The M.A.S.K (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) toyline produced and distributed by Kenner ran from 1985 to 1988, releasing four official series through those years. Each series featured a group of common vehicles with the ability to transform into combat, armored vehicles. Most vehicles came with one or two drivers, and each character had a mask with a certain ability.
The first two series focused on a premise of crime-fighting between the M.A.S.K. team and the V.E.N.O.M. criminal organization. The last two series changed the premise to a racing-oriented theme, albeit still with the two teams competing against each other.
M.A.S.K was a toyline which I loved but I did not get many of them. If I remembered correctly I only owned 2 vehicles, Gator (series 1) and Vampire (series 2). My cousin the other hand was a huge M.A.S.K fan and he owned all the vechicles from series 1 to series 3. I would always looked forward to going to his house every weekend to play with his M.A.S.K toys!
Another thing I love about 80's toys are the packaging art!
He-Man, Starcom and M.A.S.K, the art was amazing!
I was exposed more to series 1 to 3.
When series 4 came out, I was around 12 years old.
My focus was not really on toys anymore....fast forward 24 years later, focus is back on toys and I am trying to buy back these memories!
Gator
Gator was the first vehicle I got, hence it was one of the vehicles I tried to look for when I started to buy back the M.A.S.K toys.
In the cartoon, whenever Matt Tracker calls the computer to assemble the team for the mission, I really get a kick when Gator is chosen!
Gator is an orange jeep and its combat mode is a hydroplane.
Gator as a 4X4 orange jeep
Transforms to a hydroplane with depth Charge,roll-bar Machine Gun and freeze gun!
The driver for Gator is Dusty Hayes
He is an auto and marine stunt driver, all-terrain specialist and tracking and demolition expert. His day job is a pizza cook.
His mask is Backlash which fires a kinetic blast.
Firecracker
Firecracker was from the series 1.
A pick-up truck that elevates into a mobile weapon platform. Not really into its combat mode...but love the pick-up truck mode.
Firecracker elevates into a mobile weapon platform! Not very innovative I must say.
A cool accessory is the motorbike that comes with Firecracker! It can be attached to the back of the truck.
Hondo MacLean was the driver and he is the weapons specialist and tactical strategist for M.A.S.K. When he is not with M.A.S.K, he is a history teacher.
He uses the Blaster mask which fires a destructive energy beam.
Condor
Condor was most probably the first M.A.S.K vehicle we would buy.
It was the cheapest vehicle from series 1 and a great start for any M.A.S.K collection!
Condor is a green motorcycle which transforms into a helicopter.
Condor in helicopter mode!
Brad Turner, operator of Condor, is a rock musician by day and helicopter pilot for M.A.S.K.
His Hocus-Pocus mask can project holograms.
Hurricane
Hurricane is one of my favourite vehicles in the M.A.S.K universe.
This is one vehicle I had to get.
Being a 1957 Chevy with a flame paint job is already cool, turning into a six-wheeled attack tank makes it bad-ass!
The overall design for Hurricane is really cool!
Attack mode!
The operator of Hurricane is Hondo MacLean, the driver for Firecracker.
Hondo was given Hurricane when Firecracker was destroyed in the cartoon series. Talk about good employment benefits!
He uses the improved Blaster II mask.
