'''Basic Trope''': {{Mooks}} - especially EliteMooks - using gasmasks as their [[FacelessGoons identity-concealer]] of choice.
* '''Straight''': Mooks wear gasmasks for no discernible reason other than intimidation.
* '''Exaggerated''':
** Mooks [[TwentyFourHourArmour eat, drink, and sleep without taking off their gasmasks]]. [[note]](This has been done in RealLife, actually - military training exercises involving MOPP or similar gear).[[/note]]
** The mooks wear whole costumes of sewed together gas masks!
* '''Downplayed''':
** Mooks wear gasmasks only occasionally.
** Gas Mask Mooks are mixed in with Mooks [[MalevolentMaskedMen wearing different kinds of masks]]. And for a little comedic affect, the gasmask-wearing mooks say "Man, this thing you're wearing is ugly" to mooks wearing {{Nixon Mask}}s.
** The mooks themselves aren't more deadly than normal, the air is just filled with chemicals that aren't meant to be inhaled. Otherwise, they don't wear gasmasks.
* '''Justified''':
** Mooks wearing gasmasks either use chemical weapons or fight in toxic environments.
** The gasmasks of EliteMooks are there to administer SuperSerum.
** The mooks in question have [[VaderBreath damaged or stunted lungs]].
** The mooks BizarreAlienBiology does not allow them to breathe air, only the gas their masks administer to them.
** The mooks wear these masks to protect their identities.
* '''Inverted''':
** The heroes all wear stylish, [[CustomUniform custom-made]] GasMaskLongcoat {{Hazmat Suit}}s, while the villains either opt not to, or have no need to.
** Mooks don't wear gasmasks [[NoOSHACompliance in hazardous situations where wearing one would be expected and a very good idea]].
* '''Subverted''':
** A mook removes their gasmask and shows their face, to bring up a WhatMeasureIsAMook moment.
** The mooks remove their gasmasks once there's no danger of anything hazardous (besides bullets).
* '''Double Subverted''':
** ...but the face underneath the gasmask [[NotEvenHuman isn't human]].
** ...And they promptly put them back on once the gas attacks start again.
** Underneath the gas mask, the mook is revealed to be wearing a surgical mask, an oxygen mask, or even another gas mask.
* '''Parodied''':
** Every single villain wears a gasmask, because they are all deathly afraid of catching a flu.
** Or cannot bear even the slightest foul odors.
** Alternately, the mooks ''are'' [[FloatingMask gas masks]].
* '''Zig Zagged''':
** TheEmpire spans many star systems - a handful of which are [[DeathWorld inhospitable]] - and houses [[LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces a buttload of various species]], from humans, to {{Green Skinned Space Babe}}s, to [[BeastMan warm and fuzzy ones]], to outright StarfishAliens. Many of them have unique resistances and allergies. Some wear their masks ''out'' of combat, while others don't even put masks on ''in'' combat. Masks themselves vary not only in look, but also in quality. Even the heroes put on gas masks with regularity. Add also inconsistent rules on chemical weapon usage, for [[EvenEvilHasStandards in-]] or [[MoralGuardians out-]]of-universe reasons. And boy, does this get confusing.
** Some of the mooks are wearing gas masks for whatever reason, and others aren't (usually to denote that the former are elite mooks).
** The gas masks are worn by the RedshirtArmy, but ''not'' by the villains' mooks or any of the named heroes and villains.
* '''Averted''': Not a single gasmask-wearing Mook is encountered by the heroes.
* '''Enforced''':
** "We need our Mooks to look scary and evil! Like, [[PuttingOnTheReich Nazi-evil]]! I know - let's make them all wear gasmasks!"
** "We only have enough budget to hire ten actors for mook roles. Let's make them all wear gas masks, so the audience won't be able to tell them apart." [[note]](Almost the case for ''Film/KungFury'', where one actor, literally, played every single Nazi Gasmask Mook.)[[/note]]
* '''Lampshaded''': "I don't care if the air's clean, private, you ''will'' put on that gasmask!"
* '''Invoked''':
** "Well, truth be told, chemical warfare isn't a real risk; we can't afford it, and the rebels wouldn't do it. The gasmasks aren't there to counter chem attacks, they're to help keep my minions separate from the common rabble."
** The villains equip and train their forces to occupy [[DeathWorld extremely hazardous environments]] and build their citadels and headquarters there, in the hopes that it'll complicate things for the heroes.
* '''Exploited''':
** [[DressingAsTheEnemy The heroes steal uniforms off some mooks]], and the gasmasks they had allow the heroes to easily pass for those mooks.
** The heroic side doesn't use gas masks, and the villains all use them. Cue [[ExploitedImmunity mass use of chemical weapons]] by the villains.
* '''Defied''': "When was the last time outside of drills we had to use these gasmasks? Screw it, I'd rather be able to see clearly."
* '''Discussed''': "Do you know why we must wear those idiotic gasmasks all the time? We're not even using chemical weapons! Actually, that's also a valid point. Why aren't we using chemical weapons, being all-out evil and shit?"
* '''Conversed''': "Why do those villains in video games fancy gasmasks, even if there's no practical reason? I fail to see the point."
* '''Deconstructed''':
** Mooks have a hard time running around with those annoying filters impairing their breath and [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy cannot see a thing]] because of their gasmasks.
** A huge chemical attack/accident causes people to hallucinate and think that the people in gas masks are their enemies. The [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Men]] are the ones wearing gas masks.
** The gas masks are all damaged, allowing in some hazardous chemicals.
** Because of the high rate of mook attrition and the limited financial resources, the masks are of poor quality and fit-testing is an afterthought, and many of them are exposed to hazardous substances as a result.
* '''Reconstructed''':
** Mooks still think that added protection and the [[MalevolentMaskedMen fear factor]] are worth it.
** Said people are wearing gasmasks because they were behind the accident in the first place.
** The gas masks are well-made enough to allow them to see as clear as day and breathe normally.
** Some protection is better than none, and most of the mooks are aware of the limitations of their masks and have modified them to fit better and be more effective.
* '''Played For Laughs''':
** The mooks are completely [[TheUnintelligible unintelligible]]. HilarityEnsues.
** The mooks have trouble telling eachother apart, and things get even more wacky when the AdventureDuo barges in, posing as a pair of them.
* '''Played For Drama''':
** The Mooks come from a DeathWorld and cannot take their gasmasks off as normal air is poisonous to them. They are unable to enjoy ninety percent of what galaxy has to offer. [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds This is what drives them]] to start HostileTerraforming other planets.
** Everyone in the story wears a gas mask because the [[PollutedWasteland environment they live in]] has been [[GaiasLament irreversibly polluted]] - however, some wear masks with a large clear visor, symbolizing their attempts to retain their humanity, and others wear armored masks with GlowingEyesOfDoom, casting off [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters their humanity]] aside in disgust.
* '''Played For Horror''': The heroes spend some time fighting dangerous, threatening DoomTroops and not knowing what's under their gas masks - and when one of the mooks finally removes their gas mask, it turns out they're horribly disfigured, or a [[LovecraftianSuperpower Lovecraftian monstrosity]]... or worse, ''[[AnimatedArmor there's nothing under the mask]]'' ''[[NothingIsScarier but a black void!]]''
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