This week’s M.A.S.K. #3 has revealed yet another classic Hasbro property is joining Skybound’s Energon Universe, which so far also includes Void Rivals, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Rom: Space Knight. We’ll discuss who’s revealed in the comic, by writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton, after the jump, but as always, beware spoilers.
The book reveals Miles Mayhem, the head of M.A.S.K.’s rival organization V.E.N.O.M., is in league with Baron Karza, the evil ruler of a subatomic realm, and archnemesis of the Micronauts. Together, the pair are seen plotting to strike M.A.S.K. leader Matt Trakker where it hurts most, by targeting his son Scotty.
Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy comments, “The record-setting launch of M.A.S.K. shocked and delighted fans, and we’re continuing the exciting momentum with the reprint of this monumental third issue. With the introduction of the mysterious Baron Karza, who knows what could happen next!”
Baron Karza and the Micronauts were created for the eponymous Mego toy line in 1976, and subsequently starred in the Marvel Comics series by Bill Mantlo, Michael Golden et al. from 1978 to 1986. Subsequent comics were published by Image, Devil’s Due, and IDW, who (having received the license from current Micronauts owner Hasbro) added the characters to their Transformers/G.I. Joe universe in the 2016 crossover Revolution. Following IDW’s loss of the Transformers and Joe rights, Marvel reprinted the original Micronauts run in an omnibus.
The reveal comes on the heels of Skybound adding Rom, another Hasbro character Mantlo once penned, to the Energon Universe this year, in a one-shot that was originally only available in blind bagged copies of M.A.S.K. #1. That comic, and the similarly released compilation special M.A.S.K. Origins, will be available separately on August 26. In the meantime, M.A.S.K. #3 is out now, and issue #4 will follow on September 2.
