UPDATE: Skybound has made it official. Following up on past Skybound misdirections including stealth debuting the Energon Universe in Void Rivals #1, sending out fake solicits for The Walking Dead and more, they have debuted a new Rom series by Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici in the blind bags for the first issue of M.A.S.K. Audacious and fun!
Via official pr, the stunt was a joint effort by Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro.
Void Rivals co-creators, writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Lorenzo De Felici reunite to deliver ROM #1, a standalone issue that can only be found in M.A.S.K. #1 blind bags. With the launch of the first-ever Energon Universe blind bag program, it’s only right to mark the occasion with the introduction of a beloved character – who has been a decades long fan favorite across comics, toys, and more – like ROM who fans have demanded since the launch of this bestselling shared universe.
“Nothing is more exciting to me than an unexpected comic drop! Getting to a store and finding out a brand-new book exists is just the coolest thing. The only thing that could make it better… is if it was ROM!” exclaimed Robert Kirkman. “ROM is such an iconic character with a rich history spanning decades. He’s been a constant request for the Energon Universe. Getting to develop him for the Energon Universe alongside my pal Lorenzo De Felici was an absolute blast and I can’t wait for fans to see our long-range plans for the character! ROM! WOO!!”
There are TWO special issues that can be found in random blind bags:
M.A.S.K. #1 Blind Bags allow fans a chance to get ANY of the solicited covers from A through K, intermixed at varying degrees of rarity (that mirror existing ratios). In addition to ROM #1, there are two equally rare SURPRISE Energon Universe comics that can be found in these blind bags including:
- M.A.S.K. Origins #1, reprinting and collecting the first appearances of M.A.S.K. & V.E.N.O.M. in the Energon Universe!
- A special advance edition of M.A.S.K. #2, allowing fans to read the next thrilling issue in its entirety!
The full list of covers is below:
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover A by Pye Parr (Lunar Code: 0426IM8000)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover B by J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich (Lunar Code: 0426IM8001)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover C by Cedric Poulat (Lunar Code: 0426IM8002)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover D by Mark Spears (Lunar Code: 0426IM8003)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover E Energon Universe Third Anniversary (Connecting) by Tom Reilly & Adriano Lucas (Lunar Code: 0426IM8004)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover F Energon Universe Third Anniversary (Connecting) by Tom Reilly (Lunar Code: 0426IM8005)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover G (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Kael Ngu (Lunar Code: 0426IM8006)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover H (1:50 Copy Incentive) by E.J. Su (Lunar Code: 0426IM8007)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover I (Foil) (1:100 Copy Incentive) by Jonboy Meyers ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8008)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover J (1:250 Copy Incentive) by Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Lunar Code: 0426IM8009)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover K (1:500 Copy Incentive) by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer (Lunar Code: 0426IM8010)
- M.A.S.K. #1Cover L Blank Sketch Cover (M.A.S.K.) ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8011)
- M.A.S.K. #1Cover M Blank Sketch Cover (V.E.N.O.M.) ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8012)
- M.A.S.K. #1Cover N (Foil) by Pye Parr ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8013)
- M.A.S.K. #1Cover O Foil) by J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8014)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover P (Die Cut Foil Mask Cover) by Pye Parr & Luke Preece & Andres Juarez ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8015)
- M.A.S.K. #1Cover Q (Die Cut Foil Mask Cover) by Pye Parr & Luke Preece & Andres Juarez ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8016)
- M.A.S.K. #1 Cover R Blind Bag by Andres Juarez ($5.99) (Lunar Code: 0426IM8017)
ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS:
Reports on Reddit have emerged that certain blind bag copies of the first issue of Skybound’s new M.A.S.K. series contain an unannounced ROM one-shot by Void Rivals writer Robert Kirkman, artist Lorenzo De Felici, colorist Mat Lopes, and letterer Rus Wooton. You can check out the cover courtesy of Reddit users, who’ve shared pictures of their copies below:
Pulled this from the mask blindbags
byu/Glum-Cucumber7825 inEnergonUniverse
SPOILER IS JOINING THE EU
byu/Flashy_Curve_43 inEnergonUniverse
Rom the Space Knight, to use his full name, was a toy that debuted from Parker Brothers (now owned by Energon Universe licensor Hasbro) in 1979. The character is a cybernetic Space Knight from the planet Galador, who gave up his “humanity” to battle the evil Dire Wraiths. He subsequently debuted in a Marvel Comics series that year, by Bill Mantlo and the late Sal Buscema, that ran until 1986, and then in IDW’s version of the Hasbro Universe from 2016 to 2020.
The character’s apparent Energon Universe debut is something of a surprise, because while Skybound gained the rights to other Hasbro properties like Transformers and G.I. Joe, the rights to Rom had instead seemingly returned to Marvel, who printed an omnibus of his classic appearances in 2024. Hasbro also released a new toy of Rom, based on Busema’s design, in the Marvel Legends range last year.
The surprise drop echoes how the Energon Universe itself was announced in the pages of Void Rivals #1 three years ago, with reports of Skybound’s acquisition of the comics rights to Hasbro’s properties having initially gone unconfirmed by the imprint. Kirkman has form in this respect, having previously dropped Die!Die!Die! #1, and what turned out to be the final issue of The Walking Dead, without any prior warning.
With any luck, Rom’s apparent addition will lead to him making his first-ever animated appearance in the currently planned Energon Universe cartoon. M.A.S.K. #1 is out now.
[Additional reporting by Heidi MacDonald]
