History BecomingTheMask / ComicBooks

* Franchise/{{Batman}}:

** Pre-Crisis Superman had a story in which Clark Kent tries to prevent the demolition of his old home. Pete Ross assumes it's because he's afraid the workers will find something that'll give away his secret identity, but it's really because of Supes' sentimentality. Pete's last line is pretty much the trope.
** In ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #303, a con man called Biff Rigger masquerades as Fred and Edna Danvers' long-lost son Jan in order to steal Jan's grandfather's savings. Upon discovering Jan's adoptive sister is ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, Biff tricks her into giving him temporary powers; yet still, he ends up using those powers to save her, at the cost of his own life. Before dying, Biff reveals he liked him having a family, and begs Supergirl to not tell the Danvers he wasn't their real son.
** In the Silver and UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks, ComicBook/LexLuthor initially only helped an alien race rebuild its civilization in order to gain their cooperation--but when they hailed him as a hero (even renaming their planet Lexor!), he realized he ''liked'' being considered a good guy. Lexor became his home away from home for years, until the planet was accidentally destroyed in a fight with Supes. This tragedy caused a major VillainousBreakdown.

* The Creator/{{Vertigo|Comics}} version of ''Series/HumanTarget'' written by Peter Milligan was all about this. The main character, Christopher Chance, was so good at imitating the people he was meant to protect that he needed post-hypnotic triggers to resume his "normal" personality. This problem largely presents itself when he's not in contact with the person he's impersonating, and especially when that person is dead. In the most advanced cases, he has literally forgotten that he was ever Christopher Chance.

* From the ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'', we have the ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'', who were originally the newest incarnation of the Masters of Evil, posing as superheroes to win the public's trust while the major superheroes were apparently dead for a year. Their leader, Baron Zemo, eventually leaked their true identities to try to avert a HeelFaceTurn before he could TakeOverTheWorld. It didn't work; the majority of the team defeated him, and tried -- for various reasons -- to actually become heroes. [[AntiHero To the best of their moral abilities, anyway.]]
** Only the first incarnation of the Thunderbolts counts as this. During ''Comicbook/CivilWar'' the new Thunderbolts team was no longer "Reformed villains trying to actually be the heroes they'd originally pretended to be" and was instead "a bunch of violent thugs we stuck mind control chips into so we could use them for black ops" who they [[IdiotBall put under the direction of]] ComicBook/NormanOsborn and by ''Comicbook/DarkReign'' had morphed into "Norman Osborn's especially vicious group of thugs because the Dark Avengers weren't bad enough."

** It’s most notable when Batman is unmasked in the [[ElaborateUndergroundBase Bat-Cave]] and talking to his allies. He speaks, behaves and acts like a [[TheStoic completely different person]] than “Bruce Wayne” the [[AwesomeEgo swaggering]] [[TheCasanova womanising]] {{Jerkass}} playboy the public see in the daytime.

* [[AwesomeMcCoolName Zachary T. Paleozogt]] IS ''ComicBook/{{Zot}}''

* Marvel's first [[ComicBook/CaptainMarVell Captain Marvel]] was a Kree soldier named Mar-vell, who came to Earth to spy out humanity. He eventually came over to Earth's side for real.

* ComicBook/{{Loki}} is on the way to this if the powers that be let them with the mask being ''their child-self''. [[spoiler:He died to be reborn as a child (''Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery''), but also left a copy of his old consciousness behind to [[BodySnatcher obliterate the child and take over his body]] when the time is right, to basically pull a MemoryGambit. Now the new Loki born out of this is stuck between two different roles (''Comicbook/YoungAvengers''), and tries very hard to become the mask (''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard''), because it's preferable to the [[ChronicVillainy alternative]].]]

