pierluigi casolino Archives

Tag Archives: pierluigi casolino

Matt Trakker Takes on the Full Force of V.E.N.O.M. in M.A.S.K. #6

Posted on October 16, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro have shared a first look at preview pages and covers from M.A.S.K. #6. From the creative team of writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton, one chapter ends, but the mission is far from over. M.A.S.K. #6 brings the current arc to a close on November 4, 2026, with Matt Trakker facing even more mayhem ahead!

Matt Trakker—can you really save the world? When the full force of V.E.N.O.M. is unleashed, can he step up and be the leader the Energon Universe needs?

M.A.S.K.’s series debut took the comic book industry by storm with its robust blind bag program, introducing ROM to Skybound’s Energon Universe comics, and the series continues to surprise fans with unexpected first appearances.

In addition to the main cover by Pye Parr, the lineup of variant covers for M.A.S.K. #6 includes a connecting cover by Karl Kerschl, an open-to-order cover by Nick Bradshaw and Jim Charalampidis, and incentive variant covers by Homare and David Lafuente.

Comic book cover for 'MASK: Mobile Armored Strike Kommando' #06 featuring a red car speeding through a forest with flames in the background and a jet flying overhead.

A comic book panel featuring a character named Tracker communicating through a digital screen about an issue with Miles Mayhem and his gang. One character, in a blue suit, is running while another drives a red and yellow vehicle. Tension builds as they discuss needing backup and the presence of armed terrorists with experimental technology.

Comic panel featuring two characters, one in a helmet and the other with long hair, in a dramatic car scene. The car makes sharp turns, leaving streaks of smoke. Dialogue discussing a confrontation and the need for caution.

The full list of variant covers is below:

M.A.S.K. #6 Cover A by Pye Parr (Lunar Code: 0926IM0399)
M.A.S.K. #6 Cover B (Connecting) by Karl Kerschl (Lunar Code: 0926IM0400)
M.A.S.K. #6 Cover C by Nick Bradshaw & Jim Charalampidis (Lunar Code: 0926IM0401)
M.A.S.K. #6 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Homare (Lunar Code: 0926IM0402)
M.A.S.K. #6 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by David Lafuente (Lunar Code: 0926IM0403)

M.A.S.K. Streetwear Variant Covers by Fadime Yildirim Bring the Heat

Posted on September 26, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team

Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro have revealed streetwear variant covers by artist Fadime Yildirim starting with M.A.S.K. #7 and continuing through M.A.S.K. #12.

Following her gorgeous G.I. Joe streetwear variant series, Fadime Yildirim is back with expertly styled variant covers each featuring a member of the M.A.S.K. network with unique, customized keychains and will be available as 1:25 incentive variants across six can’t-miss issues that begin this December.

M.A.S.K. #7 kicks off a new action-packed story arc for the hit Energon Universe series from writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton, landing in comic book shops on December 2, 2026.

T-BOB…WHAT IS YOUR FUNCTION? M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M., no one may trust Matt Trakker ever again.

Can he prove he’s fit to lead the M.A.S.K. network?

In addition to the 1:25 incentive variant cover by Fadime Yildirim, M.A.S.K. #7 features a main cover by series artist Pye Parr, two open to order variants by Nick Bradshaw and Jim Charalampidis, and Derek Charm, a 1:50 incentive manga variant by Satoshi Shiki, a 1:100 foil incentive variant by Arist Deyn, a blank sketch cover, and a T-BOB die cut mask cover by Pye Parr, Luke Preese, and Andres Juarez.

M.A.S.K. #7 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon | SRP: $3.99, unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

Comic book cover featuring a stylized female character in a blue and red outfit, with futuristic design elements, holding a holster, and accompanied by a keychain with a character design labeled 'Vanessa'.

A full list of the themed covers is below: 

M.A.S.K. #7 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Fadime Yildirim
M.A.S.K. #8 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Fadime Yildirim
M.A.S.K. #9 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Fadime Yildirim
M.A.S.K. #10 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Fadime Yildirim
M.A.S.K. #11 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Fadime Yildirim 
M.A.S.K. #12 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Fadime Yildirim

M.A.S.K. #4 is the best issue yet and almost works as a one-shot issue for the comic series

Posted on September 7, 2026 by Brett

Dusty Hayes—are you ready to save the world? When an out-of-control V.E.N.O.M. agent sets fire to New Orleans, can Dusty Hayes and Matt Trakker stop the destruction without the loss of lives?

