10 Superheroes Who Changed Identities For The Better
Sometimes a new name and a change of costume can make all the difference.
In the world of superheroes, branding is everything.
A good name and a memorable costume are what make heroes like Batman and Spider-Man so great; they create an iconic identity that keeps the character recognisable, no matter what changes they may go through.
Some identities just weren’t built to last though. Whether it’s due to a character outgrowing their original moniker, an old code name not fitting to modern sensibilities, or just a good old fashioned case of a comics company wanting to shake things up, sometimes a hero will ditch their old threads and re-invent themselves as someone new.
Admittedly, this has the potential to go horribly wrong (anyone for nose-less, 90s Wolverine?) and even done right, it can be a hard sell to fans who treat any change like it’s a giant lump of kryptonite.
However, the characters on this list managed to beat the odds and build a brand-new legacy for themselves out of the shadow of their old identity.
10. James Rhodes
As Tony Stark's best friend and right hand man, James Rhodes has been a key part of the Iron Man franchise for decades. After Tony hung up his iron-plated underoos in the eighties following a relapse into alcoholism, Rhodey was the natural choice to replace him.
However, he never really seemed to inherit the role and was relegated to the West Coast Avengers team with D-Listers like US Agent and glorified janitor Stingray. It was clear that Rhodey wasn't a true successor, just a stand-in until Tony got his act together.
He eventually got his own suit of armour though and carved out a niche as a new superhero. With a less flashy black and grey colour scheme and packing more heat than the average Red State gun nut, War Machine proved to be very popular with fans, to the point that many were crying out for him to make his big screen debut almost as soon as the first Iron Man film was announced.
War Machine has had numerous ongoing series over the years and, while never reaching the same popularity as Iron Man, he's proved to be one of the most popular and enduring characters in the Marvel Universe.