M.A.S.K.: The Complete Original Series Arrives in August
One of the earliest comics series I inherited as an editor was M.A.S.K., based on the toys and cartoon series. I have no recollection how or why DC Comics acquired the comics rights but it was handed to Mike Gold shortly after he arrived on staff. He tapped the versatile Mike Fleisher as the writer, helping burn off contractual obligations. Better, he assigned the artwork to Curt Swan who needed something regular to produce after losing the Superman assignments. Inking was Kurt Schaffenberger so at least it looked good. I helped Mike get the series up and running then edited it a few issues before I handed it off to Mike Carlin to wrap up.
I never played with the toys or watched the cartoon, but thanks to Shout! Factory that can be rectified as seen in the following press release:
This Summer, loyal fans and collectors can finally bring home one of the most enduring animated adventures from the 80’s when the long-awaited M.A.S.K.: The Complete Original Series DVD box set debuts nationwide on August 9, 2011 from Shout! Factory, incollaboration with FremantleMedia Enterprises. Poised to attract an audience of kids, young adults and parents who grew up with this animated series, this 12-DVD box set contains all 65 action-packed episodes – known to fans as the original series aired in 1985, as well as insightful bonus features. A must-have for collectors to complete their pop culture video library, M.A.S.K.: The Complete Original Series is available for pre-order now from Amazon.com and major retailers. (more…)
Shout! Factory, the happy folks behind, well, lots of DVD collections (I’m fond of Greg The Bunny myself) has signed a multi-year deal with Hasbro to release DVDs of several animated properties based on the toymaker’s product lines, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Included in the deal are episodes of the 1980s animated Transformers and G.I. Joe TV series , and the direct-to-DVD animated movie My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure. The Transformers: The Complete First Season 25th Anniversary Edition releases June 16, 2009. For those of you about to check your calendars, that is a week before Paramount and DreamWorks release Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on June 24.
The Simpsons movie is set to open in less than two weeks, meaning there will be a long, hot stretch of summer with no new Simpsons. Thus, the anticipation for the 19th season will be even more fevered. Adding to the frenzy will be a CD, Simpsons: Testify, from the Shout Factory.
Three of the good folks behind Mystery Science Theater 3000 – Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett and Mike Nelson – have done some work in various media as 
First up from The Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark, the 1968 blockbuster starring Rue McClannahan, later of Golden Girls fame. Warning for the prudes and the peculiar: Rue’s got a strip scene. Three more "episodes" are in the can and will be released in upcoming months: Giant of Marathon (1959, starring Steve Reeves), Killers from Space (1954, starring Peter Graves) and The Wild Women of Wongo (1958). 
