11. Batman is really bad at this secret identity thing
After a while, it starts to feel like Batman is just not committed to this whole “secret identity” business. Sure, he’s got the face-covering cowl and the artificially gritty voice to disguise his true identity. Then again, even a newbie reporter, given enough time and access to public building plans, could figure out that there is a huge cavern beneath Wayne Manor. Isn’t it obvious that the Batmobile heads that direction at the end of every night, anyway? And doesn’t anyone else think it’s weird that you never see Batman and Bruce Wayne in the same room?
But it’s not as if Bruce Wayne himself is doing much to help the issue. He’s constantly unmasking himself for dramatic effect. At this point, he’s also probably dropping tons of telltale hairs, skin flakes and Wayne Manor carpet fibers that a bumbling forensic team could figure it out.
His worst offense, however, has to be “The Great Bat-Cape Hunt.” Published in Batman #101 (1956), this story predictably follows Batman and Robin as they try to retrieve Batman’s signature cape. It’s bad enough that a strong breeze was enough to rip the cape and cowl combo off Wayne’s head, for starters. What’s worse is the fact that Wayne has inexplicably sewn a tag bearing his real name onto the cape.
The fated name tag
How did this happen? It starts when Bruce Wayne is sent a cape with the label, which simply states that “Bruce Wayne is Batman.” Luckily, the guy who sent it dies soon after. Wayne hands it over to his butler, Alfred, to dispose of the incriminating piece of clothing. Alfred, however, is apparently having an off day and throws it into the pile of Bat-laundry.
That’s how Batman came to be wearing the fateful cape. Thankfully, Superman has nothing better to do, and so comes to help out. Supes catches the cape and blasts the tag with his laser vision. Presumably, he then handed the cape back to a sheepish Batman, all while shaking his head and reconsidering Batman’s Justice League application.