Overview |
| — Sweet Mask[1] |
- This article is about the character. For the chapter, see Chapter 105.
Beaut (ビュウト, Byūto), better known by his hero alias Handsomely Masked Sweet Mask (イケメン仮面アマイマスク, Ikemen Kamen Amai Masuku; Viz: Amai Mask, aka Handsome Kamen), and often referred to simply as Sweet Mask (アマイマスク, Amai Masuku; Viz: Amai Mask), is the A-Class Rank 1 professional hero of the Hero Association. Outside of his hero work, he is a famous model, actor, and singer, and also the most popular celebrity in the world.[6] In addition to his job as a hero, he is a member of the Hero Association hero rank evaluation staff.[4]
He becomes fascinated with Saitama's strength after listening to Genos talk about him during an emergency meeting held after the Monster Association incident. In the webcomic, this happens after he witnesses Saitama's battle with Garou. It is later revealed that he is a Mysterious Being, having undergone monsterization due to intense hatred of his own ugliness. Currently, he is trying to persuade Saitama to become the kind of ideal hero who can live up to public expectations and fulfill societal needs.
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
He is now on the run after his monster identity was revealed to the public. As a result, he has been dismissed from the Hero Association for being a monster.
Appearance[]
Sweet Mask is a young man with a tall, muscular, and lean build. He has messy shoulder-length light blue hair, with a single strand hanging down the middle of his face and yellow eyes. He is widely regarded as exceptionally handsome by the public.
He wears a white jacket over his gray shirt with a green circle necklace and black trousers.
During the invasion of the Seafolk, he was sporting a shorter hairstyle with his hair parted to the right. He is seen with long hair again when he addresses the Hero Association official and, in his most recent appearance, he is again shown with his short hair. Interestingly, Sweet Mask's eyes seem to turn from a yellow into a blood-red color when extremely angered.[7]
Sweet Mask used to be ugly, so he worked as a hero while hiding his face, going by the hero name Secret Mask. During this period, he had a full-body armored suit with a helmet that concealed his face, and a belt buckle with a spiral emblem loosely resembling a question mark.
He only gained his beautiful appearance after transforming into a Mysterious Being due to his hatred for his ugliness.[8]
During his fight with Pesky Clown, Sweet Mask reveals his face beneath the mask. His true form is shown to be that of a hulking, hunchbacked monster.[9][10]
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
Personality[]
Sweet Mask believes that heroes exist to protect citizens, and if they fail in that duty, they must become strong enough to succeed. He is quite popular, exuding charisma, and genuinely cares for the well-being of those around him, wishing happiness for all living beings in the universe.[13] He even stresses himself over finding new ways to please his fans.[14]
However, despite his appealing facade, Sweet Mask harbors a ruthless nature. He possesses a deep-seated hatred for anything he deems evil, including those he considers accomplices.[15] He believes that anything labeled as evil must be swiftly eradicated.
Sweet Mask's darker side.
This is evident when he mercilessly dispatches a group of captured aliens from the Dark Matter Thieves, claiming to serve justice. He also disregards orders to bring back an escaped caveman, opting instead to kill him.[16] Sweet Mask shows no hesitation in nearly murdering brainwashed innocents like Narinki's Private Squad or contemplating the murder of fellow heroes such as the three of Atomic Samurai's disciples.[17]
He adheres to any method that enhances the popularity of heroes, focusing solely on those in S-Class or A-Class, as they attract the most public attention. Negative reputations among these heroes could tarnish his own, prompting him to maintain his position as A-Class Rank 1 to prevent unworthy heroes from advancing to S-Class. Sweet Mask's narcissism and inflated self-image lead him to consider extreme measures, including the potential murder of S-Class heroes to conceal his failure against Fuhrer Ugly and the way he lost his composure, although he ultimately regains his self-control at the last moment.[18]
Sweet Mask's narcissistic side.
He is particularly obsessed with the idea that "beauty overwhelms power," asserting that "heroes must be beautiful as well." This philosophy is evident in his admiration for worthy S-Class hero Genos, who embodies both beauty and heroic deeds. He also criticizes S-Class heroes he deems unworthy, wanting to subordinate them while filling in as team leader during the Monster Association raid.[19]
Sweet Mask's disdain extends to those who succumb to the evil he detests. His hatred for monsters, coupled with his sense of beauty and justice, fosters a condescending attitude towards others, reinforcing his self-righteousness.[20] He questions Zombieman's humanity during an S-Class hero meeting, expressing skepticism about his abilities and why he cannot die.[21]
Despite these negative traits, Sweet Mask genuinely wants to fight evil and help people. It is implied that fame has clouded his original motivations for becoming a hero. This is demonstrated when he expresses admiration for King after learning he fought monsters alone all night.[22] Later, when contemplating killing S-Class heroes to hide his failure during the Monster Association Raid, he recalls being saved by the number one hero, Blast, which triggers a moment of self-reflection. This memory compels him to regain control and remember the importance of self-control.[23] He has also been willing to help who he believes is a regular person to get away from the battle with the monsters, aiding an injured Metal Bat while also attempting to save Flashy Flash from what he assumed to be Manako trying to kill him.
