1989 Rampage: Mauler M.B.T. Tank Driver (mail order)
Includes: submachine gun
Hasbro offered a Special Missions Drivers set featuring Steeler, Ace, Admiral Keel Haul, Lampreys, Strato-Viper, and Motor Viper via three offers from 1989-1990 (Operation Deep Six, Special Assignment North Atlantic, and Operation Blackout). At some point Steeler became unavailable and Hasbro decided to replace him with Rampage, a remake of 1985 Heavy Metal with some subtle deco changes. This replacement figure came with the white "Official Dispatch" shown above, which explains the substitution.
Filecard information:
MAULER M.B.T. TANK DRIVER
Code Name: RAMPAGE
File Name: Guderian, Sherman R.
SN: 632-45-6200
Primary Military Specialty: Armor
Secondary Military Specialty: Finance
Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Grade: E-4
There are sections of Brooklyn that are less accessible to outsiders than the mountains of Transylvania. In Rampage's old neighbor-hood, a trip to Manhattan (just across the East River) was considered a major expedition. Aspiring to become middle class was daydream-ing, pure and simple. Rampage enlisted to go to Finance School, his ultimate goal to become a CPA. But one day at Fort Belvoir, he watched a column of tanks roll by and was never the same again. He put in for a transfer to Armor that same day.
Qualified expert: M-16,M-1911A1, M2 50 cal. MG and M-60 MG.
"Many people find comfort in order and discipline. Mathematics reduces the complexities of the world to manageable sums. Rampage likes tanks. They are immutable statements in iron."
Code Name: RAMPAGE
File Name: Guderian, Sherman R.
SN: 632-45-6200
Primary Military Specialty: Armor
Secondary Military Specialty: Finance
Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Grade: E-4
There are sections of Brooklyn that are less accessible to outsiders than the mountains of Transylvania. In Rampage's old neighbor-hood, a trip to Manhattan (just across the East River) was considered a major expedition. Aspiring to become middle class was daydream-ing, pure and simple. Rampage enlisted to go to Finance School, his ultimate goal to become a CPA. But one day at Fort Belvoir, he watched a column of tanks roll by and was never the same again. He put in for a transfer to Armor that same day.
Qualified expert: M-16,M-1911A1, M2 50 cal. MG and M-60 MG.
"Many people find comfort in order and discipline. Mathematics reduces the complexities of the world to manageable sums. Rampage likes tanks. They are immutable statements in iron."
1992-1993 Hasbro Direct mail order offers
Hasbro offered a Special Missions Drivers set featuring Steeler, Ace, Admiral Keel Haul, Lampreys, Strato-Viper, and Motor Viper via three offers from 1989-1990 (Operation Deep Six, Special Assignment North Atlantic, and Operation Blackout). At some point Steeler became unavailable and Hasbro decided to replace him with Rampage, a remake of 1985 Heavy Metal with some subtle deco changes. This replacement figure came with the white "Official Dispatch" shown above, which explains the substitution. Rampage would be offered again in 1990 via “Escape From Doom,” which expired September 30th, 1992. He was $3.75 (+1 Flag point) or $4.50.
Know your Joes!
In this series, Ken Fields will compare similar action figures and point out the common "tells" that will help you differentiate between figures.
Rampage is based on the 1985 Heavy Metal: Mauler M.B.T. Tank Driver figure. Rampage was offered in 1989 as a mail-in offer from Hasbro Direct. There are many differences between these figures, and they are detailed in the image gallery below. Roll over the images below to find out more information, or click the images to enlarge them.
