General Information:
Release Date: December 2025
Price Point: $59-64.99 (Depending on retailer)
Retailer: Online Retailers including Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth and The Loyal Subjects store
Accessories: Matt Trakker action figure, SPECTRUM Mask (Short), SPECTRUM Mask (Long), Blast Effects x 2, Bombs x 2, Disc Launcher, Discs x 2
Disclosure: This complimentary product was provided to Ben's World of Transformers by The Loyal Subjects for review. BWTF thanks TLS for this opportunity.
Correction: The stickers were pre-applied on my copy of this vehicle but this was likely done to display it at New York Comic-Con. I believe the stickers are unapplied out of box.
The official Product Information below in italics is from The Loyal Subjects
Strike from the skies with Thunderhawk! First released in 1985 and now reborn by The Loyal Subjects, this iconic sports car converts into a powerful jet fighter with just a push. With bold gull-wing doors that flip into wings and hidden weaponry for surprise attacks, Thunderhawk leads the charge!!
Featuring Matt Trakker, the fearless leader of M.A.S.K., and his signature SPECTRUM mask, this high-speed collectible blends nostalgia with premium upgrades for the ultimate play-and-display experience.
The Loyal Subjects’ Thunderhawk is a turbo-charged machine with realistic rubber tires, flame-booster FX, expandable wing-tip stabilizers, and seating for two M.A.S.K. agents. With upgraded sculpting, enhanced details, and a sturdy conversion mechanism, Thunderhawk is primed for aerial domination.
Background:
In 1985, Kenner toys released a new toy line: M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand). This line consisted of transformable vehicles that would switch from one vehicle to another. Each vehicle included a driver or pilot figure. The toys were boosted by an animated TV Show which ran two seasons. The toy line lasted a total of four years. The series had a spiritual successor called Vor-Tech and characters from the line would appear here and there in comic books (usually tied to Transformers) but for the most part the line never saw a resurgence, until now! In early 2025, The Loyal Subjects announced it would be bringing M.A.S.K. back. The vehicles would all be recreations of the originals, using the original toys as a foundation but making some changes here and there. The driver and pilot figures would be all new. You can see my video on the Toy Fair 2025 announcement below.
One of the first wave of new M.A.S.K. toys is the iconic Thunderhawk with Matt Trakker.
It is important to note that as a kid I never owned any M.A.S.K. toys (that I can recall, anyhow) so I have relied on the internet for a lot of information about M.A.S.K. One awesome resource is Maskforce, check it out!
Packaging:
The Thunderhawk is packaged in a rectangular box meant to act as a faithful (but not exact) recreation of the original 1980's box. Like that box, the M.A.S.K. symbol is set on the left side with the name "Thunderhawk" in big, bold, white lettering across the top. The box art is the same art from the original packaging and off to the left side is a small photo of the Thunderhawk in Sports Car mode. On the right is a render of the new Matt Trakker figure with both helmets at his feet. The text on the box is where there are a lot of differences from the original. For instance, some text (such as "Sports Car") are in multiple languages and the age recommendation is now 8+ versus the original's "Ages 4 and Up".
The back of the box is similar to the original but has a lot of differences. In terms of general layout, the M.A.S.K. symbol is on the left and the Thunderhawk name is across the top. The photo of the vehicle is of course the new one (with the wings notably upright a lot more than the original) while the Matt Trakker figure and other accessories are renders. The blurbs for various parts are in multiple languages and The Loyal Subjects logo replaces the old Kenner logo.
Inside the box the vehicle, figure and accessories sit in a black, plastic tray with a clear plastic cover to keep everything in place.
Accessories:
This set includes a bunch of accessories. Let's go through them:
SPECTRUM Mask (Short):
The "short" SPECTRUM Mask is a helmet based on the design of the one that came with the original release of the Thunderhawk in the 80's. The helmet features a round shape with a raised edge around the neck area. The "eyes" are visor eyes with a mouth plate that looks like a rebreather. This piece is painted silver with red on the edges and metallic blue on the eyes.
SPECTRUM Mask (Long):
The longer Mask/helmet is based on the design of the helmets that came with the second run of the Thunderhawk in the 80's. This helmet has a very similar design to the previous one, but it features an extra piece below the neck that overlaps the chest and back. The sides feature tubes going from the helmet down to the sides. It definitely has some extra bulk and looks cool. This piece is also painted silver with red on the edges and metallic blue eyes.
This helmet's design features an attachment point on the visor for a Blast Effect. The Blast Effect is translucent yellow and attaches to the visor to represent the helmet's ability to control light. It looks great!
Blast Effects
There are two Blast Effects included with this set. Each is a translucent yellow "blast". They are meant to attach to the rear of the vehicle on the exhaust pipes to look like exhaust as the vehicle flies. It would have been cool if they could have attached to the ends of the weapons on the wings, but alas that is not the case.
Bombs
There are two "bombs" included with this set. These are intended to sit in chambers on the bottom of the vehicle. Push the jet engines on the back in and it drops the bombs on targets below! This is a really fun feature and honestly, we don't see things like this a lot anymore so it is refreshing to see.
