October 23, 2009 

No Wonder Everyone Knew

Early on, Jay Garrick’s identity was known by a small circle of associates, then basically public knowledge, then retconned to no-one knowing.

This scene between Joann’s dad and some guy illustrates just how it became public knowledge:

This scene gives one the feeling that he just told whoever he met.


  • Dierna

    Mr. Lodge is knowledeable in all the identities of the heroes….don't ya know

  • Lisa A.

    I've always wondered what would happen if a superhero did tell everyone who he/she was and didn't care if they knew. Why has no one written a story like that with all of its consequences?

  • Naryldor

    I don't know, all that secret identity pantomime is supposed to be in order to protect their loved ones, being able to live a normal life when not in action and blah, blah, blah. Yet we've been watching fot decades how girlfriends, family and friends of superheroes get into a huge world of trouble all the time anyway. So I can't really think of any consequence we haven't already read about a thousand times already… :D

  • dandyforsdyke

    Indeed. It's well-known that Lois Lane is Superman's girl-friend. I can see no reason why Superman could never reveal his identity and marry her.

  • Eric L. Sofer, the Bad Clown

    It's happened with varying results.

    The Elongated Man.

    Reed and Sue Richards.

    Jay Garrick.

    And it's also true that, no matter what, the writers don't seem to give two figs about secret identities. “I'm sorry, Lois, but I can't marry you… it could endanger your life.” “Big deal, Supes! Luthor brainwashed me last week, two gangs kidnapped me, forty-six people tried to shoot me… y'know, honey, we may as well get married, and let 'em know that you're COMMITTED to my safety – because just being your girlfriend is plenty dangerous enough!”

    I remain,
    Sincerely,
    Eric L. Sofer
    The Silver Age Fogey
    x<]:o){

  • madwoman

    Uh, Superman doesn't WANT to marry Lois. He's a swinger, and she's a psycho stalker constantly plotting against him to force him to marry her. Talk about a ball and chain!

  • http://sezaarsez.wordpress.com/ sezaar

    Oh god, it's old man Williams talking about his son in law, the Flash, yet again…

  • AuroraMoon

    True enough lol.

    I never got why Lois in the golden age seemed to be so crazy. At least she wasn't as bad as Green Lantern's girlfriend though.

  • http://Slayerlit.us Shiai

    And that cop went on to retire from the force in order to work as Jeff Dunham's dummy, Walter.

    http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8403/4812544…

  • Dr. Novakaine

    Wasn't the entirely of this costume a funky shirt and a hat? Lord knows I'd catch on if that was the sum of it.

  • Roger

    There's a scene in one of the Empowered comics where the heroine is unmasked … the villains cackle, “At last we see who her secret identity is!” … the mask is removed … “Duhhh, who is this?”

  • typolad

    Golden Age Lois wasn't crazy. At least, not compared to Silver Age Lois.

  • ericlsoferthebadclown

    Oh, it even happened to the Flash (Barry Allen, that is.) Captain Cold captured him, knocked him unconscious (although those two may be in reverse order… :) and unmasked him… and wondered who the hell it was.

    It had become such a cliche that not only does every villain want to know their arch-enemy's secret identity, but that it will be someone so famous that everyone will want to know!

    Once you got past Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Tony Stark, though, I think that conceit didn't hold up so very well…

    I remain,
    Sincerely,
    Eric L. Sofer
    The Silver Age Fogey
    x<]:o){