Of the three, M.A.S.K. was one of my favorites and I always assumed it was because I liked the TV series - so I jumped at the chance to review M.A.S.K.: The Complete Series. While far from the worst cartoon I've seen, three episodes into the series, I realized my good memories came more from the toys than the actual series.
Every episode of M.A.S.K. plays out in the exact same way. The same could be said about just about any kid's series, but M.A.S.K. has it down to an exact science. Things happen at such exact moments you could use them as a timer for other activities. Every episode is a self-contained adventure with little to no links between plots.
Each begins with members of V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem) pulling off some sort of petty plot to steal something. One episode they're after an earthquake machine and the next they're trying to snag a submarine. There are even adventures where they're just looking for "treasure" or a necklace containing a gem of no real significance other than everyone wants it. Meanwhile, Matt Trakker, a sort of billionaire industrialist uses his computer, Spectrum, to assemble M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) to foil the crime.
The concept behind M.A.S.K. is really cool. Each agent has a special vehicle that transforms into some other combat vehicle. For example, Matt's Mustang converts into a jet while Brad Turner's motorcycle turns into a helicopter. However, the show is so riddled with bad plots, it is hard to take it as anything other than a B-movie trying to shill toys. Yes, I am well aware this was common in the 80's (again, see my childhood toy collection), but M.A.S.K. is far more obvious than other cartoons. The writing and animation are equally stiff and the action sequences are a major letdown considering the hardware involved.
M.A.S.K. is also full of unintentionally funny moments, which is one of the show's saving graces. "Team Assembly" sequences are always fun to watch. You get the character's name, as well as their current job, codename, power, vehicle and favorite flavor of ice cream. Okay, so the last one isn't included, but you get the point. As this is going on, you'll see the character walk away from their day job the minute they're summoned. A few episodes into the series, I was surprised series regulars like Dusty, Saito and Gloria still had jobs. At about the halfway point, I completely expected Spectrum to announce Bruce as a "Former rock musician and current vagrant."
There are also really awkward moments where characters spell out their intentions in almost exacting detail during battles. I can understand calling out the name of powers to activate them, but when Matt yells out he's going to fly above a villain to get the jump on him... well, it isn't much of a surprise, is it? Other times, plots get so heavy with technical jargon and scientific terms, it is hard to know the intended audience.
The show's problems are actually a point of discussion in both of the included extras. In "Unmasking M.A.S.K.," series writers talk about the difficulties associated with writing the show, including writing ethnic characters and trying to cram everyone into a single episode. They also talk about updating the show. The second, "Saturday Morning Krusaders," collects a number of comics and filmmakers to talk about the show. This is really funny and worth watching. Although they tear the show apart, it is the sort of stuff fans will find themselves laughing at themselves. It's never vicious, just good fun.
M.A.S.K.: The Complete Series is a must-buy for fans only, and even then I'm not sure how much they'll get out of it. I'm as big a fan of retro releases as anyone else, but this might be a case where memories trump re-watching episodes.
