“M.A.S.K. (which is an acronym for the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), was a hybrid of popular era cartoons G.I. Joe and Transformers. It featured a special task force, led by Matt Trakker, with transforming vehicles engaged in an ongoing battle against V.E.N.O.M. (an acronym for the Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem), with an emphasis on super-powered helmets called masks worn by the characters on the show.

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The original series focused mainly on the vehicles and characters from the original 1985 toy line. More characters were introduced as the line expanded with a second wave in 1986. The format for the last season of the show featured a racing theme to correspond with the theme of the third wave M.A.S.K. toys. A major difference in the first season is by the second, VENOM agents knew the personal identities of the MASK team. The second season lasted for only ten episodes.”

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Origin Story

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According to the mini comic book entitled ‘Flaming Beginnings’ that came with some of the early M.A.S.K. toys, here’s how it all started:

Before M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M. existed, they were all part of an organization dedicated to preserving peace throughout the world. Andy Trakker, Matt’s kid brother, also worked for the organization, and he created blueprints of masks, vehicles and weapons that were designed to surprise and deceive the enemy. Miles Mayhem did not like the fact that he wasn’t getting any publicity for his work because they worked anonymously. He became power hungry.

One morning, they had arranged to have a meeting to discuss Andy’s inventions. Matt arrived late, only to find the organization headquarters ablaze and his kid brother on his death bed. Mayhem had double crossed them, and stolen the blueprints! Fortunately, Mayhem only had time to escape with half the plans. And so, He went on to use his half of Andy Trakker’s inventions to form V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem), an organization dedicated to his evil quest for power. Matt Trakker used the other half to combat evil with M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand).

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Theme Song Lyrics

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M.A.S.K. crusaders,
Working all the time,
Fighting crime,
Fighting crime!
Secret raiders
who will neutralize
As soon as they arrive (at the site)!
Trakker’s gonna lead the mission,
And Spectrum’s got such super vision…

M-m-m-ma
M.A.S.K.!
Is the mighty power that can save the day,
M-m-m-ma
M.A.S.K.!
No one knows what lies beyond their masquerades,
M-m-m-ma
M.A.S.K.!
Always riding on Venom’s trail,
Come see the laser rays,
Fly away!

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Voice Actors

Doug Stone – Matt Trakker, Hondo MacLean, Dusty Hayes, Bruce Sato, Boris Bushkin, Nash Gorey, Bruno Sheppard, Maximus Mayhem
Mark Halloran – Buddy Hawks, Ace Riker, Sly Rax, Cliff Dagger, Duane Kennedy
Brendan McKane – Alex Sector, Floyd Malloy, Miles Mayhem, Jacques LaFleur, Nevada Rushmore
Graeme McKenna – Brad Turner, Calhoun Burns, Julio Lopez, T-Bob
Sharon Noble – Gloria Baker; Vanessa Warfield, MASK Computer
Brennan Thicke – Scott Trakker
Brian George – Lester Sludge, Ali Bombay

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Directors

Bruno Bianchi
Bernard Deyriès

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Music

Shuki Levy
Haim Saban

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Writers

Jina Bacarr
Rod Baker
Creighton Barnes
Patrick Barry
Jack Bornoff
Del Bruckman
Erica Byrne
Barbara Chain
Ray Dryden
Kerry Ehrin
Herb Englehardt
Mel Gilden
Ralph Goodman
David N. Gottlieb
Barbara Hambly
Trevor Meldel Johnsen
Fred Ladd
Chuck Lorre
Ali Matheson
R. Patrick Neary
Jack Olesker
Glen Olson
Alfred A. Pegal
Jessica Radcliff
Ginger Roth
Jeffrey Scott
Karen Willson
S.S. Wilson

Producers

Diana Dru Botsford – Associate Producer
Susan Cavan – Producer
Jean Chalopin – Executive Producer
Mitsuya Fujimoto – Associate Producer
Andy Heyward – Executive Producer
Tetsuo Katayama – Executive Producer