MASKED MAVERICK
Real Name: Mason (first name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human (Old West era)
Occupation: Rancher, rustler
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Rawhide Kid
Known Relatives: Lint Mason, Wade Mason (sons)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: The Mason ranch
First Appearance: Rawhide Kid I#44 (February, 1965)
Powers/Abilities: The Masked Maverick carried two pistols and rode horseback. He managed quick escapes through a secret passageway hidden in a hillside near his ranch. His greatest asset was his mask, which protected his identity. As Mason, he pretended to be a cripple. History: (Rawhide Kid I#44 (fb) - BTS) - Losing money on his ranch, Mr. Mason, crippled for many years, suddenly regained the use of his legs. He adopted the identity of the Masked Maverick and began to rustle cattle in order to rebuild his fortunes, keeping his regained mobility a secret.
(Rawhide Kid I#44) - As he committed cattle rustling, the Masked Maverick came upon the Rawhide Kid camping in the wild. He struck the Kid from behind then planted his mask and gear inside of the Kid's sleeping bag. When the Kid was found by a posse who were looking for the Maverick, they found the planted evidence and arrested the Rawhide Kid.
While the Kid was in prison at the nearby town, the Masked Maverick rustled more cattle, and shot a man in the arm when he pursued him. This proved the Kid's innocence and he was released, then he set out immediately to capture the Masked Maverick himself. He found the Masked Maverick and chased after him, but the Maverick escaped by using the secret tunnel to the Mason ranch. The Kid managed to locate the lever that opened the passageway and followed the tracks to the ranch.
The Kid confronted Mr. Mason and his two sons over his suspicions, and stated that he believed either Lint or Wade could be the Masked Maverick, thinking Mr. Mason was truly crippled. Mr. Mason let the Kid spend the night at their ranch, supposedly to aid him in the investigation, but that evening he snuck into his room as the Masked Maverick. The Kid awoke and the Maverick escaped, but the Kid was now certain that someone in the house was the Masked Maverick.
To drive the Masked Maverick into the open, the Rawhide Kid convinced local ranchers to start a cattle drive. Sure enough, the Masked Maverick appeared, and the Kid chased him to his secret passageway. As they fought inside of the cavern, the Masked Maverick fired his gun at the Kid, but the bullet ricocheted off the cave wall and struck him in the chest. As the Masked Maverick lay dying, Lint and Wade arrived and watched as the Maverick was unmasked as their father. Mr. Mason begged his sons for their forgiveness, then died.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber.
by
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Masked Maverick should not be confused with:
Lint was the wild and reckless son of Mr. Mason, and was considered a nuisance in the town nearby, often riding his horse into the saloon and shooting at signposts, always showing off, and using his father's wealth to pay off people who complained. When he was suspected of being the Masked Maverick, he confronted the Rawhide Kid for a showdown, but the Kid outdrew him and shot his guns from his hands. When Lint ultimately learned that his father was the Masked Maverick, he was ashamed.
--Rawhide Kid I#44
Wade was the calm and intellectual son of Mr. Mason, bearing little in common with his brother Lint. Wade believed that reckless men like his brother were on the way out, and that the future belonged to intellectuals such as himself. He was suspected of being the Masked Maverick by the Rawhide Kid, but the true culprit proved to be his own father.
--Rawhide Kid I#44
Images taken from:
Rawhide Kid I#44, page 1
Rawhide Kid I#44, page 9, panel 4
Lint- Rawhide Kid I#44, page 4, panel 3
Wade- Rawhide Kid I#44, page 5, panel 2
Last updated: 03/21/06
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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