How has the Scarlet Pimpernel affected modern stories, especially superhero stories of today?

Many people consider the Pimpernel the first hero. Really, if you look at Superman, Batman, Spiderman....they share similarities. They are "mild mannered" in their normal lives, even on the geeky/homely end of the spectrum. They however have a doppelgänger or alter ego that are quite the opposite. Pinmpernel is all of this. His motives are not as cut and dry than say Spiderman flinging around Green Goblin, but he certainly started the whole costumed vigilante phenomenon.