Transformers and G.I. Joe Crossover Teased in New M.A.S.K. Series

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Transformers, GI Joe and Void Rivals from the Energon Universe fighting together from Skybound

Published Feb 27, 2026, 8:58 AM EST

Tim Adams is a Movies & TV News Writer at CBR. After writing and talking about pop culture on his personal blog and podcast, Tim joined CBR as a Contributing Writer in 2016. Tim quickly demonstrated himself to be a valuable member of the team, resulting in a promotion to Associate Editor and then Lead News Editor in 2018. Part of his duties included managing and working with freelance writers on news coverage, while also growing the news side of the comics vertical.

Tim was recruited to ComicBook.com in 2021 as a Staff Writer, where he continued covering the latest in pop culture through news, features, and lists. He is most proud of collaborating with comic book publishers on exclusive interviews, previews, and announcements.

He is excited to be back at CBR, where he can utilize his near-decade experience and skills to continue making CBR the go-to source for pop culture enthusiasts.

The return of a beloved '80s toy property is setting up the long-awaited crossover between Transformers and G.I. Joe. While these two franchises dominated toy shelves and television sets, an underrated competitor during the '80s was M.A.S.K. The Mobile Armored Strike Kommand has a dedicated legion of fans, and they're being rewarded with a comic revival.

Skybound Entertainment announced a new M.A.S.K. ongoing series launching on June 3 by writer Dan Watters (Batman: Dark Patterns), artist Pye Parr (New Gods), colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton. An interesting wrinkle for the M.A.S.K. comic is that it will exist as a part of Skybound's Energon Universe, which also includes G.I. Joe and Transformers.

M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) started as a toy line from Kenner back in 1985, and eventually spawned a hit animated series of the same name. M.A.S.K. featured weaponized vehicles controlled by drivers wearing fancy helmets/masks. Our heroes fought against the evil V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem).

The M.A.S.K. announcement was made by Invincible and The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman at the ComicsPro conference. Kirkman is the Chairman of Skybound Entertainment, which has evolved from a simple independent comic book publisher into a multiplatform entertainment company that includes comics, video games, TV shows, and more.

Skybound's Energon Universe Is Building a Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover

M.A.S.K., another iconic '80s franchise, is coming to expand the Energon Universe, eventually leading to a crossover event. The Energon Universe debuted in June 2023 with the release of Void Rivals #1, which ended with the reveal of the Transformer Jetfire. We next got a Transformers series and several G.I. Joe limited series starring the likes of Duke and Cobra Commander.

The seeds for a Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover are being planted in G.I. Joe #19 and #20, featuring the first meeting between Duke and Optimus Prime. Coincidentally, M.A.S.K. leader Matt Trakker plays a role in this monumental meeting of the two famous leaders. Skybound appears to be using Matt Trakker's appearance to soft-launch the M.A.S.K. series this summer.

While fans patiently wait to see Transformers and G.I. Joe collide on the big screen, Skybound is delivering the goods via comics. These aren't your run-of-the-mill comics either. Transformers and G.I. Joe comics are outselling comics from Marvel and DC, with Daniel Warren Johnson's Transformers winning the Eisner Awards for Best Continuing Series and Best Writer/Artist.

While there have been talks of Paramount and Hasbro reviving M.A.S.K. as a live-action movie, those talks have seemingly stalled. Paramount is working on bringing Transformers and G.I. Joe together, but for now, fans are lucky to have Skybound picking up the baton to make this happen. And now, M.A.S.K. will also be part of the festivities.

“80s sports cars! Jets! Lasers! Robots! M.A.S.K. has everything that I love to read, watch, and draw, and my inner 12-year-old fought to the surface and made me scream loudly in the meeting when I was offered this gig,” M.A.S.K. artist Pye Parr said in a statement.

“Never have I more bitterly regretted selling my beloved childhood toys, but the chance to rebuild all that stuff on the page has more than made up for it, and I can’t wait to see where Dan takes us in the Energon Universe.”

Skybound's Energon Universe Special 2026, a Free Comic Book Day issue releasing May 2, will feature the first look at M.A.S.K., along with stories from Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals.

M.A.S.K. #1 goes on sale June 3.