Line #93 WesternAnimation/MASK


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mask_vol1.jpg]]
2
3	->''"Illusion is the Ultimate Weapon".''
4
5	''M.A.S.K.'' was an animated television series directed by three Japanese studios - Creator/KKCAndDAsia (Season 1, with Creator/HanhoHeungUp, Creator/StudioJunio, Creator/Visual80 and Creator/StudioKorumi as [[UncreditedRole uncredited assistants]]), Studio World, and Creator/AshiProductions (both Season 2)[[note]]with Creator/TransArts on photography for the later season[[/note]] and produced by the French-American Creator/DICEntertainment (Jean Chalopin & Andy Heyward). It was based on the toyline of the same name sold by Creator/{{Kenner}}.
6
7	A total of 75 episodes were broadcast from 1985 to 1986 in syndication. One of many cartoons produced during the 1980s as a [[MerchandiseDriven vehicle for toys]], M.A.S.K. (which is an acronym for the [[FunWithAcronyms Mobile Armored]] [[XtremeKoolLetterz Strike Kommand]]), was essentially a mashup of ''Franchise/GIJoe'' (with the whole "opposing factions of terrorist and peacekeepers" thing) and ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' (with the converting vehicles; here, TheGimmick wasn't transforming robots, but seemingly ordinary vehicles that turned into heavily-armed fighting machines). It featured a special task force featuring an array of characters, led by Matt Trakker, with transforming vehicles engaged in an ongoing battle against the criminal organization 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.
8
9	The series, like with these types of shows, focused mainly on the vehicles and characters from the toy line. [[SixthRanger More characters were introduced]], both from M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M., as the line expanded. There is a storyline difference in the mini comic books which came with each toy. In the comics, Miles Mayhem knew the identity of Matt Trakker [[DeathByOriginStory and had originally helped start the M.A.S.K. team but betrayed him later by killing Matt's younger brother Andy]].
10
11	Besides the cartoon and toys, there were also various merchandising products like sticker books, coloring books and party goods to capitalize on the success of the show, as well as a ComicBookAdaptation from Creator/DCComics.
12
13	In that series, the M.A.S.K. team is sponsored by an organization called the [[FictionalUnitedNations Peaceful Nations Alliance]], with a guy named Duane Kennedy as their rep. Their exact relationship wasn't explained. Duane and the P.N.A. did appear in the cartoon, although in a smaller role. Similarly, V.E.N.O.M. didn't exactly have a clear goal as to what they did. They ''weren't'' the typical villains who sought global dominance, and their schemes mostly revolved around illegal activities and the like. The comics tried to give them a more fleshed-out background, where they were seemingly the main force of a bigger evil group called Contraworld. Like with M.A.S.K. and the P.N.A., their relationship wasn't explained in detail; what Contraworld was trying to use the agents for wasn't clarified either.
14
15	Twenty-five years after ''MASK'' left the airwaves, the line was "adopted" by ''Franchise/GIJoe'' when a new Matt Trakker action figure was released as part of the Joe figure line under the name "Specialist Trakker", with a character bio explaining MASK and VENOM as special ops units of the Joe Team and COBRA.
16
17	In 2011, Creator/{{Hasbro}} released a one-off comic titled ''[[Trivia/Revolution2016 Unit: E]]'', which attempted to crossover Hasbro's more famous lines such as ''G.I. Joe'', ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', and other, not-so-famous (or even out-of-left-field) properties like ''Toys/{{Micronauts}}'', ''Franchise/ActionMan'', ''Toys/StretchArmstrong'', and even ''TabletopGame/CandyLand''. [[http://www.oafe.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/UnitE2.jpg Here]], it seemed to have been [[CompositeCharacter roughly merged]] with another Hasbro property, ''WesternAnimation/COPS1988''; it took place in a futuristic, (even more) dystopian UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}}, where the government has left the Motor City's people to fend for themselves, resulting in widespread chaos. An ancient workshop belonging to the "League of Ancient Wheelmen" was found and used by Matt Trakker (now a police officer) and a new team of civil servants, who use the tech they found to help Detroit's citizenry and combat the decay, as M.A.S.K.
