Manta Ray

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Following the successful launch of the MANTA Force ship, the World Government created the Red Venom to help Manta Force colonise New Earth. On Saturn, many people had grown tired of living in plastic bubbles and believed New Earth should belong to them. During its test runs, the Red Venom was hijacked by a group of highly skilled soldiers called the Viper Squad. Under the command of Major Vex, the Viper Squad attempted to use the Red Venom to hijack the MANTA Force ship so they could be the ones to colonise New Earth. Later, the two opposing sides joined forces to fight off attacks from a cybernetic alien known as Mad Karnock, who was served by an army of robots called Karnoids. Another enemy also emerged from the swamps of New Earth in the form of the vile Stinkhorn, leader of the Stenchoids, who attempted to destroy the humans with their decomposing Stench weapons, which excreted a green compound similar to Play-Doh.

In Their Own Story

The Red Venom, a huge red spaceship for the Viper Squad that splits into 9 all-terrain vehicles, was hijacked by the Viper Squad under Major Vex during its test runs. They aimed to use it to hijack the MANTA Force ship and colonise New Earth themselves. Later, the Viper Squad and MANTA Force joined forces to fight Mad Karnock and his Karnoid robots. Another threat, the Stenchoids led by Stinkhorn, emerged from the swamps of New Earth, using Stench weapons that excreted a green compound similar to Play-Doh. The toy line included many vehicles and sets, such as the Giant 2-in-1 MANTA Force spaceship housing 10 smaller vehicles, the Black Barracuda which separated into several vehicles including a tank and a Karnoid robot factory, and the Bog Rocket, a purple spaceship that could convert into a fortress for Stinkhorn and his Stenchoids.

Reader's Guide

The MANTA Force toy line was divided into two main factions: the heroic MANTA Force and the evil Viper Squad. In 1989, the Karnoids were introduced as an enemy of both factions, followed by the Stenchoids in 1990. Key vehicles include the MANTA Force Giant 2-in-1 spaceship housing 10 smaller vehicles, the Red Venom for the Viper Squad splitting into 9 all-terrain vehicles, the Battle Fortress bunker with a Viper Squad disc launcher, the Star Blaster silver rocket splitting into 4 individual aircraft, the Black Barracuda separating into several vehicles including a tank and a Karnoid robot factory, the Bog Rocket converting into a fortress for Stinkhorn and his Stenchoids, and the Astro Shark containing several smaller ships with an exclusive red MANTA pilot. Smaller sets included redecos like the Yellow Wolves, Red Hawks, Blue Sharks, and Black Viper, as well as various field guns, vehicles, and figures such as the Reinforcements set with 16 MANTA men and the Ammo Pack with 14 replacement projectiles.

Did You Know?

• The MANTA Force toy line was produced by British toy company Bluebird in 1987.
• The MANTA Force acronym stands for Multiple-Air-Naval-Terrain-Assault Force.
• The MANTA ship's engine was fuelled by a substance called Thorium.
• The Stenchoids' Stench weapons excreted a green compound similar to Play-Doh.
• A comic strip based on the toyline was featured in the IPC Magazines anthology comic Eagle from 5 September 1987 to 23 January 1988.