The Mask

The Mask is a madcap embodiment of mischief and a rather unpredictable hero originally from his own comic book but given more publicity (and a noticeably more heroic attitude) in the movie and cartoon series of the same name.
The Mask is actually the result of mild-mannered Stanley Ipkiss obtaining a magical mask by chance that when worn transformed him into the wacky trickster.
In Son of the Mask, The Mask is actually the result of mild-mannered Tim Avery obtaining a magical mask by chance that when worm transformed him into the wacky trickster.
==Origin==
===Comics===
In the comics, all that is known about the Mask's origin is that it once belonged to an ancient African tribe that placed incantations, Odd hand gestures, and mysterious prayers on it. But the mask itself has since possessed many people throughout the series.
===Films and Animated Series===
In the film adaptation, The Mask was created between the end of the 4th century AD and the beginning of the 5th century AD by Loki, the Norse God of Mischief, who threw it on Earth so that it could cause chaos, confusion and terror among humanity.
==Wearers of the Mask==
These were the people that the Mask possessed through the various comic installments.
===Tribe Leader===
The first Mask wearer as well as the creator who used incantations on his creation which in this case granted the mask unlimited power as well as a mind of it's own, this is the tribal leader only appearance he is never seen or heard from ever again possibly due to the fact that he's mysterious by nature. 
===Mitch===
The second mask wear before it was found by Stanley actually stole the Mask from the tribe which he later gets a punch from one of the mobsters but later realizes that they were given a fake by mitch which he tells them that he's wearing the real mask which he slaughters them to death, his last seen appearance is when Katherine walks accidentally into a miserable silent mitch where she says sorry only for the mysterious mitch to say forget about it as he walks along the sidewalk only for her to say in her head (why does that guy looks so familiar?) basically thinking and saying to her self that the guy she seen in her dreams was actually him but before she could get more information mobs come and start exploding buildings up but sadly this is mitch last and only appearance his whereabouts are unknown as we read through the series.
===Stanley Ipkiss===
The third incarnation of the character, Stanley Ipkiss was a weak, neurotic man who purchased the Mask as a gift for his girlfriend Kathy. After it was purchased, the Mask began to speak to Stanley and urged him to put it on and transformed him into a superhuman. After gaining his new powers, Stanley promptly went on a killing spree by murdering the people who had bullied and taken advantage of him, eventually being nicknamed the "Big Head Killer" by the police.
After removing the Mask, Stanley's actions took an emotional toll on him, causing him to become verbally abusive towards Kathy and get kicked out of their apartment as a result. Stanley later breaks into Kathy's apartment and both retrieves the Mask and kills eleven police officers on his way back to his house. Upon returning to his house, Stanley removes the Mask and is shot in the back and killed by Kathy, who had figured out his identity.
===Lieutenant Mitch Kellaway===
The fourth incarnation of The Mask, Lieutenant Kellaway was an honest cop who Kathy gave the Mask to for safe keeping. Stressed by the Big Head killings and organized crime lords slowly taking over the city, Kellaway disregards Kathy's warnings about the Mask and puts it on. After gaining the powers of the Mask, Kellaway tries to use his new powers and identity for good by murdering Edge City's mob bosses, although his methods become increasingly violent. While fighting Walter, a mute and immensely powerful mob muscle-man, Kellaway is targeted by a police squadron and nearly ends up killing his friend and partner, causing him to flee and bury the Mask in a cement filled hole in his basement.
===Nunzio===
The fifth incarnation of the Mask, Nunzio was a wimpy mob driver who had the Mask forcibly put on him after several mobsters ended up stealing it from Lieutenant Kellaway. After becoming the new Big Head, Nunzio killed his former companions and slaughtered all of Edge City's remaining crime lords in order to become the city's only mob boss. After learning of the new Big Head, Kathy dressed up as a hooker and wooed Nunzio into removing the Mask, pulling out a gun and killing him immediately afterwards. Widely considered as the only comic book incarnation of the mask who can't be sympathized.
===Kathy Matthews===
The sixth (technically second) incarnation is Kathy Matthews who was the ex girlfriend of Stanley and put on the Mask to stop the Mob War. After a fight with Walter, the mask went into the ocean after Kellaway hit it with his car.
===Rick===
The seventh incarnation, Ben discovered the Mask while investigating where the Mask supposedly died. He gave it up after almost killing a kid who asked for his autograph. He is the first Mask to not kill anyone.
