One of the Best 1990s Comic Book Movies Just Became A Streaming Hit (& It’s Not Marvel or DC)

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Comic book movies have done really well this year, with popular films like *Superman*, *Fantastic Four*, and *Thunderbolts* earning praise from fans. More big-name Marvel and DC movies are planned for next year, but they aren’t the only ones adapting comics for the screen. A classic comic from the 1990s, not published by Marvel or DC, is now finding success as a streaming series.

I’m so excited everyone is discovering (or rediscovering!) *The Mask*! It’s seriously one of the funniest movies ever made, and it’s what really launched Jim Carrey’s career. I noticed it’s been climbing the charts on Netflix, and now it’s officially in the Top 10! It actually passed some pretty popular titles like *Law Abiding Citizen*, *Karate Kid: Legends*, and even *The Martian* to get there. It’s right behind other big hits, which just proves how much people are loving it right now!

Released in 1994, *The Mask* was a huge success, earning over $351 million globally despite costing only $23 million to make. Interestingly, many people don’t realize it’s based on a comic book, but it definitely is!

The Mask Comic Roots

Surprisingly, *The Mask* didn’t start with its own comic book series. It first appeared within the *Mayhem* series from Dark Horse Comics, created by John Arcudi, Doug Mahnke, Pat Brosseau, and Chris Chalenor. The four-part story, *Who’s Laughing Now?*, introduced both *The Mask* and the character Stanley Ipkiss. These chapters were later compiled into *The Mask #0* in 1991, which then led into the launch of the original *The Mask* series. Be warned though – if you’re expecting the same over-the-top humor as Jim Carrey’s portrayal, you might be surprised!

As a huge fan, I always thought *The Mask* was brilliant because it really let Jim Carrey go wild with his comedy. His character was totally over-the-top and bizarre, but surprisingly, it wasn’t overly violent. I think that’s a big reason why the movie was so popular – it was edgy and pushed the limits of what you’d expect, but it still stayed appropriate for a wider audience. It didn’t need to be super graphic to be hilarious and exciting!

However, the comic book version is quite different. As soon as he puts on the mask and becomes Big Head – that was his original nickname – he immediately kills a group of bikers who had previously bothered him. He continues on a violent rampage, killing anyone who’s ever done him wrong, including several police officers in a gunfight, before his girlfriend ultimately kills him.

Interestingly, Stanley does die in the original comic book series, and it’s hard to sympathize with him because he wasn’t a very good person. His girlfriend, Kathy, kills him while wearing the mask, and then the mask passes between several other people – making the comic’s story quite different from the movie version.

Why The Movie Stood Out

The film differs significantly from the original comics, but it still borrows key elements and the basic idea. What it does brilliantly is center the story around its lead actor and showcase Jim Carrey’s talent for physical comedy and creating on-screen mayhem. This not only makes the film feel surprisingly modern, but also helped it stand out from other comic book adaptations when it was released in 1994.

Looking at other comic book movies released in 1994 – like *The Crow*, *The Shadow*, *Timecop*, and *Street Fighter* – you can see a trend towards darker, more serious stories. Even the poorly received *Fantastic Four* film came out then. These movies aimed for a grittier tone, making *The Mask* stand out as something completely different – a lighthearted and comedic contrast.

Although films like *The Crow*, *Timecop*, and *The Shadow* are well-regarded, none achieved the same level of commercial success as *The Mask*. Interestingly, *The Mask* might not have been so popular if it had closely followed the darker tone of the original comics.

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2025-10-07 02:10