Admission word
Originally , the Mask first appeared on the market in 1987. The authors of the comic were John Arcudi and Dough Mahnke. However, we were not supposed to get to know the adventures of this extraordinary hero in our country. Of course, he was not anonymous, because the 1994 movie with Jim Carrey in the lead role and the cartoon broadcast on the Cartoon Network channel brought him great popularity. The original, however, differs significantly from the screen adaptations, which we could already see last year, when Non Stop Comicsreleased the first volume of the album. Full of bloody scenes, black and indecent humor, the adventure was, of course, intended only for adults. It is no different this time, although it must be admitted that the Mask is even more crazy. As for the notebook itself, we again get a thick hardcover volume (384 pages), divided into chapters with successive stories and new characters. Of course, the notebook is still intended only for adults. Let’s look at each of them separately.
The story of a single father
We begin the second volume of The Omnibus Mask with a story titled The Hunt for Green October. Its writer is Evan Dorkin, and Peter Gross is responsible for the artwork. In it we get to know a cartoonist depressed by his life, bringing up a little daughter alone. His wife was killed in an accident caused by one of the city’s bigwigs, and his daughter, who witnessed the incident, stopped talking and was mocked at school. The man is not able to cope with this situation, although he tries with all his strength to ensure appropriate care for his offspring. He accidentally gets the Mask, which changes the life of his family. The hero, however, is in considerable danger. Several dangerous people already know about the magic item, including the Nazi gang or the yakuza who want to get an extraordinary treasure at all costs.
As with all previous adventures, this one is also marked by brutality and crazy humor. The mask releases all the worst qualities of the hero, allowing him to get back at the man responsible for his wife’s death, as well as teachers and even his daughter’s classmates. Of course, all gang members wanting to get the artifact for themselves are also hit. So the blood is pouring thick, and the corpse cuts the streets. Detective Callaway, well-known from the previous volume, also returns to the action, and once again plays a quite important role. Overall, however, it must be admitted that the story is not too surprising. A joke, revenge and beheading are all we will experience here. The most interesting part is when little Suzi becomes Big Head and beats down on those who want to hurt her dad. Especially since he does it in a rather unusual style. From the graphic side, it is difficult to get more comments. It’s colorful and the limbs fly here and there. So everything is the old way.
In administering justice
Another story is World Tour . Its creators are Robert Loren Fleming (screenplay) and Gary Erskine (drawings). General Blaire becomes the main character. For years, the hero has been struggling with mental problems that make him even crazier after wearing the Mask. His desire is to fight crime, so he travels around the country to brutally eliminate more bandits. A psychiatrist who wants to help his patient follows his footsteps.
The second story presented in the notebook is by far the strangest of all. And it is not about the exploits of Mask. We have already got used to it. I mean more of the way the plot is run. Well, it seems that at times there are big holes in it. The author does not end a thread, but starts another one. For some unknown reason, the hero is in a completely different place, fighting with a new rival, while we do not know what happened a moment earlier. We are left with guesses and considerable consternation. However, it is worth appreciating the side plot about a petty thief who wants to change his life, but it does not work out at all. The graphics are also a plus, especially the Mask in an Elvis costume.
On her sister’s footsteps
The Pain of Noon is the third story we can read in the second volume of The Mask . This time the protagonist is a man who sets out to find his missing sister. The trail goes to New Orleans. In addition to the Mardi Gras festival, Maska also meets a gangster involved in kidnappings. He also meets an opponent worthy of himself – a shaman who wields Voodoo magic!
The writer Rich Hedden and cartoonist Goran Delic are responsible for creating the described adventure. The idea itself is quite interesting. This time, the main character tries to tame the madness caused by Mask and focus primarily on his mission. Through his stubbornness, he manages to somehow follow the set trail, although on the way he obviously has some crazy antics and killings. The duel against the aforementioned shaman is also very well presented, thanks to which we can see that even the powers of the Mask are somewhat limited. Visually, everything also looks good, and the skillfully rendered atmosphere of the US South deserves praise. Unfortunately, there are again a few skips which cause gaps in the plot.
An amateur actor
The story entitled Toys in the Loft by Bob Fingerman is, in my opinion, the best story in the second volume of the Omnibus Mask.. Krasker is a toy maker who does not do well in the industry. There are no new ideas and the boss is throwing around with him. The man always wanted to become an actor, but he was even kicked out of the theater club. To make matters worse, his friends maliciously send him information about subsequent performances, but never invite him to the shows. An angry and broken man accidentally comes across a Mask that changes his life. As Bighead, he murders the other actors in cold blood, and he does it in an extraordinary way. Victims’ bodies are positioned to relate to their lives and… well, opinions are divided. The investigating policemen believe that he meant the play Seven Stages of a Man ‘s Life , the movie Seven or Santa’s Reindeer!
The last of the Wielkie Łba adventures proposed in the album is by far the most intriguing of all. As usual with the Mask , there is a strong dose of madness and brutality here. This time, however, we have a chance to take a closer look at how a magic item affects the people wearing it. The protagonist has dreams in which he can talk to his new incarnation and learn the motives of his actions. And although it may sound strange, the artist’s creativity should be commended for the way he kills subsequent victims. One cannot have any attention to the graphic design, for which Sibin is responsible in this case. You can see his excellent collaboration with the screenwriter, especially when it comes to murdered people. Maybe the common visions of both men are sick, but they will certainly remain in the memory of readers for a long time.
Bonus
Finally, a short story should also be mentioned, prepared by the main creators of Maska , the Arcudi-Mahnke duo. It’s called The Return of the Living Ipkiss… or something . This is by far the strangest adventure you will see in this album. However, it perfectly captures the spirit of the comic. It is difficult to describe it as not to reveal something by accident. You just have to see it. And consider whether the originators should seek the help of some mental health professional. Or maybe it’s better not, because then we wouldn’t get such pearls as the mentioned one.
Is it worth it?
The second volume of the comic book The Omnibus Mask is, in my opinion, a slightly worse position than its predecessor . We were served less humorous scenes, the scripts seem leaky, and their course is too obvious at times. Nevertheless, this is not a bad position. It has fantastic moments that we will remember and tell others. There is also no shortage of madness and bloodshed, which are such characteristic features of this series. The edition itself also encourages purchase. In the end, Big Head fans won’t be disappointed.
