There’s no doubt that Dan Watters and Pye Parr’s M.A.S.K. has become a hit. Whether it’s the debut issue bringing a new side to the Energon Universe, or the fact that it’s continuing Skybound’s trend of being the best publisher in the blind bag business (though getting ahold of said blind bags is an article for another time), this is one of those rare comics that stands out among 2026’s newest titles. So how does M.A.S.K. #2 measure up? By having its heroes work together to stop a black hole from tearing Earth apart.
I was completely serious with that last sentence, by the way. Following Miles Mayhem’s attempts to weaponize alien technology to destroy the Transformers on Earth, a massive event horizon forms, threatening to swallow up all life. To stop it, Matt Trakker calls in two new M.A.S.K. operatives: Bruce Sato and Gloria Baker, each with their own reasons for joining the M.A.S.K. Network. Sato and Baker have their work cut out for them, as Sly Rax is also on the scene and eager to send them barreling into the bottom of the sea.
This is the first full-fledged M.A.S.K. mission, and it’s a great moment to showcase how it differs from V.E.N.O.M. in its operations. While V.E.N.O.M. consists of a small but dedicated crew, M.A.S.K. operatives can be called in from anywhere and bring a wide range of different skills to the table. Watters also establishes a unique dynamic among Trakker, Baker, and Sato: Baker is not a fan of Trakker and takes every opportunity to disobey him, while Sato proves to be the ace in the hole who saves the world. This is an interesting shakeup, as usually it’s the villains who can’t get along while the heroes are on the same page.
With new characters comes a chance for Parr to draw even more of the transforming vehicles and iconic headgear that make M.A.S.K. what it is. True to form, M.A.S.K. #2 reveals the helmets Baker and Sato wear and that Baker’s car can become submersible, which is pretty handy when dealing with a sea-based disaster. Parr also reveals another key difference between M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M. in their vehicles: the former feel cutting-edge yet can blend into society, while the latter are sleek, predatory, and loaded with weaponry.
Parr doesn’t just stop at drawing cool cars, though. From the very start of the issue, he showcases the scope of the threats M.A.S.K. will face with the aforementioned black hole; with each page, it seems to grow and grow until it encompasses everything on that page. If that wasn’t chilling enough, Pierluigi Casolingo coats the interior of the black hole with a jet-black hue, resulting in an impressive yet utterly disturbing two-page spread that makes it seem as though the reader is gazing into an endless abyss.
M.A.S.K. #2 ups the ante with new characters, new tech, and new threats, making it a standout in the Energon Universe’s lineup. If you haven’t been reading, now’s the perfect time to hop on this wild ride.
