Something Random M.A.S.K. The Complete Series

A couple of Tuesdays ago, M.A.S.K.: The Complete Series was released on DVD.  M.A.S.K. was a cartoon show that ran in syndication from 1985-1986.  The series centered on the agents of M.A.S.K. (an acronym for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand led by Matt Trakker) who drive/pilot ordinary everyday vehicles that transform into battle ready vehicles.  Matt’s Thunderhawk (a Chevrolet Camaro) could transform into a jet plane and you kind of get the idea.  The enemies of M.A.S.K. were the operatives of V.E.N.O.M. (the Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem) run by criminal mastermind Miles Mayhem.  Both sides wore masks that concealed the good guys identity and could provide their users with special powers and abilities.

I was thrilled that this show finally made it to DVD for the first time.  Unfortunately no store actually had the collection for sale so I had to order it online.  Anyway I have some questions that I feel need to be answered since I started watching these DVDs.

QUESTION #1:   WHY?

While I enjoyed this show as a kid I never understood why all of this was happening.  How did Matt Trakker put this team together and why?  Matt was rich but was his hobby building strange vehicles and creating helmets that did things such as fire molten metal.

QUESTION #2:  Did the M.A.S.K. agents get paid for their services?

Every episode started with Matt Trakker learning that V.E.N.O.M was up to some nefarious plot and needed to get a team of agents together to stop them.  He got his computer to pick operatives for his missions.  A signal is sent to the M.A.S.K. agents wrist watches and they would literally drop whatever they were doing and hurry to help Matt.  These guys would leave jobs, dates, etc in order to risk their necks for M.A.S.K.  The only thing is why?  Did they get paid by Matt for the mission?  What about their friends and co-workers?  What do they say when they get back from flying around the world shooting at helicopters that turn into jets and stuff?

QUESTION #3:  T-Bob and Scott…WTH?

Scott Trakker, Matt’s son, would often sneak along on M.A.S.K. missions with his cowardly robot playmate T-Bob.  So you are telling me that Matt who leads a top-secret organization can’t stop his eavesdropping son from accompanying him on missions where you know they’ll have to save him.  Plus, all T-Bob could do was transform into a lame scooter and drive away from danger.  He also looked like Humpty Dumpty.  I swear that T-Bob made Scooter from the Go-Bots look like Hulk Hogan.

I do know that MASK had one of the best theme songs for a kid’s cartoon from the 80’s.

For the Nation your Black Geek, Adam Black.

Adam Black