18
19	December 2015 saw Hasbro and Creator/{{Paramount}} announcing the formation of a shared Hasbro movie universe (using the ''G.I. Joe'' movies as a starting point), which will include this series, as well as the ''Toys/{{Micronauts}}'', the ''WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}'' and ''[[ComicBook/RomSpaceknight ROM]]''. 2016 had Creator/IDWPublishing announcing a rebooted comic based on the series, to be part of the new ComicBook/HasbroComicUniverse, starting with the crossover ''[[ComicBook/Revolution2016 Revolution]]''; Miles Mayhem here [[CompositeCharacter was previously a member of]] [[Franchise/GIJoe Joe Colton's Adventure Team]], and parts of the M.A.S.K. tech was reverse-engineered from [[CanonWelding Decepticon Triple-Changer Blitzwing]] (M.A.S.K. having started as an anti-Transformer initiative operated by the Earth Defense Command as a subdivision of the GI Joe Team); after the events of ''Revolution'', a ''M.A.S.K.'' ongoing started, with Matt and the rest of M.A.S.K. now on the run, trying to track down Mayhem [[spoiler:who had turned traitor and been working with [[ComicBook/MicronautsIDW Baron Karza]]; when that went south during the Revolution, Mayhem vanished, but has now reappeared with several former M.A.S.K. agents, now operating as V.E.N.O.M]]. Tropes for that adaptation can be found [[{{ComicBook/MASK}} here]].
20
21	In January 2018, Paramount announced that ''M.A.S.K.'' had been dropped from the Hasbro cinematic universe--but in April they revealed that there would still be a ''M.A.S.K.'' film, which would be directed by F. Gary Gray (''Film/{{Friday}}'', ''Film/TheItalianJob2003'', ''Film/StraightOuttaCompton'', ''Film/TheFateOfTheFurious'') and developed as "a contemporary subculture movie with a youth empowerment angle".
22
23	Not to be confused with ''Film/TheMask'' (or [[WesternAnimation/TheMask its cartoon adaptation]]), or the docudrama ''Film/{{Mask\|1985}}'' starring Music/{{Cher}} (it doesn't help that the latter film also came out in 1985).
24
25	----
26	!!''M.A.S.K.'' provides examples of:
27
28	* ActuallyPrettyFunny:
29	** At the end of "Mystery of the Rings", Matt Trakker chews out his son for disobeying him and informs him that he is grounded. T-Bob asks to take Scott's picture because it could be the last time they'll ever see him smile. Matt responds to T-Bob's statement by laughing.
30	** When Scott is asked how he successfully cleaned the ice cream off of T-Bob in "Bad Vibrations", he hesitates before answering in an ashamed tone that he ate the ice cream off of T-Bob because he didn't want it to go to waste. After Matt and the other members of M.A.S.K. laugh at this revelation, Scott soon laughs as well.
31	* AgonyOfTheFeet: Miles Mayhem and Vanessa Warfield get zapped in their feet by shrunken members of M.A.S.K. in "Disappearing Act".
32	* AlliterativeName: '''M'''iles '''M'''ayhem. The Racing Series introduces '''B'''oris '''B'''ushkin and '''M'''aximus '''M'''ayhem, the brother of aforementioned Miles.
33	* AnchoviesAreAbhorrent: One episode features a BlobMonster that is vulnerable to salt. This is discovered when it always passes on anchovies in foods it consumes. A RunningGag throughout the episode is someone saying "I can understand about the anchovies!" every time they come up.
34	* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: Every episode ends with Scott and/or T-Bob being taught an important safety lesson. Amusingly, some episodes of the second season have members of V.E.N.O.M. learn and teach these safety lessons instead.
35	* {{Animesque}}: The cartoon was a Japanese-American co-production, which was common in the 1980s.
36	* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The episode ''In Dutch'' allegedly takes place in Holland. The real country is called the Netherlands. Holland is the name of two of its provinces.
37	* ArtisticLicenseLinguistics: In the episode ''In Dutch'' the Dutch characters are portrayed to be a little bit inept at English and have a heavy accent. Most Dutch people in real life, especially those dealing with foreigners, fluently speak English with only a slight accent. The accent itself also doesn't sound like a Dutch person at all.
38	* ArtisticLicensePhysics: There is no way certain vehicles would be able to fly in their Defense Modes. Thunderhawk, for example, does not have the right shape, nor the wingspan to achieve flight.
39	* AvengersAssemble: Just about every episode, Matt Trakker has his computer "scan personnel files for the M.A.S.K. agents best suited for this mission." The computer names the agents it selects, followed by their special skills and the vehicle they drive or co-pilot. After each is named, a little vignette shows the agent being alerted, dropping whatever he is doing, and running off.
40	** A few episodes would include "[Name of Agent] pre-selected" if one of the team was already with Matt, or "[Name of Agent] unavailable" if they were incapacitated or injured.
