I was inspired to read it after watching the TV adaptation with Jane Seymour as a teenager.

I agree that is predates such caped crusader stories like Batman, Superman and Zorro, however, to me it always seemed to have a similar story to Ivanhoe (where Wilfred hides his identity nearly throughout the story, as do many other characters, including King Richard), The Three Musketeers (Athos, at least, spends much of the story (ies) hiding his true identity), The Count of Monte Cristo (ditto for the title character) and many of the Robin Hood stories.

I leave you with Sir Percy's own words:

They chase him here.
They chase him there.
The Frenchies chase him everywhere.
Is he in Heaven
Or is he in Hell (audible female gasping at the vulgar language)
That demned elusive Pimpernel.