Plot: What’s it about?
The world is always in need of protection, since the forces of V.E.N.O.M. are on the prowl. As led by Miles Myahem, these evil doers are always hatching plots to get rich, seize power, and whatever else they can manage. But even when no one else seems to be able to stop them, there is always the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, better known as M.A.S.K. These band of heroes calls Matt Trakker their leader and vow to keep the world safe from harm. For Trakker, the quest to eliminate V.E.N.O.M. is also quite personal, as his brother was killed in one of their nefarious operations. While the battles are never easy, M.A.S.K. has an impressive task force of skilled agents, incredible vehicles that transform, and armored suits that provide them special powers. But even these advantages are often not enough, as it comes down to courage and pure will. No matter how many times V.E.N.O.M. is thwarted, they seem to return with an even more sinister plot, but M.A.S.K. is always there to keep the world safe.
The 1980s were a competitive time for animated shows designed to sell toys to youngsters, with brands that remain relevant even now. M.A.S.K. wasn’t the leader of the pack, but it yielded some very cool toys and this fun series. The animation was good, the action scenes were great fun, and of course, it had an awesome theme song. The stories were standard fare for this kind of show, with a new V.E.N.O.M. plot each episode to foil, but it was the action that drew in the kids. While animation and production values have increased since M.A.S.K. was released, the show can still hold its own against today’s products. I doubt adults unfamiliar with the show will be won over as fans, but show these episodes to a kid and chances are, they’ll be hooked. There is just something timeless about cool vehicles, robots, and good kicking evil’s butt. As I watched these episodes again for the first time in decades, it brought back great memories and was just plain fun. I hope a new generation is able to discover M.A.S.K. with this release, as the show holds up and is better than a lot of current content out there. With all 65 episodes tucked into one convenient package, M.A.S.K.: The Complete Series earns a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. These episodes look better than I expected, though the prints look worn and dull. The show still looks good, but the debris and softness can be a little much at times. The colors also look faded, though not to a serious degree. I would love restored versions of these episodes, but given the show’s age and lower profile, I doubt we’ll ever see that happen. But when you look at the alternatives out there, this treatment is head and shoulders above the rest. So given the nature of the source, these episodes look quite good.
Audio: How does it sound?
The 2.0 soundtrack sounds fine, but of course won’t put your home theater to the test. The show sounds clear and clean, with minimal age related defects to contend with. The audio is thin, but that is the nature of the material and since it sounds good, I doubt anyone will complain. The dialogue is always audible, the sound effects are good, and of course, the awesome theme song is better than ever. So it might not redefine your audio standards, but M.A.S.K. sounds fine here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An interview with two of the show’s writers is included, as well as fan interviews. I found the fan interviews to be rather dull and even annoying at times, but the writers’ featurette is well worth a look.