After hearing about Saitama from Genos during a meeting, his perspective shifts, becoming more focused on overwhelming power rather than beauty alone. He soon begins contemplating a new ideal for heroism, growing increasingly irate at the Soda Pop Boys for lacking the quality he seeks and openly expressing his disgust with their group and its many shortcomings.
Sweet Mask wholeheartedly believes in a grand justice that will illuminate the world, backed by a hero who represents a great hope that everyone can see and latch onto.[24] His plan is to have Saitama be the very symbol he envisions.[25]
His intense hatred for ugliness originates from his own past, as he once had an ugly face and wore a mask out of shame. This deep-seated self-loathing directed at his own appearance transformed him into a Mysterious Being.
Before monsterizing, he strived to cultivate inner beauty and adhere to strict moral principles, even engaging in community service, like picking up litter, though his efforts went largely unnoticed. However, after becoming handsome, his popularity soared. He initially viewed the public as vain and superficial for being blinded by outward appeal, but realized he had become what he personally dreaded after his rise in popularity; a shallow person just like them.[26]
Sweet Mask reveals that his transformation is corrupting his core, giving rise to a more ruthless and bloodthirsty side that diminishes his humanity. While killing monsters has allowed him to maintain a semblance of humanity, it has also made him increasingly merciless. If faced with choices where he can only save one side, he would unhesitatingly sacrifice the group with fewer members, pretending to struggle with the decision. He fears that he will ultimately reduce justice to a mere symbol, losing all understanding of what it means to be human.[27]
Despite his vain and self-serving traits, Sweet Mask exhibits a strong degree of selflessness; in front of the public, he willingly transformed into his monster form to defeat Pesky Clown, fully aware that doing so would end his career as both a hero and an idol.[28]
Abilities and Powers[]
As the top-ranked A-Class hero, Sweet Mask is a very skilled and powerful individual. He is also far superior to everyone else in this class and his skills are strong enough to put him in S-Class. He claims to be stronger than Atomic Samurai,[29] and is even confident enough in his abilities to stand up to other S-Class heroes, such as Flashy Flash.[30] He chooses not to advance to S-Class so as not to allow weaklings to rank up.[31] Fubuki describes him as a monster, much like her sister Tatsumaki, who is the second highest-ranked hero within the association. Even after witnessing Saitama's display of power in his fights against her and Speed-o'-Sound Sonic, Fubuki was still convinced that it would be impossible for him to surpass Sweet Mask.[32] Along with his previous claims, Sweet Mask describes himself as an "all-rounder" capable of defeating "any opponent" and is confident in proclaiming himself as "the perfect hero".[33] However, he has a very peculiar weakness; extreme ugliness paralyzes him, making him unable to move well and fight back, which renders him particularly vulnerable against Ugmons.[34] Besides his combat abilities, Sweet Mask is a talented actor and singer.
In the webcomic, as acknowledged by Atomic Samurai, Sweet Mask is S-Class worthy.[35] During his battle with Pesky Clown, Sweet Mask admits he has never defeated a Dragon-level Mysterious Being alone.[36] However, it is evident that his true capabilities enable him to single-handedly overcome such threats, as shown when he transformed into his monster state and overpowered Pesky Clown, one such opponent. Despite already being assessed as a Dragon-level threat, Pesky Clown powered up again, but Sweet Mask still managed to bring the monster down.[37]
Physical Abilities[]
Sweet Mask swiftly killing several hostage aliens with a few hand swipes.
Immense Speed and Reflexes: Sweet Mask is very fast, capable of moving and attacking quicker than some monsters can react. He first demonstrated his speed by swiftly killing a group of captured alien invaders with just a few hand swipes using one hand.[38] He could also effortlessly evade Suppon's barrage of attacks and maneuver behind him, striking him down with only two blows before the caveman could retaliate.[39]
In the webcomic, Sweet Mask managed to fight off many clones of Black Sperm, a Dragon-level Mysterious Being. He was also able to evade some of Evil Natural Water's attacks, which, according to Child Emperor, move faster than the eye can track, while still fighting Black Sperm.[40] In the webcomic, when he attacked Garou, he landed 25 hits in what appeared to be an instant.[41]
Sweet Mask slicing two monsters in half with his bare hands.
