DESTRO: Matt Trakker Leader of M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) to be released as Specialist Trakker in Modern Era A Real American Hero Wave 10 or 11.
M.A.S.K. was a hybrid of popular 80's cartoons G.I. Joe and Transformers. It featured a special task force, led by Matt Trakker, with transforming vehicles engaged in an ongoing battle against V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem), with an emphasis on super-powered helmets called masks worn by the characters on the show.
The first hint of this figure came from Wal-Mart listings of a G.I. Joe M.A.S.K. Figure (M.A.S.K. UPC 0065356936410) with our second clue comming from Hasbro's G.I. Joe Web Site with a poll listing Specialist Trakker.
http://www.hasbro.com/gijoe/default....rtainment/Poll Jam: Wow now that is a shocker. Who woulda thought. Gung.Heaux: Quote:
Originally Posted by DESTRO  Matt Trakker Leader of M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) to be released as Specialist Trakker in Modern Era A Real American Hero Wave 10 or 11.
M.A.S.K. was a hybrid of popular 80's cartoons G.I. Joe and Transformers. It featured a special task force, led by Matt Trakker, with transforming vehicles engaged in an ongoing battle against V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem), with an emphasis on super-powered helmets called masks worn by the characters on the show. | at least its not alex mann............yet. Syn3sthesia: WTF!!!
Why!
I hope they released him with his vehicle to....Cobra...VENOM...whatever.... Irid70: Holy. Freaking. Crap.
I was one of the staunch "no way this is happening, it makes no sense" folks. I was wrong. WAY wrong, obviously. I am admitting it and prepared to eat crow.
I also don't necessarily think it's a great idea, but what the hell? I'll still buy it. I also think now the line is even more clearly aimed at nostalgic collectors and not at kids. DESTRO: I am not sure if he will come with a MASK or what he will look like but word is he will be a G.I. Joe Trainer. ickzer1: Now how about Thunderhawk... JoeFanPDX: He's not a Joe in my book and this is where the buck stops for me Hasbro. I'm not buying. Why not just start up the M.A.S.K line again instead of throwing this guy in to a Universe he never belonged in. hamilcar: the more i think about this, the more i am "ok with it". i originally hated the idea, and almost picked up my mouse and chucked it at my monitor when i first saw the rumor. and yes - like everyone else - i'd probably prefer they stuck to releasing original 80s Joes in the 25th/ME line. but i'm starting to think that having some "new blood" isn't such a bad thing. i am only vaguely familiar with MASK, and know nothing of Matt Trakker, but if he turns out to be a cool-looking figure, than i think we''ll just end up with a nice addition to our collections. shlappyguy: Train Joes to wear big goofy masks and fly around in winged cars, no doubt. I wonder if they'll make his kid with the robot-dog-scooter thing. shlappyguy: Well, I was one of the ones who called it way back when, despite all the very confident assurances to the contrary. And, as someone who has/had zero interest/attachment to M.A.S.K., well, let me just say crap. SITHLOU33: I think hasbro needs to focus on the joe line before we start crossovers, except if it's a tranformers crossover Shockwave: i wonder if the card will say mask on the top right hand corner Shin Densetsu: I want vehicles...NOW!
BTW Kenner, who made the M.A.S.K. toys during the 80's, has been part of Hasbro since the mid-90's, for those who don't know. X-factorz: I don`t get it. Did they have a bunch of Duke heads they needed to give purpose to???? Yet they have no intention of doing a TF crossover line (Not that I`m upset about that but I just think it is an odd choice)?
Oh well, I`ll buy him anyway just because. hamilcar: Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeFanPDX He's not a Joe in my book and this is where the buck stops for me Hasbro. I'm not buying. Why not just start up the M.A.S.K line again instead of throwing this guy in to a Universe he never belonged in. | as you may be able to tell from my above post, i originally had your line of thinking. i am reconsidering now, though. i just think of it as an expansion of the "universe" rather than an encroachment into it by something that doesn't "belong". maybe i think like this because i never read the comics and don't particularly like the cartoons. i don't know. now, if they make this guy and it turns out to be a rubbish figure... i reserve the right to reignite my angry flames. shlappyguy: Since the mods have learned this bit of news, were there any other cool tidbits about the line? About the (insert obligatory list here) Joes and Cobras that still need to be released? Roadblock Recall: worst.......idea........EVER!!!!!!!!!!! shlappyguy: Quote:
Originally Posted by X-factorz I don`t get it. Did they have a bunch of Duke heads they needed to give purpose to???? Yet they have no intention of doing a TF crossover line (Not that I`m upset about that but I just think it is an odd choice)?