41	* AwesomeButImpractical:
42	** Both Gator and Piranha's Defense Modes involve launching a part of their vehicle as a boat and submarine respectively, which does look cool. However, this means these vehicles can only reach their full potential when used near water. It also isn't mentioned how they turn back to their regular mode, as their transformation involves literally launching a part of itself...
43	** Switchblade transforms from a helicopter to a jet, combining two separate styles of flying into one vehicle. However, this niche can easily be filled by a non-transforming VTOL aircraft.
44	* BadassDriver: Pretty much all of them, but Dusty Hayes, Gloria Baker, Brad Turner, Ali Bombay, Sly Rax, and Floyd Malloy stand out.
45	* BigBadassRig: Four of the vehicles fit this mold, namely Rhino, Outlaw, Bulldog and Goliath.
46	** Rhino is one of the signature vehicles of MASK and featured on its logo. It is a semitruck that deploys all sorts of weaponry in Defense Mode and serves as a mobile base for MASK during their missions. It can also detach its back part as an extra battlecar.
47	** Outlaw is VENOM's answer to Rhino: A large oiltanker that deploys into a mobile base with a giant missile launcher.
48	** Bulldog (or Bulldoze in Europe) is a cab-over truck that turns into a tank. It is introduced in the Racing Series.
49	** Also introduced in the Racing Series; Goliath is an indy car transport that carries Matt Tracker's race car. It can transform into heavy artillery.
50	* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Like many cartoons of the era, the morality of MASK is fairly black and white; VENOM are the irredeemable baddies who don't show any benevolent traits, while MASK are the incorruptible heroes.
51	* {{Bowdlerize}}: Due to their OldShame about their involvement in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Germany in the 80's was very sensitive about toys related to combat. Therefore several of the toys are retooled to make them appear less violent. This is mostly done by removing realistic looking weapons or change them to a non-violent object. For example, Rhino's missile is replaced by a "weather satellite", while Switchblade's bomb is completely excluded from the set. As a result of this, the European logo on the toy packaging also lacks a missile.
52	* BriefcaseFullOfMoney: The $3 million payment Mayhem receives from a black-market artifacts dealer in exchange for an ancient cape and headdress[[note]](which, unbeknownst to the buyer, are fakes constructed by VENOM)[[/note]] in "Royal Cape Caper".
53	* CacophonyCoverUp: In "Patchwork Puzzle", VENOM agents use the cover of a fireworks display at the Washington Monument to blow a hole in the ground nearby where they believe a stash of money is buried.
54	* CallingYourAttacks: Most of the time — not always — characters using their mask's powers would call out something like "Lifter, on!" or "Whip, on!" depending on the name of their mask. The series was inconsistent about this, though, and sometimes it just seemed to be an excuse for the target of a destructive power to get out of the way.
55	* CanonWelding: After Hasbro purchased the toyline, a "Specialist Trakker" figure was produced for GI Joe that revealed Matt was a member of said organization and that VENOM was a satellite organization of Cobra.
56	* {{Catchphrase}}: Matt Trakker has two he utters during the AvengersAssemble routine: "Computer! Select the best MASK agents suited for this mission!" "Assemble Mobile Armored Strike Kommand!"
57	* ChainsawGood: Lester's Iguana vehicle has a chainsaw blade on the back and a shredding sawblade on the front.
58	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Bruce Sato, Hondo [=MacLean=], Julio Lopez, and Cliff Dagger were all omitted from the show's second season.
59	* CluelessAesop: Every episode ended with a segment that gave safety tips, but while the advice was almost always sound, it didn't always take into account whether it was about a situation their target audience of kids 10 and under were likely to ever actually find themselves in. Like the one from "Solaria Park", which is about the safety measures to take before doing body work underneath a car.
60	* ConveyorBeltODoom: Matt gets trapped on one in "Royal Cape Caper".
61	* CoolBike: Several of the vehicles featured in this series are bikes. The most notable is Condor, which turns into a small helicopter. Used by MASK agent Brad Turner.
62	* CoolBoat: Both Gator and Piranha launch these into the water as part of their Defense Mode. Gator's is more of a conventional speedboat, while Piranha is a small submarine.
63	* CoolCar: All of the cars featured in this series fit this trope. Almost all of them are based on RealLife vehicles kids would consider cool, such as sports cars and terrain wagons. And all of them transform into a heavily armed combat vehicle. Listing them all would make this page too long, but the best known are probably:
64	** Thunderhawk, which is Matt Trakker's signature vehicle. It is a Chevrolet Camaro that can deploy its gull-wing doors as a set of actual wings to enable flight.