Story: Dan Watters
Art: Marco Ferrari
Color: Pierluigi Casolino
Letterer: Rus Wooton

Get your copy now!

Zeus Comics
Kindle

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Baron Karza Makes Shocking Energon Universe Comics Debut in M.A.S.K. #3

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team

Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro have revealed the landmark first Energon Universe comic appearance of the infamous Micronauts villain Baron Karza in M.A.S.K. #3. From the creative team of writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton. M.A.S.K. #3 is out now in comic shops.

M.A.S.K.’s series debut blind bag program introduced ROM to Skybound’s Energon Universe, and the series continues to surprise fans with unexpected first appearances.

Now, the new M.A.S.K. series revealed Miles Mayhem’s secret ally is none other than Baron Karza, whose first appearance portends dark plans for Mayhem’s retaliation against Matt Trakker…and his son Scotty.

M.A.S.K. #2 has its moments but doesn’t feel like a tight enough second issue

Posted on July 12, 2026 by Brett

Bruce Sato and Gloria Baker—are you ready to save the world? As Matt Trakker’s newest M.A.S.K. recruits race to recover a weapon of unknown origin, V.E.N.O.M. strikes!

Story: Dan Watters
Art: Pye Parr
Color: Pierluigi Casolino
Letterer: Rus Wooton

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Zeus Comics
Kindle

M.A.S.K. #1 joins the Energon Universe with a Bumpy Debut

Posted on June 15, 2026 by Brett

The world is becoming a terrifying place. Matt Trakker needs your help saving it. Enter M.A.S.K. — a network of specialists recruited to respond to the next global emergency. At a moment’s notice, Trakker and his agents can deploy bleeding-edge technology that converts their vehicles–and their drivers–into the ultimate weapon. But Miles Mayhem and V.E.N.O.M. are one step ahead in a secret arms race, scouring the globe for deadly weapons from this planet and beyond, ready to sell out the entire human race. Only M.A.S.K. can stop them… but will Trakker’s own secrets jeopardize their entire mission?

Story: Dan Watters
Art: Pye Parr
Color: Pierluigi Casolino
Letterer: Rus Wooton

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Zeus Comics
Kindle

M.A.S.K. #1 puts the Spotlight on the Classic Toy Line as it Fully Joins the Energon Universe

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Brett

One of the more intriguing aspects of Skybound‘s Energon Universe is its slow introduction of properties into it, easing them in and making sure they fit right. The new comic universe that unites some of Hasbro’s top brands began with Void Rivals and then slowly expanded into Transformers and a few G.I. JOE miniseries before the current ongoing. With each release, there was an effort to connect the dots making their being part of a cohesive universe make sense and not feel mashed together. G.I. JOE has focused on Energon as a power source with teases and conspiracies of giant robots as an example. M.A.S.K. is another example of this as Matt Trakker debuted over a year ago with Miles Mayhem being brought in later, both tied to General Flagg and thus G.I. JOE. M.A.S.K. #1 dives fully in as the story of Trakker and Mayhem, which have played out in G.I. JOE, get their own series that has Mayhem launching his own organization V.E.N.O.M. in search of what we assume is Cybertronian technology.

Written by Dan Watters, M.A.S.K. #1 lays the cards of the table with Trakker being brought in by General Flagg, arrested for claims made by Mayhem. We get the backstory that has been hinted up to this point with Trakker laying out the history and just what type of villain Mayhem is. We also get a sense as to what will make M.A.S.K. and G.I. JOE different as far as how they operate and a bit with the technology as well. M.A.S.K. #1 sets the tone and expectations and does a pretty good job at that.

