Mask collection retrospective: 2022

(For previous entries, see 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.)

We're up to 2022, which somehow feels like a long time ago already. For this year, I'm highlighting:

• Flamita / Arez / Gringo Loco fusion
• Flamita
• Komander

Mask collection retrospective: 2021

We're now into 2021 for this series. For context, COVID was still a major issue, but with vaccine availability, I felt comfortable enough to try attending a couple of shows live in the second half of the year.

For previous entries, see 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

The masks that I'll highlight from 2021 will be:

• Flamita
• Bandido
• Bandido / Volador Jr. fusion

Mask collection retrospective: 2020

We've now arrived at the year 2020. As you all know, COVID hit most of the western world by March, shutting down practically everything. Even so, I was able to buy some pretty cool masks: For previous entries in this series, see 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

• Flamita
• Bandido
• Titán/Mephisto fusion

Mask collection retrospective: 2019

We come now to 2019 in the retrospective. You can find previous entries in this series here: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.

Once again, this year is BOLA-heavy. I'll be featuring:

• Mexablood (Flamita's version)
• Aramis
• Flamita

Mask collection retrospective: 2018

The mask retrospective continues into 2018. Entries for previous years are here: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.

For 2018, I'll be looking at the following masks:

• Mexablood fusion mask
• Flamita
• Rey Horus

Mask collection retrospective: 2017

 Apologies for the slight delay in posting this; I've had a busy week. In any event, my retrospective continues into 2017. Previous entries in the series are here:: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

For 2017, I'm highlighting two masks from Flamita and one from Draztick Boy (who now also wrestles under the name El Mago).

Mask collection retrospective: 2016

The retrospective series continues into 2016. From this point on, you'll see me generally focus on depth more than breadth. This means that I'll be highlighting fewer different luchadors, but (at least in my opinion) the stories will become more interesting. So here we go.

Previous entries in the series can be found here: 2013, 2014, 2015.

For 2016, the three masks I'll be showing are:

• Fireball
• Octagón Jr. (II) presentation mask
• Centvrión

Mask collection retrospective: 2015

 My mask retrospective continues into 2015. Here are the previous entries in this series: 2013, 2014.

This time, I'll be featuring masks from:

• Fulgor I
• Guerrero Maya (Sr.)
• Pentagón Jr.

Mask collection retrospective: 2014

I'm continuing my collection retrospective, this time moving forward into 2014. (Here's my previous post for 2013). This was a special year for me; it was the first time that I actually got to go to Mexico City, which, among many other things, meant more opportunities to buy masks.

The three masks that I'll be highlighting for 2014 are:

• (Rey) Hechicero
• Máscara Dorada
• Flamita

Mask collection retrospective: 2013

This March marks the 10-year anniversary of my foray into collecting original masks. I thought that it was an appropriate time to look back on my collection and to pick out some masks that are particularly memorable. I'll be picking three from each calendar year, for a total of 33 masks.

To clarify terminology, "original" masks are those that come directly from the luchador in question. They are all official merchandise by definition. Most of the masks that I'll be presenting are also "luchada", or ring-worn, but a few will be new.

The masks that I'm highlighting are not necessarily my favorites on an absolute scale, and to be honest, I have trouble constructing a ranking past about, oh, two. I'm choosing the masks for something that stands out to me, be it a story behind the mask, the design, or sometimes both.

I'll be doing these blog posts in chronological order. Let's start with 2013.