Oh well, I`ll buy him anyway just because. | This is funny to me. Doesn't the Joe team have enough blond alpha-male leader types already without this guy? I wonder if he'll get a hair-color tweak, like the way Hawk went brunette. DESTRO: I for one am very happy to see some new faces added to the team. With the 25th Anniversary ending shortly its cool to think we are getting figures like Wraith and Trakker to add to the Universe of figures. facehammer: I still find this odd. It kind of seems like releasing Thundercats figures as Masters of the Universe figures... The MASK guys would probably look a bit better in the 3 3/4" scale compared to that weird size from the 80's... I wonder if they'll base him off of one of the original MASK releases or if he will just be a JOE with a brand new design... SITHLOU33: Quote:
Originally Posted by DESTRO I for one am very happy to see some new faces added to the team. With the 25th Anniversary ending shortly its cool to think we are getting figures like Wraith and Trakker to add to the Universe of figures. | I don't mind new characters, but there are plenty of new Joes and Cobras from the devil's due comic I'd much rather see first esg2145: all I have to say is ............"HUH"?
What's next? Why don't we just throw in some Go-Bots next? :(
. esg2145: Although now that I think about I am having a fun time picturing a Rattler dive bombing an '82 Camaro with gull wind doors while it's gattling gun tears it to shreds. 
Hehehehehehe shlappyguy: Didn't Hasbro actually recycle some Go-Bot names into the Transformers? I seem to remember an actual character named "Go-Bot", in fact. Pizza Man Z: I am still thinking this is some belated April Fool's Joke from Hasbro. Why would they do this to the Joe line, especially this early on and with so many others that they would make with parts they are created. I want my Recondo, Blowtorch, Outback and Nightviper. This is not to say that I will boycott this figure. If he is of a reasonable likeness or awesome design, then I will most likely be okay with it. I am already excited about Croc master, Airbourne, Cobra Eel, and Mutt and Junkyard, so buying the case is my goal. If he sucks, then he will just become custom fodder. H.A.L.9000: Could care less about Matt tracker...... BUTT I hope that means a Miles Mayhem for Cobra THO!!! More villians! plz!! Amaury Sanderson: Great idea, now let's start a big crossover of everything like Winnie-Joe versus Cob-Mumm-Ra... It is sad that Hasbro is again taking the road of non-sense. DESTRO: Quote:
Originally Posted by shlappyguy Didn't Hasbro actually recycle some Go-Bot names into the Transformers? I seem to remember an actual character named "Go-Bot", in fact. | Well Hasbro also used the "Rhino" Vehicle name.
http://www.matt-trakker.com/toys.html Saboteur: Well I'm happy for those who like MASK, but why is Hasbro wasting material, time and money creating a character in the 25th line who has NOTHING to do with GI JOE?
Why not just bring back the MASK line? Or are they using this to test the waters?
But I still don't understand this when REAL joe characters like Recondo, Dusty, Alpine, Dial-Tone, Tunnel Rat, Cover Girl and Lowlight have not been released.
What's next? Darth Vader, Bumblebee and Snake Eyes comic pack?
Weird...
Saboteur Crimson Rage: Interesting, if odd, idea.
I'll buy him, but hope Hasbro don't make this a regular thing. DESTRO: Quote:
Originally Posted by Saboteur Well I'm happy for those who like MASK, but why is Hasbro wasting material, time and money creating a character in the 25th line who has NOTHING to do with GI JOE?
Saboteur | MASK is a great toy line with a ton of fans. Its a great marketing move on their part. Its only 1 figure, give it a chance you may like the way it turns out. shlappyguy: Well, someone was going to throw in a wishlist, so I figured it might as well be me.
Zap
SHort Fuze
Cover Girl
Blowtorch
Ripcord
Recondo
Lowlight
Scrap Iron
Dr. Mindbender
Zandar
Zarana
Monkeywrench
Roadpig
Thrasher
These are just a few of the characters I'd rather see in the line-up before Hasbro introduces crossover characters. Irid70: It is just one figure, guys. If it's a cool figure I'm happy to add it to my collection. If it's not, then I'll pose all the cool Joes making fun of him. I don't, as I've said, necessarily think it's a particularly cool idea, but whatever. It's one figure. DaViper: I love M.A.S.K. just not mixed with my joeverse. I'll probably get him but he won't be hanging out at the motorpool that for sure.
BTW Joes already have a trainer...SGT. SLAUGHTER so Matt Tracker can be there yoga instructor for all i care. Mern-Ra: Quote:
Originally Posted by Irid70 If it's not, then I'll pose all the cool Joes making fun of him. | I think that's freaking brilliant!
