This fall, IDW will be adding yet another title and franchise to their steadily growing roster! On May 2nd, IDW published a press release on their website officially announcing the addition of Hasbro’s Mobile Armored Strike Kommand (M.A.S.K.). As announced, M.A.S.K. will be written by Brandon Easton (He was worked previously on Marvel’s Agent Carter and Transformers) and drawn by artist Tony Vargas (Previous work includes TMNT)
The premise behind M.A.S.K. is similar to another Hasbro property, G.I. Joe. M.A.S.K. is a special task force led by Matt Trakker, that uses transforming vehicles to fight against the criminal organization V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem).
IDW has been creating stir and excitement amongst fans and readers with the recent additions of both ROM and the Micronauts. The rights for these properties have changed hands more than a few times. Micronauts, for example, has been written by Marvel and Image Comics and even Devil’s Due Publishing. JJ Abrams company, Abrams Gentile Entertainment, LLC, owns the movie rights and a movie is in the works for it as well. Mego Corporation first brought the line of toys to the United States. Mattel was rumored to be a contender for the rights but they ended up going to Hasbro which has, in turn, given license to IDW Publishing to produce this new title. They have, apparently, given IDW license to create other titles based upon their properties, as this recent announcement about Mobile Armored Strike Kommand indicates.
M.A.S.K. was a line of toys original produced by Kenner in 1985 whose drive and main purpose was to sell toys and merchandise; this was a similar strategy with G.I.Joe, Micronauts, Centaurians, ROM and other popular lines of the time. Both action figures and a cartoon series quickly followed through the latter part of the 1980s, both of which were highly successful. In cooperation with Kenner, DC Comics released a series of mini comic books built in to toy-packs for its characters. A video game was produced as well during this time.
Now that Hasbro has given license to IDW for this title what can we expect?
IDW Managing Editor David Hedgecock said; “We are so proud to be able to continue growing the impressive relationship between IDW Publishing and Hasbro with this new M.A.S.K. comic series,” said IDW Managing Editor David Hedgecock. “We can’t wait to bring the high-octane, unique, brand of storytelling to this book that we know fans of M.A.S.K. will expect!”
and later;
“We’ve had tremendous success with IDW over the years in re-launching classic brands for a contemporary audience, while still paying appropriate homage to their origins,” said Michael Kelly, Head of Global Publishing at Hasbro. “We are thrilled to welcome a new team to this library of heroes, as M.A.S.K. joins the ranks of JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS, MICRONAUTS, and THE TRANSFORMERS.”
Be on the lookout for IDW Free Comic Book Day book ROM # 0 due out Saturday May 07 2016!!
