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Masks
The first instance of Hank using a physical mask is in Amazing Adventures #12 (1972). This is right after his second mutation. He also creates an entire body brace for himself because his new furry form is in an “animal crouch”. We can see, from issue 12 below, that it’s not an easy system to get into. Anyone who has worn a latex Halloween mask and/or gloves for any length of time will know that it wouldn’t be comfortable to wear them for an entire work shift, day after day. It really should be too hard to imagine being uncomfortable with yourself, uncomfortable with a mask and body brace, and NOT keeping your cool all the time. Hank starts getting a little snippy at work, even when he first meets Tony Stark.
Amazing Adventures Featuring The Beast. Issue #12
Amazing Adventures Featuring The Beast. Issue #14
In Amazing Adventures, we do get a little insight from the X-Men, who have been following the news about a mysterious hairy beast creature seen near the Brand Corporation. Warren is pretty sure it’s Hank or that Hank knows what is going on. Professor Xavier tells them that Hank is his own man, living his own life, and that they need to grant him the time - not butt in. Warren heads out anyway and is the first of the original X-Men to see Hank in his second mutated form, the furry Beast.
It should be noted that Hank probably got his idea for a body brace from Warren, who uses braces to secure his wings.
Over a 10 year stint in the comics, mostly The Avengers and The Defenders, Hank starts to become comfortable with himself. He no longer uses masks on a regular basis. He figures out that women respond to him and he becomes pretty sexually active (which would be rebellious for a big nerd like Hank). When he is with The Avengers he starts to get fan mail and by The Defenders, he receives 15 mail sacks of fan mail at one time.
It does help that Hank is able to cultivate a positive social setting for himself - teammates who aren't concerned with his looks, people who become fans, women who want to sleep with him, the press being pro-Avengers, authority figures who respect him (Nick Fury, etc), and even an on-again/off-again girlfriend, Vera Cantor. They allow him to figure himself out - second puberty (brought on by his second mutation) in your early 20s would be a real pain in the butt. Also, see: The Mutations of Hank McCoy. According to Psychology Today, to regain positive self-image, a person would need to: develop a daily self-care ritual, set boundaries with media, practice self-compassion, gradually reclaim social confidence, and seek guidance from a professional.
In 1982, when Marvel Team-Up issue 124 came out, it featured Hank having dinner with his parents for the first time since his second mutation, as well as meeting his then-girlfriend Vera Cantor. It does not go super well. Norton tries to be cool with it. Edna flips out and leaves the restaurant.
Marvel Team-Up. Issue #124
While this made Hank kind of question himself, he was strong enough not revert back to masks and being reclusive.
Jump ahead to 2001 with New X-Men #117 and we get the official end of the Hank and Trish Tilby relationship. Trish is a journalist and is easily swayed by public opinion. Also, her relationship with Hank has been going on since his time with X-Factor.
Left to Right: New X-Men #117 (break up via voicemail), New X-Men #125 (seeing Trish by chance), and New X-Men #131 (aftermath of Hank's rejection).
With Hank's third mutation, Trish can't really deal with it. This is Hank's feline phase. Does it set Hank back? It makes him grumpy [cat!] and perhaps a little sharper in temperament. It definitely sets him up for a toxic relationship with Abigail Brand later on. Anyway, what does Trish do? She tells him that she can't date him because of the bad press - specifically an article from The Enquirer that mentions 'beastiality' a number of times. When Hank does see her again, he's still hurting and he's not interested in getting back together with her. He even says "in fact, I think I may be gay" - he's not.
What does Trish do? In issue #131, we can see Emma Frost reading a magazine with Hank's blue face on the cover that reads "I'm As Gay As It Gets". Emma is basically like "what the fuck is going on with this?" (paraphrasing for sure) because she 100% knows that Hank is not gay.
Instead of a mask, Hank just turns to anger and irritability.
Image Inducer
After rejoining the X-Men, Hank soon found himself with a copy of Nightcrawler's image inducer (by issue #4).
Hank doesn't use it all the time. Mostly to venture out in public without garnering unwanted attention. We can see this happening with Christmas issues like Uncanny X-Men issue #341 (below) where Hank is out with the others and his then-girlfriend Trish Tilby. It should be mentioned that Trish met Hank during X-Factor, before he rejoined the X-Men. He was not hiding his blue furry self at that point, so she was okay with it.
Uncanny X-Men. Issue #341
There are occasions where Hank uses the image inducer in a pranking manner, such as fooling his long-time friend Wonder Man on a flight.
The Avengers Two: Wonder Man and The Beast. Issue #1 (not fully consecutive pages)
Sources:
Byrne, John; Lee, Jim. (Jan 1992) "The Ressurection and The Flesh." X-Men. Issue #4. (Illustrator J. Lee). Marvel Comics.
DeMatters, J.M. (Dec 1982) "Spider-Man and The Beast." Marvel Team-Up. Issue #124. (Illustrator K. Gammill). Marvel Comics.
Englehart, Steve. (May 1972) "Iron Man: DOA" Amazing Adventures Featuring The Beast. Issue #12. (Illustrator T. Sutton). Marvel Comics.
Englehart, Steve. (Sept 1972) "The Vampire Machine." Amazing Adventures Featuring The Beast. Issue #14. (Illustrator T. Sutton). Marvel Comics.
Englehart, Steve. (Nov 1972) "Murder in Mid-Air!" Amazing Adventures Featuring The Beast. Issue #15. (Illustrator T. Sutton, F. Giacoia, and J. Tartag). Marvel Comics.
Englehart, Steve. (June 1975) "We Do Seek Out New Avengers!!" The Avengers. Issue #137. (Illustrator G. Tuska). Marvel Comics.
Englehart, Steve. (June 1976) "20000 Leagues Under Justice!" The Avengers. Issue #148. (Illustrator G. Perez and S. Grainer). Marvel Comics.
Lobdell, Scott. (Feb 1997) "When Strikes A Gladiator!" Uncanny X-Men. Issue #341. (Illustrator J. Madureira). Marvel Comics.
Morrison, Grant. (Sept 2001) "Danger Rooms." New X-Men. Issue #117. (Illustrator E. Van Sciver). Marvel Comics.
Morrison, Grant. (Mar 2002) "Superdestroyer." New X-Men. Issue #125. (Illustrator I. Kordey). Marvel Comics.
Morrison, Grant. (Aug 2002) "Some Angels Falling." New X-Men. Issue #131. (Illustrator I. Kordey). Marvel Comics.
Stern, Roger. (May 2000) "Second Chances." The Avengers Two: Wonder Man and The Beast. Issue #1. (Illustrator M. Bagley). Marvel Comics.
Warner, PhD Ryan C. (Nov 20, 2024) "The Power of Self-Image." Psychology Today (Sussex Publishers; Grand Cayman). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/leadership-diversity-and-wellness/202411/the-power-of-self-image
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