Moose Mason - Character's Background

Character's Background

Moose is blessed with such great strength -- in one sequence, he slides under a car and, from his supine position, lifts it off the ground -- that people often have high expectations of him when it comes to sports. He has helped Riverdale High School win many matches in basketball, baseball, football, ice hockey, and various other sports, though he seems to have a preference for football. Moose was originally created to serve as the personification and stereotype of the Jock—all brawn and no brains. In the Spanish version of the comic, Moose is called "Gorilón" (lit. Big Gorilla). In at least one story in the 50s, Moose gives his real name as "Merton Matowski."

His various tendencies may be inherited from one of his first ancestors to immigrate to the United States. In one story, a Russian by the name of "Lazslo Kharandashikov" befriended Archie Andrews's Scottish ancestor "Andy Andrews" when they met on the same ship immigrating to the U.S. Laslo protected Andy from another man who wanted to beat Andy up, and Andy returned the favor by finding Laslo's immigration money for him after Laslo nearly lost it. Laslo's difficulty in speaking English led him to give his name as "Mason" to the immigration officials who let him into the country.

In some stories one of the gang, usually Archie, asks for Moose's help with a problem that can only be solved by means of the big guy's strength or intimidating presence. In a story titled "Guardian Devil," Archie and Betty meet a runaway child whose hospitalized mother left the boy in her brother's care, but the brother locked the kid in his room and had wild parties in the house—until Archie brought Moose over to straighten things out; after briefly manhandling the brother, the intimidating Moose sent the partygoers running with a simple "Scat!" In another story, Archie had tracked down two thugs who robbed the Chok'lit Shoppe, using a description given by Jughead, whom the cops had found in the store and initially accused. The thugs had just started beating Archie when Moose showed up; he picked the thugs up effortlessly and took them to the police station.

While Moose is easily angered and will threaten to hurt those who upset him, he is very kind, loyal, and compassionate. He is always willing to help somebody in need, and he constantly protects his friends from bullies (often without using punches). He also cares for the well being of animals and small children. In one story, two young children vandalized a classroom in Riverdale High School and Moose took the blame for them.