Immense Strength: Sweet Mask possesses remarkable physical strength. When confronted by three monsters at a concert, he swiftly bisected two of them with a single-hand strike and then pulverized the head of the remaining one with a powerful punch.[13] He can also casually lift and throw large debris with a single arm,[42] and utterly crush Do-S's head, a Demon-level Mysterious Being, using only one hand.[43] Furthermore, Sweet Mask is strong enough to destroy the tanks that housed the Monster Cells with a few strikes.[44] He was able to lift a boulder much larger than he is with ease, as well as throwing it with great force. In the webcomic, he broke the hand of one of Black Sperm's giant clones with a single hit.[45]
Once he transforms into his monster state, his strength skyrockets. He was able to stop Pesky Clown, a Dragon-level threat, in his tracks, defeating him rather quickly. Even after the clown-like monster powered up further after receiving attention and news coverage from the entire world, Sweet Mask was still strong enough to kill Pesky Clown with a powerful blow.
Enhanced Endurance: In the webcomic, Sweet Mask seemed to feel little to no pain upon being pierced through the chest by Evil Natural Water, and resumed fighting normally.[46] He also endured a brutal beating from Pesky Clown that horribly disfigured his face without displaying significant signs of pain, though his enhanced healing factor may contribute to his ability to suppress it.
Enhanced Healing Factor: After his transformation into a Mysterious Being, Sweet Mask possesses the ability to rapidly recover from severe bodily injuries. This was first demonstrated when Do-S pierced his eye with her tongue and cracked his face, yet the damage healed soon after.[47] After having his torso torn open, exposing his intestines, and his face crushed by Fuhrer Ugly,[48] he managed to fully heal, though it took some time.[49] In the webcomic, Sweet Mask was able to reattach his severed arm, explaining that it was possible because the cut was clean. However, he does not appear capable of regrowing a missing limb, as he reattached his arm rather than regrowing it.[50] In his battle with Pesky Clown, his regeneration abilities were also shown, as he was able to quickly heal the extensive damage to his disfigured face.
Transformation: Sweet Mask can transform into his true monster form to increase his strength. This transformation causes veins to swell across his face, bulks up his body, and grants a significant boost in power.[51]
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
Shapeshifting: Sweet Mask possesses remarkable shapeshifting abilities. Wavygyaza remarks that these metamorphic abilities allow Sweet Mask not only to alter his physical appearance, but also to mask his biophysical signature, evading detection even from advanced spy satellite technologies.[52] He can shapeshift into entirely different beings for disguise. This was first demonstrated when he transformed into Stag Beetle Man, a superhero from a children's comic, to eliminate robots attacking an elderly woman and her grandson.[53] Later, he is also shown capable of shifting into a civilian-like man.[54]
Fighting Style[]
Sweet Mask's fighting ability.
Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Sweet Mask is a skilled close-quarters fighter. During his fight with Suppon, he first moved into the latter's blind spot, incapacitated him, then delivered a lethal strike.[39] Combined with his superhuman strength and speed, his hands function like sharp blades, which he often uses to slice monsters apart.[55][13] In the webcomic, Sweet Mask managed to repel the continuous assault of Black Sperm's clones, prompting Atomic Samurai to comment that he and Black Sperm were even, at least temporarily.[35]
Hero Rating[]
Sweet Mask's rating determined by the Hero Association[4]:
Quotes[]
- (To a reporter) "Anyone can become a hero if you feel the desire for peace in your heart!"[56]
- (To Suppon) "The association told me to bring you back alive, but I'm not that sweet."[57]
- (To Do-S) "You think bargaining with me is going to work? Hideous creature, prepare to die."[58]
- (Against Fuhrer Ugly) "I can't win against this one! Even the handsome, highly intelligent, capable, brave, mighty warrior worth a thousand men, the perfect hero "Handsomely Masked Sweet Mask" cannot win this!"[59]
- (To Superalloy Darkshine) "Those muscles are proof that you won your way through life, aren't they? Don't let your weak self take over. I'm the same. No matter how many setbacks, no matter how many times I disappoint myself, I'll stand back up and continue forward. That's what a hero does."[60]
- (To Child Emperor) "Life's not that sweet. You really think a pseudo-monster would be able to lead a team of heroes? Our leader has to be the ideal human."[61]
- (To Homeless Emperor) "Don't get ahead of yourself, evildoer!"[62]
- (To Saitama) "I have always had an inferiority complex stemming from my ugly appearance. To compensate for it, I thought I should at least be beautiful on the inside, so I lived my life adhering to strict moral principles."[63][64]
- "Recently, I started to actually feel the monsterization process affecting my mind too. I think killing monsters is the only way I've managed to stay on humanity's side. Faced with a situation where I can only save one side, I will choose to sacrifice the side with fewer casualties without hesitation... even though I will pretend I struggled to make that choice. If I continue down this path, justice will become but a mere symbol, and I will eventually become unable to understand what it means to be human. I can't even imagine what will become of my existence when that happens."[65][66]
- "In order to preserve the ideals of the people, you can never lose; that condition is absolute. A hero with overwhelming power is what ultimately attracts attention. Your power will outshine everyone else, especially in the coming era."[67]
Trivia[]
- According to the databook:
- What he likes are his fans, justice, missions, skin emollient, and skin toner.[4]
- What he dislikes are evil, annoying interviews, and irresponsible heroes.[4]
- He is overworking and has no time to spend on the things he likes.[4]
