Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics | Tagged: al ewing, defenders, doctor strange, k defenders, masked raider, masked rider

Marvel's Defenders Comic With Masked Raider – This Al Ewing's Doing?

At the end of Marvel Comics #1000 by Al Ewing, we were told that the Masked Raider would return in 2020. He did, kinda, appearing in Incoming #1 also from Al Ewing. But that clearly wasn't enough. Now it appears he will be returning properly in 2021, in a new Defenders series alongside Doctor Strange, out from Marvel Comics this summer. Handly in time for the new Doctor Strange movie, especially since there is no ongoing Doctor Strange comic book out right now…

Called together by Doctor Strange when Earth faces its greatest threats, the Defenders have always been Marvel's most eclectic Super Hero team. Who will join him this time?

The art by Javier Rodriguez gives us a choice of Hellstrom, Hulk, Harpy, Silver Surfer, Sub Mariner, Beast, Moondragon, Valkyrie and… Cloud? Either way, does the choice suggest that this is a new Al Ewing comic book? Maybe what he will be doing after the Immortal Hulk fifty-issue run comes to an end.

I'd lay odds on Cloud. A nebula in space given human form, taking on the form of a male and female teenage couple, jumping from one to the other. In 1983 that was as genderfluid as you got in superhero comics.

But with Harpy and Masked Raider as choices, it does tend to be point towards a certain Mr Al Ewing. Also I like rhyming Ewing and Doing in the headline, so it was totally justified to make that leap. And for those who don't recall the Masked Raider – or Masked Rider, here's a brief recap.

The Masked Rider pulp origins

Oscar Schisgall's 1930's novel, The Black Caballero, crossed The Shadow with Lone Ranger to create the Masked Rider and his Native American companion Blue Hawk. It crossed The Shadow with Lone Ranger rather effectively. It was picked up, reworked, serialised and continued in 1934 as The Masked Rider pulp magazine, the first such volume published by Martin Goodman, the man who later founded comic book publishers Timely, Atlas and Marvel Comics, and the cousin-in-law of Stan Lee.

The Masked Raider from Marvel Comics #1

Published regularly, with several different authors, the character also appeared in comic book form in Marvel Comics #1 renamed The Masked Raider, later Marvel Mystery Comics. That ceased when the character was sold to Standard Publication in 1940, who published their own more Western-focus version of the character.

The Masked Raider was Jim Gardley, a young cowpoke in 1830s Texas, originally approached with the offer to serve as hired muscle for a powerful rancher. When he found out the boss wanted him to "convince" all the small ranchers in the area to sell their lands to him at dirt cheap prices, Gardley turned down the offer. The rancher then framed him for cattle rustling and had him jailed. Escaping, Gardley started preparing himself to take revenge. He created the costumed identity of the Masked Raider, perfected his aim and draw and partnered himself with a feral white horse by the name of "Lightning".

Masked Rider's Eternity Mask

In Marvel Comics #1000 we learnt that his mask was the Eternity Mask, worn by many before him and after him. Formed from the body of the very essence of reality, Eternity and worn by many through the ages.

Created by magicians in the Middle Ages and worn by the first Black Knight, with the power to make the wearer the equal of their opponent.

… it inspired both the American Revolution and much other history that followed, with the theme of throwing off the power that contains you, by creating true equality between you and your oppressor, giving you the ability to take back control.

All this before being worn the Masked Rider, Jim Gardley, the cowboy hero of Marvel Comics #1, before he passed it on…

…before worn by his successor… who then passed it on…

… to The Ferret. Who, in retirement donated it to the Scientists Guild, the Enclave, the Three XXXs to use to fight the Nazis…

…not that they seemed to know what to do with it. Belief is necessary you see, and science is not subject to belief, apparently.

And so they kept it unused, even as others who did believe sought it. And a young Steve Rogers passed it, on his way to his own Nazi-fighting transformation.

And so they kept it. Unused.

Even as others sought it.

With limited success…

Until it was taken by Enclave and Scientist Guild member Jerome Hamilton, rebelling against his own.

And rejoined the litany of heroes using its power… did Jerome Hamilton become Blind Justice or did he pass it to the person who was?

…whether they knew it or not. With many suspects over the decades, through the history of the Marvel Universe, to the present day.

And whoever did take the mask from the body…

Knowing much of its history… and then wearing it themselves.

With Marvel Comics #1001 telling us that the Eternity Mask lets the wearer look through time and space.

…and can see the narrative. That everything is made of narrative. The wearer of the Eternity Mask is walking connective tissue. Then Incoming #1 has this Masked Raider tell his story and how he acquired the Eternity Mask. That it not only makes you someone's equal, but it copies the powers of those around him.

And now… The Defenders. Will he do the same with the powers of Doctor Strange? Maybe he could end up opening a multiverse of madness?

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!