Mega Marines
 

Gung Ho
Mega Marines Commander

1993 was a wild time for G.I. Joe. The Battle Corps series was replacing the original G.I. Joe line. Ninja Force was still running full steam and Star Brigade was just rolling out on the launch pad. At that time another team of Joe's and Cobras were preparing for battle. The Mega Marines... Figures wearing brightly colored battle suits and spring action rocket launchers. The main gimmick for them was the play do that was included with every figure. You molded bio armor to the figures themselves and even the tips of the missiles then tore pieces off like battle damage. My 13 year old self ate this up! Not the play do mind you the gimmickyness of the figures. In addition the Mega Marines put out a vehicle which was the only piece of this line to appear in the Marvel comics and some of the narliest monsters ever to be conjured up by Hasbro. The Mega Monsters!!!

Its no surprise Gung Ho was selected to command the G.I. Joe Mega Marine forces, who better then one of the roughest toughest Marines of them all. I also tend to believe the 1993 Leatherneck volunteers to go out on missions with them as well. Hasbro was also experimenting with paint apps at that time so many of the figures had paint marbleization on there uniforms. The Mega Marine Gung Ho was one such figure. Gung Ho included a helmet, launcher, two missiles, stand, sub machine gun, machine gun, shotgun, machete, armor mold and can of play do. While I picked my Gung Ho up at a local comic shop I am missing most of the parts he was included with. He is one of my favorite Mega Marines and I prefer this one over the bare chested versions any day. Gung Ho is also marked with the number 1 on his armor this was only done with the Joe Mega Marines as a unit marker.

Blast Off
Flame Thrower

Blast Off is the Mega Marines Flame Thrower specialist and former firefighter. Apparently it was discovered that Mega Monsters are afraid of fire (Hmmm somebody must have been taking notes while watching Aliens), so Gung Ho ordered Blast Off to lite those freaks up. Blast Off has a number 2 on his uniform and includes launcher, two missiles, stand, sub machine gun, knife, BFG type weapon, helmet, armor mold and can of play do. Blast Off was one of several Mega Marines that I actually let use the spring action launcher.

Blast-Off!
 

My Blast-Off uses Marauderinc's (Aliens) Flame Thrower!

;)

I might have to consider that option too along with the marauder pulse rifle.

Clutch
Monster Blaster A.P.C. Driver

Clutch once a member of the original Joe team is now a member of the Mega Marines and the official of the Monster Blaster the Mega Marines primary mode of transportation. Now cleanly shaven Clutch sports a bright orange and yellow outfit. Although not included with the vehicle Clutch was packaged along with the rest of his team with a #3 stamped on his uniform. Clutch includes the same weapons as Gung Ho with a yellow launcher can of play do and armor mold.

Mirage
Bio-Artillery Expert

Your guess is as good as mine on what a Bio-Artillery Expert is exactly? But it sounds awesome... Several of the Joe's in 1993 were given names taken from another line of action figures COPS. These giant 6" Joe's had there own cartoon series in the late 80s and were basically a futuristic crime fighting force. Several of the figures mostly DEF were given those names Mace, Long Arm, Bullet Proof. Mirage was another of my favorite Mega Marines back in the day and one of the first I bought. While Gung Ho commanded, Clutch drove the Monster Blaster, Blast Off is the fire expert, Mirage fired rocket launchers and explosives. His suit gave him enhanced speed and strength in the arms and legs to absorb the shock at launching a warhead at a slobbering Mega Monster. Mirage has the same weapons as Blast Off only in blue and green.

Mirage.
 

Mirage is a cool character!

I don't own any of these figures, and I am curious to see exactly how the moulded 'bio-armour' actually looked on the figure. I've never actually seen a photo of what it looks like. I'm glad you had fun with yours!

Cyber-Viper
Cybernetic Officers

The Cyber-Vipers are basically the operations specialists for the Mega-Monsters they are half man half machine all evil. The Cyber-Vipers did appear in the Marvel comic run and mostly manned the Cobra Detonator tanks. The Cyber-Viper includes armor mold, can of play do, spring action launcher, two missiles, battle stand, Incinerator's flame thrower, Rock Viper's sniper rifle, Voltar's assault rifle and Toxo-viper's gun. I remember growing up Terminator II was still hot in theaters and this guy was from this dystopian future who traveled back in time to eliminate certain members of the Joe team.

Mega-Vipers
Mega-Monster Trainers

Mega-Vipers were cool sculpt wise and training (who else is gonna keep those Mega-Monsters under control) but there paint apps were awful... This has got to be the worse painted Cobra from 82-94. I don't know how wearing bright neon yellow and pink is going to help sneaking up on G.I. Joe or teaching there Mega-Monster pets to fetch a stick. If you want a really good repainted version of Mega-Viper check out the 2003 Joe Con Swamp-Viper. Mega-Viper comes with the same weapons as Cyber-Viper just in worse bright neon colors. I really dig that hot pink mini gun rocket launcher he comes with ;)