Manta Force

MANTA Force was a line of toys produced by British toy company Bluebird in 1987. The toyline was initially divided into two main factions: the heroic MANTA Force and their opponents, the evil Viper Squad. Following the popularity of the MANTA Force toy range, an additional enemy was introduced in 1989; a group of robots known as the Karnoids, who were an enemy of both MANTA Force and the Viper Squad. The following year saw the release of the Stenchoids, which were another new threat for the humans. By the early 1990s however, the popularity of the toy range began to decrease and eventually production was stopped.

MANTA Force
CompanyBluebird Toys
Availability1987–1991

Plot

By 2012, humans had colonised many planets throughout the Solar System, including Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The planet Earth however, had become polluted and overpopulated. In an attempt to save mankind, President Battaille ordered the creation of the M.A.N.T.A. ship. M.A.N.T.A. Force was an acronym for Multiple-Air-Naval-Terrain-Assault Force and was the most advanced Earth ship ever built. It was designed to work in any environment and its engine was fuelled by a substance called Thorium.

Following the successful launch of the M.A.N.T.A. Force ship, the World Government created the Red Venom to help Manta Force colonise New Earth. On Saturn however, many of the people had grown tired of living in plastic bubbles and believed New Earth should belong to them. During its test runs therefore, 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 M.A.N.T.A. 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).

Toys

Manta Force toys
  • MANTA Force - Giant 2-in-1 spaceship which housed 10 smaller vehicles.
  • Battle Fortress - M.A.N.T.A. Force bunker with Viper Squad disc launcher
  • Astro Shark - White starship that contained several smaller ships. Also included an exclusive red M.A.N.T.A pilot.
  • Star Blaster - Silver rocket for Viper Squad, which split into 4 individual aircraft.
  • Red Venom - Huge red spaceship for the Viper Squad. Splits into 9 all-terrain vehicles.
  • Black Barracuda - Black spaceship which separated into several vehicles, including a tank and a Karnoid robot factory.
  • Bog Rocket - Purple spaceship, that could convert into a fortress for Stinkhorn and his Stenchoids.

Smaller sets
  • Yellow Wolves - Yellow redecos of the 3 land vehicles from the M.A.N.T.A. ship.
  • Red Hawks - Red redecos of the 3 air vehicles from the M.A.N.T.A ship.
  • Blue Sharks - Blue redecos of the 3 sea vehicles from the M.A.N.T.A ship.
  • Black Viper - Black redeco of the Battle Copter from the M.A.N.T.A ship.
  • Porcupine - M.A.N.T.A. Hawks field gun.
  • Sting Ray - M.A.N.T.A. Hawks rescue ship.
  • Red Viper - Viper Squad attack ship.
  • The Sledge Hammer - M.A.N.T.A. Force field Gun.
  • The Dictator - Viper Squad field gun.
  • The Equalizer & The Vaporizer - Field guns for M.A.N.T.A Force & Viper Squad, sold together.
  • The Scythe - M.A.N.T.A. Force vehicle with disc launcher.
  • The Cyclops - M.A.N.T.A. Force vehicle with double barreled cannon.
  • The Zip Gun - M.A.N.T.A. Force vehicle with rapid fire pellet gun.
  • Doomsday - Viper Squad double barreled cannon.
  • Rattle Snake - Viper Squad red Zip Gun.
  • B.A.T. - Wheeled combat vehicle for the Viper Squad.
  • Battle Buzzard - Viper Squad 2-man hang glider.
  • Wasp - Viper Squad motorcycle.
  • Reinforcements - Includes 16 M.A.N.T.A. men.
  • Ammo Pack - 14 replacement projectiles for the vehicles.
  • Gutz - Black redeco of Mad Karnack's attack vehicle from the Black Barracuda.
  • Ground Hog - Karnoid land vehicle. Can be combined with Black Barracuda.
  • Glutten - Karnoid land vehicle. Can be combined with Black Barracuda.
  • Snatch - Red Karnoid jet fighter. Can be combined with Black Barracuda.
  • Sneak - Red Karnoid jet fighter. Can be combined with Black Barracuda.
  • Hammer-Head - Karnoid battering ram.
  • Turbo-Drill - Karnoid drill vehicle.
  • Sling-Shot - Karnoid catapult.
  • Spit-Bug - Karnoid missile launcher.
  • Snatch (black) - Black redeco of original Snatch. Can combine with Karnoid land vehicles.
  • Sneak (black) - Black redeco of original Sneak. Can combine with Karnoid land vehicles.
  • Stinkjet - Silver UFO for the vile Stinkhorn.
  • Stenchoid - Included a Stenchoid, M.A.N.T.A men, and a Stench Egg.
  • Stench Refill - included a large green Stench refill and several M.A.N.T.A. men.

