The Loyal Subjects to relaunch MASK, and other Legacy Hasbro Brands

[Donocropolis]

I'm tempted by the 40th Condor. It was the one toy from the first wave that I decided I didn't really need as I have an original in good shape. But I've been trained since childhood by Transformers that a new color scheme makes it a different "character," and it would be the only 40th toy I would be interested in, so the black/gold would be a unique look.

What I'll probably do is wait to get the Wave 1 toys in-hand first and see how I feel about them. If I'm as impressed as I'm hoping and there are still some 40th Condors left, I may buy one.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

YOU were the one who fussed about not knowing about the 40th Anniversary Rhino

Oh, yeah, but that was just overall cursing the present state of my existence. Note I said I couldn't afford it then, either. XD

I'd still absolutely love one, but...

 

[Steevy Maximus]

TLS has posted answers to an AMA they held a couple weeks ago.

The Loyal Subjects

#MASKMonday Illusion is the ultimate weapon… and so is insider info. You've got questions we've got answers! Thanks to everyone who participated in our AMA post. Stay tuned for the next batch of...

www.facebook.com

Confirmed Boulder Hill isn't on the slate for 2026, wave 2 will have 4 vehicles with all being classic remakes. No firm plans for Scott and TBob outside of the RHINO set, for now. And...the future remains open. Feels, to me, that TLS is keeping options open, but are basically playing it by ear with these first couple waves. Given the price point (only made worse by recent economic actions), I think TLS is preparing for the worse by not discussing too much about future plans

 

[Steevy Maximus]

More questions "answered" by TLS:

The Loyal Subjects

Back with another #MASKMonday A.M.A.! Check our the next line of answers to your burning questions and stay tuned for more coming next week!

www.facebook.com

Most are the usual dodgy answers due to the unknowable future, but they DID give a hint to future Venom members:
"If you can solve this riddle:
I'm a heavy hitting enforcer with muscle or mask, one wields blade and harpoons, the other flame bold and brass. Teasing teammates comes by habit- idleness by design, though destruction is my trade, two faces in the line."
Which basically confirms the Piranha with Sly Rax (who had two releases in the original line, not counting figure packs, one mask which fired harpoons, the other saw blades).

That still leaves one more wave 2 entry to be revealed. I'd love to be surprised by a Shark (to counter the Piranha), but I'm suspecting it will be the Gator.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

The Loyal Subjects has opened up preorders to other retailers for their Jem and MASK product lines. Entertainment Earth has MASK stuff coming this month, supposedly. Amazon, meanwhile, is expecting MASK items to become available in December. The "special" RHINO with Scott and T-Bob remains exclusive to BBTS and TLS's store.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

The wait for wave 1 of MASK continues with expectations that the line will be shipping to consumers by the end of the year. But as we wait to get the initial offerings, TLS has revealed the line up for wave 2 (due to go to preorder Sometime in 2026):
The Gator
Jackhammer (renamed the Armored Assault Vehicle)
Hurricane
Piranha (now called the Stealth Submarine Cycle)

M.A.S.K. Wave 2 by The Loyal Subjects

The Loyal Subjects M.A.S.K. revival kicked off with a bang earlier this year and now wave 2 has been revealed after a teaser at NYCC. Included are: • Hurricane • Armored Assault Vehicle (A.A.V.) (Jackhammer) • Stealth Submarine Cycle (S.S.C.) (Piranha) • Gator These are due to go up for order in...

www.toyark.com

 

[ZacWilliam1]

I had all those and would love all those again, but at the very least I want the Piranha. I think it was the first Mask toy I had at the kid. At the very least I have very specific memories of getting it and playing with it a ton.

-ZacWilliam, that it's the smallest/cheapest of these is a nice plus too,

 

[Fullstrength Motleypuss]

The wait for wave 1 of MASK continues with expectations that the line will be shipping to consumers by the end of the year. But as we wait to get the initial offerings, TLS has revealed the line up for wave 2 (due to go to preorder Sometime in 2026):

And ship by the end of the year, I'm sure.

