IDW's M.A.S.K. Annual - Buyers Beware!!

I've been silent for a while.  I've moved back into the house and been busy with Christmas, New Year, My son's birthday and my birthday,

So, been very busy.

In fact, I've not even read the last issue of Revolutions or any of the new M.A.S.K. Comics - but, rest assured, I'll get round to it sometime and will give you a review.

I had set up a subscription for M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand via forbiddenplanet.com but to my work address - unsure of when I'd be back in the house when I set it up.  So, I thought I'd go online during the past week and change my postal address and order the variant covers that are being thrust upon us.

I couldn't find my subscription details, so I had to call their customer services and whilst on the phone I decided to discuss another couple of matters with them.

So, apparently, I had cancelled my subscription just a few minutes after I set it.  Not sure how that would've happened.

After the problems with the issue 3 cover mix-up - The ROM cover being sent out rather than the one I'd ordered - I discussed this with the guy on the phone.  He didn't seem too bothered by the mistake.  His response was that the actual comic is the same - just a different cover so doesn't really matter.

And yet, IDW make these various covers and forbiddenplanet.com sell these issues - but it's ok if someone makes a mistake?  I don't blame forbiddenplanet.com as my understanding is that this was an issue caused by IDW.

Whilst on their site, I'd remembered someone sharing on Facebook that there was going to be a M.A.S.K. Annual out at the beginning of the year, so I had a look for that as well.  And sure enough, and true to form to make more money, there are at least two variant covers.

So, like most M.A.S.K. fans, I'm now forced into buying not one but two copies of this comic - that probably won't be that good anyway.

There are two things that I noticed about the cover on the right.  The first may only be my imagination playing tricks on me, but in that small thumbprint image, doesn't the Mask that the person is wearing look a bit like the side profile of Rhino?

The image above is maybe a little bit clearer.

I'd be interested to see what my readers think?  Please comment below or over at my M.A.S.K. Comics Facebook Page.

The second thing that caught my eye, is the information to the left of the masthead....

This is being advertised as the "M.A.S.K. Mobile Armored Strike Kommand: Annual #1 (Subscription Variant)".  However, clearly states on the image that this is "Issue 4".

So what is going on?

I asked the guy at forbiddenplanet.com about it.  He wasn't really bothered.  It's just the image that he claims that IDW send them to advertise the comics.  The image may or may not be the cover of the comic that you are actually buying with your hard earned cash.

I used the EAN number provided on their page and found another online retailer using the exact same cover for their advert -

So, I do believe that this might be the case.  If it is, why are IDW sending out misleading information and why aren't these sites confirming these details before uploading them onto their sites?

It's not as if it's hard to see it quite clearly states Issue 4 on it.

I seriously don't know how problems like this keep happening!  It's an absolute disgrace and for people like me who have to rely on online shopping as I live in a rural area I have to trust that the information I'm being provided with is correct.

So, Caveat emptor people, Caveat emptor - you may not be buying what you think you are buying.

#MASKComics #AssembleMask #MASKCrusade #DIC #IDWgetitfuckingright

#IDW