History Main / CoatHatMask

A SuperTrope to GasMaskLongcoat. Compare SuperheroesWearTights; ConspicuousTrenchoat; SpandexLatexOrLeather; BadassLongcoat. Contrast MalevolentMaskedMen.

A SuperTrope to GasMaskLongcoat. Compare SuperheroesWearTights; SpandexLatexOrLeather; BadassLongcoat. Contrast MalevolentMaskedMen.

A conventional costume (qualifying as a GrandfatherClause since it recurs from the 1930's to the present) consisting of a suit, a conservative overcoat, a nice hat and gloves, and some form of face covering such as the classic DominoMask.

* In the 1940s, the original "mystery man" costume of the original [[ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre Sandman]] (Wesley Dodds) was a suit, [[BadassLongcoat long-coat]], fedora and gloves -- with a gas mask. This uniform was subconsciously [[RetCon inspired]] by the look of [[ComicBook/TheSandman Dream of the Endless]] who wore a robe and mask into battle and who granted Dodds his prophetic dreams. Dodd's costume later became more colorful to match the other superheroes of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. No relation to the spandex-wearing Garrett Sanford or Hector Hall, save being derived from Dream of the Endless somehow.

* The Toy Taker in ''[[WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys]]'' disguises himself this way.

* Q from ''StreetFighter 3rd Strike''. Coat, hat, and metal face-mask.

A conventional costume (qualifying as a GrandfatherClause since it recurs from the 1930's to the present) consisting of a suit, a conservative overcoat, a NiceHat and gloves, and some form of face covering such as the classic DominoMask.

* [[ImplacableMan Kroenen]] in the ''Film/{{Hellboy|2004}}'' movie has a variation of this in his first appearance; he later loses the [[BadassLongCoat coat]] and [[NiceHat hat]].

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': The Spy has the suit and the mask, and a variety of [[NiceHat nice hats]] and suit jackets are available as DLC.

** The Good Hunter's Hunter Set is a combination of a BadassLongcoat, a CoolHat, and a [[BadassesWearBandanas bandana]] that obscures his facial features like a mask.

* Metropolitan's costume in ''Literature/FightingMonsters''.
* The Red Panda of ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'' is a homage to characters like the Shadow and the Spirit, and thus shares their style. Later in the series, he often laments that the up and coming generation of heroes much prefers tights to a good suit. Even his would-be successor, the Black Eagle, goes for tights over the suit the Red Panda was having prepared for his costume.

* The TropeMaker was ''Radio/TheShadow'', first published in 1931.

* ''Radio/TheShadow'' dresses in a black and red suit, cape and fedora. The only unusual garment is a silk mask over his lower face -- which, oddly, doesn't hide his extremely recognizable hawk nose. ("The Shadow Nose")

* The Red Panda of ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'' is a homage to characters like the Shadow and the Spirit, and thus, shares their style. Later in the series, he often laments that the up and coming generation of heroes much prefers tights to a good suit. Even his would-be successor, the Black Eagle, goes for tights over the suit the Red Panda was having prepared for his costume.

* Most attire in ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' have these for fending off the Beast Plague.

* ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger achieves the effect by always being shown with his hat ''shading'' his face, rather than actually being masked.

* Silhouette in ''VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans'' is a villainous example, and an example of this trope being used to create a [[TheFifties '50s]] version of a DarthVaderClone. The mask in question is notably a [[MalevolentMaskedMen full gas mask]]. [[spoiler:And to conceal the fact that [[SamusIsAGirl she's a woman]].]]

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* Turkey from ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' uses a long coat, a [[CoolMask half-mask]] and a ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fez_%28hat%29 fez]]'' hat.

* The mystery player on Japan's All-Star team in ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'' dresses like this. Apparently he even plays football with his face bandaged up.

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* ''Judex'', of the silent-era Feuillade serial films and Franju's 1963 homage, relies on a mask, hat, and cape.

* Doc in ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII'' tells Marty to wear something "inconspicuous". Cue GilliganCut to him in this type of get-up.
* The killer in ''Film/TheatreOfDeath'' conceals their identity by wearing a black cloak, fedora and scarf.
* The murderer in ''Film/Madhouse1974'' dresses as Dr. Death in a black cloak, hat and white skull mask.
* At several points in ''Film/RazorsTheReturnOfJackTheRipper'', UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper appears wearing a tattered greatcoat, a broad brimmed hat, and a scarf tied over the lower half of his face.