** Played straight with ComicBook/NormanOsborn, before ''ComicBook/DarkAvengers'' and other modern comics the “Green Goblin” was just a mask for Norman to hide his insanity behind. Yet during a VillainousBreakdown it becomes clear the Goblin side has become his true self, i.e a [[EvilLaugh cackling]] AxCrazy lunatic, upon retrieving his Goblin (unwashed) costume to go kill Swordsman, Norman actually [[{{Squick}} sniffs it in satisfaction]] and considers making it his presidential uniform. It’s also noticeable in earlier comics like ''ComicBook/ThePulse'' where Norman acts as psychotic as the Goblin behind closed doors.

** Spidey himself is a low-key version of this as especially seen in the original Creator/StanLee and Creator/SteveDitko run. Prior to being bitten by a radioactive spider Peter Parker was complete wall flower who meekly let others walk all over him, after getting bitten and taking on the identity of Spider-Man the dashing web slinger Peter got a lot of self confidence and started stand up for himself fighting back against JerkJock Flash and more confidence [[ChickMagnet with women too]]. Noticeably in later comics Peter starts quipping and making Spider-Man- jokes even he’s out of costume and just talking to Aunt May or Mary Jane.

* Interestingly used in ''ComicBook/{{Lucifer}}'', where a shapeshifter is trapped in the form of a grieving father (whom it had killed to assume his shape, to try (and apparently succeed) at killing his daughter) and gradually becomes more the grieving father than the ancient shapeshifter from before the universe. This doesn't seem come about entirely honestly, though -- much of the father's mentality seems to be forced onto the shapeshifter by the same magic that traps it in his form.

* In ''Comicbook/RomSpaceknight,'' the only sympathetic Dire Wraith we ever meet is one who had disguised himself as a husband and father... and realized that [[GoodFeelsGood he actually liked it,]] and didn't want to be evil any more. Sadly, the other Wraiths will have none of it and kill him.

** ComicBook/{{Azrael}} Jean-Paul Valley]] starts suffering this at the end of his SanitySlippage during ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', ultimately declaring that if he wasn't Batman, he was nothing.

** Paula von Gunther was blackmailed into working with the Nazis, but by the time Diana caught her she was obviously reveling in it as being forced into such a position had turned her bitter and nihilistic to the point that she stopped caring about anyone who wasn't her daughter, whose life the Nazis held in their hands. She does redeem herself and change her ways after her daughter is saved and she's spent some time on Reformation Island, after which she pours her creative science into helping the allies.

* Issue #20 of ''ComicBook/ThePowerpuffGirls'' (DC run), "Bow Jest," posits how Blossom becomes ineffective as both a fighter and leader of the team after she loses her hairbow. Buttercup steals it and won't give it back. Mojo Jojo thinks that if Blossom can be reduced to a sobbing mess without her bow, then it must possess some intangible powers. He manages to obtain it during a confrontation with the girls and feels invincible... until Bubbles (of all people) clocks him, takes the bow back, angrily slams it on Blossom's head and gives her a dressing down about the bow being nothing more than HairDecorations.

** ComicBook/TheUltimates: Hulk's personality has increasingly overwritten Bruce's as the series has gone on, making the unHulked Bruce more and more like his monstrous alter-ego. In turn, Hulk grows more eloquent (like when he offered Wolverine a cup of tea in the Tibetan Mountains) as time goes one, but is still prone to murderous rampages.

* Played with in ''Comicbook/SpiderGwen'': In her backstory, she allowed her overconfidence in her abilities as Spider-Woman to blind her to Peter’s feelings. After [[Main/ILetGwenStacyDie his]] [[DeathByOriginStory death]], she [[TheAtoner is more careful]] to define her mask before letting her be defined by it, but she’s clearly not immune to this trope, considering how she reacts to [[spoiler: losing her powers.]]
* Franchise/{{Batman}}: In the Silver Age, Batman was the mask Bruce Wayne wore, in a nod to ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}''. Bruce Wayne is now merely [[SecretIdentityIdentity Batman in disguise]] and not the reverse, and his subconscious calls him Batman, as seen in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''. Like everything with Franchise/{{Batman}}, how much this is true varies [[DependingOnTheWriter from writer to writer]].
** Summarized in the novelization of ''Comicbook/{{Knightfall}}'', Alfred explains to Tim Drake that Batman uses the cowl to become a different personality, hearkening back to primitive beliefs that wearing the mask of a god is to become that god.

