The Face-Mask Avenger: A Modern Superhero.
Every superhero has an origin story–and so does every designer. The genesis of my career as a designer began as a tween who had a love for superheroes. I would write and draw comic books with original stories or fan-fiction of the characters that I loved to read about (mostly the Bat-Family and Spidergirl). My love for illustration eventually led to me getting a tiny Wacom Bamboo tablet with Photoshop Elements to create my own webcomics. My interests rapidly shifted once I started following online Photoshop tutorials and I fell in love with graphic design. While I didn’t pursue cartooning professionally, superheroes and comic books will always have a dear place in my heart.
Superhero stories are something considered to be uniquely American in origin. Like most art forms, comic books and graphic novels often reflect the challenges and politics of the times their stories are set in. Captain America was created at the start of World War II. Spider-Man and Hulk are just two examples of many Cold War-era characters whose powers originated from radioactivity. Even the X-Men are used as an allegory for civil rights and a cautionary tale of the hereditary effects of radioactivity. One has to wonder if we’ll see stories in the future of heroes who fight against an invisible villain — a pandemic like the novel coronavirus.
Throughout the history of comics, these fantastical tales often feature seemingly ordinary people who wear a mask to protect their identities while they carry out extraordinary deeds, often righting injustices in their own community and protecting others. One of the first known instances of this is the masked character of Zorro, who protected the poor against corruption in Spanish-ruled southern California. As described in his first pulp novel appearance The Curse of Capistrano, his goal was “to avenge the helpless, to punish cruel politicians, to aid the oppressed”.
While the public’s hunger for physical comic books has waned, the stories of superheroes continue to thrive in film and television. 100 years after the origin of Zorro, the precursor for masked vigilantes we know today, heroes fighting against the odds and coming out on top are still a form of escapism for the vast majority of the American public, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe being the highest-grossing franchise of all time, raking in over $22 billion over recent years.
So the irony of the masses idolizing fictional people who wear masks to protect their communities, and then not wanting to wear a mask or face covering during a pandemic to protect the health of others in their communities is not lost on me.
In “These Times”, we’re seeing some of the worst traits of society being revealed. It’s like the end of a Scooby-Doo episode where the gang pulled the mask off The Creeper to find out who it was all along. Except, we’re finding what we knew was under the mask of hero-worship all along: an unsurprising amount of selfishness and disregard for the wellbeing of fellow humans (and they might’ve gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for that meddling pandemic!).
This is where a modern masked crusader steps forward, able to keep six-feet apart in a single bound! For the average person, being minorly inconvenienced by a face covering is a small sacrifice to make to protect strangers and ease the burden on front-line responders. One does their due diligence to stay safe, maintain distance, get tested, and compare mask options that will shield others (including those who are actually medically exempt from wearing masks) from potentially life-threatening danger.
For all the modern super heroes out there, here are some helpful notes on face covering options that might be of some assistance:
The Batsy
To paraphrase a famous line from The Dark Knight Rises, “The mask is to protect the people closest to me.”
Unfortunately, Batman’s iconic cowl will only protect his identity and does nothing to stop the spread of coronavirus. This is a nice attempt, but not suitable.
When wearing a face covering to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you should cover both your nose and mouth.
The Friendly Neighborhood Arachnid
Kudos for wearing a mask that covers both the nose and mouth, unlike some vigilantes (ahem..Batman).
Amazing for protecting the neighborhood from supervillains. Not so amazing at protecting from superviruses.
Face coverings that are made from at least two layers of tightly woven materials (such as cotton or linen) show the most effectiveness. A mask such as Spider-Man’s, made from a thin spandex-like material, won’t be as effective at keeping the bad particles in.
The Pleated / Accordion Mask
I like to wear this one when going for a quick walk to the mailbox or when I may pass by someone in my apartment building’s hallways. It easily slips on and off as needed — after washing or sanitizing your hands, of course.
Pleated masks usually involve more than one layer of fabric, folded over into an accordion-like pattern. This is usually the easiest option for a DIY project that doesn’t involve a sewing pattern. They have a similar look to surgical masks.
Most pleated masks use a “standard” ear loop to be secured to the head. Someone who needs to wear a mask for longer periods of time may find using an ear-guard or mask extender to be less uncomfortable.
The Fitted Mask
If you’re going the DIY route, fitted masks require a little more sewing than other mask options. However, the result is a mask that fits snugly around the face, leaving no room for vapors to escape. Some options even include a metal strip hidden in the nose bridge to further comfortably fit the mask edges.
Like the pleated mask option, some fitted masks use ear loops. Others might have elastics that wrap around the back of the head like an n95 mask.
The Filter
Behold — the ultimate level-up. The secret weapon. To put it in analogy terms: the filter is to face masks as force fields are to Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four. (Ok it’s not that effective but you catch my drift).
Face coverings become all the more protective against asymptomatic vapors when you incorporate a filter. Some masks that are made of thinner materials offer a pocket where you can insert a replaceable filter to increase the efficacy of the face covering.
There are many different types of filters available. You can find manufactured HEPA or carbon filters or make your own from something like vacuum bags or canvas shopping bags.
And some fictional characters whose choice of mask you might not want to emulate.
The Darth Vader
This helmet is perfect if you’re a Sith Lord in a space opera. If you’re not, avoid wearing it in public (unless you have another facemask on underneath, I guess?).
Masks with exhalation valves (such as some n95 respirators and Mr. Vader’s helmet) are recommended against by the CDC because the valve allows unfiltered breath and vapors to escape the mask, thereby potentially infecting others nearby. No bueno.
The Not-So-Super Dude
Unless you’re actually a Kryptonian who is immune from catching and passing on COVID-19, put on a mask and help protect Ma Kent from getting sick (“MARTHAAA!!!”).
Yes, during “These Times”, it might seem like the darkness is winning in the eternal battle between good and evil, but if you look hard enough, you can see the helpers. We see unexpected heroes make the headlines, like the students who formed a volunteer alliance to deliver groceries for their elderly neighbors or the engineers who 3D-printed much needed parts for respirators during the peak of Italy’s pandemic. In every corner of the world, we can find ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things for their community. Even if it’s something as small as wearing a mask to protect those they don’t even know.
P.S. As always, we should recognize the sacrifice of front-line medical workers who are the true heroes, not only during the pandemic but also during more stable times. If you would like to further ease the burden on medical workers, contact your local hospital or nursing home to see if they’re accepting donations of supplies they may be running low on, or how else you can help.
Venessa Baez is a self-taught Graphic Designer, passionate about using her design powers for good and contributing to society by creating things that make people’s lives easier or happier — or both! She is also an AIGA Los Angeles Director of Social Media and President Emerita of AIGA Tampa Bay. In her spare time, Venessa watches too much Netflix and teaches on Skillshare.
