#345 M.A.S.K. – PIRAHNA with SLY RAX/ STILETTO (1985)

M.A.S.K.’s FIRST WAVE:

M.A.S.K.’s first wave was launched in 1985, and consisted of several vehicles and a base/headquarters. Unlike other similar collections that came later (for example, Dino Riders or Starcom), this series didn’t originally include blister packs with figures. This means, to get your favourite characters you were forced to buy the vehicle that included that particular figure, and this way, it may take a while until you have enough characters to create your own M.A.S.K. stories.

This marketing “flaw” was of course corrected in the second wave one year later.

 
All characters available in wave 1 were main characters, those who virtually appear in every TV episode and comic book. Matt Trakker, the most important character in the series, was available with two vehicles: the Thunderhawk and the Rhino.

 It is very interesting, that the accessory masks for most figures were modified after the line was on sale. This means: there are two versions of each mask for "completist" collectors to find. The first version’s masks (1985) are smaller masks that fitted in the head of the figure, while later models (1986) have a portion that fits over the chest, the back or both. The reason for that change is unknown.

Copyright notice: CPG Products Corp. 1985 Kenner Products Cincinnati Ohio 45202.

The list of the first wave is somehow classic, with the forces of evil “V.E.N.O.M.” being clearly outnumbered by the good guys from “M.A.S.K.”

M.A.S.K. vs. V.E.N.O.M.

• 7 vs 3 characters (I am not counting Scott Trakker and T-Bob)
• 5 vs 3 vehicles
• 1 vs 0 playsets

As other action figure toy series, M.A.S.K. started with one big playset, plus 2 big vehicles (a truck rig and a big plane), several medium sized ones (vans, big cars), and then some other small vehicles (motorbikes) to cover the whole price range.

M.A.S.K.

• BOULDER HILL with ALEX SECTOR and BUDDY HAWKS
• CONDOR with BRAD TURNER
• FIRECRACKER with HONDO MACLEAN
• GATOR with DUSTY HAYES
• RHINO with MATT TRAKKER and BRUCE SATO
• THUNDERHAWK with MATT TRAKKER
• T-BOB with SCOTT TRAKKER

V.E.N.O.M.

• JACKHAMMER with CLIFF DAGGER
• PIRAHNA with SLY RAX
• SWITCHBLADE with MILES MAYHEM

 
Vehicles came with a small poster/catalogue, showing all vehicles with their transformations and pilots/drivers in one side, and on the other side, an illustration of a battle between both factions. Check albertpenello.com to see this posters.

The box shown in this entry is the European model, which is different from the American version. The second one has in the back of the box a picture of the toy showing all its features, as well as a picture of the driver with its mask. In the European version, both front and back are the same, but the texts are written in different languages: One side: English, French and Dutch, the other side: German and Italian. We explained this in a previous entry #270.

To finish this article, I'll publish more pictures of the "beach diorama" you already know from entry #311

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: PIRAHNA with SLY RAX/ STILETTO  (Ref. 37350)
• Toy Line: M.A.S.K. (Wave 1)
• Year: 1985
• Company: Kenner (U.S.A.)
• Size of the vehicle: 5’’ or 13 cm
• Size of the figures: 2½’’ or 6,5 cm