65	** Gator, used by MASK agent Dusty Hayes, opens up to launch a small boat into the water.
66	** Manta is a Nissan 300ZX used by VENOM agent Vanessa Warfield, which turns into a jet.
67	** Jackhammer is a Ford Bronco that turns into an armored combat vehicle.
68	%% ZCE* CoolOldGuy: Alex Sector.
69	* CoolPlane: Several of the vehicles either are this or turn into one for their Defense mode:
70	** Switchblade, the main ride of Miles Mayhem, is a futuristic helicopter that can transform into a sleek jet. Contrary to most other vehicles, this one can fire weapons in both modes.
71	** Slingshot is an RV that hides a Cool Plane within itself, which is launched when the Defense mode is activated.
72	** Meteor is a jet that separates into a smaller jet and a set of heavy artillery.
73	* CoolShades: Brad Turner, Sly Rax, and Lester Sludge all wear a pair of shades that obscure their eyes.
74	* CoolSidecar: Piranha, used by Sly Rax, is a bike with a sidecar. It is the sidecar that forms the main attraction of this vehicle, as it can turn into a small submarine.
75	%% ZCE* DelinquentHair: Vanessa Warfield and Bruno Sheppard.
76	* DemotedToExtra: A lot of the characters who weren't downright [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome Chucked]] were subject to this in the second season. Most notable being Scott, who was a major character in the first season but in the second season only appeared in the [=PSAs=] at the end of the episodes "For One Shining Moment", "High Noon", and "Cliff Hanger". "High Noon" is also the only season two episode to feature T-Bob, but, like Scott, he only appears in the PSA at the end and he also doesn't have any lines.
77	* DesignatedGirlFight: Averted. While each faction only has one woman in their roster, both women do not seek each other out in combat. In fact, Gloria, MASK's sole female member, doesn't even appear as much as Vanessa, her VENOM counterpart. As a result, Vanessa primarily gets defeated by male members of MASK.
78	* DetachmentCombat: The Defense Modes of several vehicles split the vehicle up in multiple components.
79	** Rhino is a semitruck that can detach the back of the vehicle to form a small battlecar.
80	** Meteor is a jet, which can detach the fuselage to form a smaller jet, while the thrusters form heavy artillery.
81	** Buzzard is an Indy car that splits up into two piloted two-wheeled vehicles and an autonomous flying drone. The back spoiler of the vehicle can also detach to form a hang glider.
82	** The final toyline of MASK is the Split Seconds line. The main gimmick of this line is that all the vehicles split into two separate combat vehicles, with one being controlled by the pilot and another by a holographic clone of them.
83	* DisappearedDad: In "Green Nightmare", Matt confirms that "My father... [[NeverSayDie has left us]]".
84	* DoNotCallMePaul: Floyd Malloy objects to Vanessa addressing him by name in "Challenge of the Masters", insisting that she instead call him "Birdman".
85	* DumbMuscle: Cliff Dagger and Bruno Sheppard.
86	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the early episodes, VENOM has generic {{Mooks}} at their disposal. Matt also had a much lower and quieter voice compared to the later episodes and several of the Mask abilities looked very different. Bruce's Lifter, for example, looked like a green forcefield in the first episode, while later episodes portray it as yellow rings made of energy.
87	* TheEngineer: Buddy and Bruce, both of the Mechanic subtype. They seemed to be the ones called on to repair the team's vehicles in the field.
88	* EjectionSeat:
89	** The Rhino semi-trailer track sported one for the passenger side that ejected anyone in the seat sideways, out of the car.
90	** Manta has a chair that can be ejected and used as a small escape plane. This is only displayed during the Racing Series.
91	* EverybodyLaughsEnding: Fairly often, an episode would end with the heroes laughing.
92	* EvilIsNotAToy: In the episode ''In Dutch'', a Blofeld wannabe has hired VENOM to threaten the Dutch government into making him the new president. If they refuse, VENOM would destroy the Dutch dikes. To the commissioner's frustration, the Dutch government does not take this threat seriously. The villain is then horrified to see Miles Mayhem getting ready to actually ''carry out'' that threat!
93	* ExpositoryThemeTune: The theme song explicitly mentions that the titular organization always saves the day from VENOM, that Matt leads the mission and how his mask has super vision.
