M.A.S.K. @ The Cartoon Scrapbook

Prod. Notes:

September 1985 - November 1986, syndicated

DIC, Scholastic

Cast:

Matt Trakker ............................................................................. Doug Stone

Nash Gorey ................................................................................ Doug Stone

Dusty Hayes ............................................................................... Doug Stone

Bruno Shepard .......................................................................... Doug Stone

Boris Bushkin ............................................................................. Doug Stone

Miles Mayhem ............................................................................ Doug Stone

Buddy Hawkes .................................................................... Mark Halloran

Ace Riker .............................................................................. Mark Halloran

Sly Rax .................................................................................. Mark Halloran

Alex Sector ..................................................................... Brendon McKane

Floyd Malloy ................................................................... Brendon McKane

Miles Mayhem ................................................................. Brendon McKane

Jacques LeFleur ............................................................ Brendon McKane

Nevada Rushmore .......................................................... Brendon McKane

Brad ................................................................................... Graeme McKenna

Calhoun Burns ................................................................ Graeme McKenna

T-Bob ................................................................................ Graeme McKenna

Gloria Baker .......................................................................... Sharon Noble

Vanessa Warfield ............................................................... Sharon Noble

Scott .................................................................................... Brennan Thicke

Lester Sludge ........................................................................ Brian George

Jimmy Rashad ........................................................................ Brian George

Synopsis:

Take a pound of G.I. Joe, add a little Mission: Impossible, throw in a dash of Transformers-inspired vehicles and you’ve got MASK, a popular weekday cartoon co-produced by Kenner toys.

Stalwart hero Matt Trakker led the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand ("A" for heroism, "F" for spelling) against the ruthless forces of VENOM, the Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem. Like any good supersecret crimefighting team, the MASK members represented a cross-section of cultures and special abilities: master of disguise Buddy Hawkes, off-road expert Dusty Hayes, marial artist Gloria Baker, danger seeker Brad Turner, computer genius Alex Sector, gadget guru Bruce Sato and weapons man Hondo McLean. Matt’s son Scott was always willing to lend a hand (and/or get himself captured), along with his robot pal/scooter, T-Bob.

But the real draw of MASK (both in the cartoon and at the toy counters) was the array of ultra-cool vehicles and masks that aided the fight between good and evil. Each member of MASK and VENOM rode into battle on one or more transforming vehicles (Trakker's Thunderhawk converted from sports car to jet car, arch-nemesis Miles Mayhem piloted the helicopter-to-jet-and-back Switchblade, and so on). The masks themselves were souped-up gadgets that gave the wearer superhuman powers (Sato's "Lifter" allowed him to levitate objects, Sly Rax's "Stiletto" fired stilletos, etc.) In each episode Trakker received a mission assignment and assembled a suitable team at his secret Boulder Hill hideout. Once convened, the group was mechanically fitted with the coveted masks.

With its eye-popping, action-packed animation, MASK was a big draw in syndication. Sure it was designed to sell toys, but is there really anything wrong with giving the kids what they want? The kids clearly wanted MASK, as the program ran for a healthy seventy episodes. Toy sales were also brisk, with dozens of new vehicles and masks rolling off the lines during the cartoon's mid-80's heyday. And the MASK team always did its citizenly duty, doling out an important safety tip for young viewers at the end of every episode.

But let's not kid ourselves. This was a show about slam-bang action, and on that all-important level, MASK delivered.

Episodes:

Season 1

The Deathstone

The Star Chariot

The Book Of Power

Highway To Terror

Video VENOM

Dinosaur Boy

The Ultimate Weapon

The Roteks

The Oz Effect

Death From The Sky

The Magma Mole

Solaria Park

The Creeping Terror

Assault On Liberty

The Sceptre Of Rajim

The Golden Goddess

Mystery Of The Rings

Bad Vibrations

Ghost Bomb

Cold Fever

Mardi Gras Mystery

The Secret Of Life

Vanishing Point

Counter-Clockwise Caper

The Plant Show

Secret Of The Andes

Panda Power

Blackout

A Matter Of Gravity

The Lost Riches Of Rio

Deadly Blue Slime

The Currency Conspiracy

Caesar's Sword

Peril In Paris

In Dutch

The Lippizaner Mystery

The Sacred Rock

Curse Of Solomon's Gorge

Green Nightmare

Eyes Of The Skull

Stop Motion

The Artemis Enigma

The Chinese Scorpion

Riddle Of The Raven Master

The Spectre Of Captain Kidd

The Secret Of The Stones

The Lost Fleet

Quest Of The Canyon

Follow The Rainbow

The Everglades Oddity

Dragonfire

The Royal Cape Caper

Patchwork Puzzle

Fog On Boulder Hill

Plunder Of Glowworm Grotto

Stone Trees

Incident In Istanbul

The Creeping Desert

The Scarlet Empress

Venice Menace

Treasure Of The Nazca Plain

Disappearing Act

Gate Of Darkness

The Manakara Giant

Raiders Of The Orient Express

Season 2

Demolition Duel to the Death

Where Eagles Dare

Homeward Bound

Battle of the Giants

Race Against Time

Challenge of the Masters

For One Shining Moment

High Noon

The Battle for Baja

Cliffhanger

Opening Lyrics:

"Masked Crusaders,

Working overtime,

Fighting crime,

Fighting crime!

Secret raiders,

Who will neutralise,

As soon as they arrive, (At the site)

Trakker's gonna lead the mission,

And Spectrum's got such superb vision,

Mmm...Mask!

It's the mighty power that can save the day,

Mmm...Mask!

No one know's what lies behind their masquerade,

Mmm...Mask!

Always riding on V.E.N.O.M.'s trail,

Come see the laser rays,

Fire away!"