The Mask (comics) and STS-80: Difference between pages

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'''STS-80''' ('''S'''pace '''T'''ransportation '''S'''ystem) was a [[Space Shuttle program]] mission implemented by [[NASA]]. The mission was the longest Shuttle mission to date, at 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes, and 18 seconds.

image=[[Image:Msktpb.jpg]]

|caption=Cover to ''The Mask'' volume 1

|comic_color=background:#80ffff

|character_name=The Mask

|real_name=('''in film and comics''') Stanley Ipkiss<br />('''in comics''') Various

|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]

|debut=(as '''the Masque'') ''[[Dark Horse Presents]]'' #10,<br />(as ''the Mask'') ''Mayhem'' #1

|creators=[[Mike Richardson (publisher)|Mike Richardson]], [[Randy Stradley]], [[Mike Badger]]<br />[[John Arcudi]] [[Doug Mahnke]]

|alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff

|alliances=

|aliases=The Masque, Big Head

|powers=('''in comics and film version''') Wearer of the magical Mask can alter the reality around them (i.e manifest objects from nothing). Superhuman strength, durability, speed and agility. Increased intelligence at the loss of sanity, inhibitions and self-control.<br />('''in comics only''') Appear as any person with second life-like 'mask' of a human face formed over the wearer's green "big head"|}}

{{otheruses}}

'''The Mask''' originated as a comic book series by publisher [[Dark Horse Comics]]. It was later adapted into the 1994 film [[The Mask (film)|''The Mask'']], starring [[Jim Carrey]], a spin-off [[The Mask: The Animated Series|television cartoon series]] and a 2005 film sequel ''[[Son of the Mask]]''. In all versions the story initially revolves around a magical mask which gives anyone who places it on their face nearly limitless power and an altered appearance, which is most characterized by a large set of teeth and green head. Furthermore, the mask affects the personality of the wearer by removing all personal [[social inhibition]]s. Taken another way, the wearer takes off his metaphorical masks - his [[social inhibition]]s - by putting on an actual mask. Not only is the wearer's [[Id, ego, and super-ego|Id]] totally in control, but the power imbued by the Mask gives him or her the ability to realize those impulses. Therefore, the capabilities of the Mask are entirely dependent upon its wearer.

{{Infobox Space mission

The title of the comic book originally referred to the magical mask itself and not the green-headed superhero-like character it unleashed, who was referred to as '''Big Head''' in the early stories. It was not until the films and television series that the green headed superhero character himself became known as The Mask.

| mission_name = STS-80

| insignia = STS-80_patch.jpg

| shuttle = Columbia

| launch_pad = 39-B

| launch = [[November 19]], [[1996]], 2:55:47 p.m EST

| landing = [[December 7]], [[1996]], 6:49:05 a.m. EST, [[Kennedy Space Center|KSC]]

| duration = 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes, 18 seconds.

| altitude = 218 statute miles (351 km)

| inclination = 28.45 degrees

| distance = Over 7 million statute miles (11 million km)

| crew_photo = STS-80_crew.jpg

| crew_caption =

| previous = [[STS-79]]

| next = [[STS-81]]

}}

==Crew==

Likewise, in the original comic stories characters who wore the Mask would become dangerous [[anti-hero]]es with [[ultraviolence|ultraviolent]] tendencies, even if this was not the original intention of those using its power. When adapted into a film

* [[Kenneth D. Cockrell]] (3), Mission Commander

the violence was toned down to make The Mask only as dangerous as the wearer. Once the film was spun off into an animated television show the character was depicted more as a mischievous superhero.

