HCC788 - 1994 MANTA-RAY - Vintage G.I. Joe toy review!

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Special Thanks to:
Geoff Adams, Sean Dowling, Jason Galligan, Droidwhisperer,
Jeff Mills (Biggypines), Ryan Wagner, James Swindell, Brian Zahn,
Byron Kellogg, Michael Johnson, Ben Penserga, Mike Smith,
Tyler Levens, Shaun Drefahl, Raz Holly, David Tejerina,
William J. Stelmack, Philip Hanks, Todd Humphrey, Kurt Kesler,
Martin Day, Venetian Snares, Magnus Lauglo, Mike Murdock,
Daryl Beck, Chris Piers, Brad Williams, Paul D. Kinnear
Troy Smith
Information and Sources:
Manta Ray on YoJoe.com:
www.yojoe.com/v...
"502nd conducts assault river exercise," Maureen Rose, U.S. Army,
4/25/2013,
www.army.mil/a...
G.I. Joe Manta-Ray commercial
Music:
Chipper, Big Rock, The Snow Queen
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons:
By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons...
Elephants by Huma-Huma
G. I. Joe is (c) Hasbro.
All copyrighted material is used for the purpose of
comment and criticism, which constitutes a fair use
of such material.
This video is (c) Bryan Lower.

[@katenunyabizness9221]

If they had made the green bits in a grey shade this would have been so much more awesome of a boat. The lighter color of the bottom half of the inflatable part would help it blend in with the surface brightness of the water if it was viewed from below.

[@PlatformJunkie]

Happy anniversary! I’m new but you helped inspire me to start collecting again building off my childhood figures. I’ve bought three complete Joes so far! ☺️

[@HCC788]

Fantastic! I hope you enjoy your collecting journey!

[@mikeisernie]

A few years ago I customized one. Painted the body gray/black with "water camo" and swapped out that front sillygun with a mounted M-60 and ditched missiles.

[@jasonluttrull5953]

I was with you since year one! Congrats!

[@HCC788]

Thank you for sticking around!

[@MCDJACDC]

Woohoo 4 years!!! Wish I would have been there...

[@sparkster1701]

Happy 4 years, and here is to another 4 more!!!!! That raft however, I think it was best left forgotten.

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@ralang999]

Ice Cream Soldier back from the pits of Hades! :D

[@NerdGasims]

Congrats on your 4 year anniversary HCC788. Glad I found your channel last year and since then it’s been a highlight of my Sunday evenings

[@HCC788]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it!

[@dalesanteford7432]

Congratulations hooded Cobra Commander on years of your show

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@lo1bo2]

thunder...Thunder...THUNDER...THUNDER STREAK HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tonyjackson4078]

I think the Devil Fish was a combat vehicle, but also a response and sighting craft for downed aircraft and crashes on small islands. The Devil Fish could go out and not only take on possible enemy forces closing in on survivors, but be easily spotted by rescue craft that was not as fast.

[@johannesmakila2459]

Happy 4 year anniversary. Time sure flies when you are having fun doesn't it.

[@HCC788]

Thank you! It has been a wild ride!

[@mikechill1880]

I still find this vehicle in my local mom and pops toy store Congrats 4 years

[@mattleuty5285]

Congratulations my friend. I'm excited for everything to come, I really do think of us all as a family that supports each other. All the best HCC!!

[@HCC788]

That's how I think of it, too! Thank you!

[@forumicebreaker]

Thunderstreak?! That's cool. I had Manta Ray brand new back in the day. I wanted to like it but the Night Landing is more fun. The inflatable portion is really not able to keep a tight scaled sense of form. The side missile holders were always somewhat loose and moving around, the limited front launcher range of motion diminished fun. But the outboard cover was a plus. This is one of the last vehicles I would ever consider even taking possession of used-loose with the used inflatable interaction.

[@Mlopez_602]

90s era G.I. Joe, such a sad time, a sad time indeed. But congrats on four years!!!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@glennrobbins2372]

Happy 4 years and hope for many more reviews. My son had that vehicle. Either Topside or Cutter v2 piloted it while Shipwreck v2 and Wetsuit v3 would do missions. Or he'd use it as more of an adventure vehicle. He had the Creature from the Black Lagoon from Burger King and would act out a jungle river adventure with him and the Joes.

[@danielferstendig]

Glenn Robbins did u know shipwreck v2 was also used as stinky diver.

[@glennrobbins2372]

daniel ferstendig, stinking diver? What or who was that?

[@danielferstendig]

Glenn Robbins battle corps shipwreck i didnt meen stinky diver.

