Image via Skybound
Published Mar 18, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.
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Skybound Entertainment is celebrating its next anniversary and latest series with a whole host of connecting variant covers.
Per Comics Beat, Skybound Entertainment has officially unveiled its upcoming slate of connecting variant covers set to be released in celebration of the publisher's third anniversary. Illustrated by Tom Reilly and colored by Adriano Lucas, the new series of connecting covers will be available both in full-color and sketch variants, and will begin with the release of M.A.S.K. #1 by writer Dan Watters, artist Simon Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton on June 3.
On June 10, Transformers #33 will offer fans their next connecting cover, followed by G.I. Joe #23 on June 17. Written by Joshua Williamson with art by Andrea Milana, colors by Lee Loughridge, and letters by Wooton, G.I. Joe #23 will uncover "the secret origin of G.I. Joe's most unpredictable member." The final connecting cover will be released on June 23 when Void Rivals #31 arrives in stores.
The Energon Universe Crossovers, Explained
Image via SkyboundSkybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy said of the news in a press release, "It’s that time of the year where we once again celebrate the anniversary of the Energon Universe, now welcoming the stars of our new series M.A.S.K., and to have Skybound-exclusive Tom Reilly bring his artistic skills, with the colors of Adriano Lucas, is absolute magic!"
While fans of the Energon Universe are already accustomed to seeing the characters and events of Void Rivals, Transformers, and G.I. Joe bleed into one another's stories, the introduction of the cast of M.A.S.K. will mark the very first time that the latter have crossed over with their fellow '80s fan-favorites despite years of trying to do just that. The original M.A.S.K. animated series premiered back in 1985, and quickly found a foothold with young audiences and fans of the classic action figures alike.
Though the original animated series only ran for two seasons, M.A.S.K. has maintained its place in pop culture and has been at the center of multiple comeback attempts. In 2015, Hasbro announced plans to develop a cinematic universe that would include M.A.S.K., G.I. Joe, Rom, Micronauts, and the oft-forgotten Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light. Unsurprisingly, these plans fell through, though that wasn't the last attempt to bring M.A.S.K. back into the spotlight.
In 2017, another live-action M.A.S.K. adaptation was announced, though few updates on the project have been announced since. While Fate of the Furious director F. Gary Gray was signed on to helm the project in 2018 and Bad Boys for Life and The Man from Toronto screenwriter Chris Bremner signed on as screenwriter in 2020, the live-action M.A.S.K. adaptation seems to have fallen by the wayside at this point.
Skybound Entertainment's upcoming slate of connecting variant covers begin to roll out on June 3 with the release of M.A.S.K. #1.
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First Film Transformers
Latest Film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
First TV Show The Transformers
Latest TV Show Transformers: EarthSpark
Cast Peter Cullen, Wil Wheaton, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Luna Lauren Velez, Dominique Fishback
Transformers is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals.
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First Film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Latest Film Snake Eyes
Cast Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lee Byung-hun, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Jonathan Pryce, Saïd Taghmaoui, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Dennis Quaid, D. J. Cotrona, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Ray Stevenson, Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, Iko Uwais
Spin-offs G.I. Joe Renegades
Spin-offs (Movies) G.I. Joe Chuckles Spinoff
Movie(s) G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Snake Eyes, G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant
G.I. Joe is a beloved multimedia franchise that has captivated audiences for generations. Spanning action figures, comic books, animated series, and live-action films, G.I. Joe tells the story of a brave team of elite soldiers known as the Joes, who battle the forces of evil embodied by the villainous Cobra organization.
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M.A.S.K.
Release Date 1985 - 1986-00-00
Network USA Network
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Doug Stone
Matt Trakker, Bruce Sato, Hondo McLean, Dusty Hayes
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Brendan McKane
Miles Mayhem, Alex Sector
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Sharon Noble
Gloria Baker
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Brennan Thicke
Scott Trakker
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English (US) · 