Renegades

Masks function as a motif that explores the theme of identity, particularly within the context of The Challenges of Navigating Different Personas. The motif of masks is prominent throughout the superhero genre, symbolizing secret identities and the dangers of vigilantism. Nova’s mask, which she only wears when she is acting as Nightmare, symbolizes her ambiguous role as both a villain and a hero. Unlike Sentinel’s mask, which covers his entire face, Nova’s only covers only the lower half of her face, leaving her eyes exposed. Nova’s refusal to cover her whole face symbolizes her potential for change and her desire to be “seen” for who she really is. Even though she has always hidden her identity, her half-mask suggests that her outward persona is not fully aligned with her deeper desires.

Unlike the masks of Nova and the Dread Warden, Sentinel’s mask covers his entire face. The Dread Warden and the Sentinel are both implied to have “secret” identities, but their very different masks symbolize their true goals and status. The Dread Warden needs only a token mask because his identity is publicly known. The Sentinel, on the other hand, has a reason to hide his identity as Adrian, and the persona also functions as a method for Adrian to confront his hidden fears and trauma by seeking out justice for his mother’s death. Thus, the characters’ various approaches to their masks deliver deeper messages about their hidden motives and attitudes toward their own identities. The Dread Warden’s relative maturity and fame render a true mask useless to him, but because Nova and Adrian both struggle to allow themselves to be seen as they are, they rely upon alternate identities in order to survive.