The Masked Cape

> *"Do you know what's worse than possible tax fraud? **Possible murder!**"* - The Masked Cape
>
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Robert Kirby, otherwise known as The Masked Cape, is a self-proclaimed "superhero" and pseudo-viral sensation who serves as the primary antagonist of S17E02, "The Masked Cape Begins."

## Appearance and Personality

### Appearance

While masquerading as The Masked Cape, Kirby wears a domino mask, a red, longsleeved shirt, dress shoes, and blue exercise shorts over what look like gray pajama bottoms. He accessorizes with a cape made from a blue bath towel, two white cloth belts crisscrossing his chest, and inside-out kitchen gloves.

### Personality

Kirby is completely disconnected from reality and truly believes himself to be a superhero. His form of crimefighting, however, is more or less indistinguishable from harassment.

Kirby sees the world in strict black and white, with some people being good and some people being evil. He applies these labels without a second thought, mercilessly punishing those he believes to be the "bad guys."

He's shown to be incredibly childish and immature, especially in his face-off with KC. His "crimefighting tactics" range from base and crude pranks to spiteful vandalism and destruction of property.

## Biography

### Background

Jerry Lee meets the Masked Cape.

Kirby became a local pseudo-celebrity thanks to the videos he would upload to his youtube channel documenting his "crimefighting." By the time Jerry Lee hears about him, he has amassed over 12,000 subscribers, has his own subreddit, and has been arrested five times. At some point, Jerry Lee reaches out to Kirby and asks him to appear as a guest on Capital Cineforum, to which Kirby of course agrees.

### Arrival at the Station

The first time we see the Masked Cape in the station, he jumps out at Jerry Lee as he's walking down a hallway, startling the station manager into dropping his paperwork. After loudly announcing his arrival in the third person, the Masked Cape picks up Jerry Lee's paperwork, referring to him as "citizen." Jerry Lee hesitantly thanks the Masked Cape for coming on the show, but the Masked Cape waves him off, stating that he would never pass up an opportunity to "spread his message of justice." Jerry Lee attempts to point the guest in the direction of the studio, but he interrupts, stating that "The Masked Cape can find his own way around!" He then proceeds to run off in the opposite direction, still holding Jerry Lee's papers.

### The Mad Maestro

Out in the parking lot, The Masked Cape sees Joey exchanging a package with Trusting Toni. Once Trusting Toni leaves, he leaps out of hiding and accuses Joey of selling drugs. Joey denies this, claiming that he's only a musician. The Masked Cape ignores this, and declares Joey to be his arch-nemesis, "The Mad Maestro." He then runs off, leaving behind a very confused Joey.

Over the course of the day, the Masked Cape subjects Joey to childish and mean-spirited pranks, culminating in the vandalization of Joey's piano. Joey attempts to reason with him and ask for a truce, but the Masked Cape, unmoved by Joey's speech, simply slaps him in the face with a pie and runs off whooping like Daffy Duck.

### The Battle

The Masked Cape's last few seconds of consciousness.

When the show finally goes live, The Masked Cape immediately derails the interview and melodramatically challenges Joey to a duel. The Masked Cape is interrupted by KC and her own ragtag group of "superheroes." The Masked Cape mocks the group for thinking that they can take him on, to which Maryn and Nikki respond by calling him a nerd, an insult that seemingly shakes him more than one might expect it to. KC demands that The Masked Cape leave Joey alone. Laughing, he calls Joey a "dime-a-dozen dirtbag" who will always be a "villain." At this point, he and KC's banter deteriorates into a "am not, are too," fight, which continues right up until Joey coldcocks him, knocking him unconscious.

## Relationships

The Masked Cape declares Joey his arch-nemesis.

**Joey:** The Masked Cape decides, almost on a whim, to declare Joey his "arch-nemesis." This rivalry is entirely one-sided, with The Masked Cape tormenting Joey completely unprompted. At certain points, it almost seems as though the Masked Cape made Joey his arch-nemesis just so that he could brag about having one.

## Notes and Trivia

* Robert Kirby's name is a reference to two comic book legends, Bob Kane and Jack Kirby.
* Most of the Masked Cape's outfit was supplied by the actor who played Joey.