*** This happened to the Riddler in one of the {{alternate universe}}s depicted in ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheCapedCrusader'', {{foreshadow|ing}}ed in an early conversation.

*** From a purely psychological point of view, this makes sense, as it's Bruce Wayne, not Batman, who suffered the trauma of seeing his parents cut down, who needed an outlet for his pain. Batman on the other hand, didn't come into existence until Bruce had become a fully grown adult.
*** In the same story arc, a similar problem leads [[ComicBook/PlasticMan Eel O'Brian]] to reunite the alter-egos and reverse the process. He finds that, in the process of becoming a superhero for money (in his [[Creator/PhilFoglio Post-Crisis incarnation]]), he grew to love the trust and respect he received. After the split, however, his old desire to commit crimes returns, making him desperate to reverse the process before he does something unforgivable.

* In some incarnations, becoming the mask may be what led Dr. Harleen Quinzel to become Harley Quinn. In her origin story, ''Mad Love'', the possibility was brought up that she interned at Arkham Asylum to cash in on the infamy of its highly abnormal inmate body. Ultimately, she really does end up giving a damn about [[ComicBook/TheJoker a certain patient.]]
* [[ComicBook/{{Azrael}} Jean-Paul Valley]] starts suffering this at the end of his SanitySlippage during ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', ultimately declaring that if he wasn't Batman, he was nothing.
* Played with with Franchise/{{Superman}}. In UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}, Clark Kent was the mask worn by Superman. Beginning with John Byrne's reboot, Superman became the mask Clark Kent wore.
** UsefulNotes/{{The Silver Age|OfComicBooks}} ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' had a story in which Clark Kent tries to prevent the demolition of his old home. Pete Ross assumes it's because he's afraid the workers will find something that'll give away his secret identity, but it's really because of Supes' sentimentality. Pete's last line is pretty much the trope (remember, this is when writers had decided that Superman was the "real" identity and Clark Kent a mere disposable mask.)
** It eventually came back around to Clark Kent and Superman both being masks that he wears. Even as Clark, he has to pretend and hide things about his character and nature.
*** In a way, the only time he doesn't wear a mask is when he's married to Lois Lane. He can be down to earth Clark, but also share about all the troubles of being Superman with her.
* From the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, we have the ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'', who were originally the newest incarnation of the Masters of Evil, posing as superheroes to win the public's trust while the major superheroes were apparently dead for a year. Their leader, Baron Zemo, eventually leaked their true identities to try to avert a HeelFaceTurn before he could TakeOverTheWorld. It didn't work; the majority of the team defeated him, and tried -- for various reasons -- to actually become heroes. [[AntiHero To the best of their moral abilities, anyway.]]

* Interestingly used in ''Comicbook/{{Lucifer}}'', where a shapeshifter is trapped in the form of a grieving father (whom it had killed to assume his shape, to try (and apparently succeed) at killing his daughter) and gradually becomes more the grieving father than the ancient shapeshifter from before the universe. This doesn't seem come about entirely honestly, though -- much of the father's mentality seems to be forced onto the shapeshifter by the same magic that traps it in his form.
* Walter Kovacs from ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'', a formerly abused but relatively normal superhero, takes on the persona of his alter ego Rorschach after an event of [[DespairEventHorizon intense psychological trauma]], becoming a PrinciplesZealot in the process.

** "It was Kovacs who closed his eyes. It was Rorschach who opened them again." If that doesn't ''define'' this trope, nothing does.
** It was portrayed wonderfully with the art too, when the reader sees Rorschach in the past, he stands differently and looks odd compared to the Rorschach we know in the present. There's something very human about him that adds a quiet tragedy to the man we know now.

