Rarities - Action Force Zartan

Zartan was one of Hasbro's most popular toys.  Something like 1.7 million were produced.  Despite that asinine number of toys available, Zartan remains one of the most popular and expensive vintage Joe figures.  The character was released all over the world.  And, while the single carded release from Japan is, arguably, the most sought after, there are Zartan packaging variants from many other places.  Below is one such release: the Action Force Zartan.

Zartan fell into an odd release window in Europe.  He was early enough to appear in original Action Force boxes.  Below, you'll see a sample of the early box where the selling point is the toy itself rather than the artwork that would appear later.  The most interesting part, though, is the early Cobra logo that was used on this Action Force packaging.  It's a highly stylized green snake wrapped a Cobra text bubble.  As an alternate way to promote the bad guys, it's kind of weird.  And, it didn't convey the size and capabilities of the Cobra organization like the printed Cobra logo did.

The figure and swamp skier are the same as those released in North America.  You will note that the Swamp Skier features alternate stickers.  Missing is the cool chameleon sticker that is the calling card of the North American Zartan.  Really, I wish this had become more of the logo of the dreadnoks than the later offerings that appeared in the 2000's.

Seeing the toy in action, though, would have been a big selling point for me as a kid.  I was never a huge fan of the artwork on the boxes or cards because they often didn't match the toy you were getting.  And, one of the lasting memories I have of the Action Force comic was that they included ads that featured the actual toys in action.  Back in the '80's, there was no such thing as action figure photography.  So, it was awesome to see some of the toys out of their boxes and set in actual play settings.

Here is a later Action Force box.  It is more in line with the Hasbro release in North America.  You will note, however, that this version features a grey filecard.  And, this is the much harder to find version of the filecard where the reference to Zartan being a "paranoid schizophrenic" has been Bowdlerized.

Action Force Stalker - Around The Web

The Action Force line is fairly large and features some great 5 points of articulation figures as well as some great vehicles.  As the line ended and was going to transition to G.I. Joe, Palitoy repainted a large contingent of Hasbro vehicle molds.  Among them was a black VAMP repaint.  The later releases of this jeep included a repainted Hasbro G.I. Joe figure, too.  In this case, the figure was a 1983 Snake Eyes repaint that was named Stalker.

This leads to all sorts of confusion as it's difficult to refer to the character Stalker but meaning the classic Snake Eyes.  So, most collectors simply use the figure as an updated Snake Eyes.  And, prior to 1997, it was the only Snake Eyes figure with painted details.  That, of course, changed in 1997.  And, since then, the V1 Snake Eyes has been repainted many, many times: all with different paint applications.  They are better than this Stalker figure.  But, Stalker still has the distinction of being the first and also part of the highly popular Action Force line.

The figure appears from time to time.  So, check out all the content I could find regarding the Action Force Stalker.

Action Force Stalker Profile

Action Force Stalker at the Attica Gazette

Action Force Panther Profile

Action Force Stalker by viper_space

Action Force Stalker 00zxcvb

Action Force Stalker by yo_grenadiers

Action Force Stalker by atticagazette

Action Force Stalker by v1per_p1lot

Action Force Stalker by Olly Orc

Action Force Stalker by viper_space

Rarities - Palitoy Baron Ironblood Accessory Variants

For years, Action Force figures that pre-dated the G.I. Joe crossover were common and cheap.  Even the most desired characters were affordable and you could find a wide array of different countries of origin for most figures.  But, that's now changed and many of the most popular figures from the Palitoy line have become both expensive and hard to find.  As such, some of the more interesting variants that the line offered are less noticeable than they used to be.  

It was long stated that Palitoy started tossing alternate accessories into various figure's packaging as the line was on it's final legs.  But, interestingly enough, it seems that specific figures (often the Red Shadows characters) are the most often seen figures with this variety of weapons.  What's fun is that you can find characters like Baron Ironblood with his proper accessory (a black Uzi) as well as both Action Force repaints of that weapon that were included with other figures and even weapons from the Star Wars line.  It's very odd to see an Action Force figure with the iconic Han Solo pistol.  But, they exist.

Below you'll see four variants of the Baron Ironblood figure.  They include: a black Uzi, a blue Uzi, a Cobra Commander pistol and the aforementioned Han Solo blaster.  This creates a massive amount of oddball zaniness for an Action Force collector to track down.  It's one of the more frustrating, but also enjoyable rabbit holes for collectors of the European line.

