Another Cover - more mistakes....

A new cover was recently posted over on the M.A.S.K. PNA Facebook Page.  There is no head mast, so I can't say which issue this will feature on - if at all - and can't confirm the artist's name as can't quite make out the signature.

However, Tommy Lee Edwards (TLE) has taken credit for it, so I can assume he drew it.  I'm not going to share it as I have not sought out permission to do so.

We have Vanessa squat down on the roof of what, at first sight, appears to be Manta with Sly Rax, sporting a "Flock of Seagulls-esque" hairstyle, leaning against the door.  There is a shape behind in the familiar colours of Piranha,

The art is great and one of the comments on the page likens it to a scene from Miami Vice.  It's only when you look closer that you start to see the flaws.

Ok, I can let Rax's hair style slide and I can only question why Vanessa is squat down on the roof...

The first mistake I noticed is the decals on the side of the car.  Below is an image of the toy from the 80's - 

If you check the image over at the M.A.S.K. PNA Facebook Page you can compare the difference.  We're used to there being issues with the decals on the vehicles in the past - one of the memorable ones being Outlaw.  In the Cartoon and the DC Comics, Outlaw's decals were simplified.  Understandable for the cartoon with the number of frames that had to be drawn, but just downright lazy in the DC Comic.

Yes, ok, it kept some semblance of consistency having both the same but I would've preferred the comic to have had the Snake Oil Livery of the toy.

Even on the toy box, the art for the Cab of the tanker were wrong - with a small image of the toy beside it showing the correct decal placement.

Getting back to my original point re this new cover, why are the decals wrong and why does it matter?  Manta is a Nissan 300ZX.  The decals on the side of her subtlety read the initials "ZX".  Simple; effective!

On the new comic image, we now have "XZ" written on it.  Not sure why and it doesn't really work.  There could be legal reasons for the change, who knows.  The original box for Manta does have the Trademark "TM" symbol beside the wording "Nissan 300ZX".

The new IDW comics are a confusing mixture of the new M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand and the, now, classic M.A.S.K.  Thrown into the mix is something which is neither.

TLE's image of "Manta" is so impressive that it has many M.A.S.K. fans fooled into thinking it's the real deal.

However, TLE has drawn "Manta" as a Datsun 280ZX.  If you are unsure of the difference please see my Blog Post from 25/04/2015.  It's overly confusing to say the least.  We now have new, old and, well, whatever!

Now, I'm not dissing TLE's artwork - I think his cover is amazing - but does it fit with the rest of the comic?  If you were a new reader, unfamiliar with M.A.S.K. would you really know what's going on?  I'm a long term fan, and I can't understand it.

If TLE's vision of Manta was the same one as on the inside of the comic, I'd be cool with that.  His version is better than what I've seen of the new Manta.  Maybe we should start a campaign to have TLE redesign all of the vehicles.

Please share your thoughts below or over at my M.A.S.K. Comics Facebook Page.

Scott.

#assembleMASK #MASKcomics #DIC

#MASKcrusade

M.A.S.K. - Buddie Hawks or Buddy Hawkes, who cares?

Early this morning, there was a post on the M.A.S.K. PNA Facebook page.  It showed a concept cover by IDW artist Tommy Lee Edwards - one that won't be published in the comic.

It depicted a picture of Buddie Hawks with his name shown as "Buddy".  I made a comment about said picture concerning the incorrect spelling of his name.  We are becoming accustomed to mistakes in the comic and, even though this image isn't going to grace the cover of any of the comics, I felt it was the right to point out this error.

Another FB user then made a comment that I should check my facts as his name is Buddy.  I suitably replied with images of the boxes of Boulder Hill, the Buddie Hawks figure and the Trademark registration for the correct spelling of the name.

Myself and this other user, got into a "heated" discussion, but have since discussed via Private Message and I believe we have settled our differences.  He has since removed some of his posts - which inadvertently makes me look like a bit of dick and just ranting for no reason at no particular person.

Since then, a few other people, including the artist Tommy Lee Edwards, have made comments on the post.  I encourage everyone to have their own opinion and share it whether in public or private.  As BT used to say "it's good to talk!"

You can discuss in the comments below, over at my M.A.S.K. Comics Facebook Page or even e-mail me if you like.

There is, however, a difference between opinion and fact.  My stating his name is Buddie isn't an opinion, it's a fact.  Yes, people have been getting his name wrong for years and for quite a while I believed his surname was spelt "Hawkes" - mistakes do happen.

One question that was raised by Jason Gross of Agents of M.A.S.K. is, "Who Cares?" 

"Who Cares?"

Wow, now that is a question that needs to be answered.

Back in the day, Kenner cared about their products.  In M.A.S.K. they gave all of us kids some of the greatest toys ever made that spawned a great cartoon series, comics and merchandise.

As fans of the series, don't we care?  Shouldn't we care?  Why have blogs, podcasts, Facebook Pages or even discuss M.A.S.K. if we don't care?

I care!

When I wrote my M.A.S.K. script, I took as much care and detail to attention as I could to ensure the characters were right, that the M.A.S.K.'s had the correct functions, that the story was modern yet in keeping with the M.A.S.K. that we all cared about.

If we don't care, then lets all agree to give up.  Lets not share our stories, our pictures or our memories.  Let's stop buying IDW's Comic and just call it a day.

So, let me ask the question - Buddie Hawks or Buddy Hawkes, who cares?