Chapter #1How will the mask work? by: PHonda   You can choose between the two ’canonical’ versions of the mask or a third
option for custom mask mechanics:
- The mask from the Jim Carey movie (goofy, cartoonish)
- The mask from the original Dark Horse comics series (dark, gritty)
- Other (write your own version)
The differences are explained in detail below.
----------
Jim Carey Mask (Dark Horse Comics)
The better known version publicized by the 1994 movie starring Jim Carey
and Cameron Diaz. Some even claim there was a sequel in 2005.
This mask has the well-known features from the film:
Appearance
A dark green wooden mask with a pained expression on its mouth and eye
holes. On the the forehead, a metal place is worked into the material with
nails. Thin lines run through it from top to bottom.
Transformation
1. When within less than about 6 inches of someone’s face, the mask will
gain the ability to suck the person’s head down or actively jump onto
their face.
2. The first stage of the transformation has the mask grow over the person’s
face ’continuously’ or by spawning tendrils that wrap around the
head until it is fully engulfed. In the second stage, the person start to
spin into a greenish tornado, usually while making strange noises. Depending
on the version, this tornado will cartoonishly bounce around
walls and ceiling (Son of the Mask) or just stay on the ground (The
Mask). Overall, the process takes about 10 seconds.
3. Usually, the person will wear different, exaggerated clothes after the
transformation is done.
4. It has been shown to work on dogs (and a fish hybrid guy). Therefore
can be assumed to also work with similar sized animals.
5. The mask can be taken off the wearer against their will if the wearer is
surprised.
6. Taking off the mask also takes about 10 seconds and requires pulling
it open from behind the head and then off the face. The mask will be
sticky and will reattach to the face if the process is not finished entirely.
Powers and Effects of the Mask
1. The mask grants reality warping powers (create items from nowhere or
pulling them out of a pocket, invincibility, cartoon physics, etc.).
2. The user seems to be fully aware of their powers and can use all of
them at will even on their first run-in with the mask.
3. They will turn in a cartoonish version of themselves, usually a goofier
and more dickish version, characterized by bad pranks and annoying
behavior. It may bring out or enhance specific parts of the wearer’s
personality, like vanity, pride or repressed lust.
4. While users of the mask can create a variety of things and change their
body and clothes, they will retain the green face.
Original Mask (Dark Horse Comics)
The version as originally presented in the Dark Horse comic anthologies of
the 1980s and 1990s. Can be considered the ’NSFW’ version of the mask.
This mask has some significant differences from the one of the Jim Carey
movie:
Appearance
This mask is a continuous tribal relic that crudely imitates a human visage.
It does NOT have mouth or eye holes, only simple replicas of them painted
on the front side. It appears like it has cracks along its entire surface. (Can
be used as a plot point, but if necessary, you can ignore this feature.)
Transformation
1. The mask does NOT jump on someone’s face or suck them in. It must
be put directly on the face.
2. The transformation is instant (a second or less, no tornado or light!).
The mask just seamlessly engulfs the head and it’s done.
3. The same goes for unmasking. If done willingly by the wearer, they
can pull the mask up and down instantly. The mask cannot be taken
off against the wearer’s will.
Powers and Effects of the Mask
1. Wearing the mask enhances the darker sides of the user’s personality,
making them more prone to cruelty, violence and sadism.
Even when starting out with good intentions, usually, they will soon
default to assault, arson, murder, etc. Only exceptionally good-natured
or strong willed individuals can withstand or at least fight that
corrupting influence.
2. The Dark Horse version allows the user to disguise themselves perfectly:
They can turn into a perfect replica of any real or potential
person. For all intents and purposes, this replica is like having that
person’s body. For example, in of the comics, a man turned himself
into a female stripper to infiltrate a gang and none of the regulars could
tell the difference. While being ’worn’, the disguise acts and feels like
a real body (warmth, blood, real hair, teeth, etc.). The user can tear
it off at any time (may produce blood) and reveal their masked self in
the process. Other people cannot use discarded skin-suits, they are just
dead skin and flesh then.
3. DOES NOT WORK ON ANIMALS
Other
If desired, use this to define your own mask and its mechanics.
Which version of the mask will be used?  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
Story Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2025 PHonda (UN: phonda at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
PHonda has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
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