* ''Radio/TheShadow'' dresses in a black and red suit, cape and fedora. The only unusual garment is a silk mask over his lower face -- which, oddly, doesn't hide his extremely recognizable hawk nose. ("The Shadow Nose")
** "Clouding mens' minds" probably prevents recognition. Some versions of The Shadow could also alter their facial features to a degree. Early stories strongly indicated that the Shadow's true face had a serious disfigurement, which his mastery of disguise hid - notice the denouement of the novel ''The Shadow's Shadow'', where someone sees the Shadow's true face and feels alarmed - obviously he did not just see Kent Allard sticking his tongue out. (Kent Allard, the true identity of the Shadow, an aviator who faked his death before the start of the series.) The novel ''Dead Men Live'' indicates that he has little facial mass left.
** TheMovie indicates any facial weirdness is the result of The Shadow's powers of hypnosis and SFX makeup.
* OlderThanTelevision: Creator/HGWells' ''Literature/TheInvisibleMan'' (1897) uses this trope early in the book, and his portrayal on film and in numerous cover illustrations may have helped [[TropeCodifier codify]] the image.
* The most enduring perception of the eponymous character in ''Franchise/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' is that he is dressed in a hat, a coat and a mask that covers half of his face. First film to feature this combination was [[Film/PhantomOfTheOpera1943 the 1943 Universal production]].

* Literature/TheSpider, Richard Wentworth
* The Phantom, Curtis Van Loanю

* In George Mann's ''Literature/TheGhost2010'' series, the eponymous Ghost wears a black coat and fedora, along with goggles that glow red.
* Franchise/{{Zorro}}

* ''Literature/ClockpunkAndTheVitalizer'' has variations with both titular characters. The Vitalizer’s is closer to the traditional interpretation of this trope if you consider a hood a sort of hat; the mask and coat are there as standard. It’s downplayed with Dolores, since her “mask” only covers the upper half of her face and her “coat” is her hoodie.
* This is Dr. Shade's costume in the stories of Creator/KimNewman, with a pair of [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual cool goggles]] serving as his mask. His [[LegacyCharacter successors]] adopt their own unique styles of attire.
* Zircon, the narrator and main protagonist of ''Literature/AllThoseExplosionsWereSomeoneElsesFault'', wears a white tuxedo with tails, white top hat, and a thin, white silk scarf as a mask. Due to her {{Sizeshifter}} abilities, she's able to use the tails of her coat to glide when shrunk small enough.

* The Phantom Flan Flinger from ''Series/{{Tiswas}}'' wears a cloak, a hat and a mask.
* Creator/WaltDisney made a TV miniseries based on ''Literature/DoctorSynTheScarecrow'', in which the titular protagonist wore a hat, mask, and a cloak (pretty much the equivalent of a trenchcoat for the 18th century). The book version of this character actually wore makeup.

* The LiveActionAdaptation of ''Series/TheFlash1990'' had Dr. Desmond Powell dress like this to fight crime as the Nightshade.
* ''Series/TheJonHederShow'' had Jon and Bill use these when they go undercover.

* Trilby in the VideoGame/ChzoMythos dresses like this in the first screen of the first game, but discards the mask afterward and is never again seen in it in any of the four games. He does, however, wear the mask in ''The Art of Theft''.

* Q from ''StreetFighter 3rd Strike''. Coat, hat, and metal face-mask.
* VideoGame/SlyCooper, with caveats: He wears a DominoMask over his natural raccoon mask, his hat is a flat-cap that completes his BlatantBurglar look, his coat is short enough for acrobatics, and he has [[HalfDressedCartoonAnimal no pants]].

* [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 The Spy]] has the suit and the mask, and a variety of [[NiceHat nice hats]] and suit jackets are available as DLC.

* The title character in ''VideoGame/{{Nightshade}}'' disguises himself with a coat, sunglasses (in the [[AlwaysNight perpetual night]]) and a trilby.
* The Oddman in ''VideoGame/LostSmileAndStrangeCircus'' wears a black top hat, a red coat and a PlagueDoctor's mask, presumably due to him being the ringmaster.

* The [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1888434/dramatic-exit/ Mysterious Watchful Presence]] from ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes''. More of a cloak than a coat, but still.
* Coat Helmet Mask for ''Webcomic/ElfBlood's'' Captain SKO when on-duty. Other characters occasionally wear the helmet and mask, but she is the only one to combine it with the BadassLongcoat.
* ''Webcomic/{{Crowshed}}'': Sheryl's outfit when out on the job.

