Fans of DC Comics have frequently been involved in ongoing debates regarding alter egos, which often looks at the notion of a secret identity from a different perspective. Is Bruce Wayne the real identity or is he just Batman's facade? Doers Clark Kent turn into Superman or does Superman disguise himself as Clark Kent?

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These discussions are made a little easier when it comes to some of the more bizarre alter egos that have appeared in the comics over the years. So while the previously mentioned debate rages on, we're going to take a look at a few of the more unusual alter egos that DC heroes have used to go undercover, stay hidden or even find themselves along the way.

10 Batman Uses The Matches Malone Alter Ego To Go Undercover As A Criminal

Matches Malone and Batman split image

One of the most recognized but still somewhat odd alter egos is one used by Batman when he needs to go undercover among criminals. Matches Malone was a small-time cook who was killed on the job, though only Batman witnessed his death. So he decided to keep Matches Malone alive by masquerading as the deceased criminal, which began to earn Matches Malone a reputation.

What's really bizarre about Batman's criminal alter ego is the fact that the real Matches Malone eventually returned to Gotham and revealed it was his brother who had died instead. Unfortunately, due to his newfound reputation, he was killed by Gotham's rogues which forced Batman to retire his stolen identity.

9 Hank Hall Abandoned His Hawk Identity To Become Monarch And Then Extant

Hawk as Monarch and Extant split image

The Armageddon 2001 event introduced a mystery regarding the secret identity of a villain known as Monarch, who managed to take over the world in the near future. All clues pointed towards Captain Atom turning into the villain, though when that detail leaked it was changed at the last minute and Hank Hall/Hawk was bizarrely shoehorned into the role of Monarch.

That isn't even the most bizarre alter ego he's taken on, as he soon transformed into the time-traveling villain known as Extant during Zero Hour. However, both of these alter egos were then retconned years later in order to restore Hank Hall's original alter ego as Hawk.

8 A Few Characters Have Used The Kryptonian Identities Of Flamebird And Nightwing

Nightwing and Flamebird across the decades

While the planet of Krypton was destroyed, a small piece survived due to Brainiac stealing and miniaturizing the Bottle City of Kandor. When Superman and Jimmy Olsen traveled inside the bottled city, they adopted new costumes based on ancient Kryptonian legends to become Nightwing and Flamebird, with Superman later giving the name of Nightwing to Dick Grayson.

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However, others used those alter egos in Kandor as well. Superman and Lois briefly used the identities in the time-traveling adventure on Krypton, while Supergirl and Power Girl spent some time in Kandor wearing armored costumes as Nightwing and Flamebird. Thara Ak-Var & Christopher Kent were modern versions of the duo who appeared after Kandor was restored as New Krypton.

7 The Alien Robot L-Ron Briefly Took Over The Powerful Body Of Despero

Task Force Despero Justice League

The alien robotic servant named L-Ron first began helping Justice League International when he was traded to them by an intergalactic broker named Lord Manga Khan, and he never really had an alter ego. However, when he attempted to use his robotic body in order to create a way to control the rampaging alien named Despero, his android brain was transferred into Despero.

This left L-Ron in control of Despero's powerful body, which he then used to join Martian Manhunter's Justice League Task Force. After Despero's disembodied form attempted to gain control of other heroes, he returned to his original body and fought L-Ron for control. L-Ron eventually lost the ongoing battle and they both returned to their original bodies.

6 Alfred Pennyworth Has A Dark Villainous Alter Ego Known As The Outsider

Alfred as The Outsider

While Alfred Pennyworth has been a constant aide to Batman and Robin over the years before his recent death, he also has a dark and twisted alter ego known as The Outsider that first appeared in Pre-Crisis stories. After Alfred sacrificed his life to save the Dynamic Duo, he was brought back to life by a mad scientist.

Alfred was transformed and he gained enhanced strength that he used against Batman and Robin, but they were able to cure him. A new version of The Outsider appeared in the New 52 that came from Earth-3 and worked as Owlman's dark servant who helped form the Secret Society before the arrival of the Crime Syndicate during Forever Evil.

5 Superman Had A Mental Breakdown That Led To Him Fighting Crime As Gangbuster

Superman wearing Gangbuster's uniform in DC Comics.

The original costumed crimefighter known as Gangbuster was Jose Delgado, though he was injured during a battle while trying to save Lois Lane. While Delgado was in the hospital, a new Gangbuster appeared using brutal violence. It was eventually revealed that the new Gangbuster was actually Superman, who was going through a mental breakdown.

Superman went into fugue states at night that caused amnesia so he kept forgetting that he was also Gangbuster. Superman eventually recovered after a self-imposed exile in space, and Delgado returned to his original alter ego after he also recovered from his injuries.

4 Martian Manhunter Became Bloodwynd After He Was Mind-Controlled By Dark Magic

Martian Manhunter disguised as Bloodwynd

When a new Justice League was formed following the "Breakdowns" event, a mysterious new hero named Bloodwynd arrived to aid the team in battle against the Weapons Master. It was eventually revealed that Martian Manhunter was using his shape-shifting abilities to masquerade as Bloodwynd, as he had been mind-controlled by a powerful entity known as Rott.

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Bloodwynd's real alter ego was Jacob Whitney, who was empowered by a magical Blood Gem that had been corrupted by years of absorbing dark souls. Whitney himself had been transformed into Rott, who was able to mentally control Martian Manhunter and force him into the ruse so he could find a power source strong enough the free himself from the Blood Gem.

3 Supergirl Was Once A Shapeshifter Named Matrix Who Became An Earth-Born Angel

Supergirl, Linda Danvers, displays her power.

While the original Supergirl died during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version appeared in Metropolis that had one of the most unusual alter egos fans had ever seen. Supergirl revealed she was a shape-changing protoplasmic form known as Matrix from a parallel reality that was created by her world's Lex Luthor.

Matrix escaped and took on the form of Supergirl to honor Superman. However, Matrix eventually struck out on her own and bonded with a dying woman named Linda Danvers. This kicked off another transformation into an Earth-Born Angel of Fire that saw her face off against her evil side before she ascended into another new form and abandoned the Supergirl alter ego.

2 An Amnesiac Nightwing Became Ric Grayson Before Joker Turned Him Into Dicky-Boy

Ric Grayson and Dicky-Boy split image

During a battle between Dick Grayson/Nightwing and the assassin KGBeast, Nightwing was shot and suffered a severe head injury that left him without any memory of his past. However, he retained his fighting skills and decided to create a new life as a vigilante named Ric Grayson.

He was able to find a way to restore his memories, though The Joker was able to intervene and altered his memories, forcing him to believe that he was The Joker's long-time partner named Dicky-Boy. Nightwing was eventually able to restore his real memories thanks to an assist from the Bat-Family, which brought about the end of both Ric Grayson and Dicky-Boy.

1 Booster Gold Faked His Death And Disguised Himself As Supernova During 52

Supernova and Booster Gold with his father split image

DC launched a weekly comic series called 52 following the events of Infinite Crisis that explored a year in the DC Universe without Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman. A mysterious new hero known as Supernova appeared in Metropolis that kicked off an ongoing mystery about the man behind the mask.

While many thought it was Superman, it turned out to actually be Booster Gold, who had faked his death in order to stop his corrupted robotic pal Skeets. What's really bizarre bout the Supernova identity is that it was also used by Booster Gold's ancestor Daniel Carter and then stolen by Booster Gold's father from the future, making it a multi-generational costumed alter ego.

NEXT: 10 DC Heroes & Villains That Have Never Fought Each Other