In Cases like Tony’s the mask is functional and makes perfect sense. As you say it less about identity. As for captain America- the mask may have originally offered MAYBE some protection, and the newer version might be some sort of fictional composite protection, but his mask wasn’t exactly about hiding his identity but his brand. Captain America was created as a symbol. He was propaganda meant to inspire troops and show a public and positive image of America. As a symbol, his mask obscured his face making it more about the concept than the man, and allowing American fighting (largely men at the time), to project on to the figure as just “another Joe” like themselves. We see a disillusioned cap take his mask off for civil war, symbolic that he isn’t representing America as a government but as an individual person. But yeah- the Wonder Woman/Superman/etc thing is somewhat nonsense.
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