===Ben===
The eight Incarnation, he put on the Mask to be a rockstar.
===Hugo===
The nine incarnation, he gave it up after what the Mask was making him see.
===Archie===
The ten incarnation, he used the Mask to become a superhero.
===Ray Tuttle===
The eleventh mask wearer after discovering it by a old mysterious women chest full of dust toys and other personal items but successfully without any doubt pays the mask and is now the owner of it.
===Emily Tuttle===
The twelve mask user who wants to dress up as big head for a halloween party which she does and when seen by her teachers and classmates they all make fun of her to the point where she's runs away and trips over only to discover the mask.
===Paul Newmen===
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===Snuck===
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===Ira Staub===
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===Aldo Krasker===
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===Eric Martin===
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===Lionel Ray===
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===Javier Antanasio===
Javier Antanasio is a young man who wore the Mask and murdered a pair of abusive parents. He later threw it into the river when he realised the Mask had made him a sinner.
===Abner Mead===
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==Crossover Characters==
===Lobo===
In Lobo vs. The Mask, after Lobo fights and subsequently teams up with the new Big Head to search the galaxy for the "Ultimate Bastich", a former Mask wearer who racked up a large bounty after decimating a number of planets, they stop at a truck stop where Lobo ends up winning the Mask. After putting the Mask on, Lobo causes even more destruction until he ends up being sucked into a black hole and sent back in time by a month. Upon ending up in the past, Lobo realizes that he was actually the "Ultimate Bastich", removes the Mask and tosses it to where the wearer he won it from found it at the start of the story. Lobo then breaks the time loop by apprehending his past self and turning him in for the reward money.
===The Joker===
In Joker/Mask, the Joker gets his hands on the Mask upon finding it in a museum in Gotham City. After putting the Mask on, Joker is transformed into the new Big Head, although, unlike other Mask wearers, the Mask didn't bring out his inner most desires (as Joker never repressed or hid them) and only made him unstoppable. With his newfound powers, Joker rejuvenates his criminal career by nearly killing Batman, destroying the Batmobile and taking over Gotham, resulting in Commissioner Gordon calling Lieutenant Kellaway over from Edge City to help deal with the new Joker. 
Joker, with help from Harley Quinn, then takes over Gotham TV and begins airing his own shows, all of which consist of senseless violence. After a series of events, Batman recovers from his injuries and tells Joker that, with the Mask on, he is no longer funny and has degraded himself to reusing the same material over and over again. As Joker begins beating Batman, the original Joker's head sprouts from his shoulders and tells him that he really isn't funny before taking control of his body, removing the Mask and turning himself back to normal. Soon afterwards, Joker is apprehended by the police and taken to Arkham Asylum.
==Other Media==
===The Mask (film)===
In the film adaptation, which is loosely based on the first few issues of the comics, a significantly different, yet somewhat accurate version of the Stanley Ipkiss incarnation appears as the titular protagonist. In the film, Stanley Ipkiss discovered the Mask of Loki after it rose from a chest in the ocean and, upon putting it on, was turned into a superhuman who operates on cartoon logic.
Unlike in the comics, this version of The Mask is mostly a heroic character, despite committing multiple crimes such as nearly destroying a man's car, attempting to murder a gang of thugs with a Tommy gun, heavily injuring the mechanics who had ripped him off (unlike in the comic, where he actually killed them) and most notably robbing the bank he worked at, resulting in the death of Freeze. These makes him more of a harmless yet highly unhinged anti-hero rather than a serial killer.
Towards the end of the film, Dorian Tyrell steals the Mask of Loki from Stanley and puts it on, bringing out his inner desire for power, turning himself into a hulking, monstrous version of The Mask, although he is defeated and killed once the Mask gets back into Stanley's hands.
===The Mask: The Animated Series===
In the animated series, which takes place after the film, Stanley still uses the Mask of Loki to protect Edge City, although it is stated that he would prefer not to, as The Mask's chaotic antics and lack of responsibility can end up causing destruction, as well as him constantly being hounded by Lieutenant Kellaway, who believes him to be a threat. But as before The Mask is still a harmless yet highly hinged anti-hero. In various episodes, the Mask has gotten into the hands of several antagonists, most notably Pretorius, Fish Guy, Government Guy, and Walter (although, like in the comics, wearing the Mask of Loki does not affect him).