The art by Pye Parr with color by Pierluigi Casolino and lettering by Rus Wooton is good. The character designs are generally good though the comic’s visuals never quite excite and feel a bit more “cartoony” at times compared to other comics in the Energon Universe. The opening chase scene never quite hooks visually and feels a little bland overall with some faces feeling almost comedic in their reaction (hence the “cartoony”). It’s not bad though and the comic does a good job in that sequence building up to the conclusion of the chase where those who know the property might have certain expectations. Later, as we see more of what Mayhem and his team are up to, what could be very horrific scenes feel a bit dialed back in their shock and surprise.

M.A.S.K. #1 is a fine addition to the Energon Universe that expands on an element that has played out in other comics for some time now. But, it also feels like it suffers a little from the loss of momentum that the Energon Universe has experienced lately. It’s not quite the jolt of excitement the overall line needs. Still, what Skybound has done connecting all of these properties has been impressive and this latest series is another example of an idea that hasn’t ever been pulled off as well as this. If you’re a fan of this world, it’s one to pick up and get another piece of the overall puzzle.

Story: Dan Watters Art: Pye Parr
Color: Pierluigi Casolino Letterer: Rus Wooton
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

M.A.S.K. #1 Sells Out and Heads Back to the Printer before it Hits the Shelves

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team

Ahead of its blockbuster entrance into the Energon Universe, Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro have announced M.A.S.K. #1 has sold out at the distributor level. From the team of writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton, the M.A.S.K. Network is officially up and running!

The second printing of M.A.S.K. #1 will feature new covers by artist Jason Howard and series artist Pye Parr, arriving in comic shops on July 8, 2026.

In M.A.S.K. #1, the world is becoming a terrifying place. Matt Trakker needs your help saving it. Enter M.A.S.K.– a network of specialists ready to respond to the next global emergency. At a moment’s notice, Trakker and his agents can deploy bleeding-edge technology that converts their vehicles–and their drivers–into the ultimate weapon. But Miles Mayhem and V.E.N.O.M. are one step ahead in a secret arms race, scouring the globe for deadly weapons from this planet and beyond, ready to sell out the entire human race. Only M.A.S.K. can stop them… but will Trakker’s own secrets jeopardize their entire mission?

The full list of covers is below:

M.A.S.K. #1 Second Printing Cover A by Jason Howard
M.A.S.K. #1 Second Printing Cover B by Pye Parr

ComicsPRO 2026: M.A.S.K. by Dan Watters and Pye Parr joins the Energon Universe in June

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team

As announced today in Robert Kirkman’s keynote address at ComicsPro, Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro, will deliver an all-new addition to the Energon Universe, M.A.S.K., by writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton. Together, they’re launching the most anticipated new series of the year, where anyone–and everyone–in the Energon Universe must join the fight for humanity’s survival. The historic first issue of this explosive new ongoing series hits comic book shelves June 3, 2026.

The world is becoming a terrifying place. Matt Trakker needs your help saving it. Enter M.A.S.K. — a network of specialists ready to respond to the next global emergency. At a moment’s notice, Trakker and his agents can deploy bleeding-edge technology that converts their vehicles–and their drivers–into the ultimate weapon. But Miles Mayhem and V.E.N.O.M. are one step ahead in a secret arms race, scouring the globe for deadly weapons from this planet and beyond, ready to sell out the entire human race. Only M.A.S.K. can stop them… but will Trakker’s own secrets jeopardize their entire mission?

In addition to the main cover by Pye Parr, the lineup of variant covers for M.A.S.K. #1 includes open-to-order covers by J. Scott Campbell, Cedric Poulat, and Mark Spears, Energon Universe Third Anniversary connecting covers by Tom Reilly and Adriano Lucas, incentive variant covers by Kael Ngu, E.J. Su, Jonboy Meyers, Joshua Cassara and Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer, blank sketch covers featuring M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M., foil covers by Pye Parr and J. Scott Campbell, and die-cut foil mask covers by Pye Parr, Luke Preece and Andres Juarez.

M.A.S.K. #1 also features a first-ever Energon Universe blind bag program that allows fans a chance to get ANY of the solicited covers from A through K, intermixed at varying degrees of rarity. However, there are rare SURPRISE variant covers related to the Energon Universe that can be found in these blind bags. Those SURPRISE comics will not be publicly announced in advance of the issue release.