- He won the academy award for Best Actor in the film "A Handsome Love Story".[4]
- Sweet Mask is a member of the Hero rank evaluation. He evaluates points to give each hero so they can rise or fall in the ranking system. He is also a special advisor to the association on public relations.[4]
- The origin of his hero name was designated by himself after his face was revealed. His hero name was formerly "Secret Mask".[4]
- He is a member of the "Handsome Castle" agency.[4]
- Sweet Mask ranked number one in the popularity polls in the world of One-Punch Man for 28 weeks straight.[68]
- During a stream when describing what the characters look like in real world, Yusuke Murata stated that Sweet Mask looks Korean.[69]
- Sweet Mask has dinner shows at the end of the year.[70]
- In the 2017 One Punch Man Halloween cover, Sweet Mask was depicted as a classic vampire holding a microphone.[71]
Expand to see original webcomic information. Beware of spoiler content.
- Sweet Mask is the only known Mysterious Being the Hero Association had in its employment, albeit unwittingly.
- Sweet Mask's behavior towards his true form of mysterious being is similar to that of Dorian Gray, from Oscar Wilde's novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray.
- Both are afraid of their true, monstrous forms, and tend to hide them from being revealed publicly: one by hiding his ugly picture and the other by suppressing his real form and fighting while disguised as a human.
- Both grow progressively more vicious, due to the influence of their monstrous side.
- Both are obsessed with their physical appearance and reputation.
References[]
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 25, page 49
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 29, page 15
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 211 (Online), page 15
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 One-Punch Man Encyclopedia; One-Punch Man: Hero Encyclopedia, page 30-31
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 150, page 7
- ↑ One-Punch Man Interview; Niconico Interview
- ↑ One-Punch Man Anime; Episode 12
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 121, page 25
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 122-123
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 132
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 118
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 One-Punch Man Manga; Star
- ↑ One-Punch Man Audiobook; Amai Mask's Super Sweet Anguish
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 106, page 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 45, page 9-13
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 106, page 4-7 & 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 140, page 6
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 95, page 22
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 106, page 13
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 95, page 20
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 95, page 30-31
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 140
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120, page 7
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120, page 13-14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120, page 10-12
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120, page 13
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 122, page 2-3
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 86, page 20
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 95, page 24
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 37, page 15, and Episode 12
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 45, page 15, and Episode 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 65, page 5
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 118, page 17
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 78, page 5
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 121, page 22
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 122
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 37, and Episode 12
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 45, page 16-18
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 75
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 83, page 11-12
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 96, page 31-32
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 106, page 17-18
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 118, page 4-5
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 75, page 4
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 75, page 9
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 106, page 17-19
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 146, page 19
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 164, page 2
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 75, page 7
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 122
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 132, page 1
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 146
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 150
- ↑ One-Punch Man Anime; Episode 12
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; A New Wind Blows
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 45, page 9
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 106, page 4
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 118, page 13
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 141, page 23-26
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 144, page 17
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 146, page 15
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 211 (Online), page 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120, page 10
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; Chapter 212 (Online), page 3-4
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120, page 13
- ↑ One-Punch Man Webcomic; Chapter 120, page 14
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga and Anime; Chapter 25, page 47, and Episode 8
- ↑ One-Punch Man Stream; 30/5/2018
- ↑ One-Punch Man Manga; One-Punch Man Holiday Special Chapter
- ↑ tonarinoyj.hatenablog.com