===Son of the Mask===
In the sequel, a cartoonist named Tim Avery becomes the new wearer of the Mask after his dog Otis found it in a river and brought it before him. He first tries on the mask at a party he goes to and becomes the host of it after it was starting to turn out as a drag. Tim Avery later had a baby born with the same powers as the mask.
Odin confronts his son Loki, who is in search of the Mask, and tells him about a baby born with its powers as a clue to find it. Otis begins to feel left out as Tim is spending more time with his baby so he takes the Mask for himself.
However, Tim's time with his son Alvey turned out to be a nightmare for him as he discovers his son's powers. As Loki eventually found them, he goes after Tim and threatens him to hand over his mask. As Tim tells him he doesn't have it, Loki attempts to kill him, but is then stopped by Odin, who possesses Tim's body and strips him of his powers.
Later that night, Loki sneaks into Alvey's room, where Alvey is sleeping, and contacts Odin, begging him to return his powers as he explains how close he was at reclaiming his mask. Odin complies as he gives Loki a second chance, but has him set on a timer.
Once his powers return to him, Loki approaches Tim and demands him to hand over the Mask or he will take Alvey away from him, before leaving with the baby. Tim and his wife encounters Loki at a dark alley and gives him his mask. However, Loki refuses to return Alvey as he grew fond of him during his wait. Otis suddenly bites Loki, causing him to drop the mask and allowing Tim to wear it. Loki makes a run for it with Alvey in his car, prompting Tim and Tonya to drive after him to a wrestling arena, where he and Loki fight over Alvey. Loki then decides to give Alvey the choice between the two of them.
At first, Loki draws Alvey over to him, but then Tim takes off the mask and tells Alvey about how he wants to raise him and that he loves him, making Alvey choose him instead. However, Loki refuses to give up, as he now attempts to kill the entire family until his timer went up. Odin soon appears before Loki and scolds him for his failure. He is then about to strike at him until Tim interrupts as he tells him that nothing is more important in life than the relationship of your family. Tim then gives back the Mask and Loki and Odin return home.
===Space Jam: A New Legacy===
The Mask makes a cameo appearance in the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy, the anticipated sequel to the 1996 Warner Bros. hybrid film Space Jam. He appears alongside other characters from various other Warner Bros. properties to watch LeBron James and the Looney Tunes compete in a basketball match against the Goon Squad.
It has been reported that Jim Carrey has reprise his role in the film.
==Powers and Abilities==
*Toon Force: The Mask operates on literal toonforce logic to make his reality-warping abilities happen. For those unaware of the term, "toonforce" explains every single old-timey cartoon phenomenon known to man, like those seen in early Tex Avery or Looney Tunes skits. He has several abilities he can do with his Toon-Force:
**Item Creation: He can create anything out of thin air, whether it may be mundane everyday items or comically exaggerated weapons that have no business being as over-the-top as they are.
**Transformation Abilities: He is able to alter his appearance on a whim and turn anything he touches into other items, like transforming a balloon into a Tommy gun, or cigarettes into makeshift grenades.
**Toon Force Invulnerability: Given the analogy to old school cartoons, The Mask seemingly cannot be harmed at all. While he may overdramatically react to being hurt, like flattening himself on the ground after a fall or playing dead if shot, nothing can leave any sort of lasting damage on his person. What makes this even more potent is that the Mask’s powers are always in effect if the host wears it; for all intents and purposes, this potentially renders him immortal if the mask is never taken off.
*Fourth Wall Awareness: The Mask also seems to be aware of his nature as a fictional character. He makes frequent attempts to interact with the audience by initiating dialogue, making references to the fourth wall, and other bits of tomfoolery that highlight his wacky nature.
*Intelligence: The Mask despite being a cartoonish, wacky, chaotic madman is a genius, as he uses his trolling ways to trick his enemies into thinking he is dead or defeated, only to show that he is not either dead or defeated at the last moment. 
*Self-Control: Despite his lack of inhibitions, The Mask does have self-control, as he tends to only cause harmless and goofy chaos, along with treating everyone else carefully as he knows that they are not powerful like him, since he could accidentally injure them with his super strength. 
===Equipment===
*The Mask: Regardless of whatever origin story you follow, it doesn’t really change what this object is at its core: a wooden mask that transforms its wearer into their Mask persona - their heads were completely covered in a green skin-like material along with a change in their clothes. When not worn, the mask remains a harmless piece of wood, as its powers can only be unleashed with the aid of a proper host. Also, while the mask is being worn, it is impossible to separate it and the host through brute force. The transformation can only be undone when the host willingly chooses to take the mask off.
