History Main / DeducingTheSecretIdentity

** Chloe managed to figure out the heroes' identities a while ago. With Ladybug, it was a matter of considering who she knows that is short, Asian, has blue eyes and pigtails, [[IndyPloy is a savant at thinking of plans and improvising on the spot]], and is sweet as can be. She also notes an incident where Marinette dropped her bag and Tikki fell out, which she brushed off as a plushie. When Chloe met Pollen, she noticed the similarities with Marinette's 'plushie', and put two and two together. With Cat Noir (whom she claims was the first one she figured out), it was that fact that both he and Adrien are blonde with green eyes, dorks who love [[PungeonMaster Puns]] and anime, 'act cool but are a disaster', and are allergic to feathers (that last one was the clincher). With the other heroes, it's simply a matter of considering the rest of Marinette's classmates and narrowing down those she'd trust the most with this sort of thing. She confides this to Alix (who helps her figure out that Viperion is Luka), and the two of them, sick and tired of the Adrinette/[=LadyNoir=] lovesquare, stage a series of events that result in all the heroes learning each other's identities.

* ''WebComic/ScarletLady'': An ongoing storyline in the series is Chat Noir trying to learn the identity of Bee Miraculous holder Marigold (aka Marinette). Later, after Marinette sees Tikki be "stolen" by Chloe when the former is too sick to fight back (Chloe actually holds the Ladybug Miraculous in this AU and was simply refusing to get the sick Tikki help), she enlists Chat Noir's help in trying to deduce Scarlet Lady's identity so they can take the earrings from her (thinking that if Scar is careless enough to let her kwami get kidnapped, then she's too irresponsible to be a hero).

* ''Film/Daredevil2003'': Throughout the film [[IntrepidReporter Ben Urich]] tries to figure the identity of Daredevil, who believed to be just a rumor at first. Then Nikolas Natchios' murder, Ben realizes that Matt Murdock is Daredevil when informant in police forensics shows one of Daredevil's Billy clubs found at the scene of the murder, and that it changed into a mobility cane. However, at the end of the film [[SecretKeeper he chooses not to reveal Matt's identity to the public]], realizing that Daredevil does good in the community.

*** With all the time that MJ spends spying on Peter, she ''would'' notice all the times he disappears without providing a decent explanation as to why especially since he and Spider-Man are ''somehow'' never in the same place at the same time. Adrian Toomes figured it out in the span of ''one conversation'', small wonder that an intelligent girl with a crush on Peter realizes it long before the movie begins.

*** Peter Parker himself is his own worst enemy when it comes to this. Yes, he wears a mask, but not only does he speak in his regular voice, he [[MotorMouth talks a mile a minute]], cannot shut up to save his life, [[BadLiar is a horrible liar]], and has the world's worst poker face. Therefore, it is not difficult for several people to figure out his secret identity.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}'': Oliver Queen planned on this happening. As he tells Diggle, him returning seemingly from the dead and then a masked vigilante stalking the city would have been far too easy for people to conclude it. But having Diggle act as the vigilante while he's under observation puts him in the clear.

* ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'':
** In "The Trap", Iris realized that Barry was The Flash when she felt a Speed Force spark after touching The Flash's hand, which she had felt earlier when she touched Barry. She had also interacted with both many times, so may have subconsciously noticed the similarities between the two before the spark put the pieces together.
** In "The Reverse Flash Returns", after Barry acts strangely towards Patty, she goes over Barry's old case files and realizes all the ones that involve the Flash saving the day include details that Barry couldn't have known unless he was the Flash. After Joe and Barry try to gaslight her, Patty calls Barry with a fake emergency while on the train to see if and how quickly the Flash shows up. When he realizes he's been caught, he stops vibrating his face in front of her, proving to Patty she was right before they part ways.

* In the second season premiere of ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', Nate Heywood comes to Oliver Queen for help and mentions that he knows Oliver is Green Arrow. When Oliver asks how he knew, Nate points out he figured it out from Oliver returning and the vigilante becoming active at the same time and saw through the ruse of having someone else wear the costume.

* ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'': Happens multiple times with [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Cat Grant]]. She deduces that Kara is Supergirl due to how she conveniently leaves before Supergirl arrives at the scene. She also figures out that Barry is the Flash during his crossover episode because he arrived at National City at the same time the new speedster did and that James is Guardian due to how she easily recognizes that a black man is wearing the suit via the gap between his eyes. Though she initially seems thrown off by Martian Manhunter shapeshifting into Supergirl while Kara is present in the first case, by the end of Season 2, Cat is confirmed to either have [[SecretSecretKeeper figured out the ruse or was never fooled by it in the first place]]. The series finale confirms that Cat figured it out in the first week after Supergirl's debut.

* ''Film/AntMan1'': [[HopeSpot Just as it appears Scott is about to successfully steal the Yellowjacket suit]], Darren Cross not only reveals that he is prepared for the new Ant-Man, but he has already figured out Scott's identity due to doing research on him as the kind of man who Hank would seek out, a man who lost everything including his family for doing the right thing, and the fact that Scott disappeared from jail without a trace despite having no money to his name.

* ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'': Being a man of enormous intelligence and vast resources, Lex easily discovers the Trinity's secret identities (and also those of other future Justice League members). The only reason he doesn't go public with this information is because he has been declared mentally insane, so no one is gonna take his word seriously.

* ''Film/ManOfSteel'': Unlike previous installments, Lois is able to figure out Clark's identity from the start, by following his work history and getting information from people who worked with him until it finally leads her to Smallville.

* ''[[Film/Shazam2019 SHAZAM!]]'': When Billy's foster siblings see Shazam arguing with Freddy on the news, Mary pieces together that Billy is Shazam because not only were Billy and Freddy similarly arguing at the dinner table, but when Shazam rescued Mary earlier in the film, he knew her name and that she lived in a foster home. Darla, who found out Billy was Shazam earlier in the film and promised to keep it a secret, congratulates the kids for finding out on their own.

* ''Film/SpiderManHomecomingTrilogy'':
** ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'': When Peter is riding with Liz and Adrian Toomes to the school dance, Toomes pieces together that Peter is Spider-Man when Liz talks about how he keeps disappearing, both at her party and in Washington DC.
** ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'':
*** With all the time that MJ spends spying on Peter, she ''would'' notice all the times he disappears without providing a decent explanation as to why especially since he and Spider-Man are ''somehow'' never in the same place at the same time. Adrian Toomes figured it out in the span of ''one conversation'', small wonder that an intelligent girl with a crush on Peter realizes it long before the movie begins.
---->'''MJ:''' I mean...[[LampshadeHanging It was kind of obvious.]]
*** Peter Parker himself is his own worst enemy when it comes to this. Yes, he wears a mask, but not only does he speak in his regular voice, he [[MotorMouth talks a mile a minute]], cannot shut up to save his life, [[BadLiar is a horrible liar]], and has the world's worst poker face. Therefore, it is not difficult for several people to figure out his secret identity.

** Chloe managed to figure out the heroes' identities a while ago. With Ladybug, it was a matter of considering who she knows that is short, Asian, has blue eyes and pigtails, [[IndyPloy is a savant at thinking of plans and improvising on the spot]], and is sweet as can be. With Cat Noir (whom she claims was the first one she figured out), it was that fact that both he and Adrien are blonde with green eyes, dorks who love [[PungeonMaster Puns]] and anime, 'act cool but are a disaster', and are allergic to feathers (that last one was the clincher). With the other heroes, it's simply a matter of considering the rest of Marinette's classmates and narrowing down those she'd trust the most with this sort of thing. She confides this to Alix (who helps her figure out that Viperion is Luka), and the two of them, sick and tired of the Adrinette/[=LadyNoir=] lovesquare, stage a series of events that result in all the heroes learning each other's identities.
** Max reveals that Markhov was able to figure out their identities with a simple facial recognition program, since A.I.s are apparently immune to [[ClarkKenting the Glamour the protects their identities]]. However, because Max ''wasn't'' immune, he initially wrote it off as a glitch in the program, which Markhov, due to Max's efforts to 'correct' him, agreed. After everything was sorted out, Max reveals that Markhov has discovered a new emotion: [[IToldYouSo Smug]].

