Batman - DC Comics - PCA Apparel Industries, Inc Paper Mask (1987) - Dominican Republic

This striking Batman paper mask was officially licensed by DC Comics and produced by PCA Apparel Industries, Inc. in 1987, at the height of Batman’s late-80s resurgence in pop culture. Printed in the Dominican Republic, these masks were produced for both costume play and promotional retail tie-ins, part of a growing wave of branded character merchandise that prepared the market for the 1989 Tim Burton Batman film explosion.

The design reflects the comic book art style of the 1980s—with bold lines, strong jawline, and a more serious, brooding expression than earlier Batman products of the 60s and 70s. Unlike flimsy dime-store masks of the mid-20th century, this issue is cut from sturdier stock with reinforced elastic string holes, meant to hold up for repeated use.

Date: 1987

Publisher: DC Comics / PCA Apparel Industries, Inc.

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Size: 12 x 12 inches

Material: Sturdy printed card stock with original elastic holes

Rarity: Scarcer than U.S. printed masks—Dominican Republic production runs were smaller and fewer have survived intact