Superheroes are usually identified by their symbols, worn to inspire and advertise their place in the world. However, when it comes to presentation every superhero can be read by one thing: their face. Whether it be a cowl, a domino, or nothing at all, what a superhero's face looks like can tell you everything about the character.
The concept of superheroes wearing masks originates from theater plays as a superhero's most dramatic feature is how they look. An easy example is Zorro from classic pulp fiction, Zorro wore a mask practically to hide his identity and thematically to create a mist of mystery around himself. Traditional heroes like Batman simulate this practicality as revealing his secret identity would make his loved ones targets and brand himself as a criminal. However, Batman wears his signature cowl-along with his costume-to intimidate his foes. The mere silhouette of Batman strikes fear into the hearts of criminals. On the other side of the coin there is Superman who never wears a mask. The reason why is because Superman doesn't inspire fear, he represents truth and justice. Hiding his face would only make people more unsure of him, but by revealing his powers, origin, and alien birth name Superman puts all his cards on the table and leaves the public to trust him. This is crucial because Superman is too powerful for the general public and so in order to retain some level of trust in him, he must tell nothing but the truth. The other reason Superman does not wear a mask is because Superman is the original power fantasy, we're supposed to believe that anybody-you, me, a paper boy-can be Superman. In essence, Superman is the most human superhero there is because he not only looks like a man, but he wants people to remember he is just a man.
There are heroes that fall between the lines of hidden Batman and public Superman, The Flash is a good example. Most of the time The Flash wears a cowl like Batman, but does not have white visors in front of his eyes. This is because every incarnation of The Flash has shown to retain a personal relationship with the people he protects. Superman has two secret identities-Kal El and Clark Kent-so he can afford to go out without a mask, most of the time his glasses and facade as Clark Kent are his mask. With The Flash it's different, he has godly powers and the mind capable of making them godly, but he also has people he wants to keep safe from his superhero life. The mask is necessary for that goal, but by showing his eyes it gives us a small indicator that he is just a man. Often the white eyes are used to invoke a sense of inhumanity and mystery. The Flash knows he is far past human, but he wants the people he saves to know he is still an honest man like anyone else. The Flash's mask shares an unlikely relation to Captain America's mask. Modern day Captain America is publicly known to be Steve Rogers on account of history books and government files, but he still wears a mask into combat. An easy explanation would be the importance of skull protection since Cap can be shot and killed the same way we can, but there is more to it than that. Just like Batman, Cap's costume is supposed to inspire something into the hearts of others. Rather than fear, Cap wants people to see him and be filled with hope, with pride, he represents the strength, determination and morals of America. Maybe not modern America or old America, but he cultivates the best of what our country offers and the best of our values. When you're fighting Captain America you are fighting the ideals of a nation. That's a powerful message. And yet, you can still see his eyes. You still know that he is a man. For some that may ruin the gravity of what he stands for, but in reality Captain America presents pride not only for his home, but for his common man.
Another mask you'll often see is the domino mask, a minimal form of disguise if we're being straight. If this mask hardly hides an identity and provides no defense, what use could it be? Well, we return to the inhumanity angle. Coupled with the white eyes, the domino mask is designed to create a "more than human" feel. Really it's an inverse of The Flash or Cap's mask, offering enough of the face that people can trust them as fellow men and women, but also covering the eyes to invoke an otherworldly feel. Robin and Green Lantern are the most well-known to sport these masks and when you think about the character's themes it makes sense. Robin is supposed to be the "good cop" to Batman's "bad cop" as he is jovial, youthful and otherwise opposite from Batman, who again wants to strike fear into others. Though you can tell he is a boy, Robin's mask also creates an uncertainty with him. Can a human boy perform such daring circus leaps or is this boy as mysterious as Batman? Green Lantern is a space cop sure, but the domino mask is treated as part of the uniform and seems like an afterthought since you'd be looking at the rest of the suit first. You see the face of a man, but the eyes of something else entirely.
