1:12 Action Force Kickstarter

[nacho]

I'm mildly curious about this. I've wanted 6" Joes for years, but I'm not sure how these folks are using Action Force ™ without being sued into oblivion by Hasbro/Palitoy.

These guys seem to have some up with their own mythology that somewhat parallels the Joe mythos. I don't think it'll fund, but who knows.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

GIJOE 6" or get the fudge out! And if I'm being honest, I don't want to see a specialty 6" JOE line at all. For one, that's a whole nother collection, and what would we be looking at, $50 figures?

 

[nacho]

MOTUC was a specialty line, and they were usually sub-30 plus shipping, at least until the last year or two when the number of people subbing fell off a cliff.

I'm not asking for a comprehensive line of every figure in the ARAH line. I don't need a 6" Skidmark. But there are about 30 joes and 30 cobras that I could see myself caring about. Assume $40 each shipped, and that's less than $2500 spread out over the several years it would take to produce them. I could totally live with that if they were well done.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

I think $40 is optimistic.

But I'm being selfish in my desire to not see a 6" line come to fruition. I'd be weak willed and cave, I know it. So better to not happen at all. I mean, if they did a 6" B.A.T...

 

[nacho]

I think $40 is optimistic.

But I'm being selfish in my desire to not see a 6" line come to fruition. I'd be weak willed and cave, I know it. So better to not happen at all. I mean, if they did a 6" B.A.T...

Maybe. Based on MOTUC, $40 seems doable. Based on the GIJCC, $40 is the cost of a 4" figure. But I'm convinced that the club did everything uber-inefficienctly, as even 4" kickstarter campaigns seem to do figures with 100% new molds cheaper. The stupid club was reusing 90% of the parts and still couldn't make it for a reasonable cost.

I dunno, i'd love to see it, and I'd buy the shit out of it. But I'd be pissed if they played games like they do with Marvel Legends. "Oh, so you want a figure of character x? Here's the one in a new costume from an alternate universe that appeared in that one comic one time, and it's a Walgreens exclusive." You go out of your way to obtain it, probably for more than retail. Three years later, you actually get the one you wanted to begin with. They'd give us Battle CORPS Hawk before an OG or leather jacketed version, just out of spite. Hasbro knows exactly how to kick fans in the jewels.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

"Here's Xamot. What? Tomax? Well, he'll be packed in a set of 10 other figures we already released that you already have."

To be fair, how crazy was it that they released them together for the 25th?

 

[nacho]

That 25th comic 2-pack routinely sells for $75-100. But Hasbro was still learning how to screw us then. In the interim, they broke up the pair in kreo and the club figures, practically guaranteeing that all but the most determined and deep-pocketed would fail to get both.

I was looking at 25th Joe prices the other day, as a decade+ ago, I was buying a minimum of 3x of everything. One to keep MOC/MIB, at least one to open, and one unopened for the boy. Now the boy is 12 and does not care one iota. His response to Joe is about the same response I had to my parents back in the day when they would talk about watching Howdy Doody.

So the next time a Joe movie comes along and gets fans lathered up while there is a lack of new product on the shelves, I'll be having a very big sale on at least one of everything.

Looking back, it's odd that we knew at the time that we were in the second golden age of 4" figures, and we were exactly right. But if you'd told me a decade ago what the 4" landscape would look line in 2019, I wouldn't have believed it.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

When you think about it, the action figure hotness only lasted for 10'ish years in the 80's. It started getting awful the more time went on, limping along. The hilarious part is that both waves were sold to the same group of boys/men.

 

[nacho]

It's true. We were the perfect ages both times around.

Well, I broke down and pledged to this KS. I'm more interested in the two female stretch goals that probably won't unlock than the base figures on offer, but given the lack of any kind of military figures at 6", I feel the need to support this, just like I did Articulated Icons and Army Alphas. The Icons figures are great, and I have high hopes for the Alphas. Hopefully this will add to the cobbled together 6" military team. Lord knows hasbro doesn't seem interested in making any.

 

[nacho]

OK, the first AF kickstarter didn't fund, but the second attempt has already exceeded it's goal, so it's a go.

With 29 hours to go, it looks like a good chance to get some nice 1:12 military figs with decent customization potential. I'm sad they made the female figures the long-shot stretch goals, as they'll never get those funded, but I have to imagine that they'll be back for another round after the first is completed.

I ordered five figures, and I'll probably go in for a couple of the add-ons. The two unlocked add-on figures are clearly Snake Eyes and Firefly-based, so it'll take very little work to make them pretty awesome looking.

