When did the look of Black Mask's face change?

[Buried Alien]

I haven't been following the BATMAN comics consistently over the past several years, but I know that Black Mask today doesn't look like he did in the 1980s and 1990s. In the 80s and 90s, he wore a hat and had a mask-like face. Now, he's got a skull-like face. When did the change happen? How did it happen?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Justin D.]

I totally forgot there even was a Black Mask before the current one.

Why'd he change? Maybe it's because he looked like a luchadore.

http://wf.toonzone.net/WF/batribute/characters/blackmask/01.jpg

Here's the current partial origin for Black Mask though:
"Roman Sionis carved a black mask from his father's coffin and turned to a violent life of crime. When a fire burned the mask onto his flesh, he became the Black Mask! This figure features multiple points of articulation, includes a base and character-specific accessories and is packaged in a 4-color deluxe blister."

I say partial because I have no idea why he carved the black mask from his father's coffin.

I'm also clueless as to why the DC Direct figure (http://www.dccomics.com/dcdirect/?dcd=3101&lst=new&cat=ACTION+FIGURES) comes with a miner's helmet, a drill, and a hacksaw.

[1HELLBOY]

The mask was actually carved from his MOTHER'S coffin. And it was fused to his face in some kind of chemical accident. Said so in The secret files of Batman's villains 2005 comic book.

[EDmanwalking]

That book has it wrong. It was definitely his father's coffin in the original story that he carved the mask from after his cosmetic company went bankrupt.

The chemical accident was actually a fire in his house that fused the mask's expression to his face. He was fighting Batman at the time, so the Dark Knight could have some of the blame for that one.

[Jeff Brady]

I'm also clueless as to why the DC Direct figure (http://www.dccomics.com/dcdirect/?dcd=3101&lst=new&cat=ACTION+FIGURES) comes with a miner's helmet, a drill, and a hacksaw.

Because that's what he used to torture Spoiler to death.

[Justin D.]

Okay, but why did he carve a mask from his father's coffin? Also, wouldn't a wooden mask be a bit uncomfortable?

[The Xenos]

Man, they are a few steps away from making the pants down Dr Light with Sue Dibney acessory. They got Spoiler torturing Black Mask and over at Marvel they have the ugly death of Gwen Stacy figure.

-Xenos

[1HELLBOY]

That book has it wrong. It was definitely his father's coffin in the original story that he carved the mask from after his cosmetic company went bankrupt.

The chemical accident was actually a fire in his house that fused the mask's expression to his face. He was fighting Batman at the time, so the Dark Knight could have some of the blame for that one.


Huh. Dammit, I wish they'd get it right. Why can't they stick with one story. I guess they thought that the whole mother's coffin thing was more tragic and sick I guess.

[Buried Alien]

Lots of interesting remarks, guys, but none of them answer my question. Black Mask hasn't had a normal face since the character first appeared in 1985. Up until recently, however, he had that mask-like face. Now, he looks more like a black-colored version of the Red Skull. How and when did that change take place?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[1HELLBOY]

Lots of interesting remarks, guys, but none of them answer my question. Black Mask hasn't had a normal face since the character first appeared in 1985. Up until recently, however, he had that mask-like face. Now, he looks more like a black-colored version of the Red Skull. How and when did that change take place?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)


Maybe the artists wanted to just update it a little. I'm not really sure.

[Jason H]

I don't recall when the change was made, but maybe it was done to update his look and make him look like more of a Bad A$$. Just a guess. :D

[OverMaster]

That book has it wrong. It was definitely his father's coffin in the original story that he carved the mask from after his cosmetic company went bankrupt.


Well, the No Man's Land prose novel also says it was her MOTHER's coffin. Maybe it was retconned after Crisis?

[EDmanwalking]

Well, the No Man's Land prose novel also says it was her MOTHER's coffin. Maybe it was retconned after Crisis?

That may be so. His origin was either right before or right after Crisis, I'm not sure. As for the way his face has changed, I'd just put that down as the way different artists like to draw him.

[Viking Bastard]

Maybe he was able to get the mask off and the new look is all that remains of his face?

[The Mirrorball Man]

Isn't it a bit strange that such a dramatic change of appearance for this character has not been addressed at all?

[OverMaster]

That may be so. His origin was either right before or right after Crisis, I'm not sure. As for the way his face has changed, I'd just put that down as the way different artists like to draw him.

IIRC, his origin was first told in Doug Moench's Pre-Crisis Run.

[ScottDMSimmons]

Isn't it a bit strange that such a dramatic change of appearance for this character has not been addressed at all?

From what I recall, Two-Face's scarred facial side went from green to purple with no explanation other than to fit in with the movie's look back in the late 90's. I never found an in-continuity explanation.

--Scott

[ScottDMSimmons]

Two-Face, 1990:

http://www.comics.org/graphics/covers/2622/400/2622_4_014.jpg

[ScottDMSimmons]

Now I'm confused. According to the Batman: Jekyll and Hyde covers, his face is green again. Oh well.

--Scott

[EDmanwalking]

Acid's a crazy thing. One minute you're green, the next you're purple.

[Justin D.]

.....Why did Black Mask carve a mask from his father's coffin? Or mother's coffin. Whatever, just why?

[The Mirrorball Man]

.....Why did Black Mask carve a mask from his father's coffin? Or mother's coffin. Whatever, just why?
Forget it, Jake. It's Gotham.