94	* EyeBeams: Most of the Mask powers in the heroes' masks, like Matt's Spectrum, Bruce's Lifter and Dusty's Backlash are fired from their visors; the villain masks usually had their emitters in the forehead or shoulder pads.
95	* {{Flight}}: Granted to a limited extent to Alex Sector by his Jackrabbit mask and Matt Trakker's Spectrum mask.
96	* FlyingCar: Several of the cars featured in this show transform into flying vehicles. The most notable of these are Thunderhawk and Manta.
97	* FunWithAcronyms:
98	** M.A.S.K. stands for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand and V.E.N.O.M. stands for Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem.
99	** In "Curse of Solomon's Gorge", T-Bob complains that he has a FLU, which he clarifies means "faulty leakage unit".
100	* GagDub: The Dutch dub adds jokes where there were none in the original English version. For example, in the computer selecting MASK agents speaks in a robotic tone in the original, only stating the name, talents and role and their vehicle. In the Dutch version, the computer is a sentient AI with a lazy personality who constantly complains about being overworked and wanting to sleep.
101	* GenreShift: The first season was more of a generic action-adventure series, and M.A.S.K. members maintained secret identities. The second season was based around racing vehicles and had V.E.N.O.M. aware of the M.A.S.K. team's identities.
102	* GilliganCut: In "The Scarlet Empress", T-Bob states that he'll never turn into his scooter mode so that Scott can ride to the waterfall, only for the scene to cut to him doing exactly that.
103	* GodGuise: T-Bob is mistaken for a god by an Incan priest in "Secret of the Andes". He is encouraged to go along with it because the Incan priest may reveal the location of El Dorado if he still believes T-Bob to be a god.
104	* HairpinLockpick: At the end of "Vanishing Point", Gloria hands Bruce a bobby pin to disarm a bomb.
105	* HappilyAdopted: Scott Trakker is said to be Matt's adopted son. Throughout the series, it is clear that he loves his adoptive father as if he was his natural father.
106	* HardLight: The explanation for the holographic pilots in the Split Seconds vehicles.
107	%% ZCE* HeelFaceTurn: Part of Boris' BackStory.
108	* HollywoodAcid: Miles' Viper mask fires corrosive acid.
109	* HumanPopsicle: The episode "Secret of the Andes" had Matt Trakker and his son Scott discover and thaw out a frozen Incan priest.
110	* HurtFootHop: Mayhem in "Spectre of Captain Kidd" after Dagger accidentally drops a cannonball onto his foot.
111	%% ZCE* HuskyRusskie: Boris Bushkin.
112	* IAmVeryBritish: Alex Sector speaks in a posh [[UsefulNotes/BritishAccents British accent]].
113	* IdenticalTwinIDTag: Maximus Mayhem differs from his twin brother Miles because his hair is a lighter shade of gray, he wears a monocle, and his mask has a green stone on it instead of a red one.
114	* ILied: In "Assault on Liberty", VENOM threatens to destroy the Art/StatueOfLiberty unless it's paid a huge ransom. Near the end, Mayhem smugly says "I would have blown the statue up anyhow, just so they would know who they're dealing with." [[spoiler:This is immediately followed by M.A.S.K. pulling a BigDamnHeroes moment.]]
115	* InformedAbility: Subverted. When Gloria is selected, one the abilities deemed useful on a mission is being a black belt in kung fu. When she is called during the OnceAnEpisode AvengersAssemble routine, she is sometimes seen doing awesome martial arts moves, but never gets to use these during an actual mission, as the show eschews physical violence against living beings.
116	* InitialismTitle: The series is named M.A.S.K., standing for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand.
117	* IntangibleMan: Buddy Hawks when he uses his Penetrator mask.
118	* {{Invisibility}}: Jacques [=LaFleur=] when he uses his Maraj mask.
119	* ItsAlwaysMardiGrasInNewOrleans: The setting of "Mardi Gras Mystery".
120	* LastNameBasis: This is how the VENOM agents are usually referred to (e.g.: [Miles] Mayhem, [Cliff] Dagger), except for Vanessa Warfield.
121	* LighterAndSofter: The Racing Series in contrast to the first season. Whereas the first season is about secret agents fighting terrorists, the Racing Series features these terrorists and secret agents participating in races.
122	* LikeRealityUnlessNoted: MASK seems to take place in an Alternate History of some sorts. While the earth in the series is similar to ours during the 1980s, there are a few differences. For example:
123	** All nations in the world are implied to be part of the Peaceful Nations Alliance. There are no wars among nations and the the only threats to peace come from VENOM and their ilk.
