Dan Watters and Pye Parr talk fast cars, Energon tech, and reimagining M.A.S.K. for a new era

When Skybound announced M.A.S.K. would be joining the Energon Universe, fans immediately had questions. How would Matt Trakker and Miles Mayhem fit alongside Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals? Out this week, we sat down with writer Dan Watters and artist Pye Parr to discuss updating the classic property, designing its iconic vehicles, and why M.A.S.K. offers a unique perspective within the larger Energon Universe. We're running the full uncut interview, featuring even more discussion on cool cars, character dynamics, action sequences, and what readers can expect from the series moving forward. Plus, we recap the biggest comics news of the week, share our favorite new releases, and much more. NEWS Absolute Catwoman #1 heads back to press as DC announces 'Absolute Cassandra Cain' one-shot MAD celebrates 600 issues with new material, classic favorites, and Sergio Aragonés cover Batman, Superman, and "Weird Al" Yankovic unite for DC's strangest team-up yet Marvel launches 'Amazing Venom' starring Boomerang's symbiote-powered comeback Marvel returns to the Mangaverse with five-part 25th anniversary event this September Marvel Zombies returns this September with Punisher leading a desperate fight for survival Spider-Woman's 50th anniversary special launches a darker new chapter for Jessica Drew The Rolling Stones team up with Marvel for exclusive ‘Foreign Tongues’ vinyl collector series David Colton's growing power takes center stage in new look at 'Avengers: Armageddon' #4 and 'Cap' Dark Horse launches new oversized Marvel Black & White line with Barry Windsor-Smith's landmark Weapon X Daniel Warren Johnson's 'Beta Ray Bill' gets oversized Artist's Edition in 2027 ROM joins the Energon Universe in surprise comic hidden inside 'M.A.S.K.' #1 blind bags Mike Mignola returns to Hell with new two-issue Hellboy story alongside Cyrille Pomès Shredder gets extended! Our Top Books of the Week: Dave: Skate Ali #1 (Sam Humphries, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Natacha Bustos) The Nice House by the Sea #10 (James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno) Chris:​​ Tigress Island #4 (Patrick Kindlon, EPHK) M.A.S.K. #1 (Dan Watters, Pye Parr) Standout KAPOW moment of the week: Chris: D’Orc #5 (Brett Bean)  Dave: Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1 (Kevin Smith, Giuseppe Camuncoli) TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK Chris: Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1 (Paul Chadwick) Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (Joe Kelly, Patrick Gleason) JUDGING BY THE COVER JR. Dave: X-Men United #4 (Kris Anka Cover) Chris: Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #2 (Phil Jimenez and Alex Sinclair Main) Dan Watters Pye Parr - MASK #1 out June 10th  M.A.S.K. has always had a unique place in Hasbro history, sitting somewhere between G.I. Joe, Transformers, and its own thing. What aspects of the original property were most important to preserve, and where did you see opportunities to reinvent it for the Energon Universe? Matt Trakker's introduction is fascinating because he's being hunted by the military, yet it quickly becomes clear he wants to be captured. Why was that the right way to introduce him, and what does it reveal about who he is in this version of M.A.S.K.? Miles Mayhem comes across as both calculating and completely unhinged. His fear of Transformers and extraterrestrial threats gives him a very different motivation than a typical villain. What interested you about making him someone who might see himself as humanity's last line of defense? One of the most exciting ideas in M.A.S.K. has always been vehicles transforming into weapons and armor systems. Pye, what was the challenge of updating those iconic transformations for modern audiences while still capturing the toyetic fun fans expect? Dan, after writing Destro, what was appealing about tackling another corner of the Energon Universe? Did your experience with Destro help shape how you approached M.A.S.K., or did you want this book to have a completely different flavor? The first issue hints at a larger arms race involving technology and weapons that may not even originate on Earth. How much of M.A.S.K. is a spy thriller versus a science-fiction story, and where does it fit tonally alongside Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals? Bruce Sato and Gloria Baker are positioned as key new recruits. What qualities do they bring to M.A.S.K. that complement or challenge Matt Trakker's leadership style? The original M.A.S.K. comic debuted in 1987 and had a very different view of global threats and military organizations. Were there any specific elements from that era that you deliberately updated to reflect modern anxieties and geopolitics? Fun question: If you could each claim one M.A.S.K. vehicle and mask from the entire franchise to use in real life for a week, which would you pick and what completely irresponsible thing would you do with it?