In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, secret identities have always been optional. Unlike comic books, where heroes juggle double lives and steer clear of reporters, the MCU skips the whole alter-ego thing. It was clear from the start, with Tony Stark infamously blowing the lid off the trope by delivering his line “I am Iron Man.” Then, we saw gods walking among humans, spies announcing who they were working for, and even androids not being bothered with a disguise.
It’s a bold choice. It’s also quite cinematic. But at the same time, it is a major change from how the comic books originally portrayed these characters. Marvel Comics has a long history of secret identities adding tension, drama, and a touch of everyday relatability to their stories. Characters like Spider-Man and Daredevil have their entire arcs built around keeping their real identities hidden from the world.
But the MCU, for all its strengths and spectacle, tends to streamline things for clarity, but it leaves behind some of the most fascinating dual-life dynamics that make the characters who they are. So, for what it’s worth, here’s a list of 7 MCU characters who, in the comics, had secret identities, second lives, and cover stories that never made it to the big screen.
Rick Mason – The Agent
Definitely not a household name in the MCU, Rick Mason was seen in Black Widow as Natasha’s guy on the ground. The low-key fixer she calls when she needs gear, setting up safehouses, transport, or a Quinjet on short notice. Played by O-T Fagbenle, Mason is not a super-soldier of a flashy Avenger, but he has ties with ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. ties and knows the right people to get things done while moving quietly through the cracks. He also pops up in Secret Invasion to help Nick Fury with a Widow’s Veil and a private jet.
In the MCU, Rick Mason is a resourceful ally, but the comics paint a different picture. Back in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (1986), Rick was dubbed The Agent, a covert operative with a secret identity and a résumé that included missions for S.H.I.E.L.D., the CIA, and even the British government. Which is to say that The Agent wasn’t his codename, but a full-on personality. Plus, he’s the son of Phineas Mason, aka The Tinkerer, which adds a layer of tech-savvy legacy.
Vision – Victor Shade
With Avengers: Age of Ultron and the introduction of Vision, the MCU delivered one of the most emotionally complex arcs so far. Born from a mix of J.A.R.V.I.S., the Mind Stone, and a vibranium body originally built for Ultron, he is not a robot but not a human either. Vision is something grappling with identity and morality. Over the course of Civil War, Infinity War, and WandaVision, Vision goes from being an AI to an empathetic being. But even then, there’s no disguise or secret identity.
In the comics, Vision had a secret identity. Avengers #87 (1971) saw Vision taking on the alias of Victor Shade whenever he wanted to live like a normal person. He used a holographic disguise to appear as just another regular dude, which was also somewhat tragic because Vision was desperate for a life he knew he could never have. The MCU skips this entirely as we never see him adopt a civilian alias.
Baron Zemo – Masked Baron Persona
When Zemo shows up in the MCU, it’s very different from the cartoonish evil that comic book fans grew up with. Played with icy precision by Daniel Brühl in Captain America: Civil War, Zemo is a Sokovian colonel turned revenge-fueled mastermind who wants to dismantle the Avengers from within and will stop at nothing till he does so. He manipulates Bucky’s past, triggers Tony Stark, and orchestrates a showdown between Iron Man and Captain America. Then in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, we see a lighter, rich-guy version.
But comic book Zemo is still a far cry from MCU Zemo. Heinrich Zemo, the original Baron, first appeared in Avengers #6 (1964) rocking that signature purple hood, and his son, Helmut, inherited the mantle in Captain America #168 (1973) to keep the mask alive. The costume and the identity gave Zemo a bold and menacing personality, and the MCU strips away this duality.
Hank Pym – Yellowjacket
In the MCU, Hank Pym is the grumpy genius behind the original Ant-Man suit. He is played by Michael Douglas with just the right amount of brilliance and bitterness. Introduced in Ant-Man as a retired scientist who is protective of his tech and skeptical of anyone trying to replicate it, Pym’s backstory is traffic, and he’s got a complicated relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. Basically, he’s the inventor, the mentor, the guy who has been through a lot to suit up as a hero.
The Marvel Comics, however, feature Hank Pym as a guy who has more alter egos than most superheroes have costumes. After being Ant-Man, Giant-Man, and Goliath, he had a breakdown, and he went on to become Yellowjacket in Avengers #59 (1968). He claimed to have killed Goliath, and kidnapped Janet Van Dyne, who chose to go along with it. Yellowjacket had a sleek suit and an aggressive vibe. The MCU gives Darren Cross the Yellowjacket name and omits Hank Pym’s transformation altogether.
Wenwu/Mandarin – Classic Mandarin Identity
When Marvel teased Mandarin in Iron Man 3, fans thought they were finally going to witness the terrifying global terrorist, aka Tony Stark’s infamous comic book foe, on the big screen. Instead, they got Trevor Slattery, a washed-up actor pretending to be the Mandarin for the cameras, played hilariously by Ben Kingsley. Then Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings came in and corrected the course by giving us Tony Leung’s Xu Wenwu, Shang-Chi’s father and the ancient, powerful, and emotionally complex leader of the Ten Rings.
Even though he’s not called the Mandarin in the MCU, he’s clearly the answer to the comic book villain. Speaking of which, The Mandarin first showed up in Tales of Suspense #50 (1964) as a genius scientist and martial artist with ten alien rings, each with its own powers like ice blasts and mind control. He was Iron Man’s ultimate nemesis, but the whole secret-mastermind-with-alien-tech vibe does not exist in the movies. It’s a wild departure and that’s why he deserves a spot on the list.
Thor – Donald Blake
Thor in the MCU is pretty much always just… Thor. Chris Hemsworth is larger than life as soon as he steps onto the screen in 2011’s Thor, playing the brash, hammer-swinging God of Thunder with no interest in belonging to just one place. Even when he’s banished to Earth, he’s walking around like a Norse god, confused by coffee cups and demanding horses and pet stores. The Avengers, Ragnarok, and Love and Thunder never once try to hide who he is.
The closest we ever get to the Donald Blake reference is Jane Foster jokingly calling his fake ID “Donald Blake” in the first film. As opposed to that, the comics have a totally different setup. Back in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962), Thor’s father Odin sends him to Earth to learn humility. He does it by wiping Thor’s memory and forcing him to live as a frail, mortal doctor named Donald Blake. Blake finds a cane in a cave, smacks it against a rock, and turns into Thor. So he lives a double life, switching between god and doctor. Erasing this aspect of his story also erases a huge part of Thor’s early character arc from the MCU.
Iron Man – Bodyguard Cover/Secret Identity
Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man redefined superheroes in 2008’s Iron Man, and from the very start, instead of hiding behind a mask or concocting excuses, he flat-out declared to the press “I am Iron Man.” This set the tone for the MCU, where secret identities became a rare sighting. Across Iron Man 2, The Avengers, and beyond, Stark is always transparent, always in the public eye. He’s a billionaire, a genius, and a showman, and he’s not about to pretend to be someone else. When S.H.I.E.L.D. hands him a cover story, claiming Iron Man is his bodyguard, he refuses to hide. It’s what makes him different from other superheroes.
The comic book version of Tony Stark was way more old-school. For decades, starting with Tales of Suspense #39, the official story was that Iron Man was Stark’s personal bodyguard. He did not let the public, the press, and even some fellow Avengers, get a whiff of the truth. It wasn’t until Iron Man #55in 2002that he finally ditched the lie, but that bodyguard cover became a part of the lore. The MCU never touches on the elaborate lies or the secret identity, and lets Tony be just Tony.
