Secret Identity?

[Artistsean]

Originally, in the comics, and up until about the year 2000 Captain America's real identity (Steve Rogers) was a secret like Peter Parker being Spider-Man.
During WWII Steve was a soldier who was secretly Captain America, few knew about the secret. Later Steve's identity was known by the Avengers but few others I think because he had a secret life with friends who had no idea who he really was. He was a comic book artist on the Captain America comic, lived in an apartment, and all that.
I think later he was mostly associated with superheroes and government agents, but I am not sure. So maybe, if thats how it was, he was both Cap and Steve at the same time.

In the Ultimate Comics Steve Rogers is Captain America AKA Steve Rogers. I think everyone knows, he is both Steve and Cap all the time.

So how should it be in the movie?

Should Captain America try to have a secret life/friends/a job, separate from his Super hero life?
Or should he be Steve Rogers, like in the Ultimates or in the comics (after he revealed his true identity)?

Personally I would like to see Steve Rogers being a comic artist on a Marvel Comics' Captain America comic, while no one knows that he is really Captain America. Something cool about that.

What are your thoughts?

[Artistsean]

Anybody?

Would you like to see Steve Rogers/Cap have a secret identity like Clark Kent and Peter Parker? Or have his identity known and be a super agent, sort of like being a cop or something. He is Captain America, he lives in the Avengers buidling, everyone knows he is Captain America and Steve Rogers, all his friends are super heroes, and he has no job other than being a superhero.
Which would you prefer seeing in the movie?

[Aesop Rocks]

I think it should be known because he's literally one if not the most popular person in the Marvel Universe and everyone in the comics know his name (literally everyone). I think if Iron Man can pull it off, Captain America can pull it off. Being that there's a nice reveal of character at the ending.

Could also help if they were to make a Civil War movie.

[[A]]

Yup, his real name should be known.

[Aesop Rocks]

Isn't it known from the beginning??

[Webhead2006]

I could see it go it is known to some soliders in ww2 and alot of government people also. But when he is revived in present day shield, stark, and avengers will know but the general population probably wont know for now.

[ChickenScratch]

His identity should be know, he's a soldier first after all.

[Artistsean]

I just think you'd loose Steve Rogers being a comic artist on the Captain America comic, while no one knows he is actually Captain America.

[Aesop Rocks]

That's something I can learn to deal with and for a general audience of non-comic readers they won't be able to tell the difference.

[tamron]

Cap's secret identity never seemed to be as big of an element of the character as with characters like Supes, Spidey, Daredevil. I wouldn't be against having it in the films, but I don't think you lose a whole lot if you don't use it and just have his ID known.

[cryptic name]

i think he's better off without a secret identity. he's not a traditional superhero in that sense. maybe it's just me, but the idea of him being a captain america comic book artist just seems...really stupid.

[Webhead2006]

Yea you can keep him being an artist maybe before he became capt and maybe let him do that work again in present day when he isnt fighting crime/working with shield.

[Artistsean]

I agree, he isn't a traditional superhero in that sense. He isn't like Peter Parker. He is a government agent.
I do like the idea of him being an artist before being turned into Captain America, and after he is unfrozen showing him do comic book art on his spare time would be cool.

Even in the comics he was an artist before his transformation.

[Spider-Vader]

I think he shouldn't have a secret identity. What's he have to hide? He has the government backing him up.

[cryptic name]

I think he shouldn't have a secret identity. What's he have to hide? He has the government backing him up.

there's a trustworthy organization.

[Timstuff]

Since he was created by the government, the only reason I can think of that they'd want to keep his identity secret is because he is a symbol of America, and having a name attached would detract from his effectiveness. We'll see where they go with it, but since I'm not a particularly astute follower of Cap's mythos, I don't really care what they decide to do.

[Webhead2006]

well we could go in 40s his identity was secret but since it was known over the years about the SS program got leaked to the public/declassified we could have cap being public known in present day.

[Timstuff]

In that case, perhaps in the 40's he should have his identity kept secret, and in the 21st century everyone knows his identity.

[Spider-Vader]

there's a trustworthy organization.