124	** Advanced technology, such as the signature {{Transforming Vehicle}}s, superpowered masks, laser weapons and sentient robots exist. No one acts surprised about these things, implying the world knows about these technological advancements.
125	** Several myths regarding powerful historical artifacts are proven to be true.
126	* LiteralAssKicking:
127	** Near the end of the episode "Ghost Bomb", Sly Rax and Vanessa Warfield get shot at and react by running away while clutching their rears in pain.
128	** "Disappearing Act" has Miles Mayhem and Vanessa Warfield get shot in their asses with lasers.
129	* MacGuffin: Used extensively throughout the series. Many episodes feature VENOM stealing (or attempting to steal) a valuable and/or powerful object, which M.A.S.K. has to either protect or retrieve.
130	* MachineMonotone: The computer voice that recommends which agents might be best suited for the mission of the episode does this.
131	* MadLibsCatchphrase:
132	-->[MASK agent], [Missions specialties/other data], Vehicle code name: [name of MASK vehicle]"[[note]]The only real exceptions are Alex Sector ("Rhino systems commander") and Buddie Hawks ("Firecracker co-pilot").[[/note]]
133	* MaskPower: This show runs on it, as every mask grants its wearer a superpower.
134	-->[[CallingYourAttacks [name of mask], on!/fire!]]
135	* MechaExpansionPack: In ''The Chinese Scorpion'', Bruno's vehicle Stinger could combine with an attachment that turns it into a giant mechanical scorpion. It nearly destroyed Thunderhawk, but the attachment was destroyed by MASK in a subsequent battle. Despite its effectiveness, VENOM never rebuilds this weapon.
136	* MerchandiseDriven: Every character got at least one toy and vehicle release. Most had two, but Matt Trakker had ''seven'' different toys.
137	* MindOverMatter: Granted to Bruce Sato by his Lifter mask.
138	* MonochromeCasting: While the M.A.S.K. team is ethnically diverse, the VENOM roster consists entirely of Caucasians.
139	* NearVillainVictory: VENOM nearly achieved this in "Eyes of the Skull" thanks to the Crystal Skull showing them the M.A.S.K. agents' secret identities.
140	* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands:
141	** The vehicles in general gain new weapons and/or gadgets whenever the plot requires it. For example, in the episode Video VENOM, Rhino suddenly gains anti-gravity rays, allowing it to lift vehicles into the sky, as well as allowing itself to float.
142	** Trakker's Spectrum mask. While most of the other masks only have one power, his can be used to glide, fire laser blasts, or broadcast across a range of frequencies.
143	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Sly Rax sounds like Creator/JackNicholson. Ace Riker sounds like Creator/JohnWayne.
144	* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Uttered in the first two minutes of the pilot episode, "The Death Stone".
145	* NotWearingPantsDream: Discussed by Dusty Hayes in the episode "Eyes of the Skull".
146	-->'''Dusty''': Without my mask, I feel like I'm in one of those dreams where you forget to put pants on.
147	* NumberTwo: Implied to be Alex when he takes command after Matt is bitten by a poisonous snake in "The Everglades Oddity".
148	* OfficialCouple: Matt Trakker and Gloria Baker. Most obvious in "The Counter-Clockwise Caper".
149	* OffscreenVillainDarkMatter: During their fights with MASK, VENOM's vehicles are almost always damaged to the point they would be declared total loss in real life. In the following episode, VENOM is shown to have their vehicles fully operable again. How they got the money or resources to repeatedly repair or rebuild their hyper-advanced combat vehicles isn't known, as many of their schemes focus on acquiring money, implying they aren't very rich.
150	* PlayingWithFire: Cliff Dagger when he uses his Torch mask.
151	* PoisonAndCureGambit: VENOM attempts this in "Cold Fever".
152	* PortraitPaintingPeephole: Scott Trakker is seen looking through the eyes of a portrait in "Riddle of the Raven Master".
153	* ProductPromotionParade: Whenever Matt asks his computer to select the best MASK agents for the mission it feels like this, as the computer shows and names every character and vehicle taking part.
154	* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Implied during one of the AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle segments. A friend of Scott attempts to hitchhike. Matt explains this is a bad idea, as the person picking him up could possibly a VENOM agent (who regularly execute schemes that endanger many people's lives), or worse...a child molester.