==Personality==
The Mask is chaotic, genuinely insane and a cartoonish madman. He is also lazy and childish as he likes to do his own things such as going out to the Coco Bongo and partying about, or finding anything that he finds interesting instead of stopping any bad guys. He can be a bit of a jerk as he doesn't follow the rules half of the time and makes fun of anyone who annoy him or Stanley. He can be too strong towards any woman he sees at first sight due to his lack of inhibitions putting them off at his too strong nature. But he does have a good heart as he does genuinely care about his friends, the people in Edge City, his dog Milo and Stanley, as he saves them from trouble and despite making fun of people who annoy him, hates hurting or killing people as he refuses to team up with anyone who is willing to do those things. Despite his chaotic nature and not following the rules half of the time, he does respect the laws that goes with it, as he drives carefully around anyone who are in his way and does show himself to be more of a fan of order as he only likes causing harmless chaos and is a neat freak like Stanley, as he keeps the apartment all cleaned up and tidy. He is also a well-mannered gentleman as he has self-control and respects women's private boundaries, and is also very polite and kind towards people who do not annoy him, along with being a friend to all living things as well as he loves Milo like he is his own kid and is very friendly to children, as he takes on the older brother figure role to the oldest, but towards those who are the youngest, he is strict towards them, but is still a fun-loving and responsible father figure to them. He can also be sane at times when he needs to be, if people are acting like idiots, scared or both, as he keeps a cool head throughout situations that he is in. 
==Relationships==
===Movies/Series===
====Stanley Ipkiss====
The Mask is Stanley's alter-ego, so therefore they are the same person, but refer to each other in third person, showing that they see each other as different people. Stanley gets annoyed by The Mask's short-attention span, his antics and his wackiness, while gets stressed out by him using his credit cards to buy expensive things, while The Mask admits to Stanley when they both existed at the same time, that he always wanted to pull a wedgie on him, which he finally does it, before Stanley takes him off.
However, The Mask does care about Stanley very much and loves him like a little brother, which he is protective of him, as he goes after people who have bullied or taken advantage of him, as the first thing he does after he comes out and always wanted to meet Stanley in person, so he can take him to see his favorite movies, go on a surf and teach him how to dance at the Coco Bongo, while Stanley no longer hesitates on putting it on as he needs his alter-ego to come out to save innocent people in danger, and eventually cares about The Mask as well in the end.
====Milo====
Milo is Stanley's pet dog and since Stanley is The Mask it also makes him The Mask's dog, they seems to be in good relations, though Milo was initially afraid of him because of his wild and chaotic nature, but sees that like Stanley, he is a nice and kind-hearted man like him. Milo gave The Mask a lot of affection in "The Aceman Cometh".
In "Shadow of a Skillit", Milo won't let The Mask go anywhere before he feeds him. Milo is doing his best to help The Mask. The Mask also listens to him usually especially if his existence is at risk. The Mask also goes out looking for him if he went missing instead of doing his usual hobbies, showing how much he cares about and loves Milo like he is his own kid. The Mask also doesn't like Milo being hurt, as it is one of the few things he agrees with Stanley on, as they go after anyone who hurt Milo. 
====Tina Caryle====
Despite having the same memories as Stanley, The Mask doesn't fall in love with Tina until he meets her at the Coco Bongo and falls in love with her at first sight like Stanley did. He swoops over to her after turning his head into a cartoon wolf and banging it to bring it back to normal and starts to dance with her and kisses her after that. He meets her again at the park after Stanley puts on the mask again and he goes all maniac on her which got her scared of him at first, but he does make it up for it by smoking a heart with a arrow in it to show that he loves her which they are about to kiss again, but Kellaway and the police stop that from happening. Though he can see that she prefers Stanley than him, he does care about her and love her still, as he saves her from being killed by a bomb set by Dorian Tryell to blow up the Coco Bongo by swallowing it inside him literally and after getting rid of Dorian Tryell, takes his face off to bring Stanley back, showing how much willing he is to have Tina be always happy even if it's not him. 