I'm saying that if someone messes with a family member or something, Steve would have the help of the government or military.

[Artistsean]

I would actually be fine either way, and probably even really happy either way.
Cap is a symbol of America, so if they decided to have his identity be secret, I'm all for that. And if they had it classified during WWII, so it was secret then, thats awesome. If he was known in present time because of the age of instant news and information, and the fact that maybe everyone would know since that information might not be classified anymore, thats cool. But maybe its slightly known, or still classified to this day and few if any know his real identity, maybe few remember him. I am all for any of these ideas.
I do like that idea of Steve Rogers not having a secret identity because he isn't a superhero, more like a super government agent. That would make his character stand out from all the superhero movies out there, and show that Marvel character's break the mold. Plus in reality it would be very hard for a celebrity like Captain America (he would be a celebrity) to keep any secrets from the paparazzi.
But I also like the idea that the government would want his identity to be secret, plus he would probably want a gettaway life where he can relax and not have to be Captain America from time to time (like thats possible). A break from the superhero life where he interacts with non-super powered people and maybe works on comics.
Each has its draws, its good points. Plus ways it would be reasonable and realistic to include in the movie, but I am sure each has its down sides too. I guess if they wanted to they could always try both, have it be secret and see how people respond and then have him reveal it later. I guess we will have to wait and see.

So I can go either way, I just didn't include a middle ground because I forgot.

[Timstuff]

I think it makes sense that his identity would be kept secret, but then after being frozen for 60 years, the SS program has been declassified, and his identity had been revealed since everyone believed he was dead.

[Bren]

Government protection??? How quick are your police to respond to danger at your home? Albeit this is your Captain America, how much is government protection worth against the Kangs and co. anyway?

Think, Loki knows who you are, where you sleep and who you care about.
That would scare me almost as much as being backed by Government would!

In the real world, he would be unknown. In the movie, the baddies knowing him would be great!

[Lobo]

The Government should know, but other troop members should not.

[ironman29758]

I think that people should know Steve Rogers is Captain America to have a person people can trust or have it like Webhead2006 said and have his identity secret in the 40s and public after people belived he's dead

[CHEZ]

Why else would he wear a mask?

There must be a justification for the mask. He is a top-secret soldier.

[Webhead2006]

well in most modern comics he is publically known right, and still wears the mask, well the mask could just be that a symbol.

[Artistsean]

Exactly, it wouldn't be hard to find a justification for him wearing a mask or a costume.
During WWII Captain America was sort of used to help the War effort, he was on posters, he went to schools to talk to children, he was probably in radio commercials, and news reels before movies. Cap was more than a soldier back then as well, he was a symbol to the soldiers, the enemy, and the people at home. Even if his identity wasn't a secret back then, although I think it should be back then, he would need a mask to help be a symbol.
Perhaps its like some others have suggested, during WWII the Super Soldier project was classified and so his identity would be too, so he wore a mask. So now that he is unfrozen people would still expect him to wear a mask because thats what Captain America looks like to them.
Or maybe Captain America is meant to be more of a symbol than a man, in the eyes of Steve Rogers of SHIELD or something, and so he wears a mask to give Captain America his own face and his own identity.
One story I read Steve said he died that day and was reborn as Captain America, so maybe its like Nolan's Batman. the Captain America mask is Steve's real face.
There would not be a problem figuring out why he would still wear a mask even though the public knows who Captain America is (he is Steve Rogers). It would just have to depend on the story being told.

If you make his identity known then you sort of loose the whole Kent, Parker, thing were he has a secret life and a girlfriend and a job as a comic artist, and friends who had no idea who Steve really is.
However it is more realistic to think that his identity would be sort of known to the public. Even if its just a matter of public record once the Super Soldier Project is declassified.
Again, it also makes sense that his identity would be secret. To keep those around him safe and to allow him to have a life outside of Captain America.
But again, you would make his story just another superhero story where the hero has a secret life. making his identity known, and making him more of a public servant or government agent, makes his story different than Spider-Man's, Superman's, Batman's, even Iron Man's.