 

[NSA]

Okay, Fighting 112th

 

[Giga Bread]

I went in for one, so the next time I talk to Bobby, I'm not uncomfortable when he asks if I pledged yet.

 

[nacho]

I don't know Bobby, but he's an enthusiastic chap. He definitely seems to have a passion for the property/project, and his hasbro experience gives me hope that it won't be the typical kickstarter boondoggle.

 

[Giga Bread]

I just feel bad for the crap he had to deal with on Hisstank. I’ve talked to him about the trademark stuff at Joe Fest and I don’t know why anyone should care enough about how he legally got them or why they feel the need to take a stand up for a poor fledgling corporation that’s one of the largest toy producers in the world.

The story, as of now, isn’t my cup of tea, but GI Joe Year One probably wouldn’t be either so it might develop into something I like.

I think he should get credit for actually trying to create a supporting story, unlike most of the other Kickstarters.

 

[nacho]

Yeah, being from Hasbro DNA, he would feel the need to add a backstory. It's what separated Joe from other army toys and what made TF different from other little robots. That being said, I got in on this campaign for the military-themed custom fodder. We all want 6" Joes, not their red-headed cousin. I care not for whatever fiction he's building around the property. But whatever it takes to get more figures made, I applaud him for taking those steps.

 

[Mistermarks101]

BBTS has pre-orders up for this line, I pledged for the three core figures I might get the two figures add-ons down the road. My little boy likes the bone collector, and he wants them now.

 

[nacho]

I finally got my initial shipment from the Valaverse AF Kickstarter:
2x Condor (i.e. Not-Duke)
2x Steel Brigade
Bone Collector
3x Swarm Troopers
Urban Trooper (i.e. Not-Firefly)
Special Ops Trooper (i.e. Not-Snake-Eyes)

I have several more that I ordered via BBTS that haven't dropped yet, but I have to say, this initial batch is badass. I originally backed the KS to get fodder for Joe customs... from back in the pre-Classified days. Now that Classified is out, running strong, AND trending back toward classic ARAH aesthetics, my need to make stuff from these figures is practically gone. Yet I REALLY like them.

They are very detailed, have essentially the same articulation as Classified, most come with extra heads/helmets, all come with extra hands and lots of accessories, and a stand & filecard. The Swarm troops that I just ordered on a lark, thinking I'd repaint them into Coil Troopers or something, are some of the neatest figures I've held in a while. I'll try to take some pics this weekend.

Overall, I didn't start out to collect this line outright. The fiction around it is a bit cliche'd and superficial (new civil war splits US, bad groups popped up, elite team of international troops has to protect innocents from evil groups -- meh). But the figures are pretty great. I imagine they will appeal even more to those of you who are more into modern realistic/near-future military and not bothered by the lack-o-nostalgia.

In the last week they opened POs for the second wave, including a sweet BBTS exclusive Night Force Steel Brigade figure that's black w/ hints of neon green and a heavy arms Swarm trooper, and they previewed the third wave which is all female (Lady-Jaye-ish heroic female, Zarana-ish evil female, female Steel Brigade, and some others (presumably a female generic blue trooper to use with that "other" franchise).

So far, the new Action Force has definitely exceeded my expectations.

 

[Slaymaker]

I got 2 desert rats in yesterday - not a huge fan of the guy its based on - but great modern military fodder. Kitbashed these 3 last night - still have Price in works.

 

[nacho]

Got my desert rat yesterday too, still haven't opened him up yet. Yeah, I'm buying quite a few AF figures but all of them for custom fodder, no need for the odd fellows they're using for unmasked head sculpts. Otherwise, they're pretty solid toys.

 

[nacho]

Special deployment Blowback arrived today, kinda the Vala version of Flint. I like him. I would have preferred darker boots than the super pale avocado color, but I'm glad to get another figure in the line.

 

[nacho]

This really belongs in the Classified section at this point, as that's how they'll be used by 99% of buyers, but... civilians! Or thugs, henchman, narcos, gang-bangers, or random bystanders. MSRP is "$24.99 or less".



But I think this is cool. I've always thought someone should do this. He claims there will be a whole line, different body type, decos, and ethnicities. What I REALLY want is some middle-eastern tangos. Fingers crossed.

