Are you guys nuts!?!?!?

As far as a show, yes GI Joe lasted longer. There were more characters and more base material to work with.

As far as the cartoon, I think it's a draw -- both were equally fun, and, as a grown-up going back and watching them, equally 80s cheesy-esque. And for those of us who actually watched MASK, their theme song is just as iconic as GI Joe's.

But as far as toys. . .MASK blows them away. Sure GI Joe could make a helicopter or a plane. . .but MASK made a helicopter THAT TURNED INTO A PLANE. GI Joe could have a boat. MASK had a boat. . .hidden inside a Jeep! GI Joe had a motorcycle with a sidecar. MASK had a motorcycle with a sidecar. . .that detached and became a submarine!

MASK was part GI Joe, part Transformers, AND had some actual licensed vehicles (Ford Bronco, '57 Chevy, Nissan 300zx, Camaro, and Lamborghini to name a few) so we can even call it part Transformers Alternators and part Hot Wheels). The toys are AWESOME! Best toys ever!

Let's put it this way. . .in my toy collection, I have 150+ DC Universe Classics, almost all of the 25th Anniversary GI Joe stuff plus most POC, lots of TF Classics, and every MASK vehicle from the first three waves (I skipped the expensive Split Seconds wave 4 stuff that never showed up on the cartoon). Guess which ones my son likes? Besides his Legos. . .Transformers and MASK. Even my daughter likes to play with MASK! (Just wish they had made a Shark for Gloria Baker!)

I know I played with MASK way more as a kid than I did my GI Joes. And I didn't have to worry about busting thumbs, crotches, and o-rings.

EDIT: I still love you all, even when you're wrong. As you clearly are here. ;P

This.

And I SO wanted a Shark back then. Stiletto seemed like a nice compromise, but I could never get my hands on one. Never had any of that last wave of toys.

Again, I played with both as a kid. I had more GI Joe than MASK, though. I liked the scale and playsets that GI Joe had back then. They also had more variety. MASK is definitely awesome, and I still love those old toys today, but GI Joe gets my vote with this.

Couldn't have said it better myself.