M.A.S.K. might make a comeback for 30th anniversary

Published December 22, 2014 2:59pm

Remember M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), the toy line and TV show that gained popularity with children in the mid-1980s?

The franchise, which also appeared briefly in comics, could be coming back in time for its 30th anniversary, if a new patent application by Hasbro is any indication.

A page on the US Patent and Trademark Office showed the filing was made last Dec. 11, and applies to the following goods and services:

Interactive entertainment software, including:

interactive video game programs, interactive multimedia computer game programs, computer game software, computer game cartridges, computer game discs, interactive video games of virtual reality comprised of computer hardware for use with an external monitor and software
downloadable software for use in playing computer games
computer game software for use with communication devices and mobile telephones
computer and video game apparatus, namely, video game machines for use with televisions
pre-recorded audio tapes featuring music
pre-recorded video tapes, laser discs, DVDs, all featuring music, games and animation

Merchandise may include:

Paper goods and printed matter, namely, address books, comic books, notebooks, picture books, interactive mystery story books, fantasy adventure story books, books containing puzzles and games, instructional manuals and printed strategy guides for games; book covers; photograph albums
printed invitations
trading cards
writing pads
posters
bookmarks
non-electronic personal day and desktop planners and organizers
artist materials, namely, pencils and pens
gift wrap paper
paper gift tags
paper gift bags
paper gift boxes
correspondence note paper
greeting cards
paper party decorations
party goody bags of paper or plastic
postcards
stickers
sticker books
calendars
temporary tattoos
school and office supplies, namely, pens, markers, notepads, binders, stationery, notepads, pencil cases, desk pads, stationery sets comprised of paper, envelopes, seals, notepads; stencils
patterns for making costumes
rubber stamps
ink pads
colored pencils
sleeves for holding stamps
series of fiction books in the field of entertainment and science fiction
bi-monthly and monthly magazines dealing with role-playing adventure games
fantasy art posters
fantasy adventure novels

Toys may go beyond the toy action figures and vehicles and playsets, the application indicated.

On the other hand, entertainment services may include TV, radio, audio, video, electronic media and computer networks.

New toy line?

Mtrakker.com—named after Matt Trakker, the leader of the heroic M.A.S.K. team—noted that Hasbro in 2008 created Matt Trakker in G.I. Joe form.

Hasbro had taken in Kenner, the maker of the M.A.S.K. toys, at the time.

"So, maybe we will get the rest of the characters in GI Joe form. Could that also mean GI Joe like versions of the vehicles from MASK? How about going back to the classic size and scale of the figures and vehicles? What if they went to a 6 inch scale? Not sure if vehicles would also be a part of that, they would need to be pretty big to fit the characters in them," the site said.

It also said a new cartoon could come out of Hasbro's patent application but wants T-bob to be "more bad-ass."

M.A.S.K., which came out as a cartoon in 1985, is about a group of underground agents equipped with masks with special powers, riding in high-tech vehicles that could convert into attack transports or mobile defense platforms.

They go up against V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem), whose agents wielded similar transforming masks and vehicles. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

Tags: mobilearmoredstrikekommand, mask, actionfigures