Publisher: Image Comics (Skybound Entertainment)
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Pye Parr
Release Date: 10th June 2026

Even after thirty‑five years or so, whenever anyone mentions MASK, the theme tune still pops straight into my head. I was a big fan as a kid, and one of the lucky ones who woke up to the Boulder Hill playset on Christmas morning. Transformers might have had the cool robots and vehicles, and G.I. Joe might have had all the spec‑ops swagger, but MASK had it all: super‑cool special agents with hi‑tech gadgets and cars that converted rather than transformed. So, after all these years, would this new series recapture some of that ’80s wow factor, or would I be left suffering from nostalgia bait?

Despite loving comics and graphic novels, I increasingly struggle to keep up with all the new (and not‑so‑new) hotness, so I wasn’t entirely sure where this sits in the broader context. For those who don’t know, there’s now a big linked setting called the Energon Universe, which pulls together the Cybertronian Wars, the actions of the Joes, and the special forces working to combat alien threats. Had I known that in advance, I might have been daunted, but this new issue requires little more than a passing familiarity with the franchises – a big green tick in the “pro” column for me.

The story opens with a high‑speed chase: Matt Trakker, visionary engineer and all‑round action hero, is pursued in his Camaro, Thunderhawk, by military forces eager to seize his research. I was initially confused about who was driving, as this wasn’t the Matt Trakker I remembered. Gone is the square‑jawed, blonde, cookie‑cutter lead from the ’80s – but given how closely that look would clash with the likes of Duke in any G.I. Joe crossover, it’s an understandable change. Captured and brought in for questioning, Matt reveals the gravity of the threat at hand. We’re reintroduced to Miles Mayhem of VENOM, along with other key players, and carried along at speed to the issue’s conclusion and inevitable cliffhanger.

MASK #1 manages to do a lot of things very well. The art throughout evokes the feel of high‑end animation, tugging at the cartoon roots of the franchise. The vehicles – as much the stars of the show as the heroes and villains – are given the same level of care and detail. It’s a technicolour romp without ever feeling garish. Special credit goes to the scenes where the eponymous (well, kind of eponymous) masks appear, and to how gloriously this comic‑book Miles Mayhem chews the scenery. He’s such a classic baddie, and there’s a real weight and presence to how he’s depicted that even something as simple as stepping into a helicopter (albeit a high‑tech helicopter like Switchblade) is elevated by clever line work.

Story‑wise, this delivers exactly what you’d expect from a modern comic inspired by an ’80s cartoon created to sell toys. That sounds like a dig, but it isn’t meant to be. Alongside character introductions and a smidge of history and exposition, we learn of an “alien” technological threat and the dark repercussions should it fall into the wrong hands. It’s a great, classic Saturday‑morning read.

I’m still not entirely sure how much of my enjoyment is tinted by my fondness for the source material, but I’d hazard that if you’re looking for a new adventure, this will most likely fit the bill.

The writer of this piece was: Adam Brown
Adam Tweets from @brother_rooster