* [[Kent V. Rominger]] (2), Pilot

* [[Tamara E. Jernigan]] (4), Mission Specialist

* [[Thomas D. Jones]] (3), Mission Specialist

* [[F. Story Musgrave]] (6), Mission Specialist

==Mission parameters==

==The Mask (comic books)==

*'''[[Mass]]:''' 13,006 kg payload

*'''[[Perigee]]:''' 318 km

*'''[[Apogee]]:''' 375 km

*'''[[Inclination]]:''' 28.5°

*'''[[Orbital period|Period]]:''' 91.5 min

==Mission highlights==

The Mask was created by Mike Richardson for APA - 5, an amateur

STS-80 marks the third flight of the WSF that flew on [[STS-60]] and [[STS-69]] and the third flight to use the [[Germany|German]]-built Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph-Shuttle Pallet Satellite II (ORFEUS-SPAS II). The ASTRO-SPAS program is a cooperative endeavor between [[NASA]] and the [[German Space Agency]], DARA. Both satellites will be deployed and retrieved during the mission. STS-80 is the seventh and last [[Space Shuttle]] mission of [[1996]], the 21st flight of the orbiter ''Columbia'' and the 80th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle program. ''Columbia'' last flew on mission [[STS-78]] in the summer of this year.

press publication created by writer Mark Verheiden. After starting

Dark Horse Comics, Richardson pitched his concept to Marvel comic

book writer/artist Mark Badger, which resulted in The Masque strip

that ran in the early issues of Dark Horse Presents. Badger's

strips became increasingly political, and Richardson ended the

strip to in order to bring the character back in line with his

original concept. Artist Chris Warner was hired to revamp the

character based on Richardson's original APA - 5 drawings. and

created the definitive look for the character. The character was

given a new launch in 1989 in the pages of Mayhem #1. Aspiring

writer John Arcudi and artist Doug Mahnke were hired to create the

new adventures.

Other experiments on STS-80 are the Space Experiment Module (SEM), The National Institutes of Health NIH-R4 Experiment, a series of bone cell experiments known as CCM-A (formerly called STL/NIH-C-6), the Biological Research in Canister (BRIC-09) Experiment, the Commercial MDA ITA Experiment (CMIX-5), the Visualization in an Experimental Water Capillary pumped Loop (VIEW-CPL) Experiment.

In 1991 John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke's created '''''The Mask''''' four issue [[mini-series]] (as well as a bonus issue #0) which became the first very popular use of the character. Following this first series Dark Horse Comics continued a succession of miniseries around this popular version of the character. These series concluded in 2000 with the DC Comics company crossover '''''Joker/Mask''''', in which the magical Mask finds its way into the hands of [[Batman]]'s arch-enemy [[The Joker]]. The First Major Storylines and the Joker/Mask Crossover have all been collected in a trade-paperback and in a limited edition hardcover boxset.

===Original Ongoing Series===

#''The Mask'' (#1-4, Monthly, July 1991-October 1991)

#''The Mask'' (#0, December 1991)

#''The Mask Returns'' (#1-4, Bimonthly, October 1992-March 1993)

#''The Mask Strikes Back'' (#1-5, Monthly, February 1995-May 1995)

#''The Mask: The Hunt for Green October'' (#1-4, Monthly, June 1995-October 1995)

#''The Mask: World Tour'' (#1-4, Monthly, December 1995-March 1996)

#''The Mask: Southern Discomfort'' (#1-4, Monthly, April 1996-July 1996)

#''The Mask: Toys in the Attic'' (#1-4, Monthly, August 1998-November 1998)

#''Joker/Mask'' (#1-4, Monthly, May 2000-August 2000)

ORFEUS-SPAS II, a free-flying satellite, will be deployed and retrieved using the Space Shuttle Columbia's Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The goal of this astrophysics mission is to investigate the rarely explored far- and extreme-ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and study the very hot and very cold matter in the universe.

====The Mask (#1-4)====

In an [[antiques]] shop, a weak, [[neurotic]] loser named '''Stanley Ipkiss''' shops for a gift to give to his girlfriend, '''Kathy'''. At the store he purchases an old, [[jade]] mask which begins to speak to him. The mask calls to be tried on and when Stanley does so he is transformed into a wacky, superpowered being with an abnormally large, bald, green-skinned head. After exploring his new abilities Ipkiss goes on a rampage, taking lethal revenge on personal grudges that range from a motor mechanic who always overcharges him to his old first-grade teacher. The media dubs this green-headed killer '''Big Head'''.

