M.A.S.K. #3: Dire Situations

M.A.S.K. #3 opens with the dramatic aftermath of the previous issue, as Gloria Baker regains consciousness after she and Bruce Sato were bombed by a vengeful Miles Mayhem. It turns out that Matt Trakker’s masks double as breathing apparatuses, enabling Baker to survive what should have been a gruesome death. With Sato missing in action and Baker desperately seeking any means of survival, Trakker returns to the fray, seemingly fueled by rage as he enters direct aerial combat with Mayhem. This sets up a tense action sequence that propels the issue forward. By the end, more of the protagonist’s abilities are revealed, along with a major bombshell exposing Mayhem’s deeper motivations, promising to expand the scope of the Energon Universe in an unexpected way.

The opening of this issue immediately throws the reader into the action, creating a tense survival scenario for Baker, who is digitally accompanied by Alex Sector, the organization’s IT specialist. This intense segment is carried by artist Pye Parr, who makes Baker’s dire situation feel infinitely more urgent and real. Sector’s guidance raises the stakes, essentially revealing that Baker has only a slim chance of survival and indicating that her injuries will be difficult to recover from. All of this serves to make Baker and the other characters feel like the fragile humans they are, despite existing in the larger-than-life Energon Universe.

Trakker’s arrival in this issue is sudden and terrifying, as he shows reckless determination in his relentless pursuit of Mayhem. He ejects himself from his vehicle and attacks Mayhem’s helicopter by hand. The lack of dialogue from this stoic character makes the attack even more unsettling, demonstrating that brains can often triumph over brawn. Trakker eventually finds a way to break into the cockpit, but his victory is short-lived when he is tossed out. While little is written to indicate Trakker’s thought process during this interaction, it’s clear he will have much to answer for on behalf of his organization’s members.

Spoilers to follow for the ending of the issue:

As the issue concludes, Mayhem returns to his base to debrief his mysterious benefactor on the situation. After Trakker’s assault, Mayhem is revealed to be covered in mysterious tattoos of foreign origin, which he leaves exposed as he begins to discuss his plan to save the world by opening a portal to bring forth his benefactor. The next page reveals that benefactor to be Baron Karza, of Micronauts fame. This reveal is huge for M.A.S.K. and the Energon Universe, marking the introduction of the Microverse into this world. The implications are far-reaching and epic, making the stakes of this series even more compelling.