Red Shadows Shadowtrak - Around the Web

When I posted my original Shadowtrak profile, I thought it was going to be a hit.  An obscure but affordable (at the time!) vehicle that fits the super popular Red Shadows theme?  That's guaranteed success.  But, that didn't materialize and the Shadowtrak underperformed and remains one of my biggest disappointments in terms of post popularity.  The reason is that I wanted to share how amazing this vehicle was with the community.  While the Shadowtrak was known, it wasn't common and only a select few people ever actually used it.

It could be that several Action Force vehicles use a similar base to the Shadowtrak as their bases, too.  So, maybe this hinders some people who see it as something reused rather than something new.  But, to me, the Shadowtrak is much more useful than something like the Robo Skull: which has taken on an amazing collector afterlife in the past 6 or 7 years and now become an unobtainable piece for most collectors.  The Shadowtrak hasn't done that.  But, for a standard piece you can integrate into a collection, it's tough to beat the Shadowtrak.

In hand, though, the Shadowtrak is amazing.  It's properly sized, features forward and rear facing weapons and, it can comfortably hold multiple figures.  The color is a recognized Cobra affiliation and it matches with many vintage Hasbro vehicles.  In short, it's a perfect vehicle that should be integrated into every collection.  But, for some reason, the vehicle doesn't resonate like other Action Force releases that, in my opinion, aren't as cool or useful as the Shadowtrak.

There is a good amount of content out there that uses the Shadowtrak.  It seems that it's a favorite for certain people.  And, they use it frequently.  I'm always game to see more and more uses of the Shadowtrak, though, as it's a great vehicle that's tons of fun to own.

Shadowtrak Profile

Shadowtrak by rutbullet

Shadowtrack by joerizzo2025

Shadowtrak by Slipstream80

Shadowtrak by dangief_collectibles

Shadowtrak by Toy Polloi

Shadowtrak by redbeamcustoms

Shadowtrak by the_kraken_wakes

Shadowtrak by rutbullet

Shadowtrak by the.faceless.master

Shadowtrak by joerizzo2025

Shadowtrak by Slipstream80

Shadowtrak by gijoe_the_actionforce

Shadowtrak by brianthehick

Rarities - European Action Force Wolverine

Everyone knows that the Wolverine was released in the Action Force line.  This black SAS repaint included the exclusive Hunter figure and has long been a desired piece among G.I. Joe collectors.  However, as the Action Force line transitioned into all G.I. Joe re-releases, there was another European exclusive Wolverine released.  This version was released in an Action Force box and included a version of the 1983 Rock and Roll who was named Ton Up.  I'll probably look at Ton Up in 2023 for Rarities month.  But, for this year, I'll focus on the exclusive Wolverine.

This Wolverine features a much darker and grayer green color.  It is substantially different from the Hasbro Wolverine.  Many European releases of standard vehicles would actually have unique plastic colors.  So, this Wolverine began a long tradition of alternate vehicles.  You will also note that the engine cover is not the same color as the vehicle's body.  This is an interesting design as it's not consistent with the box nor the Hasbro Wolverine.  It is, though, consistent with the design of the SAS Wolverine that featured a black body and grey engine cover.  

This Wolverine also features Action Force exclusive stickers.  This means it was a transition piece between the original Action Force and the version that was turned into G.I. Joe's European equivalent.  This likely means the release window for this toy wasn't large.  But, it was during the height of continental production runs.  So, it's not as rare as some of the more desirable Palitoy vehicles.  

The dark green on this version, though, is something that would likely be more popular were it better known.  The variant color helps the Wolverine stand out.  Though, then this version would not mesh as well as the Hasbro Wolverine does with other Hasbro released vehicles from 1982 and 1983.  But, that's kind of the point.  This version gives you more options to integrate a Wolverine into a color theme.  

Red Jackal (Action Force Exclusive) - Around the Web

Destro is an iconic character in the Joe line who is defined by his steel mask.  In Europe, though, the figure mold didn't debut as Destro.  Instead, it was released as Red Jackal.  At it's core, Red Jackal is very similar to Destro.  But, I'd argue that Red Jackal is better just because he doesn't have the open shirt.  Though, he could stand a bit of pain on his necklace.

Red Shadows are probably oversaturated, now.  I liked them as a smaller, more localized organization that eventually morphed into Cobra.  A guy like Destro helped facilitate that from his various identities that he used on each continent.  Red Jackal was his European persona and one that he abandoned after he completed Cobra's assimilation of the European organization.  I never saw Red Shadows as a threat on the level of Cobra as they had less time to organize and, tended to be more fanatical.  (This is why the early Cobra Troopers, heavily pulled from old Red Shadows ranks, were quick to die rather than disappoint their new Commander.)  As the Red Shadows died off within Cobra, the Commander replaced them with a different breed of recruits who were less driven by fanatical ideology and more focused on the ways in which Cobra could improve their life.  The Commander offered them financial hope, like minded compatriots who felt their country abandoned them and a sense of camaraderie in that their cause was just.  This fueled loyalty but also subjects who were willing to die for the cause, but not just because a battle didn't go their way.  This made them more dangerous in the long run.