* Metropolitan's costume in ''Literature/FightingMonsters''

* Tuxedo Mask from ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' is the ur-example of the flamboyant, caped type in Japan.
* While it's not always apparent, a close look at the Zero costume of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' reveals that, along with a mask and cape, the main outfit is essentially a flamboyant business suit of the type the Chairman from ''Series/IronChef'' might wear and as it happens the same kind of flamboyant, vaguely 18th century styled nobleman's outfit that the Britannian nobility wear in the series.

* The mystery player on Japan's All-Star team in ''Manga/{{Eyeshield 21}}'' dresses like this. Apparently he even plays football with his face bandaged up.
* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': The form of Captain Bravo's indestructible Silver Skin buso renkin is a [[DownplayedTrope variation]] of the typical Coat, hat, mask look that deposes of the mask, replacing it with a high collar that conceals Bravo's face and identity. The outfit isn't very inconspicuous, however, as it makes Bravo extremely noticeable in an otherwise contemporary setting.
* The Kaito Kid from ''Manga/MagicKaito'' has a ''white'' tuxedo, top hat, and cape, and a monocle which [[PaperThinDisguise serves as a mask]].
* Turkey from ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' uses a long coat, a [[CoolMask half-mask]] and a ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fez_%28hat%29 fez]]'' hat.

* The TropeMaker was ''Radio/TheShadow'', first published in 1931.
* The Ur-example of this trope (in comics) is the Clock, the first original costumed hero to appear in comics. He wore a blue suit and a black "curtain mask" that covered his entire face.
* Early Golden Age two-fisted magician hero Mister Midnite combined white tie and tails of unknown color with a tophat, DominoMask and red cape.
* ComicBook/TheSpirit, in most of his over 60-year run, has worn a fairly ordinary business suit, trench-coat and fedora, a DominoMask and gloves. Creator Will Eisner added the mask only as a token submission to his publisher's belief that a comic book hero is always a costumed hero.
* Likewise ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger achieved the effect by always being shown with his hat ''shading'' his face, rather than actually being masked.
** In Creator/VertigoComics' ''ComicBook/MadameXanadu'', the title character meets the Stranger at various points through history, each time wearing a historically appropriate variant of his standard suit, cape and shading hat. In Myth/{{Arthurian|Legend}} times, he's a druid in a hooded robe; at the court of Kublai Khan, he wears robes and a keffiyeh; in [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution Revolutionary France]], he wears a 18th century long-coat and a tricorne; in VictorianLondon he wears evening dress, an opera cloak and a top hat; and in [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks 1930s]] New York, he wears the familiar blue suit, cape and fedora.
* This attire was adopted by ComicBook/MrA and ComicBook/TheQuestion in the late 1960s. Both characters were created by the legendary Creator/SteveDitko, and bear a few more similarities to each other besides their mode of dress.
** The Question's style of dressing was later adopted by Renee Montoya in ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' as [[LegacyCharacter the new Question]].
* Possibly the forerunner of The Question, the Blank from ComicStrip/DickTracy also wore a trench coat, fedora and faceless mask. The difference was, he was a villain, and ugly as sin underneath.
* Rorschach of ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'', an {{Expy}} of both Mr. A and The Question, sports the basic outfit, but with a head-covering mask (as opposed to the standard domino) with a shifting black-and-white pattern that initially inspired his moniker.
* In the 1940s, the original "mystery man" costume of the original [[ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre Sandman]] (Wesley Dodds) was a suit, [[BadassLongcoat long-coat]], fedora and gloves -- with a gas mask. This uniform was subconsciously [[RetCon inspired]] by the look of [[ComicBook/TheSandman Dream of the Endless]] who wore a robe and mask into battle and who granted Dodds his prophetic dreams. Dodd's costume later became more colorful to match the other superheroes of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica. No relation to the spandex-wearing Garrett Sanford or Hector Hall, save being derived from Dream of the Endless somehow.

* ''ComicBook/VForVendetta''. Possibly more like Cloak Hat Mask, but it fits.
* Midnight, a CaptainErsatz of the Spirit, originally published by Creator/QualityComics and now part of Franchise/TheDCU. Slight variations, though, was that Dave Clark had his civvies made reversible for changing into his alter ego's signature black outfit and had his hat lined with spongey material in case foes would try the old blunt trauma from behind.
** Ed Gorman created a new version of Midnight as a back-up strip in '' ComicBook/MsTree Quarterly''.
* The MarvelUniverse has a couple who appear in ''ComicBook/TheTwelve'' (a series about revamped [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] characters): the Phantom Reporter and Mr. E. The artist mentions in interviews with Newsarama that he had to tweak both of their designs just a tad so they didn't look so much alike.

