The Mask #1

Dark Horse's 1991 four-part series kicks off with a cover by Doug Mahnke that wastes absolutely no time — the yellow-faced, gap-toothed Mask leers straight at the reader, gun thrust forward and blood spattering freely in a close-up that's equal parts grotesque and gleefully unhinged. The raw, hyper-detailed linework captures the character's anarchic energy perfectly, setting a decidedly adult tone far removed from cartoon mischief. With John Arcudi writing and Mahnke handling every visual duty inside as well, this first issue promises a creative team fully committed to their unsettling vision.