In a new interview with Newsarama.com, writer Brian Michael Bendis talks about “The Truth,” the upcoming story in the Superman comic books in which the Man of Steel will reveal to the world that he is Clark Kent.
“Secret identities do not mean the same thing in this society as they did when Superman was birthed into the world,” says Bendis in the interview.
When asked if it’s because the world today is more negative, Bendis replies, “Well, you talk to kids today – most won’t even go on social media because all it is is people with secret identities who are going to ‘get’ you. It’s an unsafe place.”
He continues, “So for many people, having any kind of secret identity is just, like, why? What are you hiding?. That’s not the space that Superman holds in people’s hearts.”
“I think you and I have both seen years of people wrestling with, and goofing with, the secret identity of Clark Kent and Superman. So instead of leaning in to the hubris of the conceit, we wanted to be more truthful and see what happens with the character.”
And apparently there are plenty of stories to be told…
“So far, it is just poured out – and the reason Warner Brothers approved this is … thousands of new Superman stories. Literally, everyone online goes, ‘What’s Batman going to say?’ And I’m like, ‘Isn’t that amazing? You don’t know!’ That’s very exciting.”
“For fans young and old – for people who have ‘seen it all,’ isn’t it exciting you don’t know what’s going to happen next?”
I’m not sure what’s worse here, the willful ignorance regarding the character and the function of secret identities in superheroes or the cynical snobbery of it all. Also The Truth when we just had Truth. What’s next, Newer 52?