Perhaps his identity being a secret can be a major issue for the character, he has no reason to keep it secret and feels like the public should know who he is, but then he wants Cap to be a symbol of America and so on. At the end of the movie on live TV Cap can remove his mask, look straight into the camera, and say "I am Steve Rogers, and I am Captain America!"
Like he did in that Cassaday illustrated comic.

[Ultraman Nexus]

I think it should be a secret. Otherwise why even bother with a mask. Also, the secret identity aspect of heroes is something I enjoy and for the purpose of this particular character he's in an interesting position where the lines between his real self and the symbol that he has literally become may be much more blurred than they with other superheroes.

Maybe part of his story is to once again find the man within the icon so that the icon can fulfill his mission.

[CHEZ]

The purpose for the mask is to hide the true identity.

Cap wears a mask.

He is a top-secret military experiment.

Only a select few should know his true identity.

It makes sense that if the man is going to wear a mask, it should be for a reason.

It would be ridiculous to run around wearing a mask when everybody knows it's you.

When he removes the mask he is free to be Steve Rogers, when he puts the mask on, he becomes the representative of America. But, the mask also allows Captain America to be universally accepted, by all races. When the mask is on the world should not think of Steve Rogers, they should think solely of Captain America.

I am not sure why this is even in question.

[Webhead2006]

Yea i said it before there is a variety of ways they could go about it. But yes having the secret id is always a nice thing to see in hero movies. Certain characters like ff/im work with no secret id because they are a different type of hero the more celebrity hero then peter parker, matt murrdock, or clark kent. I would like to see secret id kept. But like that idea i said before where it was secret in the 40s due to classifed government reasons, but since its been decades since cap disapeared and through the years the government declassified the info and it became public knowledge.

[Artistsean]

Its a question because people like it either way and the movie will have to decide.
In the 616 world Steve had a secret ID till after 911.
In the Ultimates comic it was never a secret really, I don't think. It was sort of not made a real issue.
Steve would go to a bar to talk with Thor or Hank Pym wearing his costume (no mask) and a leather jacket.

[Artistsean]

Something else to consider is the supporting cast you would get with either choice (secret or known).
If Cap's identity is secret, and he has a life as Steve Rogers we could get a supporting cast that could include:

Bernie Rosenthal
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/seanstarrunner/cap%20costume/738884-bernie_rosenthal3.jpg

Josh Cooper
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/seanstarrunner/cap%20costume/JoshCooper.jpg

Mike Ferrall
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/seanstarrunner/cap%20costume/MikeFarrell.jpg

Along with some SHIELD agents as well.

If Captain America's identity is known, not hidden at least,
We might get a supporting cast that could include:

Sharon Carter
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/seanstarrunner/cap%20costume/sharoncarter.jpg

Nick Fury
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/seanstarrunner/cap%20costume/samjackson_nick-fury.jpg

Falcon/ Samuel Thomas Wilson
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/seanstarrunner/cap%20costume/457854-401px_falcon01.jpg

A mostly SHIELD, and other government agencies, cast

[ironman29758]

I think it's unrealistic for Cap's identity to be secret after he is frozen in a block of ice.

[roach]

I think he needs the secret identity because he was America's secret weapon. Cap isnt someone who fought on the front lines. You dont call Cap in to take out a gun placement. You call Cap in because the Red Skull has a giant robot trashing New York. A secret identity wouldnt matter to a german grunt at Normandy. Now if he retains it after he comes to the modern era is a different thing

[Triad]

I agree with roach.
You should have his identity a secret in WWII. After his disappearance, perhaps to assist in the search effort and/or because he was a national icon, it only seems rational that the press would be allowed to report his true identity. The real question is once he is thawed in the present-day, can he really live a private life ever again?

[Artistsean]

That made me think of something,
When Cap disappeared back during WWII and was thought dead after so many years,
It was likely broadcast to all of America that the brave hero Captain America, secretly known as Steve Rogers, is presumed dead.

People would be trying to honor a hero right? So why wouldn't they, also the Rogers family and Steve's friends would need to know. But perhaps to the public he was kept as Captain America, the symbol, and his family and friends were informed only.

[roach]

I dont think that they let anyone know Cap was gone as they had several imposters take up the mantle of Cap.

