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Series: M.A.S.K. (by the Loyal Subjects)
Pilot & Mask: Matt Trakker (Ultra Flash) & Bruce Sato (Liftor)
Year: 2026
Preview: Forty years after Kenner launched the original M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) series, The Loyal Subjects are bringing back the original toys with some new tweaks. Now there have been quite a few negative reviews of this first wave of new M.A.S.K. vehicles, causing many people to cancel their preorders, but being a big M.A.S.K. fan myself, I figured I’d give this new line a shot. So here we have the Mobile Defense Unit, better known as Rhino, in its limited edition. So let’s say mask on!
Vehicle: Now let me start by saying that I do own the original Kenner Rhino vehicle. The reason there are no comparison pics included here (yet) is that my M.A.S.K. toys are in storage and I haven’t gotten around to bringing them home. From memory, though, I have to say that this Rhino here is roughly 95% the same toy as back in the day.
We are looking at a pretty big long-nosed truck with a big sleeper cabin. There is room to seat two figures (see below) in the driver’s cabin and standing room in the compartment further back for one or two more. The truck has rubber tires, lots of chromed parts, and just generally looks pretty cool and realistic. Like all M.A.S.K. vehicles, it “transforms” slightly into an attack mode. The grill in front becomes a ram, the smokestacks swivel down to become guns, and the sleeper cabin extends and opens up to reveal a big missile launcher with a launching projectile. The rear of the truck detaches into a separate, smaller vehicle, which can be driven by one of the included figures. The copilot seat also includes an ejection seat, which can launch a figure out the door.
So far, everything as it was back in the Kenner days. So what’s new in the Loyal Subject’s version? Well, the effect parts for one thing. We have parts to simulate smoke belching from the smokestacks or flashes to simulate laser blasts when they point forward (or back). Also new is the winch which can be added to the back of the truck (as featured in a single episode, I believe). The biggest differences are found in the included figures, but more on that below.
There are two versions of Rhino released by The Loyal Subjects. This one here is the limited version, which includes a bit more chrome (mostly on the missile launcher), colored headlights, and two extra figures. Not really that much of a difference, but quite a difference in price. So unless you’re a big fan of Scott and T-Bob (see below), I’m not sure the extra cash is worth it.
Now as for the criticism regarding this set, some of it is valid. Nearly half the stickers included with the truck are slightly too big. Easily fixed with a small pair of scissors, sure, but still a bit bothersome. One of the smokestacks is a bit wobbly on my version, but remains solid if you push it in properly. Finally, the winch on the back doesn’t turn. None of that is enough to turn me off, but I can understand some people being a bit bothered by it, especially considering the price.
So bottom line for this vehicle here: it’s Rhino and if you already own the Kenner version, I am not quite sure you need this one here, unless you are a big M.A.S.K. fan like myself. Or really want the improved figures, of course. Let’s head there next.
Figures: One of the biggest weaknesses of the original Kenner M.A.S.K. sets, to me, were the figures. While they were well-sculpted, they had almost no facial features. Kenner probably figured kids would leave the masks on most of the time, so why bother? Well, the new versions include much better faces, both in terms of sculpt and that they actually painted on eyes this time. Also, each figure comes with two masks, one looking like it did in the cartoon, the other with extra chest pieces as were used for the European versions of the toys.
Included in both the normal and limited edition sets of Rhino are Matt Trakker and Bruce Sato, the same guys that came with the original toy. The figures are also better articulated than back in the day, they can now spread their arms and legs. Still no elbows, but at this scale that’s forgivable. The two masks with the extra chest pieces also add special effect parts to simulate the effects of the Liftor and Ultraflash masks (more or less).
Finally, the two extra figures included in the limited edition are Scott and T-Bob, the kid-appeal characters in the original cartoon. Scott, too, has facial features and improved articulation now. T-Bob is more or less the same toy as in the original Kenner line, best I can tell. Both my wife and I are big fans of the original cartoon and she loves T-Bob, which is the main reason why we got the Limited Edition to begin with.
Remarks: Despite being part of the M.A.S.K. logo, Rhino was not the most prolific of M.A.S.K. vehicles in the cartoon, but it did appear in many episodes. More often than not Alex Sector was either the driver or the copilot, even though he is not included in this set here. Unlike other M.A.S.K. vehicles, the Rhino was seldom destroyed or even severely damaged, making it one of the toughest of vehicles in the entire line.
Now bottom line, is the new Rhino from The Loyal Subjects worth the price of admission? Well, that depends. It’s at least as good as the Kenner original and while there are some minor QC issues, they don’t really take much away from this awesome toy. That set, the original toy was far cheaper (even adjusted for inflation) than this one here, and the limited edition is more expensive still. Considering that you are not getting that much more than you got with the original, you need to figure out whether the little extras and improvements are worth it.
So what is my final recommendation? If you are a M.A.S.K. fan like myself, Rhino (or Mobile Defense Unit, rather) is definitely worth getting, even if you already own the original. If you are not that much into the nostalgia, this toy might be a bit too expensive for what you’re getting.
Rating: B-
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