Bane masks are selling out online thanks to Batman fans. The character was a hit on the big screen back in 2012, thanks in no small part to Tom Hardy’s portrayal of the notorious villain in the final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Bane struck a formidable presence in comic books before he was truly brought to life by Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises. And while the comic book version of the supervillain does appear considerably larger and more brutish than Hardy’s version, the performance left many fans riveted.
Bane’s look has since become instantly recognizable – not just for fans of Nolan’s series, either, but within pop culture as a whole. What’s more, with the current state of the world what it is due to the coronavirus, it seems the masked approach of many superheroes (and supervillains) has actually become a sensible one. In fact, in some places, wearing a mask has become a legal requirement when leaving the house, ensuring that what was once a method to keep a hero or villain’s identity hidden is now a method of maintaining health.
Buying a mask has been a difficult process over the last several months, as COVID-19 really began to take hold around the world. Now, however, Batman fans are eschewing the traditional white surgical masks that have been in demand, in order to wear Bane replica masks. According to THR, so popular is the current trend, that costume shops are sold out and Etsy has seen a huge spike in cloth versions of the mask. The official masks are made of plastic and although the adult versions are sold out, some shops still have children’s versions in stock.
Unfortunately, the Bane masks might seem the perfect choice for Batman fans during the pandemic, but they aren’t medical grade. Disclaimers have popped up on Etsy and even the U.S. Military has stated the masks aren’t acceptable face covering. Nonetheless, the demand remains high for them. Because the official masks are made in China, there has been considerable strain on supplies, meaning that once sold out, it’s unlikely that more official masks will be restocked any time soon. This is probably for the best, however, as it’s clearly safer to wear a more traditional mask that is recommended by health authorities.
During these difficult times, it’s all too often harder for people to look on the lighter side of things. The Bane mask is something that Batman fans are likely to be drawn to, simply because it’s a fun way to obey mask laws that are popping up in cities around the world. But if it isn’t actually protecting the wearer to any significant degree, then it has the ability to do more harm than good. Wearing a mask is an important step in the battle against COVID, so unless Batman fans are wearing Bane masks in safe environments just for fun, it’s definitely best to opt for something a little more secure in public.
Source: THR