[@danielferstendig]

Glenn Robbins no stinky diver i meen battlecorps shipwreck.

[@glennrobbins2372]

daniel ferstendig ahh got you. Well I actually found a box at a yardsale that was full of G I Joes and vehicles. My son was too young to play with them then but when the woman said 20 bucks for the whole box, I couldn't pass it up. I held on to the box until he was old enough to play with them.

[@brett8481]

The angled post on the back is a white anchor light that all boats are required to have for operating at night in civilian waterways. You will notice the model on dual light on the bow, which would be a combo red and green lens to indicate the direct the boat is going at night and is not on when anchored. Whoever sculpted this vehicle was obviously someone with civilian nautical knowledge to include those Coast Guard required features.

[@HCC788]

Cool!

[@daveyardbird7430]

Happy anniversary! The Manta windsurf board is where I display Quick Kick. No shoes, no shirt, no problem when windsurfing. Great review. I was curious about the manta ray and now I am glad I didn’t pull the trigger on buying one. Keep up the great work and thanks for taking one for the team on this one.

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@Transfixed]

By 1994 standards i think it's actually pretty cool. If it had a couple of benches and was moulded in olive drab it could have been a lot of fun.

[@mosswalker]

happy anniversary! 'was that Ice Cream Solider in the crew? I feel including him was a funny critique all in of itself!

[@aped3]

Bring back the comic book review !!!

[@MattDoyleMusicOhio]

I love the Manta! Great toy for the pool/bathtub. Motor is tough.

[@violagreene4643]

Interestingly, the term "devilfish" (one word) is a colloquial name for manta rays. Another species of ray is also called the "devil fish" (two words).So that's THREE different G.I. Joe water craft with basically the same name.

[@jamesandrewjohnstone1931]

Congratulations on your 4th anniversary. ....heres to many more years to come

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@bambam5130]

Have mine from when I was a kid

[@zachivan7557]

Hey man congrats on the four years ive been watching your videos for a long while

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@MarcelosToyRoom]

Happy 4 year anniversary my friend :D :D :D lots more years to come :D

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@bgddyphil]

Great stuff! Congrats on 4 years!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@jacenstarheart6256]

Happy Anniversary HCC Very Awesome! 👍👍

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@jacenstarheart6256]

Very Welcome HCC!

[@Pegwarmers]

Congrats on 4 years!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@The_Jawnski]

I've been here for almost 3! Congrats HCC!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@TheToyBoy1978]

Congratulations on your 4 years as the top "go to guy" for 3 & 3/4 vintage GI Joes!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@johnsexton1122]

Happy anniversary! I've never been a fan of the 90s color schemes but it might be nice with a paint job. Also- I'd love to see you do a show focused on the mail aways. At least Cobra Commander v1 through Starduster

[@HCC788]

I've been working on getting more mail-away figures ready to review.

[@johnsexton1122]

HoodedCobraCommander788 sounds great. Also had a few more ideas that I haven’t seen yet, but maybe I missed. How about 1983 APC, Mountain Howitzer, and a video dedicated to just blueprints?

[@WilliamPageCN]

I feel like I had my figures on the pegs but had them take a knee on the boat except for the driver position because it was to close to the console to kneel. Great review!

[@Hurricanelive]

Here is how I change it, two rotary gun cannons on each side, the driver and torpedo is okay but give them seats while gunners can kneel. The green turns grey or even better black, the guns are than all red and it's for Cobra, okay I guess dark green for Joe with silver weapons. I also make it an inch wider with room for a rear facing swivel seat and rear facing overhead mini gun that can elevate a bit. As you say, if the raft was solid plastic even better! Hell, I'd probably toss dumbell wheels under it and sell it as an amphibious hovercraft assault platform. These changes might make it cost and extra $3 to 5 but it'd be OG level.

[@kaylemathewcomendador7614]

I feel like the Manta-ray would work better as a escape/safety bout for surviving sinking boats.

[@brianmather4048]

Arthur a friend of mine. . Noticed this as well a little work w/ a drummel & part of a pop-cyclestick he & his Dad made a seat.. of course at the customization it looses value But he saved the sticker you loved & used it later in preference of the Night force stickers on a W.H.A.L.E. The flag is more like a baner... And that is stick is a boat light...Or running light to use when not in battle per boating reg's when in a friendly harbor. ..

[@travismoore7938]

Man ... When you put all the figures in to the Manta Ray side by side, it showed how bad the 90's figures were. Cutter was the only decent figure. On top of that, you put them into a neon green boat! Happy 4th Anniversary. Thanks for all you do!