[Webhead2006]

well we dont know how they will go about things in the film. Though like i said before and others it should be secret in ww2 but once he is in present day it is probably known since through the years the SS program probably went public through government declassification of programs, like for example project blue book and others.

[roach]

well we dont know how they will go about things in the film. Though like i said before and others it should be secret in ww2 but once he is in present day it is probably known since through the years the SS program probably went public through government declassification of programs, like for example project blue book and others.

Cap's identity going public is a recent thing during the storylines post 9/11. I dont think a program like the SS program would ever go public. They would acknowledge that Cap was a SS that they made but I dont think they'd ever come out and say Steve Rogers was a SS and Cap. Especially since it was still in the military's hands and General Ross had access to it in TIH. Infact judging by Blonsky's response to Ross talking about it he didnt know too much about it. Going on my 11 years in the military we know all about the new cutting age military tech coming out before anyone anyone else.

[Webhead2006]

Yea i guess we will find out come 2011 for cap/2012 for avengers.

[Anubis]

I think during WWII he should have a secret I.D. cuz, that would be effin' stupid not to have it be classified. But I think his ID should have been revealed after his supposed death/Suspended animation.

[roach]

why would his ID be revealed after his supposed death?

[S_H_F_4839]

I could see his identity being public knowledge in WWII but when he is brought back in modern times, people would think that the government had created a new one, we live in a cynical society, where almost noone would think he is the same cap from WWII.

[roach]

His identity should be secret during WW2 or there would be no use for a mask. Add to it that he was pretending to be a screw up Private in the Army always being yelled at by Sgt Duffy....i find it hard to believe that if Sgt Duffy knew he was Cap he'd yell at him. I hope they use the WW2 stuff as there is wonderful characters to be used...Sgt Duffy, FbI Agent Betsy Ross, Bucky, General Phillips...Im writing a fan fic on what I think happed after Rogers got the SSS. Most origins have him becoming Cap right after. I want to go into his training and his first mission...almost a Captain America year one

[Webhead2006]

Well i could see the film probably going over a course of a few months/up to a year after he became cap with the SSS.

[Triad]

His identity should be secret during WW2 or there would be no use for a mask. Add to it that he was pretending to be a screw up Private in the Army always being yelled at by Sgt Duffy....i find it hard to believe that if Sgt Duffy knew he was Cap he'd yell at him. I hope they use the WW2 stuff as there is wonderful characters to be used...Sgt Duffy, FbI Agent Betsy Ross, Bucky, General Phillips...Im writing a fan fic on what I think happed after Rogers got the SSS. Most origins have him becoming Cap right after. I want to go into his training and his first mission...almost a Captain America year one

I'd be interested in reading that!

[Anubis]

why would his ID be revealed after his supposed death?

I don't know, I could see them putting up a memorial or something after a few decades to honor him and revealing his identity.

[roach]

I'd be interested in reading that!

I hope people find it cool. It'll have a SkyCaptain feel to it and will play up his secret identity

[Red Mask]

I think it's believable that he would reveal his identity after being revived from the ice. It's not a question of whether he wears a mask as Captain America, because even that mask can be remade into a special helmut for modern times. The trick would be proving that the mask is simply part of the costume that represents America. Steve isn't hiding behind the flag when he dons the costume.

[Webhead2006]

Yea even with his id known in current stuff he still wears the suit/cowl its more of the symbol of america i say. Will be intersting to see what route they choose to go.

[Artistsean]

I am still unsure which I would want.

You choose one you gain things the other doesn't have, but you also loose things.

With a secret ID you get him having a secret life away from the government, superhero life, and away from Captain America.
He can have friends who are regular people, a civilian girlfriend, and a day job as a comic artist. But you loose his movie being different in that he isn't just another superhero with a secret identity. He is a government agent. That parts makes his movie stand out from the movies like Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman.

But if you has a known identity you loose the secret life stuff.

There can be justifications made for having a known or unknown,
Cap wears a mask no matter what because its the symbol of America. Not to hide his identity, at least not only to do that.

I would like to see the way the movie goes. I will probably be happy with both.