Surprise, it’s Rom! Skybound surprises ‘M.A.S.K.’ blind bag buyers with a new ‘Rom’ #1

Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici bring the space knight into the Energon Universe in a standalone issue available only through the blind bag program.

Today brought another signature Skybound surprise, kind of like that time they ended The Walking Dead without telling anyone it was ending, included a Spider-Man comic in their mix of Battle Beast #1 blind bags and stealth-launched the Energon Universe.

Today’s surprise, really shouldn’t be a surprise based on their track record, but it’s a fun one: some of the blind bags for M.A.S.K. #1 included completely different comics, with one of them being Rom #1, a standalone issue by Void Rivals co-creators Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici that introduces the space knight into the Energon Universe.

In a press release, Skybound said the character has been a fan request since Skybound launched the shared universe. Longtime Marvel fans know he previously published by them in the 1980s, following his introduction as toy by Parker Brothers. The toy was kind of a dud when it launched, but the comic proved popular, as he was integrated into the Marvel Universe and met everyone from the X-Men to Galactus. Later IDW Publishing reintroduced him to comics when they held the Hasbro license.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Chip Zdarsky, Delio Diaz + Frank Alpizar drop ‘Armageddon’ on the Marvel Universe

This week brings several big debuts, including the Energon Universe’s ‘M.A.S.K.,’ ‘Ultimate Catwoman,’ ‘Skate Ali’ and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what’s coming to your local comic shop this week.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights for this week below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.

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Skybound adds M.A.S.K. to the Energon Universe with new series by Dan Watters and Pye Parr

The classic 1985 Hasbro franchise joins Transformers, G.I. Joe and Void Rivals in Skybound’s shared universe, with the debut issue arriving in June.

Skybound, Image Comics and Hasbro announced today that M.A.S.K., the classic spy-fi franchise that sprung from its 1985 animated series and toy line, is joining Skybound’s Energon Universe.

The ongoing M.A.S.K. series will be written by Batman: Dark Patterns writer Dan Watters and illustrated by Pye Parr of Petrol Head fame. They’ll be joined by colorist Pierluigi Casolino and letterer Rus Wooton when the first issue arrives in June.

The series follows Matt Trakker and his network of civilian specialists — equipped with advanced masks and transforming vehicles — as they battle Miles Mayhem and the criminal organization V.E.N.O.M., who are scouring the globe for weapons of alien origin and threatening to sell out the entire human race.

“Illusion is the ultimate weapon–but also sometimes weapons are the ultimate weapon,” Watters said. “M.A.S.K. is a book about ordinary people taking it into their own hands to face down the awesome weaponry of the Energon Universe–and a high octane, nonstop thrill ride to boot. I couldn’t be prouder to be bringing you this story alongside Pye this summer. Welcome to the M.A.S.K. network. Matt Trakker needs you to save the world.”

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‘March,’ ‘M.A.S.K.’ and more take home 2017 Glyph Awards

Annual awards presented last night at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention.

Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell continued to add to the awards pile last night for March: Book Three, the final chapter in the trilogy that detailed Lewis’ experiences during the Civil Rights movement, at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in Philadelphia. The Glyph Awards, which recognize the best in comics made by, for and about people of color, also recognized Tuskegee Heirs and IDW’s M.A.S.K. series with multiple awards.

Founded by Rich Watson, the Glyph Awards have been presented annually since 2006. This year’s nominees are listed below, with the winner in bold.

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