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Jaymez82
Reviews
MASK (1985)
I *loved* this show as a kid
I was only three years old when this show first aired, but, I still have many fond memories of this show from reruns and my toy collection. I was obsessed with this show as a child and as an adult, I still love it.
MASK was intended to bridge a gap between GI Joe and Transformers. Multimillionaire Matt Trakker is the leader of an elite Special Forces- esque crime fighting league known as M.A.S.K, or Mobil Armored Strike Kommand.
Each team member piloted a special mulit function vehicle based on production cars and trucks available in the mid 80's. Matt Trakker, for example, drove a modified 80's Camaro equipped with Gull Wing doors that doubled as actual wings that allowed the car to fly with the aid of jet engines hidden behind the rear bumper.
Brad Turner, another team member, rode a Kawasaki Ninja that turned into a personal helicopter. The rear wheel on the bike acted as the tail rotor.
In addition to transforming vehicles, each team member wore a special mask that possessed a special ability. Bruce Sato, for example, had a mask that was capable of lifting heavy objects. Brad Turner's mask was capable of projecting holograms. The special abilities of each mask would somehow compliment the vehicle that the team member was assigned.
Much like G.I. Joe was constantly fighting Cobra, M.A.S.K. had their arch nemesis known as Venom. Venom was headed by another multimillionaire, Miles Mayhem, and they also had vehicles that would transform for combat. Much like the MASK team, their vehicles were also styled after contemporary vehicles available in the mid 80's. They also had masks that possessed a special ability. However, the abilities possessed by MASK were mostly used for rescue, the Venom masks were weaponized. One shot daggers, another shot fire, another shot acid, and another fired a LASERBEAM like whip.
Each episode was reasonably formulaic. Venom would try to steal something and the M.A.S.K. team was the only team who could stop them. At the start of each mission, Matt would consult his computer to determine the best team members suited for the mission. The computer would make choices based on vehicular special ability and special skills or knowledge that each person had.
Each character and each vehicle was based on a toy sold by Kenner at the time.