ROM Special #1 cover art from Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro featuring ROM entering the Energon Universe.

ROM Returns to the Energon Universe as Skybound Opens ROM Special #1 and M.A.S.K. Origins #1 to Order

The surprise is officially out of the blind bag.

Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro are bringing ROM Special #1 and M.A.S.K. Origins #1 back to comic shops as open-to-order releases on August 26, 2026. Both issues were originally part of the M.A.S.K. #1 Blind Bag program, where fans discovered some major Energon Universe surprises hiding inside.

Now readers who missed the blind bag release will get a clean shot at two important new chapters in Skybound’s expanding Hasbro-powered comic book universe.

ROM Enters the Energon Universe

The biggest headline here is simple: ROM is back.

The legendary space knight has officially entered the Energon Universe, and ROM Special #1 gives fans the chance to experience that debut without having to hunt down the original blind bag release.

The standalone special reunites Void Rivals co-creators Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici, with color artist Matheus Lopes, for a new story introducing ROM to this shared universe. For longtime fans, that is a major moment. ROM has a long and complicated publishing history, including classic Marvel-era material that has recently been spotlighted through the character’s all-new omnibus collections.

Skybound’s version gives ROM a fresh stage, placing him directly inside the Energon Universe alongside Void Rivals, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and now M.A.S.K.

Even better, Skybound has already confirmed that fans can expect more of ROM and his alien companion Carpet in future issues of Void Rivals. That makes this special feel less like a one-off novelty and more like the beginning of a new cosmic lane inside the Energon Universe.

Why ROM Special #1 Matters

The Energon Universe has been building momentum by treating familiar Hasbro icons like major pieces of one connected story rather than isolated nostalgia plays. ROM Special #1 continues that strategy by taking a beloved science-fiction hero and positioning him for future involvement in the wider mythology.

That is smart world-building.

ROM fits naturally into the cosmic side of this universe. Void Rivals has already opened the door to interstellar politics, alien cultures, shifting alliances, and larger threats hiding beyond the edges of familiar Hasbro brands. ROM’s arrival adds another layer of myth, danger, and mystery.

For collectors, this issue also has clear key-book appeal. It reprints the surprise first appearance of ROM in the Energon Universe, which gives it significance for both readers and long-term fans tracking the shared continuity.

M.A.S.K. Origins #1 Brings the Mission Into Focus

The second major release is M.A.S.K. Origins #1, a double-sized issue collecting the first appearances of M.A.S.K., V.E.N.O.M., and other important Energon Universe moments that led into the launch of the M.A.S.K. corner of the line.

That makes this a useful catch-up issue for readers who want the full road map before jumping deeper into the series.

M.A.S.K. brings a different flavor to the Energon Universe. While Transformers delivers giant robot warfare, G.I. Joe brings military action, and Void Rivals handles the cosmic side, M.A.S.K. sits in a high-speed zone of vehicle combat, covert tech, hidden agendas, and masked identities.

Opening M.A.S.K. Origins #1 to order gives new readers a better entry point into that piece of the puzzle.

The Energon Universe Keeps Expanding

The current Energon Universe lineup has become one of the most exciting shared-universe experiments in modern comics.

The line includes:

Void Rivals by Robert Kirkman, Conor Hughes, and Patricio Delpeche

Transformers by Robert Kirkman, Jason Howard, and Mike Spicer

G.I. Joe by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, and Lee Loughridge

M.A.S.K. as the newest addition to the connected Hasbro publishing world

With ROM now entering the picture, Skybound is clearly not slowing down. The company is building a universe where every new title, special, and surprise appearance feels like it could matter later.

That is exactly why these open-to-order releases are important. They make major story pieces more accessible while giving fans and retailers another chance to stock up before the next phase hits.

ROM Special #1 Cover Lineup

ROM Special #1 will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms on August 26, 2026.

SRP: $3.99 unless otherwise noted

Covers include:

ROM Special #1 Cover A by Lorenzo De Felici
ROM Special #1 Cover B by Christian Ward
ROM Special #1 Cover C by E.J. Su
ROM Special #1 Cover D by Nick Bradshaw
ROM Special #1 Cover E Blank Sketch Cover, $4.99
ROM Special #1 Cover F Foil Die-Cut Mask Cover by John Amor, $4.99

The cover program gives fans a strong mix of modern sci-fi visuals, classic ROM energy, and collector-focused variants. The foil die-cut mask cover by John Amor should be one of the standout options for collectors.

M.A.S.K. Origins #1 Cover Lineup

M.A.S.K. Origins #1 also arrives on August 26, 2026.

SRP: $4.99 unless otherwise noted

Covers include:

M.A.S.K. Origins #1 Cover A by Pye Parr
M.A.S.K. Origins #1 Cover B by Jason Howard
M.A.S.K. Origins #1 Cover C by Ethan Young
M.A.S.K. Origins #1 Cover D by Danilo Beyruth and Neeraj Menon
M.A.S.K. Origins #1 Cover E by Ben Oliver

The M.A.S.K. Origins covers lean hard into the military-tech, vehicle-action, and retro-to-modern redesign appeal of the property. For fans of the original toy line, this is exactly the kind of release that connects childhood nostalgia with the current Energon Universe direction.

Blind Bag Surprises Return to Shelves

The original M.A.S.K. #1 Blind Bag program created a lot of excitement because it gave readers real surprise reveals inside comic shops. ROM’s Energon Universe appearance was one of the biggest shocks from that campaign.

Now that ROM Special #1 and M.A.S.K. Origins #1 are open to order, the spotlight shifts from surprise value to accessibility.

That is good news for readers who want the story without chasing aftermarket prices, and it is good news for retailers who can now order based on actual demand.

As reported by Comicon, this release gives fans another opportunity to pick up two of the most talked-about Energon Universe blind bag issues.

Final Thoughts

ROM Special #1 and M.A.S.K. Origins #1 feel like important pieces of the Energon Universe’s next stage.

ROM’s arrival adds a major cosmic player to the line, while M.A.S.K. Origins #1 gives readers a stronger foundation for one of Hasbro’s most action-ready franchises. Together, these releases show how aggressively Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro are expanding the shared universe beyond its already successful Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals foundation.

For readers following the Energon Universe, these are not throwaway specials. They are key releases that help connect the next wave of stories.

ROM Special #1 and M.A.S.K. Origins #1 arrive in comic shops on August 26, 2026.

Comic Details

Title: ROM Special #1
Publisher: Skybound / Image Comics / Hasbro
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
Color Artist: Matheus Lopes
Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: August 26, 2026
Significance: Reprints ROM’s surprise first appearance in the Energon Universe

Title: M.A.S.K. Origins #1
Publisher: Skybound / Image Comics / Hasbro
Creators: Joshua Williamson, Robert Kirkman, Andrea Milana, Mora, Lee Loughridge, Mike Spicer, and more
Price: $4.99
On Sale Date: August 26, 2026
Significance: Double-sized issue collecting the first appearances of M.A.S.K., V.E.N.O.M., and key Energon Universe setup moments