Literature

In September 1987, Eagle Comics released a comic-strip based on the Manta Force toyline. Starting with a prologue written by John Wagner & Alan Grant (under the pseudonym W. Steele) and illustrated by Ian Kennedy in issue 285, the main series ran between issues 286 - 305. It was written by Alan Hebden and illustrated by Mike Dorey. The purpose of the comic-strips was to provide a back-story to Manta Force universe and help to promote the Bluebird toy range. Following the conclusion of the comic-strip in Eagle Comics, Marvel Comics UK produced a one-shot special in 1989. Presently, it is unknown if Marvel Comics UK had planned to produce additional one-shot specials or even an ongoing series. Bluebird also published two promotional comics in the late 1980s, to promote the Black Barracuda and Vile Stinkhorn toy ranges. These promotional comics were generally found in the packages of other Manta Force toys. In July 1989, Carnival released two books based on the Manta Force toyline. Both books were written by Royston Drake. Similar to the comic-strips found in Eagle Comics and Marvel Comics UK, these books were designed to provide a more detailed back-story, while also promoting the toy range

Eagle Comics

IssueSummaryWritersIllustratorsRelease Date
Eagle Comics # 285The MANTA ship blasts off in search of Earth's twin planet.W. SteeleIan KennedyMonday 5 September 1987
Eagle Comics # 286The Viper Squad steal the Manta Force Battle Copter.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 12 September 1987
Eagle Comics # 287Captain Finn attempts to rescue Commander Quest.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 19 September 1987
Eagle Comics # 288Commander Quest and Major Vex encounter an alien intelligence.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 26 September 1987
Eagle Comics # 289Major Vex's Viper Squad investigate an ancient alien city.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 3 October 1987
Eagle Comics # 290Major Vex finds an alien device which makes him invisible.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 10 October 1987
Eagle Comics # 291The Viper Squad use their new power of invisibility to infiltrate the MANTA ship.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 17 October 1987
Eagle Comics # 292Major Vex encounters an alien spacecraft.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 24 October 1987
Eagle Comics # 293Using a duplication ray he found aboard the alien ship, Major Vex secretly creates a huge army of vehicles and troops.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 31 October 1987
Eagle Comics # 294The first settlers arrive from Earth and begin construction of a new city on the planet.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 7 November 1987
Eagle Comics # 295Captain Finn discovers Major Vex's duplicated army.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 14 November 1987
Eagle Comics # 296Captain Finn explains how he managed to escape from Vex's lair.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 21 November 1987
Eagle Comics # 297Manta Force realise that their vehicles are being sabotaged.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 28 November 1987
Eagle Comics # 298The evil duplicate of Captain Finn attempts to destroy the city.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 5 December 1987
Eagle Comics # 299Major Vex unleashes his huge army of duplicated Manta Force vehicles.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 12 December 1987
Eagle Comics # 300The alien guardian reveals his secret.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 19 December 1987
Eagle Comics # 301The real Captain Finn escapes from his prison cell.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 26 December 1987
Eagle Comics # 302Major Vex tries to seize control of the planet.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 2 January 1988
Eagle Comics # 303The battle for New Earth rages on.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 9 January 1988
Eagle Comics # 304With his duplicate army destroyed, Vex seeks to retaliate by annihilating the city.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 16 January 1988
Eagle Comics # 305Manta Force must battle a duplicate of their own MANTA Attack Ship, piloted by the evil Viper Squad.Alan HebdenMike DoreyMonday 23 January 1988

Marvel Comics UK

IssueSummaryWritersIllustratorsRelease Date
Manta Force - Winter Special # 001Royston DrakeRoyston DrakeWinter, 1989

Bluebird Comics

IssueSummaryWritersIllustratorsRelease Date
Red Venom Strikes at Manta Force!The Viper Squad hijack a new state-of-the-art spaceship.UnknownUnknown1988
Manta Force - The Black Barracuda AttacksUnknownUnknown1989
Manta Force - Vile Stinkhorn and his StenchoidsUnknownUnknown1990

Carnival Books

IssueSummaryWritersIllustratorsRelease Date
Manta Force - The Enemy WithinExampleRoyston DrakeRoyston DrakeMonday 17 July 1989
Manta Force - Red Venom Attack!ExampleRoyston DrakeRoyston DrakeMonday 17 July 1989

References
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