There's a bit of Red Jackal content out there.  In the early days of collecting, it was pretty easy to track them down.  And, they were, maybe, $20 figures at the turn of the century.  Even into the late 2000's, Red Jackals were obtainable and affordable.  Now, that's not the case.  The figure is expensive.  And, the premium probably isn't worth the slight uptick in quality over the cheaper and more available 1983 Destro figure.  But, the one time commonality allows for some content volume you can check out below.

Red Jackal Profile

Red Jackal Diorama

Red Jackal Bubbled Vehicle Driver

Red Jackal by dreadnokdread

Red Jackal by the kraken wakes

Red Jackal by Slipstream80

Red Jackal by 00zxcvb

Red Jackal by jdoublebigape

Red Jackal by rnrhero

Red Jackal by G.I. *Jock

Red Jackal by kushviper

Red Jackal by Slipstream80

Red Jackal by 00zxcvb

Red Jackal by Cherry Bomb Toys

Red Jackal by Action Jackman

Red Jackal by action_figure_collecting

Red Jackal by slipstream80

Action Force Z Cycle (Rapid Fire Motorcycle)

I received my first G.I. Joe toy for my birthday in December of 1982.  It was the RAM motorcycle.  I didn't get my first figure until the next day when Breaker joined my collection.  This seemed kismet since it was Breaker who was drawn as the rider on the RAM box art.  The two of them became inseparable.  Breaker was, pretty much, the only figure who got to ride the RAM and it was a perfect extension for him since the figure didn't include a weapon.  I came to view the Ram as Breaker's just as much as the VAMP belonged to Clutch.  If you lived in Europe, though, your first exposure to the RAM as a toy brought with a completely different character association.  Because, unlike in the U.S., the first European release of the RAM mold included a driver: Quarrel.  With this, the association between the Action Force Z-Cycle and Quarrel is probably more powerful than the RAM/Breaker connection.  The Action Force coloring of the toy, though, also creates a starkly different appearance for the RAM that makes it my favorite palette for the toy.

As a kid, the RAM suffered greatly due to its popularity.  My RAM went on many adventures: most of which it could not survive.  The leg pegs broke off.  The saddle bags were lost.  The kickstand snapped when I flicked it to simulate a figure kicking it down.  And, as the final nail in the RAM's coffin, the pegs that held the gatling cannon to the cycle broke and I was left with two pieces that could not be re-connected.  I glued and glued the RAM.  So much so that the plastic began to melt under the increasing in strength adhesives I applied in an attempt to make the toy whole.  Finally, it was no use.  The RAM found its way into the final resting place of many of my childhood toys: a box of broken and mismatched parts that I would cast onto the floor of our toyroom to simulate a debris field where battles or chases could take place.  For a toy, though, my original RAM couldn't have asked for much more as it was used to death.  Sadly, the great disappointment with the Silver Mirage soured me on Joe motorcycles in general and the RAM didn't return to my collection until the late summer of 2000.

This timing is interesting because two things happened in my collection at this time.  First, I acquired a massive original collection that contained pretty much all the figures and vehicles released between 1983 and 1985.  Oh, I also got this collection for free.  I just had to pay shipping.  But, while I reveled in my fortune, I also took an important step as a Joe collector as I acquired my first two international figures: Chinese Major Bludd and the Tiger Force Outback.  With this, the world of international Joes was opened to me and they quickly became my primary area of focus.  As the early 2000's slogged on, my international collection grew.  At the time, you could trade recent Toys R Us exclusive Joes pretty much straight up for many European and Brazilian releases.  As I had those in spades, I was able to pick up many figures even though I wasn't able to spend much money on my collection.  

One such acquisition was Quarrel.  At the time, Quarrel was one of the more popular international releases.  Despite the fact that she's relatively common, she was commanding prices similar to Red Jackal and Red Laser.  As with female figures from the U.S., though, the increased popularity of the character among collectors was outstripped by the figure's availability.  And, with that, Quarrel prices began to fall.  Despite this, I never really explored the possibility of adding Quarrel's missing motorcycle.  At the time, I was a figure collector and vehicles seemed like unnecessary purchases when there were so many figures I still wanted.  In the early 2010's, this changed.  I decided that I was going to hold key pieces in my collection.  And, if something made the cut to remain in my possession, it was going to mint and complete.  So, I spent a small sum of money on a complete with Z Cycle Quarrel figure.  

