Maintaining your secret identity

[Dannyalcatraz]

Superman-level powers in today’s RW, start by shopping globally using cash:

Step 1: assemble a core crime fighting outfit consisting of quality but nondescript gear, including motorcycle helmets, riding leathers, boots, gloves, multi-pocket belts, etc. One won’t be enough- your deeds, and reactions thereto will wear them out quickly. Protection is less of an issue than ID concealment, but good gear will last longer.

Step 2) a polycarbonate (or similar) bullet resistant riot shield could be handy- again, less for protecting YOU and more for protecting your other gear from wear & tear PLUS facilitating protection of others.

Step 3) modify the suits with internal padding to alter your silhouette.

Step 4: assuming your temperature tolerances are kryptonian in nature, add an under layer of things like latex gloves to minimize leaving your DNA* or fingerprints behind.

Step 5: modify your helmets with voice-altering technology.

Step 6: conceal the appearance of your eyes, not only with your helmet visors, but possibly also goggles, sunglasses, and contacts.

Step 7: add tools to your kit like a nightstick, zip ties, Swiss Army knife and so forth. Again, all off the shelf stuff that’s quality without being exotic.





* unanswered question: would RW tech even be capable of extracting DNA from your superheroic cells? If any portion of the process is destructive, the answer might be no.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Remember, Superman has super hearing and hears people being mugged in the moment. He hears the struggle or cries for help and can be there in a fraction of a second. He'd be present to stop a whole lot.

Assuming he wants any kind of superwork/life balance, he’s going to decide for himself what is the “optimal” amount of crime he’ll let occur.

 

[Koloth]

In today's society where most people have a full featured recording studio in their pockets, your super hero activities will be recorded and posted. Any normal life friends will most likely look at said posts and eventually one will notice "Hey, that super hero looks like Fred!" Then ask you the next time you meet, hey that guy looks just like you...." If it is a close friend, it probably can tell when you are lying. Your choices once you get powers are to either become a hermit or have a plan for when you are outed.

If you are more like the comic Superman and are born into it, might be an easier task to keep secret. If you already have a very established public presence as Bob from Accounting before you get your powers, won't take long before a friend or co-worker makes the connection between the online videos and you, Bob from Accounting.

 

[Rabulias]

I am reminded of the scene from The Dark Knight:

And that is "just" Batman. Imagine Superman's level of power. Anyone trying to control a Superman-level being needs to know it will not go well.

If I were such a superbeing I would constantly scan the world for significantly sized lead-lined spaces. That is where someone will hide kryptonite and/or take your kidnapped love ones. In fact, I would watch out for kryptonite too. Assuming I could see atomic structure from far enough away that it would not weaken me, I would get a big shovel, a set of long tongs, or maybe just a crane scoop, collect it all up and toss it into the sun.

 

[Tonguez]

I would get a full armor suit with closed visor (so no one sees my face) Then sign up as a Government Asset in return for protection of my family/loved ones.

Then invoking Superman is a genius develop a whole slew of other identical suits with flight, strength enhancement and lazer eyes to distribute to a new "Super Legion" (bonus theyre immune to kryptonite radiation).

The Super Legion gets deployed while I chill in my Fortress of Family relaxation, only responding to real crisis points.

 

[Aeson]

Well a sweet mask, gloves, latex suit and what not to lessen the DNA I leave behind.

Then living the life of a vagabond so every time I fly into action its from a diffrent spot. Take a page from TVs Incredible Hulk ( but maybe not always only hitch hiking somewhere within 15 miles of Los Angeles ( but I guess that could be Korea because im pretty sure MASH is filled on the other side of that hill))

View attachment 426034

I've joked about how many places looked exactly like that same area. It's uncanny.

 

[Aeson]

I'm not sure it can be done realistically. It works for Superman because the writers want it to.

 

[MarkB]

I am reminded of the scene from The Dark Knight:

View attachment 426047
And that is "just" Batman. Imagine Superman's level of power. Anyone trying to control a Superman-level being needs to know it will not go well.

Yeah, but that "wealthiest most powerful" part doesn't apply to most of us in our public personae, and won't unless you're intending to go full supervillain and do some heists, so we only have the "beating criminals" part going for us.

That said, I wonder what the easiest legal way is for a Superman equivalent to become super-rich. Can't really do it in-character because even large cash payments made to you could be traced when you deposited them to your bank account. Superman can crush coal into diamonds, but tracing gemstones' provenance by examining their composition is standard practice and anyone selling untraceable diamonds will come under suspicion. Maybe finding large deposits of valuable minerals using super-senses? But you still need to have enough wealth in the first place to buy the land, and then a plausible way to "discover" the wealth and then sell it on.