M.A.S.K. - Venom's Revenge Adventure Pack (1986)

The newest addition to my M.A.S.K. collection, which I got earlier today, is Venom's Revenge, an Adventure Pack from 1986.

In 1986, Kenner released some figure packs with M.A.S.K. characters. The first were just the figures, all of which were from the 1st series of toys. That same year, Kenner also released some "Adventure Packs." Four of these were released in the USA and 4 others were only released in Europe. Each Adventrue Pack came with one figure with various accessories, like jetpacks, grappling hooks, guns, etc. The four adventure packs released in America were Jungle Challenge, Coast Patrol, Rescue Mission, and this one, Venom's Revenge.

Let's get to the thing itself. Venom's Revenge comes with Miles Mayhem and he is the only V.E.N.O.M. figure in these four adventure packs. Bruce Sato came in one and Matt Trakker in the other two.

Miles Mayhem and his accessories

The pack is described as a "Venom Offensive Adventure Pack." You get Mayhem, who is in an outfit similar to his Switchblade one, but tan instead of blue, with his Ripper mask, which "pretends to shred metal." It also comes with two gray cannons, and two smaller red rockets that can attach to the larger guns. The guns/rockets can also be attached to a backpack that can be turned into a jetpack. Venom's Revenge also comes with two black hoses which attach to the guns on the arms and the jetpack, though I don't have those on mine.

As can be seen, his backpack turns into a jetpack
when you press down on a part on the back of it.

Really all the reviews I've seen of this toy online say it's bad, but honestly I don't think so. Sure, it doesn't come with a vehicle or anything of that sort, but it's only supposed to be a figure with some accessories. And it's really pretty cool.

M.A.S.K. - M.A.S.K. Condor (1985)

Another M.A.S.K. toy review - today it's Condor, from series one.

Condor came out during the first wave of M.A.S.K. toys (that wave and the 2nd are the best) and is smaller than most other M.A.S.K. toys, being a motorcycle. It was a pocket money toy and is one that a lot of people had in the '80s, since it wasn't as expensive as some of the larger vehicles and playsets.

I got mine from my uncle last year (he has most of the series 1 and 2 vehicles), and I also have the instructions for it, because amazingly that was still with all the vehicles in the old box they were in (even though Condor itself was in another box).

Condor's driver is Brad Turner, rock star and generic '80s cool guy. He comes with his "Hocus Pocus" mask that is able to make holograms to fool enemies.

Brad Turner and Hocus Pocus mask

Like all M.A.S.K. toys, Condor isn't just a motorcycle. Its defense mode is a helicopter, which it changes into if you lift up the black bars along the side and pull the rotor blades up.The back tire also flips up to become another rotor blade. A small gun pops up in the front and two other guns are also revealed when the seat moves down during the transformation.

Condor isn't a complicated M.A.S.K. toy and there isn't even that much you have to do with it, but it's honestly one of the best ones. It looks great in both forms and works well in both.

Also, if you plan on buying Condor, be sure that it has the black windshield in front, as that easily comes off and most you see on Ebay don't have it.

M.A.S.K. - M.A.S.K. Raven (1986)

For my first real post on this blog, let's take a look at a cool '80s toy I got the other day - Raven from M.A.S.K. 

For those who may not know, M.A.S.K. was a cartoon, toy brand, comic etc. in the mid-80s that revolved around two teams - Mobile Armored Strike Kommand (M.A.S.K.) and the Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem (V.E.N.O.M.).  I'll leave it up to you to find out who were the good guys and bad guys. Each member of the team had one (or several) vehicles that could turn into some other sort of vehicle and/or an attack/defense mode. Each figure also had a 'Mask' that they wore that had some sort of special power.

The first series of M.A.S.K. toys (produced by Kenner after their Star Wars run) came out in 1985, and Raven is one from the second series from 1986. 

In it's "Stealth Mode," Raven is a Corvette C4 and is driven by M.A.S.K. agent Calhoun Burns and his "Gulliver" mask, which has the power to shrink or enlarge people or objects.

Calhoun Burns in the cartoon

Calhoun's Gulliver mask

Raven in Corvette mode

 But, like all M.A.S.K. toys, Raven isn't just a normal car. It can also change into an "Armed Seaplane" in its defense mode. Like all M.A.S.K. cars it comes with Calhoun and his mask, although I don't have the figure, just the vehicle. Raven also came with two orange discs that could be put in the front of the car, and when you pull a mechanism on the back, and then press the button on top of the car it shoots them out, although I don't have the discs for it either.

Raven in seaplane mode

To transform Raven, you press what would be the license plate on the back, and that causes the "turbo thrusters" to pop up. Next, there is a button on the side of the car that you press to flip around the front of the vehicle. The tires on the front and back also flip over and you can pull up the "particle blasters" inside of them. The "reverse gull wing doors" also come down to reveal the M.A.S.K. logo and the inside of the car, complete with seat belts. 

All in all, Raven is a cool little car with several cool gimmicks. It also looks great in its stealth and defense mode. Sometimes with M.A.S.K. toys, only one form looks nice and the other, not so much. 

More M.A.S.K. reviews will be posted in the future.