Once in my collection, the Action Force green color of the vehicle was a welcome respite from the sea of similarly colored vehicles that comprised the bulk of my holdings at the time.  The main thing that stood out, though, was how much the extra colors and additional stickers enhanced the Z Cycle over the RAM.  The side gun being black really helped to offset the green color and make the entire vehicle look more complex.  The red stickers also pop against the green background.  It's a dramatic shift from the 1982 RAM and brings much more life to the Z Cycle.  (I call it the Z Cycle as it's an easier name.  It's really the Rapid Fire Motorcycle.  But, that sucks to say.  Frankly, if people can make up asinine rhymes like "Argen 7" that make no sense, I can call this Z Cycle.)

For me, this alternate version of the RAM is a great toy to pair up with a variety of figures.  I enjoy the RAM mold because it has a relatively small footprint, but can also display figures, nicely.  And, everything from Funskool to Hasbro figures look good atop the Action Force green cycle.  Oddly, it's rare for Quarrel to use her native bike.  Instead, I farm it out to Lady Jaye.  I have some ideas to use it with Sightline, too.  When I find the box that holds my cycle, I'll get some pics of it with the most famous factory custom figure of all.

One of Action Force's great introductions to the Joe line was the color of green that Palitoy used for the Z Force figures and vehicles.  It is deep, rich and visually interesting.  It remains true enough to military roots to be believable.  But, it is also something that is a perfect supplement for the more drab and flat colors that Hasbro used so often.  Sadly, the color died out with Palitoy.  Neither Hasbro nor the club was able to resurrect the color.  (The club's odd fixation with drab colors affected even their Action Force homage figures in 2010 and they are not the right color of green.)  Even factory custom makers steered clear of the color until 2017 when it appeared on a couple of Red Laser's Army releases.  Even then, though, the homages were not a 100% color match.  Hopefully, it will continue to show up.  I'd love a 1985 Snake Eyes in Action Force green with black and silver details.  I'm sure others would, too.  

The RAM was a world traveler.  It was used in the US for both the original toy and then the 1986 Sears Exclusive Dreadnok Ground Assault.  You then have this Palitoy release.  From there, the RAM took a tour of South America where it was released in Brazil.  It finally ended up in India.  Funskool produced the RAM for several years and with several major variants.  (Some of which are ridiculously rare and expensive.)  The final use of the RAM was with the Funskool Street Hawk figure (which included an all black RAM motorcycle, but did not include the side gun) which Funskool produced until 2003.  RAM collectors have nearly as many items to track down as VAMP collectors.  But, most of the best colors remain relatively cheap and available.  So, pretty much anyone can at least get a sample RAM in their collection.

Like all toys these days, Z Cycles have gotten more expensive.  As Quarrel now tends to be a $150 figure, you see lots of combos of the figure and cycle for sale in the $200 range.  On it's own, the cycle goes for under $40 when it's complete.  Dealers, though, will ask two to three times that.  And, they'll get it more often than they should.  Toys like this Z Cycle were pretty common as recently as 2017.  So, their disappearance from the market seems to be more about an increase in demand.  But, there are plenty of mint and complete versions out there.  You just have to wait a lot longer for one to come along at the right price.

Arctic Assault - Action Force Exclusive

In the early 1980's, the European toy company, Palitoy, created a series of toys based on military adventure.  The fact that they coincided with G.I. Joe may have been insider industry knowledge or just pure coincidence.  But, the two lines debuted close enough together that the timing is a bit suspect.  The European line, though, featured 5 points of articulation, in the style of Star Wars figures that dominated the marketplace.  (And, coincidentally, were distributed in Europe by Palitoy.)  The line featured a fully integrated assortment of vehicles and playsets that augmented the figures.  And, in the second year, also featured a well thought out and developed bad guy.  In short, had G.I. Joe articulation (and Hasbro marketing muscle) not changed the landscape of action figures in 1982, it's possible that Action Force may have had a very different history.  But, Joe won the military action figure wars and the original Action Force line has become a bit of a cult favorite among Joe collectors.  For my look at Action Force in general, I chose the Arctic Assault figure as the subject of this profile.

