Metropolis – Chaos gripped the financial district of Metropolis this afternoon as a brazen bank robbery unfolded at the First National Bank on Elm Street. Authorities are now identifying the perpetrator as Ipkiss, a former Metropolitan Police Officer who, according to preliminary reports, has undergone a dramatic and unsettling transformation. The suspect, now being referred to as “The Mask,” executed a meticulously planned heist, leaving a trail of bewildered witnesses and a significant amount of cash.

The incident began at approximately 2:17 PM. Witnesses described a figure, initially resembling Ipkiss, entering the bank and calmly approaching the teller windows. However, within minutes, the individual began to visibly shift, their features warping and reshaping themselves into a grotesque, almost cartoonish visage. Reports indicate that the transformation involved a rapid expansion of the face, the emergence of oversized, exaggerated features, and a pronounced, almost exaggerated smile.

“It was… unbelievable,” stated Mildred Peterson, a bank teller who was present during the robbery. “One minute he was just a guy in a suit, the next… well, it looked like something out of a nightmare. He was shouting about ‘justice’ and ‘balancing the scales,’ but it was all delivered with this… unsettling glee.”

Police responded swiftly, attempting to apprehend the suspect, but were initially hampered by his enhanced agility and apparent ability to manipulate his form. Initial attempts to subdue him with standard law enforcement tactics proved largely ineffective. The suspect, utilizing a series of unpredictable maneuvers, managed to escape the bank with an estimated $1.2 million in cash and a vintage saxophone – a detail that has raised further questions about his motives.

“He wasn’t just robbing the bank, he was *performing*,” commented Detective Harding, lead investigator on the case. “There’s a theatrical element to this, a deliberate showmanship. It’s unsettling, to say the least.”

The transformation itself remains unexplained. Medical experts are currently analyzing video footage to understand the physiological changes occurring within Ipkiss’s body. The Department of Special Investigations has been alerted and is coordinating a city-wide search for the suspect. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of “The Mask.” The situation remains fluid and rapidly developing.