[jfglade]

 The Red Mask was the nominal star of Better/Standard/Nedor/Pine's first title, "Best Comics," which was short lived possibly because it had to be read "sideways." I've only seen one Red Mask story which comes from Jim's collection, and I'm hoping someone knows more about the Red Mask than I can glean from one episode. The title being used makes me wonder if the material wasn't originally done speculatively as an attempt at newpaper synidaction. Does anyone know, one way or the other, if that is correct? The series, or serial, depending on how you want to classify it, seems to owe quite a bit to the Phantom. Like the Phantom family name, is the Red Mask's real name never disclosed? I'm also curious about the use of the red mask itself. Not only does the Red Mask wear a red mask, so does one of the natives who acts in a heroic manner. What was the relationship between the Red Mask and his sidekick/partner/whatever? Was it more like 'Brothers of the Spear' in that they were co-equals or does the masked native function more like a tradional sidekick? Also does the sidekick/whatever wear the mask to show solidarity with the Red Mask or is he trying to conceal his real identity? The flowing garment the Red Mask wears is distinctive but doesn't strkie me as practical for many activities; did the Red Mask sometime wear different clothing and his red mask, more or less the way Sandman sometime dressed like an aviator but still wore his gasmask?

Too many questions, I know, but I would be happy to get an answer to any of them.

Thanks (hopefully) in advance,
Jon

[Will Shetterly]

The Red Mask was a newspaper strip from 1936 that was reprinted in Best Comics. The mask seems to be only worn by the Red Mask. How the story would've developed, we can only guess, because the newspaper strip was canceled after 26 episodes.

[paw broon]

And the comic is landscape, a format I'm particularly interested in.
Re. masks, There are a few heroes who wear masks for no apparent reason, apart from this guy. The Phantom really doesn't need a mask but it adds to his air of mystery and perhaps emphasises his danger to the bad guys. 
The Spirit, does he need a mask? Denny Colt is presumed dead but isn't and he lives in a cemetery. Why not just fight crime as a miraculously back from the dead, Denny Colt.  But then we wouldn't have one of the all time great masked mystery men.
Plastic Man has his goggles which act like a mask, but maybe he needs them having fallen into that vat.
A lot of the time the rational for non super powered characters donning masks to fight crime is to protect their i/d's, families and friends.  Thinking about it, that is part of the Spirit's reason. Punching holes in my own argument
(I've just read the Black Raider story in Mask and that made me realise that)
As there are some characters who are based on The Phantom legend, I can't not mention The Phantom Ranger, Aus hero who you'll find in our Aus/NZ section.  He wears a mask for no discernible reason.
I need to give this some thought. A bit selfish actually as I'll end up re-reading old hero comics, fooling myself it's all for research.
I'll need to look at The Masked Raider in a Swan title and quite a few of the Spanish historical masked mystery men.