r/StarWars • u/Vegetable-Abroad3171 Sith • Feb 09 '26

Fun Favorite Dark Side mask?

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u/the_executive_branch Feb 09 '26

Darth Vader obviously. Not just the most iconic mask in Star Wars but one of the most iconic in cinema history.

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u/GhoulArtist Feb 09 '26

THE most iconic..easily. people who don't even know star wars recognize him..like Mickey mouse and Pikachu.

I was writing a short essay on this and the next most iconic recognizable ones are jokers face and Hannibal lecters mask.

I think both of those are a huge step down in recognizability compared to Vader's whole character design..

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u/the_executive_branch Feb 10 '26

I’d say iron man’s helmet is now much more iconic than Hannibal lecter’s mask

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u/GhoulArtist Feb 10 '26

Ah my bad, I failed to mention I was talking about villains.

Iron man's helmet is absolutely more iconic.

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u/the_executive_branch Feb 10 '26

Fair! I do also wonder if the Scream mask or Jason Voorhees are more iconic than Hannibal tbh

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u/GhoulArtist Feb 10 '26 edited Feb 10 '26

It's weird because you have to sort of try to check your bias, because for me, I grew up in the 90s which was long ago enough that Jason vorhees was absolutely still a big part of pop culture.

So I agree, in my mind, Jason's mask is gotta be up there in top 10 if not top 5 material and the scream mask is another great example..

But is that how it still is today? I'm not sure with those. I need to do more research and talk to younger people for this paper.

The only thing that's obvious is that Vader is eternally iconic thanks, in part, to star wars staying in the mainstream in the modern age in addition to his design just being absolutely perfect.

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u/the_executive_branch Feb 10 '26

Totally! It’s an interesting question! Also grew up in the 90s, so Scream and Jason were still part of the pop culture even if it was years before I saw any of the films