History Main / CoolMask

* The Alchemist from ''Film/{{Vidocq}}'' wears a mask made out of mirror that he uses to [[YourSoulIsMine eat the souls of his victims]]. For extra creepiness, it also makes the victim see their own dying face while looking at him. Also, [[spoiler:it has to be reforged periodically, and the most important step is [[BloodMagic tempering it with the life's blood]] of a hundred [[VirginPower virgin girls]]]].

* Every criminals/antagonists in ''Film/ThePurge'' will wear a mask that's not only intimidating, but sometimes badass and cool in design as well.

Almost prototypical for SuperHero characters. In anime, these are standard issue for {{Char Clone}}s.

* Even in his non-Gundam works, Tomino still can't resist a CharClone combined with this trope. The wandering mercenary in ''Anime/AuraBattlerDunbine'' known only as "The Black Knight" wears a modified knight's helmet with a mask on the front which obscures both his voice and his ''Aura'' [[spoiler:so that the hero won't recognise him as his former mentor]].

* Char Aznable and [[CharClone his imitators]] from the various ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}s''. Char wore his Cool Mask so he could infiltrate the Zeon Military (The explanation he gave to the Zeon Military was that he needed to keep his eyes covered for some medical reason), and exact revenge upon the Zabis. Kycilia Zabi often wears a mask for reasons that go completely unexplained.

** In ''Anime/TurnAGundam'', Harry Ord, the CharClone is a bodyguard for the Princess of the Moon, Diana Soriel. The trope (large red sunglasses) in this case is lampshaded by his confession that he is "keeping his eyes on the Queen's back." While being a semi-rival for the protagonist, he mostly kicks ass.

** In classic CharClone fashion, Zeheart Galette from ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge Gundam AGE]]'' dons one from Episode 20 onwards. Unlike the other "Char-style" masks, however, Zeheart's mask is [[JustifiedTrope actually a device that helps him concentrate his X-Rounder abilities.]]

** Ayame from ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'' is a non-CharClone example. As the protagonist team's resident [[{{Ninja}} kunoichi]], she wears a black ninja mask that covers the lower part of her face.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'': Robin. Even if this is potentially an artifact of the comics, it was acknowledged in-show as looking cool. (Beast Boy's ComicBook/DoomPatrol mask, sadly, was not.) Similarly, archnemesis Slade wears a mask, and for most of the first season concealed even that in shadow. Slade's mask is ''also'' an EyepatchOfPower.

* The Blue Spirit in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', even [[BadassNormal without being able to bend the elements]]. When [[spoiler:Zuko]] takes the mask off, his fighting changes in terms of technique. In his defense [[spoiler:with his mask off, he's only firebending, something he knows, but never came easy to him. However, in the fight against Jet in Ba Sing Se, he's still being a badass swordsman, and did anyone else see his little bit of firebending WITH the swordfight? Also, Zuko's firebending skills are much greater after his visit with the dragons. He's a Master after that.]]

** From ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', they don't get much cooler (or creepier) than [[https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111129742/3356673-tumblr_m2wjriuklw1qlg334%5B1%5D.png Amon's mask.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' Hunter wears a golden mask that marks him as the Golden Guard, one of Emperor Belos' most trusted servants. It conceals his true appearance as an unintimidating teenager, as well as [[spoiler:obscuring that there have been [[ArtificialHuman many similar looking]] Golden Guards]]. Later after losing it he wears another mask in an attempt to reclaim the confidence he felt with it.

* In ''{{WesternAnimation/Rollbots}}'', Vett's mask makes him look even more badass than he is.

* In ''Film/{{Flash Gordon|1980}}'', [[TheDragon Klytus]] wears a shiny, golden SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom-ish mask that completely covers his face.

* Robin in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003.'' Even if this is potentially an artifact of the comics, it was acknowledged in-show as looking cool. (Beast Boy's ComicBook/DoomPatrol mask, sadly, was not.) Similarly, archnemesis Slade wears a mask, and for most of the first season concealed even that in shadow. Slade's mask is ''also'' an EyepatchOfPower.

* King Dedede in the ''[[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Kirby Super Star Ultra]]'' game "Revenge of the King". Fed up with being defeated by Kirby so many times, he comes back wearing a steel mask and a badass new [[DropTheHammer hammer]] three times the size and weight of his old one, known as Masked Dedede. This alter-ego continues to appear throughout the series, either by cameo or alternate variants.

** Or the bottom half. Wizardmon, Zephyrmon, JetSilphymon, Dianamon, and Junomon are some examples.

** Or the bottom half in the case of Wizardmon.

* Every film version of ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}'' (see page photo.) One of the fictional characters most closely associated with this trope.

* Every version of ''Radio/TheLoneRanger''. See comment beside ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}''. "Who was that masked man?"

* Franchise/{{Zorro}}, naturally.

* Franchise/{{Zorro}}, who seems to have been one of the earliest practitioners, if not the TropeMaker himself.

* From the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'', Literature/FactionParadox members wear [[RuleOfCool masks of]] [[SkeletonsInTheCoatCloset bone]]. Along with ''[[ImpossiblyCoolClothes awesome]]'' [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes headdresses and gorgets]].

* In the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'', Optimus Prime has a metal plate that folds out over his mouth when he preps for combat.
** Bumblebee also puts on a mask for combat.

* Jason Voorhees of the ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' series made the hockey mask a universal symbol of horror.
** He also inspired the song "The Man Behind The Mask" by Music/AliceCooper.
* The Alchemist from ''Film/{{Vidocq}}'' wears a mask made out of mirror that he uses to [[YourSoulIsMine eat the souls of his victims]]. For extra creepiness, it also makes the victim see their own dying face while looking at him.
** Extra extra creepiness: [[spoiler:it has to be reforged periodically, and the most important step is [[BloodMagic tempering it with the life's blood]] of a hundred [[VirginPower virgin girls]]]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Persona}}'' features the god Philemon, who is always seen with a mask that sports a butterfly-like design on one side.

* [[Website/GaiaOnline Labtech X]] has always been one of TheFaceless, but when he traded in his old ScarfOfAssKicking to one with a full mask... well there's a reason his scarf is one of the most valuable prizes you can win from playing zOMG. (By the way, X actually has a reason for hiding his face, since [[spoiler:he's a clone, and [[BetaTestBaddie hates the man who created him.]]]]

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