M.A.S.K. Split Seconds - V.E.N.O.M. Barracuda (AKA Jackal) (1988)

It's been a while since I've posted anything on this blog, so here's something pretty cool.

I recently got the M.A.S.K. Barracuda. This vehicle is from the "Split Seconds" line of M.A.S.K. toys. Anyone who knows stuff about that will know that the Split Seconds were the last line and are the rarest of the M.A.S.K. toys.

Barracuda in motorcycle mode

The Barracuda is a yellow motorcycle that is driven by Bruno Sheppard of V.E.N.O.M., who also comes with the Stinger vehicle. In the SS line, each figure came with their "splitting image," or another of the same figure but made out of a one-color, translucent mold. The Barracuda I have, however, only came with one Bruno figure, and without his mask.

Another thing to note about this one is that in Europe, Barracuda is called "Jackal."

Being a SS toy, the Barracuda motorcycle splits into two vehicles when it transforms. There is a black button on the rear of the motorcycle seat that activates the main part of the transformation - the sides of the motorcycle flip up and the yellow body becomes a glider of some sort. A gun also flips up on the front. Two bombs can be dropped out of the wings as well.

The second part is really only the skeleton of the motorcycle. There are two panels on the side that flip down to reveal the "VENOM" stickers and some laser guns. The figure can still sit on the "jet cycle" mode and the other figure can sit on the glider.

Barracuda isn't the best M.A.S.K. toy out there but it isn't the worst I've seen either. Some people complain that the Split Seconds line isn't that good, but I have three out of it and I think they are still pretty good toys even though they deviated a little bit from the original M.A.S.K. concept. And since it is the last line of M.A.S.K. they are quite hard to get for a good price.

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.