ORFEUS-SPAS II will be attempting a large number of observing programs. Among the many areas in which scientists hope to gain new insights during this mission are the evolution of stars, the structure of galaxies, and the nature of the interstellar medium, and others. Many of the objects they are planning to look at have never before been observed in the far-ultraviolet.

After taking the mask off Stanley begins to realize what has been happening. But his acts as Big Head begin to take an emotional toll on him. He becomes verbally abusive toward Kathy. She kicks him out but keeps the mask since Stanley had bought it as a gift for her.

ASTRO-SPAS is a carrier designed for launch, deployment and retrieval by the Space Shuttle. Once deployed from the Shuttle's RMS, ASTRO-SPAS will operate quasi-autonomously for 14 days in the vicinity of the Shuttle. The carrier's inclination will be 28.4 degrees with an altitude of 218 statute miles (351 km). After completion of the free flight phase, the satellite will be retrieved by the RMS, returned to the Shuttle cargo bay and returned to Earth.

Later Stanley breaks into her apartment to steal it back just as the police respond to their earlier [[domestic violence]] call. Deciding his only way out is as Big Head, Stanley places the mask back on and nearly kills everyone in his attempt to escape. He returns home as Big Head and takes off the mask only to be shot in the back and killed by Kathy, who has put two and two together and figured out the identity of Big Head.

[[Image:ORFEUS-SPAS-2.jpg|thumb|200px|left|ORFEUS-SPAS-2 photographed during approach by the [[Space Shuttle Columbia|''Columbia'']] for retrieval]]

Kathy takes the mask to '''Lt. Kellaway''' for safe-keeping. Kellaway, who had been struggling as both the recent Big Head murders and organized crime lords ran loose through his city, disregards Kathy's warnings and tries on the mask as a joke. Becoming Big Head, Kellaway sets out to take down the crime lords that have plagued his police career.

The one-meter diameter ORFEUS-Telescope with the Far Ultraviolet (FUV) Spectrograph and the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Spectrograph comprises the main payload. A secondary, but highly complementary, payload is the Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph (IMAPS). In addition to the astronomy payloads, ORFEUS-SPAS II carries the Surface Effects Sample Monitor (SESAM), the ATV Rendezvous Pre-Development Project (ARP), and the Student Experiment on ASTRO-SPAS (SEAS).

The free-flying [[Wake Shield Facility]] (WSF-3) will be making its third flight into orbit. The Facility is a 12 foot (3.7 m) diameter, free-flying stainless steel disk designed to generate an "ultra-vacuum" environment in space in which to grow semiconductor thin films for use in advanced electronics. The STS-80 astronaut crew will deploy and retrieve the WSF during the 16 day mission using Columbia's "robot arm," or Remote Manipulator System. Wake Shield is sponsored by the Space Processing Division in NASA's Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications. Wake Shield was designed, built and is operated by the [[Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center]] at the [[University of Houston]]--a NASA Commercial Space Center--in conjunction with its industrial partner, Space Industries, Inc., also in Houston.

The city, not knowing of the magical mask, assumes Big Head is still the same killer but has moved his target list to high profile crime lords. Despite Kellaway's good intentions, the mask turns his methods increasingly more violent. '''Walter''', a behemoth sized, mutated mob muscle-man, who never speaks takes a vendetta against Big Head for killing his mob employers. Walter for reasons unclear is attacked in brutal ways by Big Head but never indicates pain and never ultimately dies. He is also the only one who can injure Big Head to any real degree.

[[Wake Shield]] has flown twice before. The first flight on [[STS-60]], in [[1994]], although experiencing a hardware problem that resulted in the vehicle remaining attached to the robot arm, proved the vacuum wake concept, and realized the space epitaxy concept by growing the first-ever crystalline semiconductor thin films in the vacuum of space.

