Pretorius

Pretorius is the main antagonist from The Mask: The Animated Series. Being the most recurring adversary of The Mask in the cartoon having appeared in all three seasons of the series, he can be considered to be the arch-enemy.

History[]

Pretorius is a mad scientist who had his own head removed from his body and placed on tiny, spider-like robotic legs, which it could attach to a larger android body.

His plans always revolved around either obtaining or controlling the Mask (Pretorius is one of the few characters in the series aware of the Mask's true identity), or as part of some increasingly insane "science experiments" which if carried out would result in city or worldwide destruction. He mostly pronounces Stanley Ipkiss's last name as "Ipp-kiss".

In the episode "Sister Mask", Pretorius did eventually gain the mask and as with Dorian Tyrell, he retained his own personality while wearing it (while the mask is said to release one's own inhibitions, those who have no inhibitions seem to retain full conscious control while wearing the Mask, such as the Joker in the DC crossover). Pretorius was also likely a parody of a drug dealer and mob boss Eugene Rapaz from the original comics, as both of them share the same face (though Rapaz wore small, rounded-lens dark glasses while Pretorius had round optic implants that looked similar as well) and he's also named after Doctor Septimus Pretorius from Bride of Frankenstein.

In another episode Shrink Rap, Pretorius stolen plutonium as part of his plan to take a photo of alien ancestors from another planet, but was stopped by the Mask. He meets Dr Neuman who at the time was wearing the mask and became a delusional, psychotic and somewhat childish madman as part of his appointment with him and after he tells Masked Dr Neuman about his plan, the latter admits that they were right about him as he is completely insane, but believing they were not so different from each other and his plan might be the only thing to stop a disorder he called Ipkissia Maskosis that is making people believe the Mask is real, he decides to team up with him though does it through protocols instead of using his powers and abilities to do that. After he gets free by Masked Dr Neuman, he tries to carry on with his plan without him, but the experienced and trained psychotherapist was not going to leave him and reminds him that he is under his care, so Pretorius tricks him by telling him the cosmos are closer to him and takes out a mallet hammer out of his pocket to hit him with and escape from him, but Masked Dr Neuman notices him doing that and goes after him still wanting to learn more from him. Pretorius goes to the junkyard where the rocket that he’s going to use to destroy Edge City as part of the plan to get the photos of the alien ancestors and puts the plutonium inside the top of the rocket, then he hears Masked Dr Neuman calling out to him and begging him to tell him on how he’s going to archive his plan, which Pretorius agrees to tell him as long he goes away, which Masked Dr Neuman agrees to do that and he tells him on how he’s going to destroy Edge City which got Masked Dr Neuman excited and overjoyed as it would get rid of the disorder once and for all. Pretorius and Masked Dr Neuman notices Stanley climbing up the rocket as a attempt to stop them, which Pretorius tells Masked Dr Neuman to get rid of him, which he agrees to do that as it is his professional duty and goes after Stanley, while Pretorius goes inside a large black camera to start the countdown, but Stanley gets the mask back from Dr Neuman and puts it on just at the same time Pretorius launches the rocket and The Mask foils his plan by swallowing it literally and Pretorius takes pictures of him doing that instead which he gets the photos and sees The Mask pulling his tongue out to him in the last one which got Pretorius growl at his plan being foiled once again.

He often says "Mental note" so he remembers to learn from his mistakes after he's foiled or needs to accomplish a task.

His final appearance was in the crossover episode and the series finale The Aceman Cometh, when the Mask teamed up with Pet Detective Ace Ventura to rescue Milo who had unintentionally had his brain switched with scientist Professor Quartermass for information about a scientific discovery from Mars from a space and research center. Pretorius eventually found a satellite probe from a mission to Mars containing a fossil with DNA from a prehistoric Martian life form. In his lab, the mad scientist then reanimated the DNA making an exact clone of the alien, much to the Mask and Ace's horror.

A massive fight ensued for the possession of the brain absorbing device. During the fight, the brain machine was activated and began spinning switching everyone's brains. Eventually the device was destroyed with everyone getting their brains back, apart from Pretorius and the Martian whose brains stayed switched in each other's bodies.

The Mask and Ace then threw them both into the satellite probe and launched it back into space, heading in the direction of Mars, defeating him for good.

Pretorius

Contents

History[]

Appearances[]

The Mask: The Animated Series[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Season 3[]

Comics[]

Adventures of the Mask[]

Gallery[]