155	* RememberTheNewGuy: As new toys had to be promoted, both MASK and VENOM suddenly deploy new agents halfway through the series, but treat them as if they know them for a long time. Examples are Julio Lopez and Jaques Lefleur for MASK and Bruno Shephard and Floyd Malloy for VENOM.
156	* ResetButton: In "Eyes of the Skull", Mayhem acquires a magical CrystalSkull that gives him XRayVision, which he uses to find out the identities of the M.A.S.K. members. Since this knowledge [[Main/StatusQuoIsGod would have changed the status quo of the series]], when the skull is destroyed [[Main/LaserGuidedAmnesia he forgets everything he learned through it]].
157	* {{Retool}}: The majority of the series is about MASK operating in secret to stop the evil schemes of VENOM. VENOM does not know the real people behind the MASK organization. Each episode starts with a mystery which the MASK team needs to solve before confronting VENOM. Both the vehicles and Masks are show to be damaging weapons. The second season, known as the Racing Series, throws all of that out of the window. Instead, MASK and VENOM compete in races with each other, know each others identities and the majority of the weapons and masks both teams use are focused on stalling the opponent rather than hurting them. Another noticeable change is the absence of Scott and T-Bob. The lesson at the end of each episode that's normally presented by them is now presented by members of both MASK and VENOM.
158	* RidiculouslyHumanRobot:
159	** T-Bob sometimes displays emotions, complains of being tired, and engages in other un-robotlike behavior. For example, in one of the AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle segments, Scott positions a ladder on T-Bob's foot. The robot complains about feeling pain. Both Matt and Scott find this amusing and burst out laughing. This is even {{Lampshaded}} in one episode:
160	-->'''T-Bob:''' You saved my life!\
161	'''Scott:''' I hate to tell you this, T-Bob... but you're not alive.\
162	'''T-Bob:''' Oh. I forgot.
163	** The drone piloting the middle part of Buzzard in the second season also has human traits, but to a lesser extent compared to T-Bob. In one of the PSA's, it is hiding from Miles Mayhem when it accidentally scratched Buzzard.
164	* RightHandCat: The episode "In Dutch" had Miles Mayhem conspiring with a nameless villain who carried around a white cat.
165	* RobotBuddy:
166	** T-Bob is a robot and Scott Trakker's closest friend.
167	** The second season introduced one for VENOM, the drone pilot for Buzzard's core fighter that was shown out of the vehicle in the series.
168	* RollercoasterMine: Bruce Sato explores an [[AbandonedMine abandoned mine]] and goes for a ride in "Quest of the Canyon".
169	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: There's a RunningGag where MASK agents who receive an alert on their watch telling them they've been selected for a mission will literally ''drop everything'' to go to MASK headquarters. It makes you wonder how some of them haven't been fired from their jobs after the first few times this happens.
170	* SecretKeeper: Scott is implied to be this, since he knows the true identities of both the MASK and VENOM agents, but it's never explored.
171	* SeriousBusiness: Races become this in the Racing Series. Most of the races get unbelievably high stakes, with some of the prices being an object that would be very dangerous in the hands of VENOM. Therefore, it's crucial for MASK to win.
172	* ShaggyDogStory: Several episodes are this from VENOM's point of view. They spend their resources and manpower to uncover an ancient treasure, only to discover it's worthless in terms of money. A good example is the episode ''Treasure of the Nazca Plain''. The treasure in question is a warm steamy cave, which was very valuable in the ice age, but not the kind of treasure VENOM could sell.
173	* ShoehornedAcronym: An example of the fourth version, where there heroes' group name is actually "Mobile Armored Strike Kommand." Or, as ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' put it:
174	--> "M.A.S.K.! Do they know... Command doesn't start with a "K?"
175	* SimpletonVoice: Cliff Dagger.
176	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Only one woman in each faction. Vanessa and her vehicle (Manta) never got a toy until the last two waves. Gloria's vehicle (Shark) was never released, though there ''was'' a Gloria figure made for the Split Seconds series.
177	* SouthernFriedPrivate: Dusty comes close; he's got the voice and the mannerisms, but not the mistrust of others.
178	* TheStarscream: Sly Rax in the comics.
179	* StatusQuoIsGod: Most episodes end with the status quo uphold perfectly: MASK saves the day, but VENOM gets away. The episode "A Matter of Gravity" is the only episode to avert this, however, as Firecracker, Hondo's vehicle gets destroyed by an experimental gravity weapon used by Mayhem. Instead of getting a replacement Firecracker, Hondo gets an entirely new vehicle named Hurricane, which he keeps for the rest of the first season.