* Magica De Spell goes through this in the WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck story [[http://coa.inducks.org/story.php?c=D+98051 "Date with a Munchkin" by Kari Korhonen]], where she kidnaps Daisy Duck and takes her place in order to get close to Scrooge [=McDuck's=] NumberOneDime. During her time as Daisy, she receives Donald's affection for Daisy and takes a liking to their romance. (It helps that she's accidentally also dosed ''herself'' with the LovePotion she's using to forestall Donald's suspicions.) It culminates in a Duckburg ball where Magica originally intended to steal the dime, but chooses not to leave Donald's side. However, Daisy has escaped her restraints and crashes the ball, confronting Magica. When Donald takes Magica's side, believing that she's the real Daisy, Magica ends her illusion and flees the scene rather than break Daisy's heart. She later reflects that although she didn't manage the theft, she has experienced "a new feeling," and maybe that's worth something.

* In [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver]] and [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age]] ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics, ComicBook/LexLuthor initially only helped an alien race rebuild its civilization in order to gain their cooperation--but when they hailed him as a hero (even renaming their planet Lexor!), he realized he ''liked'' being considered a good guy. Lexor became his home away from home for years, until the planet was accidentally destroyed in a fight with Supes. This tragedy caused a major VillainousBreakdown.

* In the ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' story "This Man, This Monster," an unnamed scientist steals Ben Grimm's appearance, voice, and power in order to kill Reed Richards, whom he both envies and considers motivated solely by glory. However, in the course of working with him on a dangerous research project, the scientist becomes so convinced of Richards' selflessness that he sacrifices himself to save his life.

* ''ComicBook/AllNewUltimates'': Crossbones was a SHIELD agent, sent as a mole to infiltrate Renee Deladier's gang, and get info about her drugs. Renee was actually working for Hydra. However, he liked being a bad guy, so he abandoned the "mole" part and joined them for real.

* Played with in ''Comicbook/SpiderGwen'': In her backstory, she allowed her overconfidence in her abilities as Spiderwoman to blind her to Peter’s feelings. After [[Main/ILetGwenStacyDie his]] [[DeathByOriginStory death]], she [[TheAtoner is more careful]] to define her mask before letting her be defined by it, but she’s clearly not immune to this trope, considering how she reacts to [[spoiler: losing her powers.]]

* Played with in ‘’Comicbook/SpiderGwen’’: In her backstory, she allowed her overconfidence in her abilities as Spiderwoman to blind her to Peter’s feelings. After [[Main/ILetGwenStacyDie his]] [[DeathByOriginStory death]], she [[TheAtoner is more careful]] to define her mask before letting her be defined by it, but she’s clearly not immune to this trope, considering how she reacts to [[spoiler: losing her powers.]]

* Inverted in ''ComicBook/TheJudasContract'' arc of ''ComicBook/TeenTitans''. Terra is TheMole for ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}. Over the course of the comic there are few signs (such as when the Titans throw her a surprise birthday party) that she has grown to like them. In the end, Terra ''does'' betray them and even declares her undying hate for them. She ends up accidentally killing herself while trying to kill them ''and'' Deathstroke (who betrayed her).

* Played with in ‘’Comicbook/RadioactiveSpidergwen’’: Jn her backstory, she allowed her overconfidence in her abilities as Spiderwoman to blind her to Peter’s feelings. After [[Main/ILetGwenStacyDie his]] [[DeathByOriginStory death]], she [[TheAtoner is more careful]] to define her mask before letting her be defined by it, but she’s clearly not immune to this trope, considering how she reacts to [[spoiler: losing her powers.]]

** Christopher's protégé Tom [=McFadden=] actually has it even worse. Not only does he disappear into his adopted personas completely, but the inverse is also true -- Chance describes Tom as "leav[ing] something behind" when he discards an identity, and eventually he has no real sense or memory of who "Tom [=McFadden=]" ''is''.