The Mask

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 darker parts of the wearer's personality.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Fictional: REDIRECT Fiction...

Comic book: A comic book is a magazine or book containing the sequential art in the form of a narrative. Comic books are often called comics for short. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. The term...

Mike Richardson: Michael Calvin Richardson (Mike) was a cornerback in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the San Francisco 49ers. He won a Super Bowl as a member of the 1985 Chicago Bears....

The Mask related Images and Photos (experimental)

The Mask	The Mask 2	The Mask 1961	The Mask 1994
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