The Black Mask of the North American Houses.
| “ | Black Masks learn things out here, in the field, on our own. Most important thing about being a Black Mask is knowing when it's best to follow the Order's rules... and when not to. | ” |
— Louis Boucher, Book of Butcher
|
Black Masks are a branch of The Order of St. George who don the color black and hunt monsters independently. Usually known to have rivalries with the group-oriented White Masks, the Black Masks are often the smallest branch of each House, and lead solitary and isolating lives.
Description[]
| “ | Black Masks are the lone hunters of the Order of St. George. They are trained to be self-sufficient in the field, capable of taking down a monster without House assistance. The training is more rigorous, lonely work, and the heads of the Black Mask branch work diligently to only pick those suited to the solitary life required of them. | ” |
The Black Masks are known as the solo hunters of the Order. Trained separate from the White Masks, they are taught to function independently and be able to take down monsters on their own, rather than relying on group attacks. As such, they are often sent on missions alone, and lead solitary lives with little attachments. Few Black Mack trainees survive the Sacrament of the Hunt, as they are not allowed to rely on others in their hunt, but many of them can easily pass the Blind Hunt as they have been operating without help for most of their lives.[1] Some consider those under this mask to have "the most thankless job" in the Order.[2]
Black Masks, as lone hunters, are often also the most skeptical of Order rules, hierarchy, and orders. Specifically, they are expected to learn in the field, change their worldview with new information, and decide when to follow orders and when to ignore them.[3]
They tend to have rivalries with the White Masks, as their ways of hunting often clash with each other. However, White Masks often find solo missions difficult or deadly, and Black Masks have trouble working in social environments or on team hunts, so both are considered valuable to the Order.[1]
Known Black Masks[]
House of Boucher[]
- René Boucher †
- Louis Boucher
House of Carnage[]
- Julien Carnage † (d. 8/14/1666)
- Angelique Carnage
House of Cutter[]
- Brutus Cutter † (d. 8/14/1666)
- Charlotte Cutter †
- George Cutter (preparing for retirement)
House of Slaughter[]
- Samuel Slaughter † (founder)
- Adda Slaughter †
- Jessica Slaughter †
- Aaron Slaughter † (last known leader)
- Erica Slaughter (defected)
- Maxine Slaughter (training abroad)
Cecilia Slaughter is also noted to have begun her training as a Black Mask, before switching to White.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tynion, James IV. Book of Slaughter, vol. #1, issue no.1, Boom! Studios, 2022.
- ↑ Tynion, James IV. Something is Killing the Children, vol. #4, issue no. 20, Boom! Studios, 2021.
- ↑ Tynion, James IV. Book of Butcher, vol. #1, issue no.1, Boom! Studios, 2023.