180	* StrawFeminist: VENOM's sole female member Vanessa Warfield occasionally shows shades of this, most notably calling Brad Turner a "male swine" in the episode "Race Against Time", and making misandrist remarks about men being weak and easy to beat in the tie-in DC Comics series.
181	* SuperpowerLottery: Some of the masks are clearly better than others. Compare Spectrum, which has NewPowersAsThePlotDemands, including lasers, flight and super vision to Ultra Flash, which merely emits blinding light. Ironically, both belong to Matt Trakker.
182	* SuperSenses: Matt Trakker's Spectrum mask grants him super vision. The theme song even says so.
183	* SwissBankAccount: Miles Mayhem is mentioned to have a Swiss bank account in "Bad Vibrations".
184	* ThirdPersonPerson: Bruno Sheppard refers to himself in third person in "Race Against Time".
185	* TitlePlease: As usual with [=DiC=] productions of the era, the episode titles aren't shown onscreen.
186	* TooSmartForStrangers: The PSA at the end of the episode "The Ultimate Weapon" involved Matt Trakker warning Scott about the dangers of hitchhiking. Fortunately, Scott's friend avoids anything unpleasant when Scott offers for him to walk with him and his dad to the ball game.
187	-->'''Matt Trakker:''' You never know who's going to pick you up. The person who picks him up could be a VENOM agent, or worse, a child molester.
188	* ToylessToylineCharacter: Shark, Gloria's vehicle in the cartoon. Gloria was the very last figure, but came with a different vehicle as part of the Split Seconds line.
189	* TransformingVehicle: The basic premise; each MASK and VENOM agent has a vehicle that converts from a regular to a combat vehicle.
190	* {{Tsundere}}: Vanessa Warfield towards Brad Turner in the second season.
191	* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Which almost justifies all the FamilyFriendlyFirearms; the directed-energy weapons both on the vehicles and the masks.
192	* TheUnFavorite: Nash Gorey by all the other V.E.N.O.M. agents.
193	* UnifiedNamingSystem: MASK (Mobile Armoured Strike Kommand) vs. VENOM (Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem).
194	* VillainsActHeroesReact: MASK is only ever deployed when VENOM is suspected to be involved in a criminal scheme. They never take the initiative to locate and apprehend VENOM on their own.
195	* VocalEvolution:
196	** In the first few episodes, Matt Trakker has a more subdued and quieter voice compared to his clear voice in the majority of the show.
197	** In a couple of early episodes, T-Bob sounds somewhat like [[Franchise/TheMuppets Kermit the Frog]] and doesn't stutter.
198	* VillainExclusivityClause: Wolf Mayhem.
199	* WeWillMeetAgain:
200	** Miles Mayhem often says something like this when M.A.S.K. defeats him.
201	** Lampshaded in "Where Eagles Dare":
202	--->'''Mayhem:''' I'll get you, Trakker! I'll get you yet!\
203	'''Matt:''' ''(singsong)'' You keep telling me that, Miles.
204	* WhoIsDriving: In "The Everglades Oddity", Julio and Scott find Matt missing from his sickbed. They hear Thunderhawk take off, and Julio wonders aloud who is flying it. Cut to T-Bob at the controls with a weakened Matt guiding him.
205	* WorthlessCurrency: In the episode "Patchwork Puzzle" (December 11, 1985), the villains are after a large cache of money hidden during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar (specifically, around the Washington Monument)... and are somehow surprised when it turns out to be Confederate cash.
206	* WreckedWeapon: The heroes' transforming vehicles were occasionally damaged or shot up, but never really destroyed. But in one memorable episode the BigBad gets his hands on an experimental gravity beam and crushes Hondo's truck, Firecracker. He's naturally dejected at the loss, but at the [[ResetButton end of the episode]], he gets Hurricane, a brand new transforming 1957 Chevy to replace it. By contrast, later episodes simply gave the characters a second vehicle with no real fanfare.
207	* WriterOnBoard: Scientologist writer Jeffrey Scott's episode "The Star Chariot" involves an ancient spacecraft left behind by AncientAstronauts. The ending has Scott and T-Bob apparently killed, [[DisneyDeath then beamed away to an alien world, resurrected by aliens, and then beamed back offscreen]]. All in two or three minutes.
208	* XtremeKoolLetterz: In this series, "Command" begins with a K.
209	* YesMan: Nash Gorey.

Context WesternAnimation / MASK