[@ucitymetalhead]

Reminds me of the boat that they made in 93 called the shark 9000 that was a good vehicle.

[@zartan7779]

I should get one and repaint that neon.

[@juanhavarti159]

Happy Anniversary Commander!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@johnnahodil]

congratulations on 4 years

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@kaylemathewcomendador7614]

With some adjustments like making the control console taller, move the torpedo launcher slightly to give the figures a better grip on it, scrap the inflatable feature, make the foot pegs tighter and use a darker shade of green this vehicle would be OK. But as it is right now its not that good.

[@cyberfrank-bx2nv]

congrats on 4 years! the manta ray signs the death of the Joe line pretty well... not enough research and development time allowed. who the heck figured that it would be any fun to have this? a grandma? on paper, it sounded pretty good I guess, but paper does nt do so well in water.... call grandma and tell her I d rather have a pair of socks, as this does. good show Commander!

[@timf7413]

For such a late period in the line, this thing is pretty cool. I could see having a lot of fun with this as a kid.

[@fitnessfrank83]

Bath time just got wet and wild!!!

[@RealHectorCanales]

Hi. I’ve followed you for a few years now, since you had less than a 100 subscribers. My daughter & I have been doing a “retro review”, where we unbox, play, & review retro figures from my childhood. I saw your review on the 1994 Manta Ray & that made me want to purchase it. May I mention you in our review & May I use the thumbnail for your review on my video? Thank you for your time & reviews -Hector Canales 👍🏽

[@smcw3566]

Cheers

[@jasonkerest394]

Would Shipwreck v2 be one of those toys that you DO like from 1994? I wonder... Happy 4th Anniversary HCC788!

[@HCC788]

Possibly! I haven't gotten around to reviewing Shipwreck v2 yet. Thank you!

[@delvis7842]

Happy 4 years! Thanks for all you do for us! I take your "tier" levels with an "as is" grain of salt! Tmif there were modifications made, I'm sure it would be higher up on your scale! Maybe a nylon spacer between the blades and the engine would help?

[@HCC788]

Thanks! Yeah, the "tiers" is pretty loose, and I have to consider the toy as it was presented. You can always do other things with it.

[@WeaselJuice]

Thunderstreak?.....THUNDERSTREAK!! Thunderstreak?.....THUNDERSTREAK!! LOL!

[@TerryTurner]

The General Mobile Headquarters for the 5th Anniversary. 👍😉

[@HCC788]

I won't rule it out!

[@mattdawg83686]

Happy Anniversary! Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, GETTING...ANGRY...1994...CRAPTACULAR...MANTA-RAY...GRRRRR!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@tycondrius23]

great video not so sure on the boat. like you said the plastic component in black or even a dark olive green mighta been better. one thing around the 11:00 mark you can hear I think it was a cat in the background I had to replay that section a few times as I thought I was loosing it and it was one of my own cats, but its so odd its sound perfectly if a animal was outside.

[@mgvillanmp478]

Oh yea congratulations on four years ..it's been that long already ??... here's to more my friend thanks for what you do appreciate it

[@hillbillyharper4008]

Happy 4 years.

[@TerryTurner]

Cheers 🍻

[@whozyourdaddy]

This looks like one of those toys that appears in the back aisle of the toy section when it gets close to summer. Yes, sharing peg space with squirt guns, pool noodles, and beach balls is the last gasp of the mighty GIJoe. It's spring loaded, neon, rubber band powered AND inflatable. Talk about checking every box on the chart of mediocrity. Happy 4 years, bro. Here's to another four years of awesome GIJoe toy reviews!

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@jedi69outcast]

Fifth Anniversary Idea... The Oktober Guard , either the comic pack or the Joe Club version

[@josiahalcorne7568]

I had a long day at work thank you for making my night. Congrats on the anniversary. I wonder if living on the coast would have changed your thinking on some of these water vehicles. Thanks again for all the great content for the last 4 years and thank you to everyone who makes this such a great place to spend a couple minutes every couple of days.

[@HCC788]

Thanks! Living elsewhere may have changed my perspective. I don't know how much I would have played with the boats in the water. I always worried about the floating away, sinking, or parts getting lost. I probably would have brought the toys to the beach, though.

[@josiahalcorne7568]

pools are statistically much more common in the south so the pool was where the boats got the most play my cousins had a great landscaped that ran the pump in a waterfall effect around the hot tub. I meant more the psyche of living by the water. we never took action figures to the beach. I lost r2d2 and snow luke when I was barely old enough make memories and cried for way too long. I am a little bit Aspergersy and OCD about some possessions starting way back when. I can't remember a time ever that if I saw an interesting piece of space that I didn't fantasize about getting my action figures out and acting out some scenario. down here though so many of those daydreams involved the water. I was a star wars kid and we got other stuff to suplement the line like remco until the killer whale came out and then it was all about gi joe. The revenge of cobra series was what really hooked me in that 85, 86, 87, run was really so perfect.

