History Main / CoolMask

A SisterTrope to, and often paired with, NiceHat.

* [[TheSmurfettePrinciple 7]] in ''WesternAnimation/{{Nine}}'' wears a combo Cool Mask / NiceHat dubbed the 'Skullmet'. Is she badass? Well, [[spoiler:considering that her entrance involves her ''decapitating the Cat Beast in one swing'']]...

** ''VideoGame/ExtrapowerAttackOfDarkforce'' is the most densely packed with masks, being the CrisisCrossover drawing from all over ''EXTRAPOWER''. It gives us Sharkungo, the MaskedLuchador prince of the Shakun Star in his trademark red mask with yellow star over his face. Toyama, a human wrestler out of Iwate prefecture, also wears a mask to go with his CoolHat, but in the Zorro style. His wife and tag team partner Hamayo wears a domino mask. Galaxystar wears one that gives him a sharp, angular appearance out of American comics, and leaves room for his fabulously coiffed hair. Kurogane's comes up to cover the lower half of her face in combat, but usually brings it down for casual wear. Shimoun, the Purple Hikari Warrior, also favours a mask that covers the lower half of his face. Mashura and Bashura wear masks to go with their ninja outfits, with Mashura's resembles a bird's beak. And that's just among the main hero characters. Certain major villains wear masks befitting their {{Toku}} or manga influences, on top of the many masked FacelessGoons.
** ''VideoGame/ExtrapowerStarResistance'': Sharkungo and Galaxystar return and bring their masks with them and introduced Monokage, the NobleDemon aiding Nemuri in her story, combining it with a CoolHat and BadassCape for the full combo. Other Star Lore Superstars make background appearances in full costume, such as Mr Green in his mantis-headed mask.

* The Pyro and the Spy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' wear masks ''all the time.'' In fact, the Spy disguises himself by putting [[UpToEleven a second mask on over the first mask]].

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Strong Bad's wrestling mask.

* Eternion and the rest of the Eternals in ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}!''
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': The whole [=McNinja=] family.

* In ''ARG/DarkDreamChronicle'', every Chosen has one.

* The mysterious masked man in ''WebVideo/OneHundredYardStare'' could fit this trope.

* Wannabe SuperHero Strike Man, from ''Manga/YoureUnderArrest''

[[folder:Film]]
* Shows up many, many times in ''Film/TheFall'' (and on the cover of the DVD!).
[[/folder]]

* Inversion: In the ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings'' universe, the whole of the Scorpion Clan (one of the 7 major factions) wear masks of one sort of the other. It doesn't give them any kind of power whatsoever, though. In fact, all it does is ''make them look shifty''. Which is the whole point, as the basis for the Clan is that they are good guys pretending to be bad guys to ferret out the bad guys within the ranks of the ''other'' good guys. Or are they? Only they know that, all the other Clans think they're just {{Manipulative Bastard}}s being really [[EvilGloating obvious]] about it. Obviously, it's all {{Gambit Roulette}}s from that point on.
** The best explanation is simply that [[Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof it's a tradition]].

* [[http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/0325.html Subverted]] in ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}''.

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

* Used in the music video for Music/MyChemicalRomance's single [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egG7fiE89IU "Na Na Na"]]. All of the main protagonists in the story have some sort of headgear, the most notable being Party Poison's own masquerade-style mask.

** While masks have been included in the Magic Items section of the rules for years, 3.5's Complete Psionics introduced Crystal Masks. Almost all of them are overpriced and very weak (despite most of them being constantly active), and were reprinted in the Magic Item Compendium (and given a price retuning). Most of these are trash, but certain Fighter builds can make use of the Crystal Mask of Dread.

* ''Franchise/{{EXTRAPOWER}}'' has many cool masks among its cast of heroes.
** ''VideoGame/EXTRAPOWERAttackOfDarkforce'' is the most densely packed with masks, being the CrisisCrossover drawing from all over EXTRAPOWER. It gives us Sharkungo, the MaskedLuchador prince of the Shakun Star in his trademark red mask with yellow star over his face. Toyama, a human wrestler out of Iwate prefecture, also wears a mask to go with his CoolHat, but in the Zorro style. His wife and tag team partner Hamayo wears a domino mask. Galaxystar wears one that gives him a sharp, angular appearance out of American comics, and leaves room for his fabulously coiffed hair. Kurogane's comes up to cover the lower half of her face in combat, but usually brings it down for casual wear. Shimoun, the Purple Hikari Warrior, also favours a mask that covers the lower half of his face. Mashura and Bashura wear masks to go with their ninja outfits, with Mashura's resembles a bird's beak. And that's just among the main hero characters. Certain major villains wear masks befitting their {{Toku}} or manga influences, on top of the many masked FacelessGoons.
** ''VideoGame/EXTRAPOWERStarResistance'': Sharkungo and Galaxystar return and bring their masks with them and introduced Monokage, the NobleDemon aiding Nemuri in her story, combining it with a CoolHat and BadassCape for the full combo. Other Star Lore Superstars make background appearances in full costume, such as Mr Green in his mantis-headed mask.