Had I acquired this figure after August of 1983, I would have hated it.  At that point, G.I. Joe had taken hold and was now the only figure type that I really wanted to play with.  Prior to that, though, this figure would have found a tremendous home among my Star Wars figures.  Frankly, this figure is closer to the Hoth Rebel Commando that I always wanted than the vintage Star Wars figure is.  He would easily have joined my Hoth forces and fought against the AT-AT and Snow Troopers.  Now, he is also compatible with the current Star Wars figures that were available at retail just a few years ago (and, sometimes, still are!).  The 5 points of articulation figures that Hasbro has been peddling for the past couple of years are pretty much the same quality as Action Force figures.  Frankly, it would be kind of fun to see a 5POA line of Action Force inspired homages.  But, only if they retain the uniqueness of the originals and aren't a niche, kickstarter type thing.  You can see how the Arctic Assault figure stands up with a Hovertank Pilot released in 2017 below.  There's really nothing other than the '80's style eye paint that would tell you one figure is about 35 years older than the other.

The figure itself is very detailed.  The suit is bulky (befitting arctic insulation) and is adorned with pouches, pockets and a detailed belt.  The boots are solidly sculpted, too.  The head features a comm device that is sculpted to the face (one less little accessory to lose!) as well as sculpting showing a helmet with a skull cap/hood underneath that exposes the figures's face.  The design was substantially stronger than what Kenner was doing at the same time with their Star Wars figures.  And, the added paint applications and accessories would have really made Action Force stand out among toys on the pegs in 1982.

For me, the real value in Action Force figures are the accessories.  The early figures all featured weapons exclusive to the Palitoy line.  While the backpacks are over the shoulder harnesses in the mold of the Kenner Star Wars accessory packs, the guns look very similar to Hasbro weapons.  The weapons are excellently detailed and scaled to work with Joe figures.  As such, I find they are a great way to accessorize Joes with different weapons that you don't see all that often.  Action Force featured weapons in a few different colors, too.  So, you get additional diversity from those changes.  The later Action Force figures featured recolored G.I. Joe weapons.  While the light blue Uzis aren't all that interesting, the black Zap bazooka from the Red Shadows figure is.  The whole line features an array of gear that is an excellent supplement to the Joe line.  And, since the figures tend to be inexpensive, you can acquire the gear for cheap prices to outfit Joes.

The Arctic Assault figure includes a few different items.  The first is a silver version of the SA-80 rifle that was common in the Action Force line.  This is significant as silver is a logical color for weapons that is very distinctive.  One reason for that, though, is because Hasbro didn't use silver as the color of their weapons very often.  Silver accessories didn't appear in the Joe line until 1985.  And, it wasn't until the 1990's that it become even somewhat commonplace.  Seeing the color on an early weapon really brings distinction to it.  

Aside from the rifle, the figure also includes a white backpack and a white ladder.  The back is bulky and well detailed.  The fastening plastic straps are a design that works well, but also doesn't tend to withstand long childhood playtimes where they are taken off and put on again over and over.  They also hinder interchangeability as not all of them fit on all figures in the line.  The Hasbro design of the peg in back of figures allowed not only for greater uniformity and compatibility, but also lessened the wear on functional points of the accessories.  And, it was a solid step forward...even if the straps on this pack are more realistic.  The pack has a cargo slot into which fits a folding ladder.  I'm not sure of the intent of this piece of gear.  But, the fact that it folds up is pretty cool.  As a kid, things like toy ladders were necessary when playing on the stairs.  So, it's a cool addition to the line and the type of thing you don't really notice until you get one in hand.

Like most Palitoy offerings, this Arctic Assault figure's mold was used several times.  Aside from this white and blue winter offering, you can get the figure in desert camo or all white.  If you look on the package of the Arctic Assault, there is a version of the figure painted in green cammo carrying a black SA-80.  I can not find that this figure was ever released.  If you have knowledge of it, please let me know.  There are many variants in the Action Force line in terms of the way the faces are painted and even the cammo patterns.  So, keep your eyes open for those, too.  The head appears on a couple of other figures (notably the Naval Assault figure) as well.  There are lots of reused body parts in the Action Force line.  But, they experimented with different arm positions and such to a much greater extent than Kenner ever did with the Star Wars line.  And, you can find familiar pieces used in a variety of unique ways.

