EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Roberson & Alex Ross' "Masks" #1

[CBR News]

CBR has an exclusive first look at Chris Roberson and Alex Ross' pulp-hero crossover "Masks" #1, courtesy Dynamite Entertainment. Check out the adventures of the Green Hornet, the Shadow and more in November.


Full article here.

[MichaelPaytonMZ]

I love the pulp novel this mini is based on. (Tho the fact that is based on previous work is something that Dynamite doesn't feel the need to acknowledge in it's solicts of the book to date) I'd've preferred this if Ross was sticking around beyond just issue #1, but i'll still check it out. I'm loving their Spider series as well as Green hornet: year One. It'll be nice to see both of them in their original 1930s settings, even if that poser the Shadow gets all the limelight. :P

[Movieartman]

God Bless Alex Ross

[Arse Face]

Ross is only doing the first issue? If so that's lame. His art was the main reason I was going to check this out.

[jsf]

Definitely looks awesome (although I also that Ross was doing more than the first issue's interiors).

[Doctuh]

I could not be looking more forward to this series.

[gwydion]

Well, I'm certainly getting it. Though I'm most familiar with The Shadow, Green Hornet and Kato, and the Spider.

[a fire in london]

I been following the Shadow and the Spider books but even though I love the character the Green Hornet book hasn't been of interest to me. I will definitely be picking this up to at least try it out. Ross usually does little for me in the art department but these pages look very nice. I had no clue this was based on a novel. I'll be looking that one up.

[Drewman]

I only know these characters from seeing their respective movies but I'm gonna check this one out. It'd be sad though if Ross is only doing the first issue.

[Mr. Holmes]

I was hoping this would be something akin to League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but it looks almost like fanfic. Though Alex Ross's art is much better suited to these pulp hero costumes than superheroes, of which he always makes look like cosplayers.

[Jean-Michel]

The art is gorgeous : all Ross paintings are wonderful. It'll be mine, of course !

[Guicho]

Dear Dynamite and creators: Can you please stop forgetting that Zorro carries a gun.

As per his creator (not sure how you ignore this one that first establishes the character)
Johnston McCulley - "The first move from any of you, señores, means that I fire. I am expert with this you have termed the devil's weapon..."
This is a standard part of his arsenal.

As per his other creator Douglas Fairbanks (the same scene 1920) -
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NEmI...tailpage#t=86s

Who from the-get-go established Zorro's most iconic look, also made this clear.

From the first Zorro comics The Dell pre-Disney straight McCulley adaptations -
And it's not just that he carries one, but how good he is with one.


The Tyrone Powers Basil Rathbone remake often cited as one of the most popular -
http://tyforum.bravepages.com/article/journal.jpg


Zorro's Fighting Legion the incredible Republic serials which inspired Lucas & Spielberg. From the whip work and stunts of Indiana Jones the cliff hangers moments to the trash compacter in Star Wars. Featured a Zorro, with the classic whip, a retractable sword, and of course dual pistolas.
http://www.interplanar.de/blog/wp-co...gion_still.jpg
http://www.serialexperience.com/imag...eed_Hadley.jpg

Republic's Zorro rides again which helped established Zorro as a Legacy character(similar to what Dynamite is doing with "Masks", featured a "modern" legacy Zorro in a then contemporary 1940's setting , along cars trains and an urban city-scape. And again with guns.
http://pics.livejournal.com/dr_herme...xf80r/s320x240
http://filesofjerryblake.netfirms.co...ides_Again.jpg
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/3...esagainls7.png

Even the at times outrageous Telenovela got that right -
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oPistolero.jpg

This is well established as part of his regular arsenal, and why wouldn't it be, especially for a legacy character, he uses the most advanced weapons of his time. The long running McCulley stories show you he is profisiant with it, he has the speed , dexterity and skill with a gun/pistola that rivals later gun toting pulp/comic heroes from the Lone Ranger to the Phantom to the Shadow, he was already doing it.
While the "Z" and the sword are Iconic, he'd rather humiliate and mark than kill. That's his thing, he'll use the pistols to force a duel where he can, but it was never implied that he wouldn't use or carry them, that the rest of his arsenal has to disappear because he has a sword. This character who is quick with the sword, the whip, and slight of hand, is just as quick on the draw.
Be it black powder pistols or an updated 45.

It kills me that Dynamite who is steeped in the gritty pulps is perpetuating this sword only *idea.
I hated the way he went out in that Lone Ranger crossover , like he wouldn't update his arsenal and ignore that guns had advanced, or worse ignore that guns even existed?
He uses a lethal weapons, this is not against his nature, he can also use them without killing if he wants, and he'd have access to the best! Show it!

That goes equally for a Zorro Legacy character, which "MASKS" seems to invoke.

Long rant.. ;) Over.

Book looks, and sounds great! Can't wait.

[a fire in london]

It's sad Zorro gets the logo face treatment on the Ross cover.

[Guicho]

It's sad Zorro gets the logo face treatment on the Ross cover.

Well at least in #2 (new cover) you can see him, of course the cover just emphasizes the point.
Everyone weapons drawn- gun, gun, gun,...shwing!
Really?