Anarchistguy
01-28-2005, 04:23 PM
Hello,
Has anybody ever read the comics on which the movie was based on? They were VERY different. Allow me to explain:
Movie version:
It starred Jim Carrey and was LOOSELY based on the early issues of the comic book series. Carrey's Stanley Ipkiss is a nice guy who uses the mask (mostly) for good purposes and gets a happy ending.
Comic version:
The series begins with the mask being found in an antiques shop by Stanley Ipkiss, a neurotic loser who everyone takes advantage of. Trying the mask on, he is transformed into a wacky being with an abnormally large bald green-skinned head. After exploring his new abilities for a while, he goes on a rampage, taking lethal revenge on everyone against whom he holds a grudge, from the motor mechanic who always overcharges him to his old first-grade teacher. When Stanley takes the mask off, he reverts to his normal timid self, who decides he'd better leave town in case the activities of the green-skinned freak (dubbed "Big-Head" by the media) are traced back to him. The mask, however, has decided it likes it here, and arranges to fall into the hands of Stanley's girlfriend Kathy.
A storyline about Kathy's experiences with the mask was planned, but never saw the light of day; the series continues with Kathy giving the mask to a police officer, Lt. Kellaway, for safe-keeping. Disregarding her warnings, Kellaway tries the mask on, and sets out to clean up the city. Despite his good intentions, his methods become increasingly bizarre, and soon Big-Head is the target of a police man-hunt. (The world at large, not knowing about the mask, assumes it's always the same big-headed green-skinned freak; nobody realises that he might have a secret identity.) When he nearly kills a friend and colleague who got in his way, Kellaway realises how badly things have gone wrong, and swears never to wear the mask again.
In the next storyline, the mask falls into the hands of a small-time mobster, who (as Big-Head) becomes the city's pre-eminent crime boss.
Powers/Abilities: The wearer of the Mask is, to all intents and purposes, invulnerable. Injuries of any sort do no permanent damage, no matter how severe. Although they do bleed normally, the wearer feels no pain. The movie translated this into making the wearer a living cartoon character. They can also produce any weapon they desire out of thin air. Again, in the movie this became any prop, a la Bugs Bunny. These are as lethal to normal people as real weapons would be. Since the wearer of the Mask has their inhibitions and conscience removed, treating others as if they were invulnerable as he is, this tends to mean that the Mask kills those he encounters.
I took all this info from a UK comic site and some other site.
The reason I posted this is because I was shocked as hell about the comic version, just like when I learned about the Mirage TMNT.
Has anybody ever read the comics on which the movie was based on? They were VERY different. Allow me to explain:
Movie version:
It starred Jim Carrey and was LOOSELY based on the early issues of the comic book series. Carrey's Stanley Ipkiss is a nice guy who uses the mask (mostly) for good purposes and gets a happy ending.
Comic version:
The series begins with the mask being found in an antiques shop by Stanley Ipkiss, a neurotic loser who everyone takes advantage of. Trying the mask on, he is transformed into a wacky being with an abnormally large bald green-skinned head. After exploring his new abilities for a while, he goes on a rampage, taking lethal revenge on everyone against whom he holds a grudge, from the motor mechanic who always overcharges him to his old first-grade teacher. When Stanley takes the mask off, he reverts to his normal timid self, who decides he'd better leave town in case the activities of the green-skinned freak (dubbed "Big-Head" by the media) are traced back to him. The mask, however, has decided it likes it here, and arranges to fall into the hands of Stanley's girlfriend Kathy.
A storyline about Kathy's experiences with the mask was planned, but never saw the light of day; the series continues with Kathy giving the mask to a police officer, Lt. Kellaway, for safe-keeping. Disregarding her warnings, Kellaway tries the mask on, and sets out to clean up the city. Despite his good intentions, his methods become increasingly bizarre, and soon Big-Head is the target of a police man-hunt. (The world at large, not knowing about the mask, assumes it's always the same big-headed green-skinned freak; nobody realises that he might have a secret identity.) When he nearly kills a friend and colleague who got in his way, Kellaway realises how badly things have gone wrong, and swears never to wear the mask again.
In the next storyline, the mask falls into the hands of a small-time mobster, who (as Big-Head) becomes the city's pre-eminent crime boss.
Powers/Abilities: The wearer of the Mask is, to all intents and purposes, invulnerable. Injuries of any sort do no permanent damage, no matter how severe. Although they do bleed normally, the wearer feels no pain. The movie translated this into making the wearer a living cartoon character. They can also produce any weapon they desire out of thin air. Again, in the movie this became any prop, a la Bugs Bunny. These are as lethal to normal people as real weapons would be. Since the wearer of the Mask has their inhibitions and conscience removed, treating others as if they were invulnerable as he is, this tends to mean that the Mask kills those he encounters.
I took all this info from a UK comic site and some other site.
The reason I posted this is because I was shocked as hell about the comic version, just like when I learned about the Mirage TMNT.