While Action Force does have it's pricey figures, the line is, in general, very inexpensive to collect.  (As long as you steer clear of the Hasbro G.I. Joe repaints, that is!)  Palitoy created a line for Western European children.  In 1982, the target populations for Palitoy's line in Europe and Hasbro's line in the U.S. were about the same.  So, this explains the large volume of toys that were made, sold and survive to this day.  Plus, Action Force only lasted for about three years before it, basically, became rebranded G.I. Joe.  So, the target market for Action Force childhood collectors is much smaller than that of G.I. Joe. As such, you can get mint and complete figures like this Arctic Assault figure for around $10.00.  Dealers will sometimes get $20.  But, incomplete figures are nearly worthless.  In lots, these go much cheaper and you're more likely to get the accessories.  You can usually find European collectors with spares, too, who might be willing to trade for Joes.  If this style of figures is something interesting to you, the cheap price makes them an attractive acquisition.  For me, they are fun additions to a collection.  But, they are not something I'm looking to complete.  But, getting a few spare accessories is a good way to arm some Joes with new weapons that look like they could be from the vintage line but definitely aren't.

Action Force Panther Jeep - European Exclusive

To say that the VAMP is one of the most popular G.I. Joe vehicle molds is an understatement.  Aside from the elite status it still enjoys in the collecting world today, the VAMP was also a staple of Hasbro's worldwide export of the Joe property.  Flavors of the VAMP appeared just about everywhere G.I. Joe toys were manufactured and sold.  Heck, new variants of the base mold were still appearing in India in 2018!  VAMP collectors have dozens of body changes, updated colors and international packaging variants to chase down.  Some will cost thousands of dollars.  Others are more affordable.  One of Hasbro's first forays into international VAMPs was the Panther Jeep that was released in the European Action Force line.  This black and yellow repaint meant for the SAS subset remains one of the most distinctive VAMP repaints and still goes surprisingly well with a host of recently released Joe toys.

Joe collectors love their stickers.  As a young child, I did, too.  But, as I got older, I hated the stickers.  And, the vehicles I acquired after 1984 rarely have more than 50% of their stickers applied.  By, 1987, I may not have put on any at all other than the those for internal controls.  Mine dislike for stickers was a combination of not wanting affiliations all over my vehicles.  (Why would an elite, covert unit announce their presence by plastering their name all over their vehicles that anyone with a pair of binoculars could see miles away?!?)  But, it was also that I felt most of the stickers didn't add anything to the look of the toy.  In the Action Force line, though, the vehicles feature arrays of unique stickers that were more akin to the type of thing that would have survived my childhood scrutiny.  The Panther's stickers are a great example.  While there's a great deal of detail added to the vehicle by the stickers, the best one to me is the additional controls behind the passenger.  It makes the vehicle seem more than a simple combat jeep.

For me, this helps distinguish the Panther.  I see it as a more advance scouting vehicle that is less utility and more specialty.  The fact that the vehicle is a nice match for recent factory custom figures, though, is a nice bonus.  While there are SAS inspired Cobra Troopers, they are of less interest to me.  Instead, I see the Panther as a nice match for any of the multitude of new Joe inspired characters.  These feature many blacks and greens that work well with the black and yellow.  Plus, later figures are a tight fit in the VAMP.  Earlier molds both fit better with the size of the cab seats but also the aesthetic of the vehicle.

One of the things missing from the factory custom makers is vehicles.  It makes sense since multiple repaints are hard and some vehicles have assembly points that would be difficult to scale at a price point collectors would be comfortable with.  As the Action Force vehicles are relatively new to me, though, they help fill this void.  The vehicles are compatible with the figures and provide an alternative look for classic Joes...just like the factory custom figures do.  I'm at a point now where I see classic Joes as almost out of place among vehicles like the Panther.  It's just a personal association that's born of when these items began to enter my collection.  But, it helps give these alternative paint jobs a home that is important to me and continues to grow.

The Panther has a couple of variants.  The most notable difference is that the roll bar can be either yellow or black.  There are also very hard to find versions that have the SAS logo painted on instead of being a sticker that could be applied.  The roll bar variants don't seem to be nearly as difficult to find.  The Panther was available in both a window box and a picture box.  And, there are release country variants of the packaging, too.  One other important difference on the Panther from the VAMP is the wheels.  The Action Force tires are not the hard plastic found on the Hasbro release.  They are more rubbery and soft.  It's a tiny little detail that adds a tremendous amount of additional value to the vehicle.  The wheels feel more realistic and are more substantial.

The Panther is from the SAS series of Action Force toys.  The base black color scheme is one that collectors enjoy.  But, the yellow highlights make the toys more problematic.  The Panther was more ostentatious than the Wolverine repaint.  (Which is why the SAS Wolverine commands a premium today.)  But, it was in line with the FANG re-release.  The SAS figures, tend to be loved.  Both Blades and Hunter have become extremely valuable figures that collectors adore.  But, Stalker, the figure included with the Panther, has not.  The fact that he's a vintage Snake Eyes repaint hasn't helped him, either.  These days, it would be cheaper to buy a Stalker and remove all his paint than it is to buy a standard 1983 Snake Eyes.  That doesn't make sense.  But, it speaks to the overall availability of the Panther and its driver.

