What's up, dudes? Remember GI Joe? This real American hero was developed by Stan Weston and licensed and produced by Hasbro in 1963. They even coined the phrase “action figure” to help market the toys to boys. In 1966, the British toy company Palitoy licensed GI Joe and created their version: Action Man. Action Man was primarily developed with British military themes in mind. To set themselves apart, Palitoy even developed flocked hair and gripping hands, though of course they eventually crossed over to the GI Joe line. 

Consequently, time kills most toy lines, and sales dwindled until GI Joe relaunched itself in 1982 with 3 ¾ inch figures to compete with Kenner’s Star Wars figures. To keep up, Palitoy rebranded Action Man as Action Force, a mixture of international soldiers and specialists from Britain, Germany, Australia, and, of course, America. In ‘83 they were given file cards and character profiles and even had their own comic strip, Battle Action Force! Action Force battled the terrorist organization Red Shadows led by Baron Ironblood. 

Meanwhile, the Action Force toyline branched out into video games, audio stories on cassette tapes, stationery, and even toiletries. In ‘85, however, Alfred Pallett passed away, and Hasbro bought out Palitoy, including their factory, copyrights, and molds. Basically they just produced GI Joe figures under the Action Force name. In fact, Action Force even began fighting Cobra rather than Red Shadows. Even the cartoon was retitled and re-dubbed as Action Force with its own theme song! 

In ‘86, the Battle Action Force comic strip was canceled, and Marvel UK began publishing a weekly comic in ‘87. Action Force #43 from Dec 26, 1987 includes a Christmas story entitled "Silent Night." The snow may be deep and crisp and even inside the Norwegian arctic circle, but the Christmas celebrations turn a little sour for Footloose and Frostbite when a squad of Cobra snow serpents come visiting — and they aren’t there for a kiss under the mistletoe! 

Explosions? Check. Harsh weather condition battles? Got 'em. Plum pudding MREs? Definitely! So grab your laser rifles, hop on your Snow Cat, and defeat Cobra with this episode!

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