-------------------------

Series 6 reveal:

- new construction: swappable arms removable from the butterfly joint moving forward
- new backpack sets (OD Green. black, tan)
- new weapons packs Lima, Mike, & November (rocket launcher w/ huge blast effect)
- more basic troopers (tan, grey, OG green)
- new "tin" gear set - like the previous gun tin, but this one is all vests and belts
- new Infantry Commando, exclusive for NJ Con. (history says they're always available later on website). Lots of modern gear options on this guy:


- Legions Con exclusive - "Day of the Dead" Sidewinder (w/ two additional limited variants randomly packed)
- Lt Hyun - evil female, early '26
- Jester - Pandora's henchman - looks like Murdock from A-team went full psycho; also will have a bloody version, probably at BBTS

-------------------
- Introducing a new sub-line called "The Black". Basically Special Ops SEAL-types gone rogue and turned into moder-day pirates. Almost "Dreadnoks of the Sea" kinda vibe.
- Blackbeard - The Black leader... looks like Ripper
- Vane - patterned after actor from some defunct pirate TV show, "Black Sails".
- Corsairs - henchmen; each comes with one of four random heads

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- new license partnership - Ubisoft ==> Tom Clancy Splinter Cell figures
- Sam Fisher character for sure

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- Valaverse/ActionForce movie is progressing... slowly. Has new director.

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Vehicles
- Shadow Vanguard - looks like something from Mad Max, early '26
- Locust update - like Cobra Fang meets winged thing from Dune
- new zodiac raft, holds up to 4 figures, translucent water base, will float

--------------------
2026 and beyond
- female AF figures in 3-pack with gym gear (barbells, kickboxing dummy, heavy bag, etc)
- new females will have more contoured... rears
- armory playset, modular, drawers, gun rack, dummy, workbench
- more playset pieces, modular for worldbuilding
- O-ring 4" Action Force characters - Pandora, Steel Brigade, Praetorian, Bone Collector
- O-ring packaging might be "blind bag" grenade packaging - "pull the pin" to open the case

-----------------------
- new line of 1/12 WWII figures, "Action Force 1944", lots of bodies, gear, paratroopers, axis, allies, customizable




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Not gonna lie, I haven't been too thrilled with the last couple of waves from Vala, didn't care about the Vanguard... but if/when some of these new ideas come to fruition, I'll be forced to dip back in.

 

[ThunderDan19]

While I’ve picked up a small amount of Vala gear and a fig, I’ve had zero interest in any lore or characters in the AF line. Their body armor vest kits have been superior and much more user friendly than the CS offering, so I’ve put a few to good use, but their ARs have a micro mag problem, so I can’t display any of them.

Meanwhile, the CS kits and weapons have started to catch up, even if they’re still not as easy to add or remove, so there’s not all that much more that I want from Vala. As long as they keep trying to directly compete, I have little use anything more or for figs from other historical eras.

I think Vala would have been best served by doing on a smaller scale what Gridiron is doing for vehicles. Make better versions of what H’bro is missing or has done poorly for their CS figs, instead of trying to develop a competing lore, that is destined to be forever inferior.

 

[nacho]

I think the line of customizable thugs will be incredibly useful to many flavor of collectors... Joe, ML, and other more niche lines.

And while I'm not a wwii buff, not sure I can resist having a squad of Germans to kick around. Only downside will be that they'll be far too tall for the 6" Indiana Jones line, which is tiny like sw black series.

His overall fiction is of no use to me, as 100% of the figures I've bought not named Pandora have been for fodder. But his weapons packs are very sturdy and have a variety not seen elsewhere, especially for the price.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Definitely agreed on the thugs. I could see a lot of use for randos - good, bad and neutral - for dioramas. Not sure if they have addressed this at all, but various levels of injury might also fill an exploitable niche.

Also, 1:12 weapons are an opportunity that they need to continue to lean into. I have also used a number of their non-AR weapons to upgrade/modernize my Joes. I've aired my disappointment with the scale issues on the mags on their AR/SCARs (unfortunately for them, some of the most commonly associated US weapon systems), but most of the others have superior quality and detail over Hasbro's for sure.

If they ever fix their ARs, even if it's at the cost of removable mags, their detailing is most definitely superior to the other 1:12 offerings out there, and I'd use the heck out of them.

 

[nacho]

Yeah, the mags are small, but not to the point that it bothers me. I'm sure that was a decision to make them fit in the vests and such without being cumbersome. But overall, his weapons and blast effects are great, and they're substantially cheaper than the alternatives.

That tin of guns he put out a couple of years ago is an incredible value, even at full price. I look forward to his tin of vests and belts. While I don't *need* a lot of that gear, I'm sure it will inspire some customs, and I'll not feel bad about modifying it like I sometimes do the official stuff. Plus, it'll help outfit some of the thugs I plan to acquire. Can't wait to get some non-cobra baddies, like in the old Special Missions title. Rando terrorists, narcos, insurgents, nazis, middle-eastern zealots. I need them all.

Along that line, I hope the WWII line does well enough for him to move into a 'Nam era line down the road. Some 6" (ok, 5.5" ) vietcong would be great!