I won't touch helmets or deformities, but what we've established is that full masks/cowls with white eyes are supposed to rule "human" out of a superhero's persona, a mask/cowl with eyes showing is to represent power, but retain humanity, a domino mask with white eyes is meant to show humanity, but still leave something to the imagination, and no mask at all shows complete honesty and trust in the people you protect. Wolverine wants to scare you, hence his mask. The Punisher wants you to know he's just another guy, which is why he's crazy enough to show his face. Every comic book character can be summed up by what they wear. I hope this post educated you on the thought that goes into the design of superheroes.
Thank you for reading!
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There are heroes that fall between the lines of hidden Batman and public Superman, The Flash is a good example. Most of the time The Flash wears a cowl like Batman, but does not have white visors in front of his eyes. This is because every incarnation of The Flash has shown to retain a personal relationship with the people he protects. Superman has two secret identities-Kal El and Clark Kent-so he can afford to go out without a mask, most of the time his glasses and facade as Clark Kent are his mask. With The Flash it's different, he has godly powers and the mind capable of making them godly, but he also has people he wants to keep safe from his superhero life. The mask is necessary for that goal, but by showing his eyes it gives us a small indicator that he is just a man. Often the white eyes are used to invoke a sense of inhumanity and mystery. The Flash knows he is far past human, but he wants the people he saves to know he is still an honest man like anyone else. The Flash's mask shares an unlikely relation to Captain America's mask. Modern day Captain America is publicly known to be Steve Rogers on account of history books and government files, but he still wears a mask into combat. An easy explanation would be the importance of skull protection since Cap can be shot and killed the same way we can, but there is more to it than that. Just like Batman, Cap's costume is supposed to inspire something into the hearts of others. Rather than fear, Cap wants people to see him and be filled with hope, with pride, he represents the strength, determination and morals of America. Maybe not modern America or old America, but he cultivates the best of what our country offers and the best of our values. When you're fighting Captain America you are fighting the ideals of a nation. That's a powerful message. And yet, you can still see his eyes. You still know that he is a man. For some that may ruin the gravity of what he stands for, but in reality Captain America presents pride not only for his home, but for his common man.
Another mask you'll often see is the domino mask, a minimal form of disguise if we're being straight. If this mask hardly hides an identity and provides no defense, what use could it be? Well, we return to the inhumanity angle. Coupled with the white eyes, the domino mask is designed to create a "more than human" feel. Really it's an inverse of The Flash or Cap's mask, offering enough of the face that people can trust them as fellow men and women, but also covering the eyes to invoke an otherworldly feel. Robin and Green Lantern are the most well-known to sport these masks and when you think about the character's themes it makes sense. Robin is supposed to be the "good cop" to Batman's "bad cop" as he is jovial, youthful and otherwise opposite from Batman, who again wants to strike fear into others. Though you can tell he is a boy, Robin's mask also creates an uncertainty with him. Can a human boy perform such daring circus leaps or is this boy as mysterious as Batman? Green Lantern is a space cop sure, but the domino mask is treated as part of the uniform and seems like an afterthought since you'd be looking at the rest of the suit first. You see the face of a man, but the eyes of something else entirely.
I won't touch helmets or deformities, but what we've established is that full masks/cowls with white eyes are supposed to rule "human" out of a superhero's persona, a mask/cowl with eyes showing is to represent power, but retain humanity, a domino mask with white eyes is meant to show humanity, but still leave something to the imagination, and no mask at all shows complete honesty and trust in the people you protect. Wolverine wants to scare you, hence his mask. The Punisher wants you to know he's just another guy, which is why he's crazy enough to show his face. Every comic book character can be summed up by what they wear. I hope this post educated you on the thought that goes into the design of superheroes.
Thank you for reading!
Facebook: The Panel Biter
Twitter: @ThePanelBiter
Podbean: Panelbiter.podbean.com
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