[@sirkowski]

That toy is... uh... something. The Thunderstreak looks awesome though.

[@HCC788]

The Thunderstreak looks pretty good for a 60s toy. It had wheel attachments so you could drive it on land, too.

[@michaelterrell9645]

I like this channel and the reviews. Happy 4th anniversary! I stopped collecting around 92 or 93 i didn't have this toy. Can you review the Cobra Adder or the Imp? Keep up the great work!!!

[@HCC788]

Thank you! I still need to complete the Adder and the Imp, but I will get to them.

[@michaelterrell9645]

HoodedCobraCommander788 Pleaee dont stop the reviews HCC788! Its like time machine for me when i was a kid.

[@mgvillanmp478]

Blinding neon green... always wanted a toy with that color... LOL 😂😂...nice work I'll be staying far away from this one .

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

M.G.Villan Nothing says "concealment" like neon lime!

[@mgvillanmp478]

JoeMotion Videos 82 hahhahhhahhaha..if you want to blind the opponent this is Definitely the way to do it ... lol

[@HCC788]

You've been around for almost all of those four years! Thanks!

[@mgvillanmp478]

HoodedCobraCommander788 most welcome my friend

[@sirgrunt99]

Happy 4 year anniversary

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@ivan363]

That’s a top tier 💚 Stevie Wonder could see that

[@matthewsirois3705]

According to the ad it was "Sleek and stealthy". Nothing is more stealthy than bright neon green! It's too bad, even a neon blue would have been an improvement to this Toys look! I had the Night Lander and it was a personal favorite, perfect for landing troops for a sneak attack. The Manta Ray could have been a cool toy, alas, too many flaws.

[@ianappleby2716]

The joe dark time were everything was neon now the joes are dead

[@bobastu]

Great video about a, ahem, neon green coastal approach, coastal defense vehicle. It would be nice if at least one GI Joe toy designer would step forward and attempt to explain how the number one boys toy in the early to mid 80s went belly up 10 years later. Late 80s, smiling hard rockers, power ballets, and hair gel; early 90s, grunge...grunge. I just do not understand. If GI Joe started to include some type of mutant amphibious creatures, or went to color based teams with giant mechs they could pilot would make more sense than the lackluster offerings Hasbro spit out.

[@limitbreak84]

Actually, I think this vehicle is really cool. I would've love it growing up. To each his own.

[@HCC788]

Great! I'm glad you found something you would like!

[@ghostbusterguy20011]

Woohoo way to go hooded

[@ucitymetalhead]

Of i ever buy one of these the first thing I'm doing is breaking out the black spray paint and second i wonder what would happen if I tried to fill it with expanding foam?

[@KidApoc]

This would’ve worked well for a Dreadnok vehicle,as far as the colors go.

[@BurlySauce]

If u get this used be sure to wash the inflate area where you blow into because germs 🦠

[@jamesschulziii9098]

I looked at one of these yesterday. I'd custom paint the green with matte black. I would not want to ruin it so I'd make sure I did a good job. Then, only then would I outfit it with my troops. I see what they were trying to do. I lost interest by the time this one came out. I'd rather have a bigger night landing.

[@dalesanteford7432]

My last GI Joe vehicles I saw the vehicle lot but I never got this I've always had the Locust the GI Joe helicopter Street Fighter versus GI Joe vehicles Mortal Kombat the giant robot from starburg a GI Joe and the GI Joe Dino Hunter's the remake of the desert fox

[@Michael_Johnson_5446]

Congratulations on four years. This could have been a great companion to the Killer Whale if it had been in a better colour.

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@donpaulandrews]

Do a review on the Cobra Earthquake

[@DBUP-l8h]

Wow, it's been 4 years ready? Time just flew by. I was wondering what you think of the current state of GI Joe? Do you think it'll be a relic of the past? It'd be interesting discussion video. :)

[@HCC788]

Thank you! Right now there isn't a current state of G.I. Joe. It's on hold at least until 2020. I would like to see it become relevant again, but I don't know if Hasbro knows how to do it.

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

Congratulations on #4! I'm really proud of you buddy. This is a cool toy, I've always wanted one. For your 5th anniversary, you could give away a Terror Drome or a tiny boat called The Flagg. Just a thoughr

[@HCC788]

Thanks! That's a nice thought. Keep thinkin' it. :)

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

HoodedCobraCommander788 Lol, One can dream, can't he?

