at the world for treating him this way.

The Hulk is Banner without any control or guidence.

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:38 am

Well The Mask, is merely the incarnation of Loki...

Wrong mask?

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:51 am

Somebody didn't get the point. For either Banner OR the Hulk to be a 'mask' would require for the other to intentionally don it, and for one of them to be the real him. Which is not the case. The Hulk is part of what's Bruce Banner, and vice versa.
As for me and Clark, it's not that simple either. I certainly tried for Bruce Wayne to be a mask. As those who finished Murderer/Fugitive would know, it didn't work. Because without Bruce Wayne I'm not human. He's the one who can have friends, even a family of sorts, who can smile, joke, donate to charity, go to the movies... I need him to stay sane.
You'd have to ask him to be sure of course but I'd say it's something along the same lines for Clark, if not quite so extreme. Superman needs Clark Kent to be able to be a person instead of an icon.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:19 pm

I'd say that Clark Kent is the human side of Superman, the one who has doubts and uncertainties like most joes.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:30 pm

Petrosjko wrote:I'd say that Clark Kent is the human side of Superman, the one who has doubts and uncertainties like most joes.

Exactly. Clark Kent is the one who gets to picnic, play Frisbee with the Valendamned supermutt, and remove supermutt-related oopsies from the living room carpet before Lois finds out. The one who has a life, as opposed to a mission.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:36 pm

Okay Bats, next you can explain his obsession with women bearing the initials L.L.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 1:46 pm

Petrosjko wrote:Okay Bats, next you can explain his obsession with women bearing the initials L.L.

He's just weird that way? Anyway if we count 'Smallville' the trend's been broken already.
Honestly, do I look like his Valendamned shrink? See if you can get Dr Foster to talk if you're so interested.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:25 pm

Please Bats, we all know you and Supes are more alike than either of you want to admit.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:33 pm

Like hell we are. For starters, I ain't got no superpowers whatsoever.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:39 pm

Powers are irrelevant. Supes powers are an expression of his genetic code and mean has much to his core personality and ethics has his eye color or hair. Odds are even without his powers he would attempt to effect change to the best of his ability, has do you.

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:12 pm

Orphans. Check.

Raised by loving surrogates. Check

Great Detective and investigative journalist. Check.

Sense of responsibility. Check.

Great value on innoncent life. Check.

Power or wealth so great that he could live beyond the bounds of normal human concerns. Check.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:25 pm

Cynical Cat? Does the term 'transmogrifier batatrang' mean anything to you?

Cynical Cat · Post by **Cynical Cat** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:31 pm

Yes it does. If you want to have any chance of getting any from Selena ever, you'll put it away and be a good super hero.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:38 pm

You were saying something oh flying mouse of the night?

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:47 pm

They're both dark-haired and totally buff, too.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:15 pm

Petrosjko wrote:They're both dark-haired and totally buff, too.

Every male superhero is totally buff, even the ones with no physical powers whatsoever. Well, except maybe for Ralph.
As for the hair color, what did frigidmagi said of the relevance of this again?

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