====Peggy Brandt====
The Mask has a crush on her, but they are just friends. Sometimes Peggy is like The Mask's sidekick and sister-figure. The Mask likes it when Peggy is taking pictures of him and puts them on the newspaper. Peggy also gives motherly affections towards The Mask.
====Mitch Kellaway====
The Mask doesn't like it when Kellaway accuses him, because of his whacky behavior, The Mask is giving him atomic wedgies or pulling other pranks on him. Kellaway believes that he's working with criminals or committing every crime.
In "Mystery Cruise", invited him on his birthday cruise because he is The Mask's most favourite wedgie target, but he probably sees him a friend (sort of/maybe) however Mitch starts to accept that The Mask is a hero; despite his chaotic and wild nature reluctantly.
====Doyle====
Despite giving Doyle a few wedgies, The Mask respects him because of his friendly behavior and the fact that Doyle sees him as a The Mask as a hero. He also likes when Doyle helped him in "Fantashtick Voyage" and "They Came from Within". Doyle is the only person that doesn't mind The Mask's wedgies.
====Charlie Schumacher====
Because of Charlie's ego and pride, The Mask makes him the target of his pranks and wedgies, however, he also sees Charlie as friend as well. 
====Baby Forthwright====
The Mask cares about Baby and loves him like he is his own son, to the point that he puts himself back on track and not do his usual hobbies to find Baby showing just how much he cares about him. He is very strict with him as he does tell him to go back inside the apartment a couple of times, but is still a fun-loving, responsible, caring and kind father figure to him. He doesn't like anyone who puts Baby in harm's way as he goes after anyone who does, as he tells one of his enemies that he is Baby's babysitter instead of telling him his name and puts guns out which are most likely filled with bang flags like before and only did it as a bluff.
====Agnes Peenman====
The Mask hates Mrs. Peenman's attitude which is a reason why he pulls his shenanigans on her.
====Mortimer Tilton====
The Mask's relationship with Tilton is neutral. On one hand, The Mask likes it when the mayor of Edge City praises him for his heroism. On the other hand, The Mask doesn't likes when Tilton accuses him for his whacky habits. 
====Ace Ventura====
During a crossover episode, The Mask fought Ace because of he accused him for kidnapping Milo, after Ace found out that it wasn't The Mask, he helped him escape from Kellaway by distracting him, then The Mask and Ace became friends. Ace is (maybe) the only hero who figured out The Mask's powers. The Mask and Ace have a lot in common: they both have whacky behavior, they were both played by Jim Carrey in the movies, they're both comic relief, they're both stylish, and they're both casanovas.
====Edge City====
The Mask has good relations with the public of the city and the children as well, thanks to being a friendly, polite, well-mannered gentleman who has always respected their laws most of the time and the rules as well half of the time. But he does not get along well with most members of the police department because of his chaotic nature and their jobs is to keep things in order, which gets him annoyed by them and pulls wedgies on them half of the time, but he does respect them deep down as he saves them along with everyone else in the city and some of them do like him, as the ones in high ranks know that he is genuinely insane, but is more of a orderly and harmless man as one of them tells Kellaway off for trying to arrest him several times despite the many times the Mask saves the day. The Mask is a bit of celebrity at the Coco Bongo as people like him due to both being a kind and polite man and a brilliant dancer as well. The Mask also cares about everyone as well, as he does save them from the supervillains all the time despite how much they may annoy him and most do show their gratitude to him as well 
==Gallery==
Animated Version of The Mask.jpg|The Mask, as he appears in the animated series.
The Mask comic.jpg
Themask.png
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==Trivia==
*The Mask is never referred to as Big Head in the film or in the animated series.
**Likewise, the Mask itself is not referred as the Mask of Loki in the comics, since it doesn't share the same origin as the film version.
*In The Mask: The Animated Series, Nimrel and Skillit have mentioned knowing every person who ever wore The Mask.
*While all incarnations of the mask are chaotic and homicidal, the mask's personality heavily depends on the wearer. Hence why some versions aren't nearly as villainous.
*The Mask dramatically faking his own death in front of Dorian Tyrell's thugs in the film is an homage to Bugs Bunny dramatically faking his own death in front of Elmer Fudd from the 1940 Bugs Bunny short, A Wild Hare.
*Before Jim Carrey was cast, Steve Martin, Matthew Broderick, Martin Short, Nicholas Cage, and Rick Moranis were considered for the role of Stanley Ipkiss.
==External Links==
*The Mask on Villains Wiki.
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