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}:
** Adam Taurus wears a distinctive white mask with red accents, which resembles the faces of the Grimm. The distinct design marks him as more important than the normal White Fang members, who wear [[WhiteMaskOfDoom plain white masks]]. After the battle for Haven, he abandons the mask in favour of a black blindfold. [[spoiler:This occurs after he slaughters the remaining White Fang for turning against him and hunts down his ex-girlfriend, [[PsychoExBoyfriend to kill her]] for [[NeverMyFault "causing" his self-inflicted misfortune]]. Removing the blindfold reveals terrible scars from having been branded like cattle by the abusive SDC.]]
** Raven Branwen wears a mask that covers her entire face and is designed to mimic a Giant Nevermore, being the head of a raven, and containing four eyeholes and red patterns like a Grimm face. She wears it into battle, and when confronting potentially hostile people. [[spoiler:It is heavily implied that she wears it to hide the [[MagicalEye eye fire]] that reveals when a [[ElementalPowers Maiden]] is using [[WrongContextMagic true magic]]. Vernal is her decoy Maiden to keep the true Spring Maiden's identity secret.]]
** [[RedBaron The Grimm Reaper]] was a legendary Huntress, known only for her [[TheAce unmatched skill]], iconic [[SinisterScythe twin kama]], and the [[SkeletonMotif painted skull mask]] that hid her identity. She inspired Qrow's own scythe weapon, and her abrupt disappearance is one of the Huntsman world's greatest mysteries. [[spoiler:Maria [[MeaningfulName Calavera]] hid her identity because her father believed that [[MagicalEye Silver-Eyed Warriors]] were being hunted to extinction. Tock successfully tracked her down on behalf of [[BigBad Salem]], but could only blind her instead of kill her. Maria then [[FakingTheDead went into hiding]], [[BreakTheBadass terrified]] that further assassins would come.]]
* Only his trusty driver, Kit Baxter, knows who wears the mask of [[http://www.decoderringtheatre.com/redpanda/ the Red Panda!]]
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Strong Bad's wrestling mask.

* ''Webcomic/DemonHunterKain'': The Demon Hunter body armor's one feature.
* ''WebAnimation/{{Shrapnel}}'': Reznya, a brutally efficient [[BountyHunter Hunter killer]], wears a metal face plate that conceals her face.
* ''Blog/HowToHero'' discusses the need for masks in their [[https://howtohero.tumblr.com/post/159777930244/costumes entry on costumes]].

* ''Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForums'':
** ''Magi Wars'': Drest wears a cool, white mask almost constantly.
** ''[=FEF2=]'': Julius Orto wears one of these to cover up his [[ScarsAreForever scarred face.]]
** ''[[Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForumsWonderfulBlessing Wonderful Blessing]]'': The Demon Lord Mephistopheles wears one resembling [[LightNovel/KonoSuba Vanir's]] mask. Jarvis and the other Wiggler tribe members all wear one resembling [[VideoGame/MonsterHunter Wigglers]].
** ''[[Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForumsDemonSoulSaga Demon Soul Saga]]'': Fantomas, Mori's Kaijin form, wears one constantly to hide [[TheFaceless the void that comprises his body]].
** ''[[Roleplay/FireEmblemOnForumsChainsOfHorai Chains of Horai]]'': Noriaki Kiritani, the leader of LaResistance, wears a ''kitsune''-themed mask [[spoiler: to hide that he is one of the Cursed.]]

** Rau Le Creuset and Neo Roanoke in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDestiny Gundam SEED Destiny]]'' respectively. Neo's hiding scars (and his identity from the audience), Rau's hiding from the sight of his own face and [[spoiler:attempting to create an [[CloningBlues independent identity]] for himself]]. Both are extremely dangerous, with Neo serving as a BadassNormal [[TheDragon Dragon]] to Destiny's secondary BigBad, and Le Creuset functioning, in no particular order, as [[spoiler: BigBad, OmnicidalManiac (WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds version)]], and one of the best pilots in all of SEED.

** Rau Le Creuset and Neo Roanoke in ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeed Gundam SEED]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny Gundam SEED Destiny]]'' respectively. Neo's hiding scars (and his identity from the audience), Rau's hiding from the sight of his own face and [[spoiler:attempting to create an [[CloningBlues independent identity]] for himself]]. Both are extremley dangerous, with Neo serving as a BadassNormal [[TheDragon Dragon]] to Destiny's secondary BigBad, and Le Creuset functioning, in no particular order, as [[spoiler: BigBad, OmnicidalManiac (WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds version)]], and one of the best pilots in all of SEED.

* [[SerialKiller The Corinthian]] from [[ComicBook/TheSandman Sandman]] has these as well, although it's justified in that [[spoiler: he needs to hide his eyes because he has little mouths instead, complete with terrifying teeth. [[RuleOfScary (Although he still manages to see...)]]]]

* In ''Film/{{Transformers}}'', Optimus Prime has a metal plate folds out over his mouth when he preps for combat.