While fighting off Walter's attacks, Lt. Kellaway as Big Head becomes the target of a police man-hunt. Big Head fights off the police and tracks down the remaining mobsters. When Kellaway's partner attempts to stop Big Head he nearly kills his friend and colleague. Kellaway, realizing what he has been doing, flees. He removes the mask, hides it away and vows never to let it be worn again.

Astronauts [[Tammy Jernigan]] and [[Tom Jones]] will perform two six- hour spacewalks during STS-80, one on Flight Day 10 and another on Day 12, to evaluate equipment and procedures that will be used during construction and maintenance of the [[International Space Station]].

====The Mask Strikes Back (#1-5)====

Four 20-something friends all fascinated by the Big Head murders find that all their lives are at a dead end, until one finds the magic mask by the city pier and brings it home. Realizing this was the source of their hero's power each of the four take turns trying it on. They attempt to use its power to fix their lives but only end up making things worse for themselves. By the end the unstoppable Walter finds the mask in his hands and puts it on... only to find his face is too big for it (Possibly ironic, considering the Mask's nickname is Big Head - another possible interpretation is that the Mask refused him). In anger, Walter throws the mask into the distance with tremendous force.

The spacewalks are the fifth in a continuing series of Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) called the EVA Development Flight Tests (EDFT). This flight test series of spacewalks is designed to evaluate equipment and procedures planned for the station and to build spacewalking experience in preparation for assembly of the station. Jernigan is designated Extravehicular Crewmember 1 (EV- 1) and will be distinguished by red bands worn on the legs of her spacesuit. Jones is designated EV-2. Astronaut Story Musgrave will serve as the Intravehicular (IV) crewmember, assisting Jernigan and Jones from inside Columbia's crew cabin. STS-80 Pilot [[Kent Rominger]] also will assist with the spacewalks, controlling the robotic arm from inside the cabin.

This was the last series by original creators Arcudi and Mahnke. It was also the first to be made after the success of ''The Mask'' film and as such the gore and mayhem elements of the earlier stories is removed although all story elements and continuity remain with the comics and not the film.

The astronauts also will evaluate a variety of work aids and tools designed for use during station operations, including a Body Restraint Tether (BRT), a type of "third hand" stabilizing bar for spacewalkers; a Multi-Use Tether (MUT), a type of stabilizing tether similar to the BRT that can be anchored to either round U.S. handrails or square Russian handrails; and a power tool designed for the station.

====The Mask: The Hunt for Green October (#1-4)====

Space Experiment Module (SEM) is a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Shuttle Small Payloads Project education initiative that provides increased educational access to space. The program targets kindergarten through university level participants. SEM stimulates and encourages direct student participation in the creation, development, and flight of zero-gravity and microgravity experiments on the Space Shuttle.

The Mask continues to find its way into the hands of unwitting wearers. Ray Tuttle, a loser film-buff and his daughter Emily discover its power, but Lt. Kellaway is looking to take it from them.

The SEM system provides reusable modules for experiments within a 5 cubic foot (142 L) [[Getaway Special]] Canister. The system uses a Goddard-provided internal support structure, battery, power distribution system, data sampling and storage device and harness. Experiments may be active (requiring power to run mechanisms) or passive (having no mechanisms or requiring no power). Customized data sampling schemes are programmed before flight for each experiment, and data reduction and processing are completed after flight.

====The Mask: World Tour (#1-4)====

==See also==

A new wearer of the magical mask finds his way traveling through the Dark Horse Comics universe.

* [[Space science]]

* [[Space shuttle]]

* [[List of space shuttle missions]]

* [[List of human spaceflights chronologically]]

==External links==

====The Mask: Southern Discomfort (#1-4)====

* [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-80/mission-sts-80.html NASA mission summary]

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0jpUPLqLhA Video of NASA STS-80 mission]

In New Orleans the mask gets tied up with new wearers all while Lt. Kellaway looks to destroy it.