In celebration of M.A.S.K.’s arrival in the Energon Universe, Skybound and Hasbro will feature an exclusive first look at M.A.S.K. in the Energon Universe Special 2026, a Free Comic Book Day issue releasing Saturday, May 2, 2026. The special issue will include four all-new stories from TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, and Void Rivals and will serve as the first official glimpse into Dan Watters and Pye Parr’s M.A.S.K.

Originally launched in 1985, M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) became a pop-culture phenomenon with its mix of spy intrigue and sci-fi action. Brought to life through an animated series and bestselling toy line, M.A.S.K. followed Matt Trakker and his elite civilian task force as they battled Miles Mayhem and the criminal organization V.E.N.O.M. using advanced masks and transforming vehicles enhanced with extraordinary abilities. Now, M.A.S.K. enters the Energon Universe for a revolutionary new era.

The full list of variant covers is below:

M.A.S.K. #1 Cover A by Pye Parr
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover B by J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover C by Cedric Poulat
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover D by Mark Spears
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover E Energon Universe Third Anniversary (Connecting) by Tom Reilly & Adriano Lucas
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover F Energon Universe Third Anniversary (Connecting) by Tom Reilly
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover G (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Kael Ngu
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover H (1:50 Copy Incentive) by E.J. Su
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover I (Foil) (1:100 Copy Incentive) by Jonboy Meyers ($5.99)
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover J (1:250 Copy Incentive) by Joshua Cassara & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover K (1:500 Copy Incentive) by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover L Blank Sketch Cover (M.A.S.K.) ($5.99)
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover M Blank Sketch Cover (V.E.N.O.M.) ($5.99)
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover N (Foil) by Pye Parr ($5.99)
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover O Foil) by J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich ($5.99)
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover P (Die Cut Foil Mask Cover) by Pye Parr & Luke Preece & Andres Juarez ($5.99)
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover Q (Die Cut Foil Mask Cover) by Pye Parr & Luke Preece & Andres Juarez ($5.99)
M.A.S.K. #1 Cover R Blind Bag by Andres Juarez ($5.99)

Comics

Review: DC vs. Vampires #12

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Brett

DC vs. Vampires has been one of DC’s best miniseries in quite some time. The premise at first seemed a bit silly but what makes it stand out is its ability to keep you guessing. Every issue featured surprises and shocks as characters died and so many were revealed to be vampires waiting to strike. The series kept the readers paranoid as to what would happen next. So, could it’s ending live up to that? Thankfully, yes. DC vs. Vampires #12 delivers a punch of an ending that hopefully will deliver more in the future.

Written by James Tynion IV and Matthew Rosenberg, DC vs. Vampires #12 delivers a satisfying conclusion to all three of its threads. Each delivering some hope and continued desperation. Supergirl and Mary Marvel continue to fight while Green Arrow and Grifter attempt to liberate the camp. But, it’s the confrontation between Batgirl and Nightwing that’s the center of the issue.

Tynion and Rosenberg have no issue using the relationship of these two to keep readers guessing as to what might happen next. They also make the case that maybe it’s best if Barbara gives in to Dick and help guide the future of humanity. Grayson admits he has gone too far and things have spiraled further than he’s wanted. He needs Barbara’s guiding hand to correct things and find the balance. But, is this the truth or just a seductive lie to get her to fall into his control? I won’t spoil the ending but where things goes is both shocking and surprising, delivering the final unexpected punch this series has been known for.

The art by Otto Schmidt, Francesco Mortarino, and Pierluigi Casolino with lettering by Tom Napolitano continues to shine. Its art has been excellent from the start balancing the superhero aspects of the series with its horror elements. It’s a tricky one but the series has nailed it down. It could easily have gone over the top in the deaths and surprises but it instead keeps things on the right side of the line with some fantastic action sequences and emotional punches. This issue continues that to the very end with each visual delivering the extra punch the story dictates.

DC vs. Vampires #12 is a fantastic ending to the series. Hopefully, we get more. What’s presented and hinted at leaves so much more to be done and so much more to explore. Easily one of the best “Elseworlds” type event in some time, one that deserves an encore.

Story: James Tynion IV, Matthew Rosenberg
Art and color: Otto Schmidt, Francesco Mortarino, Pierluigi Casolino Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

« Older Entries