Since its inception, the Energon Universe has launched a special issue on every Free Comic Book Day that sets the stage for the next year’s worth of stories from Void Rivals, Transformers, and G.I. Joe. This year is a little different, as Energon Universe Special 2026 #1 is mostly dedicated to setting up the new M.A.S.K. series from Dan Watters and Pye Parr. In fact, half the special is dedicated to a M.A.S.K. story, which mostly focuses on the conflict between Matt Trakker and Miles Mayhem.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that the story leans heavily towards Mayhem and his efforts to found what will ultimately become V.E.N.O.M.; if you’ve read his work on Destro or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder, you’ll know that Watters has a gift for writing villains. But Watters does manage to balance things by showcasing what Trakker’s been up to ever since his appearance in G.I. Joe, and the end pages tease that he’s doing recruiting of his own.
Parr will also capture readers’ attention with his dynamic artwork, as it brings plenty of frantic energy to the page. Whether it’s Mayhem’s trademark Bladejet demolishing a prison or future V.E.N.O.M member Sly Rax ripping through the guards that are meant to hold him, there’s no shortage of action to be found. Parr also gives the M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M. helmets a much-needed update while still retaining their ’80s-era aesthetic.
Next up are the Transformers and Void Rivals stories, both penned by Robert Kirkman. The Void Rivals series is mostly table setting for the next arc, though Kirkman does drop a big reveal that might have some longtime fans doing a double take. I also have to give credit to Conor Hughes for keeping the unique visuals that the book started out with and Patricio Delpeche for doing the same with the offbeat color scheme. It’s the Transformers story that sticks out to me; not only does it not feature any dialogue, but it’s expertly drawn by Jason Howard, and leads to a surprising moment that’s all but begging fans to pick up the main Transformers series. It’s also got some major Samurai Jack vibes, down to its silent sword-wielding protagonist.
Finally, there’s a new G.I. Joe story that touches on the biggest plot twist of the series: namely, that the Dreadnok Zartan has replaced G.I. Joe leader General Hawk. How the master of disguise pulled this off has remained a mystery until now. Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly lean fully into body horror, especially as Reilly reveals the lengths Zartan will go to in order to blend into his “roles”. Let me just say, some fans will never look at his signature face markings in the same way again. Williamson also continues to tie together plot threads he’s set up in previous issues of G.I. Joe, leading up to the series’ monumental 25th issue.
Energon Universe Special 2026 #1 sets the stage for this year’s wave of Energon Universe stories, particularly when it comes to setting up M.A.S.K. When’s all said and done, this still remains one of the most exciting initiatives in modern comics.