* As a part of his HistoricalHeroUpgrade, King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (Edward Norton) got a spiffy metal mask in ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'', covering his [[IllBoy leprosy-stricken face]].

* Creator/TaroYoko, being a ReclusiveArtist in real life, conducts interviews while wearing a mask in the likeness of Emil from ''VideoGame/{{Nier}}''.

** [[RedBaron The Grimm Reaper]] was a legendary Huntress, known only for her [[TheAce unmatched skill]], iconic [[SinisterScythe twin kama]], and the [[SkeletonMotif painted skull mask]] that hid her identity. Her sudden, unexplained disappearance is one of the Huntsman world's greatest mysteries; Qrow was inspired by her when designing his own scythe weapon. [[spoiler:Maria [[MeaningfulName Calavera]] hid her identity because her father believed that [[MagicalEye Silver-Eyed Warriors]] were being hunted to extinction. Tock successfully tracked her down on behalf of [[BigBad Salem]], but could only blind her instead of kill her. Maria then [[FakingTheDead went into hiding]], [[BreakTheBadass terrified]] that further assassins would come.]]

** Adam Taurus wears a distinctive white mask with red accents, which resembles the faces of the Grimm. The distinct design marks him as more important than the normal White Fang members, who wear [[WhiteMaskOfDoom plain white masks]]. After the battle for Haven, he abandons the mask in favour of a black blindfold. [[spoiler:This occurs after he slaughters the remaining White Fang for turning against him and hunts down his ex-girlfriend, [[PsychoExBoyfriend to kill her]] for [[NeverMyFault "causing" his self-inflicted misfortune]]. Removing the blindfold reveals that he is badly scarred from having been branded like cattle by the abusive SDC.]]

** Adam Taurus wears a distinctive white mask with red accents, which resembles the faces of the Grimm. The distinct design marks him as more important than the normal White Fang members, who wear [[WhiteMaskOfDoom plain white masks]]. After the battle for Haven, he abandons the mask in favour of a black blindfold. [[spoiler:This occurs after he slaughters the remaining White Fang for turning against him and hunts down his ex-girlfriend, [[PsychoExBoyfriend to kill her]] for [[NeverMyFault "causing" his self-inflicted misfortune]]. When he removes the blindfold, it reveals that he is badly scarred from having been branded like cattle by the abusive SDC.]]

* WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}: The terrorist group White Fang have masks made to resemble Grimm, the soulless monsters that have terrorised Remnant for it's entire history. While this makes most of them FacelessMooks, their leader Adam Taurus, who is implied to have started the tradition, is one of the most dangerous fighters in the series, not to mention [[KickTheDog one of the most cruel]]. [[spoiler:Under the mask, Adam's face is badly scarred by a [=SDC=] brand.]]
** Raven Branwen, Yang's MissingMom, has a really cool face mask too. [[spoiler:It hides her eyes and lets her use her Spring Maiden powers without giving away her identity.]]
** Maria [[MeaningfulName Calavera]] wore a mask stylized like a painted skull back when she was a Huntress, which hid her identity and aided her legendary status as [[RedBaron the Grimm Reaper]]. It also served the practical function of [[spoiler:hiding and protecting her silver eyes, which gave her powers but made her a target for BigBad Salem. Unfortunately, it was shattered in a fight and Tock used the opening to cut out her eyes, ending her career and forcing her into hiding for many years.]]

* Arshes Nei in ''Manga/{{Bastard}}'', though it quickly comes off.

* Takuma Sakazaki a.k.a. Mr. Karate from ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting''. He acts goofy and jovial and frequently plugs his dojo when talking to others, and his kids treat him as something of an embarassment. He still is quite dangerous in a fight despite his age and mannerisms (he ''is'' a master of Kyokugen-ryu, after all).

* El Blaze from ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter''.

* All four of the Testaments from ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}''.
* Sturm from the ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' series.

* Arakune, Hakumen, and Relius from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''.

* The Masqueraider class in ''VideoGame/{{Dofus}}'' gets different powers from wearing different masks. They wear their default "Classic" mask all the time, even outside of combat, which gives them health-stealing attacks and an area-of-affect shielding spell. Their other masks give them powerful close-range attacks (Psychopath Mask) and long-range attacks and escape abilities (Cowardly Mask).

** Robin Hood turns into a red mask with a bird beak. [[spoiler:Loki, however, turns into crimson hellish crow mask complete with black helmet and neck brace.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Inscrpytion}}'': Your host has a collection of them and will put one on during a boss fight. Which one he uses depends on the boss you are facing. He makes sure to "roleplay" as the character the mask represents too. [[spoiler:All of which represents his old allies back when he shared his position with the other Scrybes.]]

** Maria [[MeaningfulName Calavera]] wore a mask stylized like a painted skull back when she was a Huntress, which hid her identity and aided her legendary status as [[RedBaron the Grimm Reaper]]. It also served the practical function of [[spoiler:hiding and protecting her silver eyes, which gave her powers but made her a target for BigBad Salem. Unfortunately, it gets smashed in a fight and Tock used the opening to cut out her eyes.]]