Rhino (M.A.S.K.)

A red truck that ISN'T Optimus Prime? That's just crazy talk.

The Rhino is a special vehicle developed by Project Spectrum. While normally disguised as a semi-tractor truck, Rhino is able to turn into a mobile defense unit at a moment’s notice. It can also serve as a refueling station for long-range missions. Unlike other Project Spectrum vehicles, Rhino is usually controlled by two operators: one to drive the vehicle and the other to control its weaponry. However, this is not always the case, as its primary pilot, Bruno Sheppard, has shown to be capable of driving the vehicle solo.

Thanks to special modifications from Cobra, it can also combine with the Manta and Piranha to form the vicious King Cobra.

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

A prototype Rhino was parked outside the Project Spectrum base when the recruits showed up. M.A.S.K.: Revolution General Manheim later unveiled the nearly-completed Rhino to the recruits, indicating that it would serve as Bruno Sheppard's personal vehicle. However, Mayhem warned that the vehicle's neural pathway system was still incomplete, and that the Rhino was not to be trifled with. Matt Trakker believed this to be a dare in disguise, but Sheppard wasn't so sure. At the behest of Brad Turner and Julio Lopez, the recruits took a photo with the Rhino. The Origin of V.E.N.O.M. Part 2

For M.A.S.K.'s first mission, Bruno and Julio drove the Rhino into battle against the Transformers Kup and Aileron in Greece. While Lopez controlled the vehicle, Sheppard manned the weapons, firing them at Kup. The Divine Source of Liberty The pair operated it once more during M.A.S.K.'s siege on Autobot City, but Optimus Prime stopped the Rhino using his fist, The New Colossus and shortly afterward Baron Karza blasted it to dust, forcing Julio and Bruno to eject. After the battle, the damaged M.A.S.K. vehicles were recovered by G.I. Joe. Valley Forge

After returning to Project Spectrum HQ to recover from the Revolution event, Bruno was encouraged by Matt to take the Rhino for a test drive solo. Everything seemed to go well at first, but as Bruno was about to return to base, the Rhino's systems overloaded, causing the vehicle to erupt into flames with Bruno trapped inside and unable to free himself. The other members of the team tried to rescue him, but the Rhino exploded, apparently killing Bruno, Vanessa Warfield, and Sly Rax. In actuality, they were saved by Manheim, who recruited them to his V.E.N.O.M. team. The Origin of V.E.N.O.M. Part 2

During V.E.N.O.M.'s ambush of M.A.S.K. in Barbados, Bruno pursued Gloria Baker's Shark in a new, black-colored Rhino. M.A.S.K. #2 Bruno used it again, now pulling a trailer, when fighting M.A.S.K. in Toronto. Using a remote control system, Bruno stood on top of the truck's hood and attacked with his Thunderflame Mask. Brad Turner managed to nab the remote from Bruno, crashing the Rhino (and Bruno) into a building. M.A.S.K. #5

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M.A.S.K. #9

When V.E.N.O.M. was absorbed into Cobra, Cobra scientist Scrap-Iron rebuilt the Rhino, restoring its red color scheme and modifying it to be able to combine with Rax's Piranha and Warfield's Manta to form the giant snake robot King Cobra. G.I. Joe: First Strike After V.E.N.O.M. formed the King Cobra in New York City, the combined mech was ultimately taken down by G.I. Joe. M.A.S.K.: First Strike

Notes

• The original 1980s Rhino was a M.A.S.K. vehicle, but after Revolution in the IDW continuity, it is Bruno Sheppard of V.E.N.O.M. who operates a Rhino.

External links

• Fan site by Albert Penello with information about the Rhino toy