Indeed this is an odd choice, but kind of a fun one IMO. nighthawk: Wow...this is so strange...haha. Wonder how it'll turn out and whether they'll revive the MASK line. They had such cool vehicles. artiepants: Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeFanPDX He's not a Joe in my book and this is where the buck stops for me Hasbro. I'm not buying. | You could think of it as Hasbro either throwing a bone to MASK fans OR they may be testing the waters to see what kind of response they get to it. With GIJoe poised to be huge next year it wouldn't be inconceivable for them to restart MASK (possibly even spinning out of GIJoe, and likely at the same scale). Or maybe someone on the Joe design/marketing team is just a fan?
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Originally Posted by JoeFanPDX Why not just start up the M.A.S.K line again instead of throwing this guy in to a Universe he never belonged in. | like Sergeant Slaughter or the Fridge ;)
(or, almost, Rocky Balboa >>>shudder<<<)
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Originally Posted by DESTRO I am not sure if he will come with a MASK or what he will look like but word is he will be a G.I. Joe Trainer. | maybe throwing a bone out since folks aren't getting Sergeant Slaughter.
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Originally Posted by esg2145 What's next? Why don't we just throw in some Go-Bots next? :( | Quote:
Originally Posted by shlappyguy Didn't Hasbro actually recycle some Go-Bot names into the Transformers? I seem to remember an actual character named "Go-Bot", in fact. | there was a whole LINE of GoBots (they were the "young kids" transformers maybe 3 years ago ~ think Playschool ~ they were actually kind of cool)
and Leader 1 was a minicon in Armada (and killing Cy-Kill in the background has become an ongoing joke in the comics, it think it's happened 3 or 4 times) Cobra-La: I have to say it, I told you so. The clues were right there, in your face and could not be ignored or given any other explanation. Now, with that out of the way . . .
I'm still taking a wait and see approach. Technically, when this figure comes out the 25th Anniversary will have run its course giving Hasbro, by my reasoning (as if they needed my approval), license to expand the line beyond the 1982-1994 roster. I was a fan of MASK, but I never owned any of the toys. My focus was Joe, He-Man, Super Powers, and some others, but I was lucky enough to have a close friend who was a MASK nut. They were great toys and I have fond memories of playing with them. CynthiaCM: As a longtime MASK fan, I'm excited about the addition of Matt Trakker to the Joe-verse. I know he hasn't been a part of the setting, but I'll be honest; I'd rather have him than yet another Snake-Eyes or Storm Shadow variant (those are getting very old).
Look, I know we all have fond feelings for the old characters from GI Joe. But GI Joe has always been about introducing new blood into the ranks and, frankly, all we've seen the past year or two are rehashes or re-designs of existing characters.
Furthermore, while Matt Trakker may seem like an unorthodox move for the line, crazy crossover characters are not unheard of. I mean, we had Sgt. Slaughter (barf!), The Fridge (double barf!), and almost had Rocky freakin' Balboa (triple barf!) stuck into the product line. So, why is Trakker so bad? After all, at least he was already in the action toon business. To me, it seems a somewhat natural fit.
I, too, would love to see a Miles Mayhem figure, though I don't think he and Cobra Commander could co-exist for long. Too much ego. ;) Dr. Phd.: I think the figure could be pretty cool so I'll buy it. It's not like GI Joe doesn't have it's weird gimmick characters. C'mon a cowboy helicopter pilot, native american tracker, genetically engineered general from history's greatest generals, crock master, that weird falcon guy, etc. Beach Head curses: Well, I'm excited. This finally opens the door to something that we all want...a Burgerdier General figure in scale with our Joes. Jay West: It's cool to get a new character, but unless Hasbro thinks M.A.S.K fans are going to start jumping out of the woodworks to buy Joes then it just becomes kinda of a stunt wink wink and in that case I think more Joe fans would get excited about Lt. Stone, Billy, Big Lob, Pythona, Dr. Venom, or Sgt Savage if you are going to go obscure. artiepants: ...and really, if it's a cool figure i'm all for it ~ i mean, i could easily throw down a list of 20 figures i'd RATHER have, but i don't find Matt to be all that offensive or illogical an inclusion. almost seems like he could be a 'Chuckles' type, just with better taste in clothes ;) Griffin73: I think you are projecting. There's really no evidence of such figure. I won't believe it until I see it. heikks86: Quote:
Originally Posted by Beach Head curses Well, I'm excited. This finally opens the door to something that we all want...a Burgerdier General figure in scale with our Joes. |
man i remember those toys, they even had a sweet vechicle which i never got as a kid BigErn: I cringe when hear about M.A.S.K. and not because I don't like them, they were awesome and I had most of them, I'll happily buy Matt Trakker.
I cringe because when I was in fifth grade I was running to the house to watch M.A.S.K., slipped and fell on my face, breaking out my 2 front teeth. Turns out I was the only 5th grader with fake front teeth, thanks M.A.S.K. Blot: What's the odds of us getting an Ace re-paint with a Duke head-swap? |