Depending upon the variant colors and inclusion of the figure or not, Panther jeeps are still affordable.  Mint and complete versions can be purchased for around $50...sometimes still including the figure.  Most of these deals are from European sellers.  So, shipping will significantly add to the overall cost.  But, for an Action Force exclusive repaint of a super popular mold that is done in collector approved colors, that's a pittance.  You'd have paid more for a complete Panther 20 years ago than you do today.  That's an extreme rarity.  But, the original popularity of the toy coupled with large volumes of overstock that found its way to the modern collecting world leave collectors with a cool repaint that is still priced at a level where most collectors can afford to buy one.  Items that fit that description are getting harder and harder to find.

Action Force Enemy Battle Gear

A while back, DragonFortress wrote a great blog post about weapon trees.  While some consider them the scourge of 1993 and 1994, they had a certain charm to them and did allow for figures of the time to include a much larger array of accessories.  In the comments from the article, it was brought up that the first appearance of weapon trees was actually in the European Action Force line.  Palitoy took the idea of Battle Gear and applied it to their toy offerings.  Rather than pack a bubble full of loose accessories, though, Palitoy dropped a few of their weapons onto trees, too.  The presentation of the toy was similar to the way Hasbro approached their weapons supplements.  But, Palitoy offered a far more diverse range of offerings by branding smaller sets of battle gear with the sub set of figures with which the gear was meant to be paired.  While there were several sets of Battle Gear released around 1983/1984, I wanted to look at the Red Shadows set and its connections to both Joe and Star Wars.

At its core, this Enemy Battle Gear set includes just 7 pieces.  I'm not sure of the retail pricing in relation to single carded figures from the same series.  But, each set included far less gear than an American Battle Gear pack.  The pieces, though, are all excellent.  They include a small, clear figure stand, two weapons that were exclusive to Palitoy releases, a Palitoy backpack and two repainted accessories from the 1982 Joe line.  The set is Action Force in a microcosm and perfectly showcases the various inspirations for the Action Force line, its evolution into the European G.I. Joe line and the unique European-ess of the original pieces.

The Red Shadows were the main antagonist in the Action Force mythos.  They have been heavily co-opted into the G.I. Joe story at this point and some of their early European roots have been lost.  While most consider them a pre-cursor or European branch of Cobra, the Red Shadows were designed as a stand alone villain in the same veins as both the aforementioned Cobra as well as the Galactic Empire from Star Wars.  In short, they were a cross over of Nazi era extremism, uniformity and discipline while being just enough super villain to not run afoul of the still festering wounds left on the European continent by World War II.

We'll begin with the two G.I. Joe repaint weapons included in the set.  The first is a black Zap bazooka.  This thick handled version is a thumb breaker for G.I. Joe figures.  But, for the softer plastic hands of Palitoy Action Force figures, this was less of an issue.  The black color is unique to Palitoy releases and was included with the standard Red Shadow army building figure.  Red Shadows were ubiquitous for years.  But, the retconning of Red Shadows into G.I. Joe has driven interest and the Red Shadow figures are now more expensive and harder to find.  Most collectors can identify the black bazooka as a Palitoy release and will charge for it accordingly.  It's not a rare accessory by any means.  But, you'll pay a premium for it relative to its availability.

Rounding out the Hasbro molds is a red version of Short Fuse's mortar and stand.  You will note the mortar is the half-handle version with the thick handle.  This helps identify the timeline of the weapon's release.  I'm not aware of this red mortar being released with any Action Force figure at retail and believe it exclusive to this set.  This makes it much harder to find than the black bazooka.  But, as the red is a vibrant and bright color, there is less desirability here.  The black bazooka looks good with a host of Cobra and Joe figures.  The red mortar is less useful.  But, it still helps to make the weapon more Cobra and take away some of the association with Short Fuse and his signature weapon.