{{Space Shuttle Columbia}}

====The Mask: Toys in the Attic (#1-4)====

[[Category:Space Shuttle missions|STS-080]]

A character named Aldo Krasker gets his hands on the mask.

[[Category:1996 in space exploration]]

====Joker/Mask (#1-4)====

[[Joker (comics)|The Joker]] inadvertently gets his hands on the magical mask after it is found in a [[Gotham City]] museum. With its power the Joker begins to feel a new rejuvenation in his career of crime. Lt. Kellaway finds his way to Gotham and helps [[Batman]] and [[Commissioner Gordon]] in defeating the newly superpowered Joker.

Batman is able to trick the Joker into removing the Mask by claiming that the villain is no longer funny, and is relying on tired schtick and the power of the Mask instead of his own style. Lt. Kellaway asks Batman to give him the mask and promises that he will finally hide it where it will never be seen again. Batman agrees and the mask is last seen as Kellaway digs up Stanley Ipkiss' grave and buries the mask there with his corpse.

===Specials/Crossovers===

====Walter: Campaign of Terror====

In this four issue spin-off by original ''The Mask'' creators John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke, Big Head's arch-enemy, Walter the voiceless, indestructible mafia killer runs for Mayor of Edge City.

====Marshal Law vs. The Mask====

The mask is applied to a superhuman [[serial killer]] as part of a secret government experiment which inevitably goes disastrously wrong. [[Marshal Law]] is called in to take down a nemesis who is not only immune to his usual ultra-violence, but can warp reality according to his psychotic whims.

====Grifter/The Mask====

[[Grifter]] of The [[Wildcats (comics)|Wild C.A.T.S.]] is sent to Las Vegas to break up a weapons smuggling ring at a gun show. Trouble brews when one of the tourists ends up with the mask and as Big Head causes a riot at the gun show by pulling a knife. Grifter initially mistakes the Mask for a target but when the tourist's girlfriend is threatened Grifter and the Mask team up to stop the smuggling ring.

====Lobo vs. The Mask====

The alien bounty hunter and common adversary of [[Superman]], [[Lobo (comics)|Lobo]] is hired to find the "Ultimate Bastich", a being who has decimated numerous planets. His hunt leads him to Earth where a petty thief has become Big Head. In a battle that decimates Manhattan, Big Head finally offers to "help" Lobo find the "previous wearer."

The duo head through space causing mass destruction. In a space truck stop, Lobo ultimately wins the mask for himself, puts it on and causes even more damage. A black hole sends him back in time by a month, and he ultimately ends up being the Ultimate Bastich himself. Waking up on Earth and realizing this, Lobo tosses the mask in the same spot the thief found it. Lobo breaks the time loop when he meets his past self and turns his past self in for the reward money.

Former Mask comic team John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke returned for these books, along with Lobo writer Alan Grant.

====The Mask: Official Movie Adaptation====

A two issue comic book adaptation of the 1994 film starring Jim Carrey. In addition to retelling the story of the first movie, this comic book version contains short moments of the story which were cut out the final film. This includes the deleted scenes most often seen as extra features in video releases of ''The Mask''. But it also includes completely unseen moments such as Stanley Ipkiss' watch being stolen by the same group of thugs that he pays back with the balloon animal routine and dialog by the mechanics right before they are burst in on by The Mask.

===Adventures of the Mask (#1-12)===

Following the success of the first Mask movie, which led to the release of ''The Mask: The Animated Series'', Dark Horse published this spin-off comic series which followed the continuity of the television cartoon. Like the television show, this title combined elements of both the original adult comics and the Jim Carrey movie. Elements from the film included The Mask as Jim Carrey portrayed him in the film: goofy and heroic with his trademark yellow suit. From the early comics were Walter and a Lt. Kellaway more like his original counterpart than as depicted in film.

This series ran monthly from January of 1996 until December of the same year.

===Trivia===

There was a rumor of a series which followed Kathy as Big Head, but this was never developed.

