5. Harley Quinn

The villainous Harley Quinn’s ‘real name is Harleen Quinzel. Say that aloud. Names aside, having a previous career as a psychiatrist for DC’s #1 prison for villains, Arkham Asylum, pretty much makes you friends and acquantances with many of the people you’d later want to hide your identity from. But Harley Quinn’s never quite been all there in the brains category, so she might have an excuse for it all.

4. Jay Garrick, the original Flash

Whether it’s his original incarnation or his “New 52” Earth 2 persona, Jay Garrick doesn’t leave much to the imagination when it comes to covering up his face. Back in the Silver Age Garrick attempted to disguise his identity by constantly vibrating using his super speed, but even he later said it was foolish after his girlfriend figured it out. Next time at least try a full face mask like your later namesakes.

3. Green Arrow

In the “New 52” era of DC Comics, Ollie continues to be the public face of company while traipsing around the globe as the costumed crime-fighter Green Arrow. In this case he’s given up his throw-back Robin Hood garb but his attempt to mask his identity is limited to some green-tinted glass even U2’s Bono would be afraid to wear. Even without his Van Dyke goatee, he’s hard to miss. How would you know Green Arrow is Ollie Queen if comparing them side-by-side? How could you not!

2. Daredevil

It’s one of the worst secrets in Marvel’s superhero community. Even as far back as 1966 Daredevil’s been trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes, even going so far at one point to create a fake twin brother named Mike Murdock to hide behind. But that didn’t help keep the secret, as numerous people from ex girlfriends to intrepid reporters all put the pieces together over the years. Writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev outed Matt Murdock as Daredevil once and for all, and now subsequent writers like Ed Brubaker, Andy Diggle and Mark Waid have turned it into a staple of the series of Murdock’s attempts to un-break that window.

1. Superman / Clark Kent

They might say you don’t pee on Superman’s cape, but as far as his secret identity? It’s fair game. Using glasses and sometimes a slight hairstyle change to cover up your identity as the world’s most popular superhero (and one who does so completely unmasked) is laughable. In some cases, creators and actors have tried to make more of it by having Kal-El play up frailness and bumbling in order to differentiate himself more from the proud and heroic Superman, but really it seems like a flaw that others are trying to cover up with subterfuge. Come on Clark, try a little harder!