If we're lucky and say our prayers to the proper Eldritch Gods.

 

[Donocropolis]

And ship by the end of the year, I'm sure.

If we're lucky and say our prayers to the proper Eldritch Gods.

Just don't let them know you're praying to more than one! You know how they get.

 

[msol]

I really hope they remold the small gun on Jackhammer and the shield on Piranha. 5mm pegs would work wonders to make those significantly less fragile.

 

[ZacWilliam1]

I was thinking the same thing about the Piranha. Love that thing but that bike windshield snapped off easy and quick.

-ZacWilliam, at the very least stronger plastic and a reinforced joint

 

[msol]

I bought a mint one maybe 4 years ago for my son, who was 5 at the time. I had to take the shield away pretty quickly as it started to crack pretty much immediately.

Speaking of which... I wonder if the new figure designs will be able to sit on motorbikes without wrecking the legs. The vintage Pirahna, Vampire, and Bullet (and Firecracker bike) all ruin the legs on the figures. Condor doesn't just based on how the figure sits but the others cause them to splay in a way the joints just don't allow.

 

[lastmaximal]

I had a whole response typed out about the frustration of economic factors dooming my chances of getting these (some "again", i.e., having a new and non-Velveteen Rabbitted to death condition copy; some for the first time). But that was a downer the thread didn't need, so I'll cheer you lot on from afar in the meantime instead. This is an exciting time and I hope this gets to go on for a few more waves yet. I'm thrilled that it seems to be exactly what people were hoping or would be happy with (reissues being a safer bet than recreations, as at least you know what you're getting) and I hope the quality of the toys upon release is up to snuff.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

I bought a mint one maybe 4 years ago for my son, who was 5 at the time. I had to take the shield away pretty quickly as it started to crack pretty much immediately.

Speaking of which... I wonder if the new figure designs will be able to sit on motorbikes without wrecking the legs. The vintage Pirahna, Vampire, and Bullet (and Firecracker bike) all ruin the legs on the figures. Condor doesn't just based on how the figure sits but the others cause them to splay in a way the joints just don't allow.

The figures have been redesigned. While sharing similar sculpting design, the figures are all redesigned with improved details and deco with the shoulders and hips being ball joints. There should not be any issues with "splaying". Plus, I fully expect the new Piranha to be more durable, if for no other reason that it isn't 20 year old plastic

I'm thrilled that it seems to be exactly what people were hoping or would be happy with (reissues being a safer bet than recreations, as at least you know what you're getting) and I hope the quality of the toys upon release is up to snuff.

But...they ARE recreations

ALL of the figures are resigned with new articulation design and deco features. All the vehicles are being tweaked based on the originals. NONE are exact recreations, between the added effects pieces, new features and new molded details. TLS's MASK line is probably most equivalent to the Transformers Missing Link line- recreations of 80s toys with modern features.

 

[lastmaximal]

But...they ARE recreations

ALL of the figures are resigned with new articulation design and deco features. All the vehicles are being tweaked based on the originals. NONE are exact recreations, between the added effects pieces, new features and new molded details. TLS's MASK line is probably most equivalent to the Transformers Missing Link line- recreations of 80s toys with modern features.

I meant more in the sense of remakes, perhaps, although I suppose there's some semantic overlap there too. I was aware of the new articulation and use of effect pieces at least.

I can't recall offhand which Takara reissue was reverse-tooled from an old mold or whatever, but these are more akin to that than, say, an Earthrise or Classics "inspired by" take. Or, I guess, more like the just-before-Classified o-ring retro GI Joes than 25th. In essence, they're more or less known quantities rather than new things that may or may not capture the old in the way(s) different fans would want.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Are reissues what you mean?

 

[lastmaximal]

I... Huh