[[Ghost (Dark Horse Comics)]], another Dark Horse hero who was popular at the time, appeared in ''Adventures of the Mask'' #5 as well at ''The Mask: World Tour series''.

==Adaptations and spin-offs==

[[Image:The Mask.JPG|thumb|right|Jim Carrey as The Mask]]

=== The Mask (1994) ===

{{main|The Mask (film)}}

A film version of ''[[The Mask (film)|The Mask]]'' was released in the [[United States]] on [[July 29]], [[1994]], starring [[Jim Carrey]] in the title role. Directed by [[Chuck Russell]], the film co-starred [[Peter Greene]] as [[Dorian Tyrell]], [[Peter Riegert]] as [[Lt. Mitch Kellaway]], [[Orestes Matacena]] as [[Niko (The Mask)|Niko]], [[Richard Jeni]] as Charlie Schumacher, [[Amy Yasbeck]] as Peggy Brandt, and [[Cameron Diaz]], in her screen debut, as Tina Carlyle. [[Ben Stein]] has a cameo role as Dr. Arthur Neuman.

While there were early efforts to take the movie in the direction

of horror (some at New Line saw it as a replacement for their

fading Nightmare On Elm Street franchise,) it was never completely intended

as a "dark horror" picture. Richardson always pushed in the

direction of the Tex Avery concept which was eventually adopted,

despite the efforts of several potential directors, including,

initially, Chuck Russell to make the move to horror. Richardson

also resisted early attempts to attach both Martin Short and Rick

Moranis to the lead role. Mike Deluca's suggestion of Jim Carrey for

the lead, together with Mark Verheiden's Cuban Pete

production number, set the final tone for the film.

The plot of the film was loosely based on the first half of the Arcudi/Mahnke comic book mini-series. It uses only a few scenes from the comic, including Milo the dog, the scenes of the muffler mechanics and the street gang and balloon animals.

Mike Richardson's comic origin for the character came from the ancestor worship of ancient Africans that formed the basis for the voodoo that came centuries later. In the film however the Loki origin was entirely Chuck Russell's screenplay. A deleted scene is featured on the DVD, where a band of vikings drag a chest containing the mask onto the shore of North America.

The movie also spun-off into a [[The Mask (video game)|video game adaptation]], released for the [[Super NES]] in 1995.

=== The Mask : The Animated series ===

{{main|The Mask: The Animated Series}}

The movie version of the character has subsequently appeared in an animated TV series entitled ''[[The Mask: The Animated Series]]'' (with [[Rob Paulsen]] as Stanley Ipkiss/The Mask) and his own short-run comic book series, ''Adventures of The Mask''. [[John Arcudi]], former writer of the original comics, penned two episodes of the cartoon. Much as with the ''[[Beetlejuice]]'' [[Beetlejuice (TV series)|cartoon]] before it, The Mask TAS took many elements from the source movie but made numerous changes. Tina was absent, but reporter Peggy Brandt had become the main female character but not love interest. Also unlike in the movie, Ipkiss appeared to be able to use the mask in daytime as well as at night.

Four VHS volumes of the series were released, all of which are now out of print. Upon the initial DVD release of the [[Son of the Mask]], [[Wal-Mart]] stores sold an exclusive 2-pack of the movie with two episodes of the animated series ("The Mask Is Always Greener On Other Side" Parts 1&2). As of 2006, this is the only DVD release of the series.

=== Son of the Mask (2005) ===

{{main|Son of the Mask}}

A live-action [[sequel]], entitled ''[[Son of the Mask]]'', was released in 2005, but was met with poor reviews and was a box office flop.

==External links==

* [http://www.sequart.com/articles/index.php?article=602 An Introduction to The Mask]

* [http://www.darkhorse.com/search/search.php?sstring=mask&scope=products Darkhorse.com search for "Mask"]

[[Category:Dark Horse Comics characters|Mask, The]]

[[Category:Dark Horse titles|Mask, The]]

[[Category:Fictional characters with superhuman strength|Mask, The]]

[[Category:Superheroes|Mask]]

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