[@TheBoglin]

The 3 vehicles that came out in 1994 all really fell flat to me. I think the Cobra Scorpion was probably the best to come out of that year, with the G.I. Joe Razorblade coming in 2nd. This vehicle also just looks very cheaply made so you can totally see how 1994 was the last year for G.I. Joe and not alot of money was thrown into the line by this point.

[@crazyjjl]

Did you try to kneel down the figures?

[@WeaselJuice]

Question...Shouldn’t T.A.R.G.A.T. be the designated target? 🎯 😉

[@christianbrix5211]

Looks like a (bottom tier) Dreadnok vehicle in those colours

[@battlearmordad]

Manta Ray has a lot of problems. IMHO it's the weakest of the three Battle Corps vehicles for 1994. I hope you still plan to check out the Cobra Scorpion and the GI Joe Razor Blade.

[@jamesschulziii9098]

It's still cool, sorta.

[@uhhuhhuh100]

Great review! I think the color scheme is awful, too. The line got terrible looking with the neon colors in the 1990's. If only they could've made this in a black/grey camouflage or plain black. They really missed a good opportunity with this vehicle.

[@validatedcustomer604]

i had the same toy and it inflated Just fine didn't look all flat and bent like this one

[@blankpage555]

how expensive this toy was, did it come with a figure?

[@dalesanteford7432]

A GI Joe raft I had a GI Joe the camel to Raft I don't remember the Joe's name I use that figure a lot and he had only a pistol and a rifle the rifle is attached to the raft

[@danielferstendig]

did u know stinky diver was on the box piloting the manta ray.

[@ZedKaizoku]

Congrats Happy 4 years man! To bad the meta ray is bad & not fan of color

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@soterioncoil2163]

Maybe Hasbro wanted us punk kids to stop being so dam lazy and to paint our own vehicles for a change!?

[@christianhafer9819]

No thank you. The orange on the Devilfish is far better than the neon green on this thing. It's just a cooler looking vehicle.

[@johnsoehnlen4781]

I would also add the Cobra hydro sled and night landing to the list of better vehicles. The devilfish surpasses the manta ray on detailing as well.

[@christianhafer9819]

@John Soehnlen Definitely. The Piranha, though a bit larger is fantastic as well. As is the Baracuda which I have coming this week from 1992. The latest vehicle I'll own in the series, likely.

[@johnsoehnlen4781]

@@christianhafer9819 The Piranha definitely doesn't get enough appreciation. I have mixed feelings about the Barracuda. I feel that it suffers like a lot of vehicles in the 90s from a sense of complacency on the part of Hasbro. The concept of a mini sub is awesome but the implementation feels like a first draft compared to earlier naval vehicles. I like that it can take a lot of abuse and the color scheme contrasts nicely.

[@christianhafer9819]

@John Soehnlen That's why I like it. Blue and black. No need green, or neon orange. Pretty tame colors by 90's standards. You wanna hear something? I got it for 30 bucks MIB! 30! I've paid 150 for a loose vehicle missing parts. Lol.

[@johnsoehnlen4781]

@@christianhafer9819 That's an amazing deal. Good job on jumping on that. I've never gone over 75 bucks for any figure or part. I'm hoping 3D printing keeps advancing to reduce the cost of replacement parts.

[@gregoryshorts700]

Looks like the perfect toy just to piss off the poor kid that recieved it. Lol I know i wouldnt have been happy to have gotten it .

[@guitardudeguy3139]

Great review as always! By 1994 sadly, GI Joe had all but exhausted themselves in horrible ideas and gimmicks in my opinion..and this is one of them.

[@jasonmaiden5026]

So close to being a great little boat. As a kid I would have appreciated it actually being inflatable. Don't like the colors or the gimmicks.

[@Jtr_ceral_killer]

Congratulations on your anniversary. The mantra ray was a decent design, just wrong time period. Colors are horrible.

[@HCC788]

Thank you!

[@Sochilln75]

I'm the 100th like! Wooooooo!

[@HCC788]

Congratulations :)

[@ewokhunter0330]

GiVeAwAy At 5 YeArS?

[@ewokhunter0330]

Also congrats on 4 years lol

[@robertmitchell2694]

the box art is reversed . odd

[@racerxgundam]

yeah this is bottom tier all the way no excuses. the green almost looks like its a "glow in the dark" neon. Terrible design overall. the devil ray and cobra raft OUTSHINE this in every way. lets not mince words here...late gi joe stuff were borderline insults to the kids of that time and the later day collectors.