Movies - The Mask

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The Mask originated as the name of the title character of a comic book series. This spun off a hit movie, The Mask, with Jim Carrey in the title role. The movie subsequently spun off a less than successful television series (also entitled "The Mask") and a motion picture sequel, Son of the Mask
, in addition to its own comic book adaptations.

The Mask (comic books)

The Mask is a fictional comic book character created by Mike Richardson, Randy Stradley and Mike Badger (as The Masque in Dark Horse Presents #10, (1987)) and John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke (as the Mask in Mayhem #1, (1989)), appearing in comics published by Dark Horse Comics. It is about a magic mask that gives anyone who wears it physical invulnerability and a number of reality-defying powers (for instance, the ability to produce useful objects out of thin air), but also lowers the wearer's inhibitions and amplifies the repressed parts of the wearer's personality.

The series begins with the mask being found in an antiques shop by Stanley Ipkiss, a neurotic loser who everyone takes advantage of. Trying the mask on, he is transformed into a wacky being with an abnormally large bald green-skinned head. After exploring his new abilities for a while, he goes on a rampage, taking lethal revenge on everyone against whom he holds a grudge, from the motor mechanic who always overcharges him to his old first-grade teacher. Eventually after many adventures of vengeance, Stanley becomes corrupt with power and verbally abusive toward his girlfriend Kathy. Kathy eventually kicks him out and tries to keep the mask since Stanley had bought it for her as a gift. Stanley then breaks into her apartment and steals the mask while the police investigate a domestic violence call. Terror ensues as Stanley under the possession of the mask nearly kills them all. Afterwards he heads home and takes off the mask only to be shot in the back by Kathy who has put two and two together and figured out the identity of "Big Head". The mask then falls into the hands of Stanley's girlfriend Kathy.

A storyline about Kathy's experiences with the mask was planned, but never saw the light of day; the series continues with Kathy giving the mask to a police officer, Lt. Kellaway, for safe-keeping. Disregarding her warnings, Kellaway tries the mask on, and sets out to clean up the city. Despite his good intentions, his methods become increasingly bizarre, and soon Big-Head is the target of a police man-hunt (the world at large, not knowing about the mask, assumes it's always the same big-headed green-skinned freak; nobody realises that he might have a secret identity). When he nearly kills a friend and colleague who got in his way, Kellaway realises how badly things have gone wrong, and swears never to wear the mask again.

In the next storyline, the mask falls into the hands of a small-time mobster, who (as Big-Head) becomes the city's pre-eminent crime boss.

After another storyline, in which four teenagers find the mask and take turns trying it on, Arcudi and Mahnke left the title, handing it over to a succession of guest writers and artists.

Of note was Walter, a large, mutated mob hitman who never talked. Walter could be injured, but never indicated that he felt pain- and would even mutilate himself. After his mob employers were killed, Walter set out to hunt Big Head in revenge. He was the only one who could injure Big Head to any real degree.

In addition to the ongoing series, there have been a number of specials, including:

Joker/The Mask, a collaboration with DC Comics in which the mask falls into the hands of Batman
's nemesis the Joker. Note that the book is a continuity mess, combining elements of both the comics and the Mask animated series.
Marshal Law vs. The Mask, the mask is applied to a superhuman serial killer as part of a secret government experiment which inevitably goes disastrously wrong, requiring Marshal Law to take down a nemesis who is not only immune to his usual ultra-violence, but can warp reality according to his psychotic whims.
Grifter/The Mask
Lobo vs The Mask, alien bounty hunter Lobo is hired to find the "Ultimate Bastich", a being who has decimated numerous planets. His hunt leads him to Earth, where a petty thief has become Big Head. In a battle that decimates Manhattan, Big Head finally offers to "help" Lobo find the "previous wearer". The duo head through space, causing mass destruction, though it's obvious Big Head is leading Lobo on. In a space truck stop, Lobo ultimately wins the mask for himself, putting it on and causing even more damage. A black hole sends him back in time by a month and he ultimately ends up being the Ultimate Bastich himself. Realizing this (and waking up on Earth, tossing the mask in the same spot the thief found it), Lobo breaks the time loop when he meets his past self - and turns his past self in for the reward money. Former Mask comic team John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke returned for these books, along with Lobo writer Alan Grant.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for The Mask ]

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Movies - The Mask

The Mask (comic books)

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