Disc Launcher/Discs
This set includes a Disc launcher with a round shape in back and a thin, rectangular "barrel". Two discs are included with the set (both made of black plastic). Slide a disc into the barrel, then press the trigger and it launches! This piece is made of silver plastic with black and orange bits for the trigger mechanism. It is important to note this is a new piece that did not come with the original Thunderhawk adding some value to this release.
All the figures included with these modern day M.A.S.K. figures come with new figures based on the original action figures. In the case of Matt Trakker, he is wearing the same outfit as the original, but the details are refined. His "base" outfit is a jumpsuit along with knee pads, long gloves and straps running over his body (it looks to me almost like a seat belt with five straps). On top of the chest is a small vest. The head sculpt is a bit more refined than the original featuring stronger cheeks and a more defined chin.
This figure is made of grey plastic with red, brown, silver, white, light skin tone, black and yellow paint. That's a lot of colors for such a small figure bit it looks great. I'm glad they painted the eyes in, which gives the figure a bit more "life".
There are seven points of articulation on this figure. This includes two in each leg, the shoulders and the head. I would have liked to see elbow articulation added in to distinguish these figures more from their predecessors, but it isn't a deal breaker to me.
Sports Car Mode
The Thunderhawk's Sports Car mode appears to be based on the Iroc-Z version of the Chevrolet Camaro. The general shape of the vehicle is what gives it away including the distinct rectangular headlights in the front and the thin rectangular rear lights. This vehicle definitely looks like a car I remember seeing a lot as a kid in Brooklyn and it definitely brings up heavy nostalgic feelings. The interior of the car features two seats and a dashboard complete with a steering wheel and an area for a sticker with details including a speedometer.
This vehicle is (essentially) a modern day reissue of the original toy. The Loyal Subjects took an original Thunderhawk and had it taken apart and scanned to create the computer models that would be used to create this new version. That means from a detail standpoint it is mostly the same as the original with some tweaks (more on that in a bit). This means memorable details like the general design down to the shape of the hubcaps carry over from the original toy.
All that said, there have been some changes made to this vehicle. First, there are now side view mirrors where previously there were none. On top of that, the designers reworked the internal wing mechanism so the doors stay up more and do not droop down as much as the original.
The Thunderhawk is mostly made of red, silver and translucent grey plastic. The tires are all rubber, another retro touch brought forward to this vehicle. The vehicle is covered in various stickers including purple stickers with lightning bolts on the hood and doors. There are also other fun stickers including the dashboard, one with mechanical details on the top and a purple sticker with a grid pattern on it. The license plate in the back has the "M.A.S.K." logo on it. In this mode you can see the weapons from the Jet Fighter mode are vacuum metallized, just as they were in the original. Originally The Loyal Subjects was not sure they could do the vac metal but fortunately the factory in China was able to do it within the allotted budget. Unlike the 80's version of this toy, all the stickers on this vehicle are pre-applied.
Each seat inside the car lets you seat a M.A.S.K. figure. Even cooler, there are seat belts so you can keep them strapped in! I love little touches like this. The wheels roll very well. Push it a bit and it feel super smooth.
Transformation to Jet Fighter
On the top of the vehicle you will see a red button. Press that and a couple things will happen at the same time. The doors will swing open, forming "gull wings" while the spoiler will pop up. The red bar on the rear will move up and the "jet engines" in the back will extend out. Gently pull out the ends of the wings to extend the weapons. The bombs can be stored on the bottom of the vehicle. Finally, slide in the Disc Launcher underneath the front of the car.
Jet Fighter
The "Jet Fighter" mode is really more of a "flying car" mode but it is perhaps the vehicle most often associated with the M.A.S.K. toy line as a whole. The "gull wings" do look cool, especially with the weapons extended out on the sides. The "jet engines" in the back do look like futuristic exhaust pipes but it works. I also dig the way the spoiler is raised up, looking almost like it is helping the car fly somehow (hey, this is 80's cartoon scifi, just roll with it).
Sadly, the Blast Effects do not connect to the weapons on the wings. That would have been a neat touch. Still, they do attach to the "Jet Engines" and look cool. It does take a couple of tries to get them attached properly, but once they were I was able to "whoosh" the vehicle around a bit but shake it too much and they will fall off.
In terms of the doors and the mechanism holding them up, the doors on my copy of this vehicle do not "droop" the way I have seen on some 80's Thunderhawk toys. That said, the driver side door droops a bit lower than the other door. Push it up and it stays in place but can sink back down when you move the vehicle around.
Final Thoughts
Few vehicles are as heavily associated with M.A.S.K. as the Thunderhawk and this is a fun reissue of the original vehicle. That said, the driver side door does droop a tiny bit but that's my copy and time will tell if this will be a widespread issue. The new Matt Trakker figure is cool and looks great. I really dig the helmets, especially the one with a Blast Effect. This set is not perfect, but it is a fun and faithful "reissue". That said, I can understand how the price may keep casual fans away and instead lean towards those feeling heavy nostalgia or hardcore fans.
Pros:
- Beautiful sculpt representing a classic vehicle.
- Fun action features.
- The new Matt Trakker figure looks great!
Cons:
- The slight droop on the driver's side door in "Jet Fighter" mode is a bummer.
- The Blast Effects can be fiddly.