We then move to the red backpack.  Palitoy Action Force figures were based on Kenner's vintage Star Wars line.  They had five points of articulation and softer plastic hands.  Palitoy's designers took more risks with the figure posing and many of the figures had arm and hand positions that were designed for a specific accessory.  In addition to borrowing the Kenner figure design, Action Force also borrowed their design for backpacks.  After the Empire Strikes Back was released, Kenner introduced a mail away offer that included some new, soft plastic backpacks that affixed to figures via flexible plastic bands that closed and attached to the figures by plugging soft knobs into holes on the pack arms.  The same design is seen here with the included bright red backpack.  The pack seems to be an infantry pack with fun detail, but little specific purpose.  (There are other packs in the Action Force line, such as radios and diving gear that are purpose driven.)  The pack will fit on Action Force figures.  But, its use for Hasbro G.I. Joe figure is hit and miss.  This pack will not fit on either a 1983 Cobra Trooper nor any factory customs based on its mold.  It may fit on other figures from the 1982-1984 timeline.  But, the straps are tight and don't have much leeway.  Regardless, it's a fun piece of gear to help round out a diorama.  But, again, it's bright red.  This pack mold certainly appeared with other figures in the Action Force line, but I believe this color is exclusive to the Battle Gear set.

The final two weapons are included in the carded set attached to the weapons tree.  I do not know if this tree was used for all Action Force weapons of these molds.  Or, if this was a new mold created from the originals to quickly and cheaply add some additional gear to this set.  Either way, it includes two black rifles: a STEN gun and an SA-80.  These are noteworthy because they were definitively British weapons of the era.  So, while G.I. Joe focused on the American-ness of its weapons (the M-16, M-60, etc.), Action Force focused on its British roots for the unique gear.  The inclusion of these weapons help to round a Joe armory from the early '80's and provide some nice diversity for the modern collector.

The STEN gun is interesting.  The real weapons are cool and would be a visual treat for Joe figures.  The toy, though, doesn't translate that well.  The side clip is small.  And, the weapon feels like more of a pistol than a famous rifle.  It still looks good with a variety of figures: especially early Joes based on the 1982 sculpts.  But, it's something that I was disappointed with and definitely expected to be more fun than it actually was.  The black version of the weapon was included with at least one Action Force figure that I can find.  It also appeared in other colors in various sub sets of the Palitoy line.

The final weapon in this set is the doozy.  Not because it's any better than the others.  But, because of where else it was used.  The black SA-80 in this set was included with a few Action Force figures, but always in different colors.  I can't find another Action Force figure who has the black version.  (I don't know Action Force off the top of my head like I do Joes, though, so please correct me in the comments if I'm wrong.)  But, there are other colors accompanying carded figures, including a silver version that I think looks better.  But, this black SA-80 was also released with the super rare German YPS Hoth Stormtrooper figure.  Basically, this is a Kenner Snowtrooper (missing some country of origin info and including a specific skirt) that includes the SA-80 instead of the Kenner large blaster rifle.  This little detail makes all the difference.  What was a relatively common Action Force weapon is now highly sought after among Kenner Star Wars collectors.  This gun, alone, can command over $100 to Star Wars fans.

Pricing on this set is troublesome for this reason.  While the SA-80 is super desirable, that is a more recent development.  Many Joe collectors were able to snatch up the huge quantity of overstock carded Action Force figures and gear sets for super cheap prices over the years.  So cheap that many of the sets were opened and incorporated into either Red Shadow or Cobra armies.  Many Joe collectors are not aware of the Star Wars connection and will sell the set to other collectors, ignorant of the single gem inside.  You can still get carded sets in the $70 range.  But, again, finding the right collector might get you one for a fraction of that.  While the SA-80 is cool, it's not cool enough to warrant the price tag.  If you want the rest of the gear, you should be able to get it cheap since it lacks the desirability of the signature piece.  And, you can get better colored SA-80's for the same price as other Action Force gear and that allows you to have the mold in your collection without breaking the bank.

For me, I always love getting Joe gear in different colors.  The black bazooka is one of my favorite international repaints of a Hasbro weapon.  The Palitoy exclusive weapons are also excellent and work surprisingly well with Joe figures.  I have found many of these weapons to be a great accoutremout to the factory custom figures that use so many early 1983 parts as their inspiration.  The unique weapons help to separate these figures from many of their brethren that use similar construction.  (I also like the bazooka and mortar as a call back to the JC Penny three pack of Cobras that included the weapons.  But, the black and red are more Cobra than the weapons that accompanied the Penny's figures.)  There are many other weapons in the Action Force line that cross over to Joes as well.  Without the Star Wars connection, many are available for relatively cheap: especially if you buy a lot of junk Action Force figures.  You might get 15 figures with 5 accessories.  But, that can be worth it when you consider the price you are likely to pay.  I've found parts of this set in American collections, too.  So, keep an eye out when buying up collections that were amassed in the early 2000's as Action Force figures and weapons do appear in these from time to time.