The 1980s cartoon “M.A.S.K.” was one of many action series, and it could make for a hell of an awesome film. With the right script and director, (think George Miller) it could be at the same caliber of greatness as Mad Max: Fury Road. If you hope that Paramount Pictures and the creative team they’ve gathered to develop the film will do the series justice, then you will have another Jem and the Holograms at your hands. If you want this to be somewhat decent, on the other hand… that’s another story.
Before that movie comes out, though, fans will be treated to a comic book reboot from writer Brandon Easton and artist Tony Vargas. The comic is being published by IDW, and according to USA Today, they will be giving it a Fast and Furious spin.
It’s explained that the comic won’t be “a cookie-cutter retread of the TV show where Matt Trakker’s good guys in M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand[sic]) battled Miles Mayhem’s antagonistic organization V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem)” According to Easton:
“This is a M.A.S.K. for the 21st century with a diverse team of specialists who are chosen for a top-secret program with a painful learning curve. Ultimately, each participant will have to choose a side — and no matter which side they choose, the consequences will be great.”
The M.A.S.K. comic will also include a modernized take on the classic vehicles such as the Thunderhawk, which was a Camaro that turned into a plane. All of the vehicles in the show transformed into combat-ready armored battle vehicles.
Vargas goes on to say that they’ve kept the “color combinations and vital identifiable components” that relate to the main characters in the series, but it’s explained that the comic will look very different in some ways. You can get a taste of that in the first art from the comic that has been released. Easton says:
“We won’t be going too grim, gritty or dark. However you’re not going to see a teenage kid riding a cowardly robot across the battlefield.”
The writer goes on to talk about the main character Matt Trakker and how he will be a cross between Elon Musk and Idris Elba. He describes the character further, saying that he’s “an engineering genius and intellectual bad boy who has been in search of stability since the loss of his father at an early age.” It’s then explained that Matt has gone through a troubled adolescence, and as an adult, “he’s given one last chance at redemption: going through the M.A.S.K. boot camp.”
As far as the main villain goes, this version of Miles “Mayhem” Manheim is said to be “a master manipulator, brilliant military strategist and control freak whose plans to rule the world are extremely close to fruition.” According to Easton, “V.E.N.O.M. will be a true force. They don’t lose often nor do they accept defeat with grace.” He promises that this version of the villainous group will be deadlier than ever.
I’m really curious to see how this turns out, and if this new version has little or any influence on the movie being made. Remeber how we mentioned Jem at the top? The comic book had nothing to do with the movie, and the fans love the new series! As a fan of movies, I really, really, really hope this all turns out better than what we’ve seen with G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Jem and the Holograms. At this point, most would gladly settle with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic quality.