Pretty soon, Superman is going to have the privilege of a secret identity once more, and some fans feel it might be a step backwards. But a glance at the Man of Steel's history shows that Clark getting his identity back is actually a common occurrence.
Superman is one of the oldest heroes to have adopted the idea of a secret identity, secretly hiding his ultra-powerful self in the guise of mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent. However, after years of wrestling with his secret, the Big Blue Boy Scout came clean in a press conference that shocked the world. Superman revealed his identity and everyone in the DC Universe couldn't believe it. However, DC has recently announced that both Clark and his son Jon Kent would be getting secret identities again, which has sparked some criticism among fans who feel going backwards is a hindrance to the storytelling of Superman.
But interestingly enough, Clark putting the genie back in the bottle after having his biggest secret told to the world is one of the hero's oldest staples. Throughout the Silver, Bronze and Modern Age of Comics, the Last Son of Krypton has had his double life as Clark Kent revealed through imaginary stories, and even in-continuity tales that changed his status quo. Some of the character's earliest appearances, issues like Superman #20 or Action Comics #194 feature Clark being accidentally outed as Metropolis' protector, only to gain his secret back by the issue's end. The story "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" has Superman's secret being revealed, only for Crisis on Infinite Universes to hide it once more. And the New 52 era Superman also had his secret life exposed in an ongoing story, though this, too, was undone after a cosmic event involving Mr. Mxyzptlk.
Getting His Identity Back Is No Big Deal For Superman
No matter how many times Superman’s identity has made its way out into the public, whether by accident or on purpose, things have always returned to the original status quo in one way or another. Which makes sense as the dichotomy between the two personas is something that even non-comic readers are aware of. While a return to Superman's old status quo might seem regressive, it's actually more in line with the character's history than people think.
Granted, it does come off a bit frustrating to have Superman go back on such a dramatic change. But it’s not the first time Clark has had to rectify his secret identity being leaked, and chances are it won’t be the last. Admittedly, there’s something thrilling to the idea of Superman having his private life revealed to the world. But many creators also recognize that Superman and Clark Kent work very well when they’re kept as distinct and separate personas. Whether it took one issue or an entire run, Clark has always reclaimed his secret identity after the world discovers it. At this point, it’d be more out of character for the hero if Superman didn’t reclaim his secret identity at some point.