* "There are times when ComicStrip/ThePhantom leaves the jungle, and walks the streets as an ordinary man"... except for the sunglasses, coat, and hat. Only in a couple of stories has he been this way for the entire adventure.
** Even better are the "historical" adventures featuring his ancestors: It's still the same concept, but it's much funnier when he's dressed in 18th century knee-hoses and wig.
** Finnish newspaper comic ''Fingerpori'' poked fun at this, showing him with heavy tan-lines in parts where the mask covers his face. Holding a secret identity in a tropic environment is a tough job.
* [[ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} Abe Sapien]] is first seen going to a mansion in a trench-coat, hat, and disguise beard.

* ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}, in the ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'' arc "A Murder in Providence", dons a trench-coat and fedora over his usual spandex, whilst "investigating".
* DC villain ComicBook/{{Deadshot}} wore a tuxedo, top hat and domino mask while posing as a hero in his first appearance.
* Benjamin J. Grimm, The Thing from Marvel's ComicBook/FantasticFour, usually gads about NYC wearing a fedora and longcoat while wrapping a scarf about his chin. A pair of sunglasses completes the ensemble. While not altogether concealing, the outfit tends to attract less attention than him walking about in his shorts.
* Masquerade from ''ComicBook/ProjectSuperpowers''.
* In the French comic ''Tif et Tondu'', their resident villain Monsieur Choc wears evening dress and a full-face medieval helm; in occasional panels he's shown taking off or putting on the helm, but his face never appears. In one story they fight a character who wears a hazmat suit with dark faceplate throughout: in the last frame, after he's escaped and they learn he wasn't who they thought, someone finds a tailcoat and helm left at the scene.
** This sounds like the hero of Monster Men. He always wore a tuxedo and knight's helmet when fighting monsters.
* Greyshirt, a CaptainErsatz of ComicBook/TheSpirit, created as part of Creator/AlanMoore's America's Best Comics line. In his case, though, it's a bandit mask and a billycock hat.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderManNoir''
* Golden Age Fawcett Comics hero Ibis the Invincible didn't wear a mask but otherwise fit the trope with a black suit and a red turban.
* Gary Gianni's ''Corpus Monstrum'' (originally called Monstermen, was originally published as a side-feature to Mike Mignola's ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'') featured Lawrence St. George, who wore a tuxedo and a medieval knight's helmet.
* Dan Garret, the GoldenAge ComicBook/BlueBeetle. Or at least at first. He eventually gained superpowers and [[SuperheroesWearTights tights]] after a massive GenreShift.

* Captain Bravo from ''Manga/BusoRenkin'' pulls a version of this. His Arms Alchemy Silver Skin takes the form of a long coat and hat with the hat tilted forward and the collar sticking up to hide his face quite effectively. The entire getup is a self-repairing suit of armor to boot.

* For a criminal example: [[GentlemanThief Gentlemen thieves]] Bunny and Raffles, of the ''Literature/{{Raffles}}'' Raffles stories, are normally dressed this way on the job.

* "Literature/ClockpunkAndTheVitalizer" has variations with both titular characters. The Vitalizer’s is closer to the traditional interpretation of this trope if you consider a hood a sort of hat; the mask and coat are there as standard. It’s downplayed with Dolores, since her “mask” only covers the upper half of her face and her “coat” is her hoodie.
* This is Dr. Shade's costume in the sories of Creator/KimNewman, with a pair of [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual cool goggles]] serving as his mask. His [[LegacyCharacter successors]] adopt their own unique styles of attire.

** In Creator/VertigoComics' ''ComicBook/MadameXanadu'', the title character meets the Stranger at various points through history, each time wearing a historically appropriate variant of his standard suit, cape and shading hat. In [[KingArthur Arthurian]] times, he's a druid in a hooded robe; at the court of Kublai Khan, he wears robes and a keffiyeh; in [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution Revolutionary France]], he wears a 18th century long-coat and a tricorne; in VictorianLondon he wears evening dress, an opera cloak and a top hat; and in [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks 1930s]] New York, he wears the familiar blue suit, cape and fedora.