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'': In the sequel ''Ghosts of the Past'', Lois Lane figures out that Clark Kent is Superman (or Kal El as he goes by) thanks to the resemblance and personality. And he flew into his house.

* ''Film/ManOfSteel'': Unlike previous installments, Lois is able to figure out Clark's identity from the start, by following his work history and getting information from people who worked with him until it finally leads her to Smallville.

* ''WesternAnimation/MoonGirlAndDevilDinosaur'': In the season one finale "O.M.G", we find out that Lunella's grandmother, Mimi, knew from the start that her granddaughter was Moon Girl, because: Moon Girl was a teen using technology that only Lunella is smart enough build, Mimi already knew about Lunella's secret lab where Devil Dinosaur stays, and Mimi used to be a scientist and built the portal that brought Devil to LES. She's also [[SecretSecretKeeper secretly been helping her keep her identity safe]]. [[RewatchBonus It makes some of their previous scenes alone together a lot more meaningful once the viewer knows this]].

-->'''Batman:''' Now do you see why I'm so sure of him, [[IKnowYourTrueName Ollie]]?\\

** When Ethan Bennett is mutated into Clayface, after exposed to a chemical the Joker created called "Joker Putty", and Batman is able figure out that Ethan is Clayface when analyzing a staple he got from him during a fight, and remembering how Clayface was first spotted in Ethan's neighborhood, and how Clayface attacked Chief Rojas, who Ethan has been at odds with before the former suspended him before his mutation. The same goes for Detective Ellen Yin when she talks to her former partner.

*** At the end of the episode Bruce drops a hint or two to allow Virgil to figure out his identity, as a show of trust..

** When Ethan Bennett is mutated into Clayface, after exposed to a chemical the Joker created called "Joker Putty", and Batman is able figure out that Ethan is Clayface when analyzing a staple he got from during a fight, and remembering how Clayface was first spotted in Ethan's neighborhood, and how Clayface attacked Chief Rojas, who Ethan has been at odds with before the former suspended him before his mutation. The same goes Detective Ellen Yin when she talks to her former partner.

* ''[[Film/Shazam2019 SHAZAM!]]'': When Billy's foster siblings see Shazam arguing with Freddy on the news, Mary pieces together that Billy is Shazam because not only were Billy and Freddy similarly arguing at the dinner table, but when Shazam rescued Mary earlier in the film, he knew her name and that she lived in a foster home. Darla, who found out Billy was Shazam earlier in the film and promised to keep it a secret, congratulates the kids for finding out on their own.

*** At the end of the episode, when Virgil meets up with Bruce Wayne, he remembers seeing Alfred in the Batcave, though Bruce suggests he meant this to be a hint.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'': Hal realizes that Metroman is Megamind in disguise because of the latter's peculiar way of saying "Metrocity" (Megamind pronounces it like "atrocity").

* In the ''Fanfic/HoursVerse'', after completing the Casino palace, Ann finds out that her ''entire class'' had figured out that she, Akira, and Ryuji are members of the Phantom Thieves. This was due to them seeing Akira keeping Morgana with him, making lockpicks in class, and him suddenly missing school after the leader of the Phantom Thieves committed suicide.

** In "Now You See Him...", a villain named Speedwrap, who can travel through hyper time, then unmasks Gear and recognizes him as Richie Foley, he deduces that Static is Virgil Hawkins due the fact the former is best friends with the latter, and threatens to reveal their identities if they continue to get in his way. Fortunately, Speedwarp's current condition at the end of the episode, where he is left moving at slower than normal pace, [[DeathBySecretIdentity stop him from revealing their identities]].