Military Action Figure
If you’re like me, and I know I am, you probably mixed your play among action figure lines as a kid. If they were the same scale, I was all over it. Well, to a point. I didn’t cross over Joe and Star Wars too much. I guess I just couldn’t rationalize an AT-AT inhabiting the same toy universe as a HISS tank. GI Joe in the 80s certainly had its share of imitators. I had more than a few of those also-rans, from American Defense to Sgt. Rock. My favorite by far was a pretty amazing radio controlled Jeep.
These days, I’m still on the lookout for similarly scaled vehicles that work with Joes. There’s no shortage considering the Marvel movie lines’ propensity for giving guys like Iron Man and Spider Man everything from off-road vehicles to jets and mobile HQs. Then there are the actual military-based toys, like True Heroes and the modern iteration of Lanard’s CORPS! (recently dubbed as Total Soldier). Toys R Us’ True Heroes line has managed to outdo modern GI Joe in terms of grandiose vehicles with its Shark AB-115. Then there’s the other end of the spectrum, the cheapjack efforts that populate the dollar store toy aisle.
I discovered Military Action Figure (I suppose that’s what I should call him) at the local Dollar Tree. There was another figure that included a large cannon-like weapon and SWAT shield, but I was struck by this guy’s kayak. Is it a kayak? Does any military use something like this? Maybe so, since GI Joe’s second version of Stalker came with one. It’s a pretty decent little accessory, considering the paltry sum that I paid, plus the figure actually fits in it. Seems funny, but you’d be surprised how many of these cheapo items don’t even match up the figures and gear. For the record, the SEAL-like operative here can hold one of his weapons, as well as the oars. Honestly, throw the figure in the trash, and stick a Joe in the boat.
The derpy-looking figure is hollow and cheap (what do you expect for a buck?) and probably wouldn’t stand up to play for more than a few minutes. I don’t even want to give it to my four year old son for fear of it snapping into pieces before you can say tundra ranger. Speaking of which, Stalker couldn’t bare to look at this guy for too long. He may borrow his ride, however.
Love the Stalker V2 comparisons.
Thats a great photo of Stalker.
I have a few of those kyak things laying around here [somewhere]
And on the subject of incorporating star wars figures into the joe line. I had this freind who had an older brother who was younger then we were [my freind and i that is] and he wanted a Cobra commander figure before he was released down here so he painted a spare snowtrooper blue. [not to be confused with one of those mad Uzay star wars knockoffs]
Even the kayak is smaller. Blah! Hasbro puts these dollar guys to shame any day.
Still, it’s nice custom fodder for someone with good paint app skills. The accessories might prove salvageable as well.
I’ve seen these at my local Dollar Tree, I like the other pack’s accessories, too. When I was a kid, the green Endor Rebel trooper from the vintage ROTJ collection, often went on Joe missions. In fact, I have one as a part of my Joe display. The Rebel Snowspeeder made a great Cobra ship, too!!
Nice Kajak!
Stalker isn’t the first Joe to have a kayak: In the UK Recondo came with one
http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/003/af/009/index.html
@Philip Ayres – I have that Recondo + kayak in storage somewhere – wasn’t there an SAS Force version of the same kayak?
Yup: http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/002/sas/006/index.html
It was a 1984 SAS Force toy. Like many of the vehicle introduced in the 1984 Action Force – both Palitoy and Hasbro originated – it was used again in the UK 85 run, effectively Gi Joe but under a different name.
Looking at it now there’s not a lot of new vehicles in 85 for UK fans:
http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/003/promos/003/index.html
Skystriker, Whale, Sharc, Asp, Water Mocccasin, CLAW, Swamp Skimmer and arguably the Stinger Jeep.
The Enemy had had the Escape Armour & Hiss the previous year in different colours, along with the Roboskull http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/002/redshadows/index.html
Z Force had the Command Center, Pakrats, Whirlwid and ATC in similar colours http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/002/z/index.html
SAS Force had had the Vamp 1 (Stinger), Fang, Wolverine & Silent Attack, all in different colours http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/002/sas/index.html
Q Force had the Sealion http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/002/q/001/index.html and Space Force the Triad Fighter http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/002/space/index.html
The Sealion, Triad Fighter, Roboskull and Silent Attack are the only Palitoy originated toys in the 85 AF line, albeit packed with new figures Dolphin (grey Zap) Moondancer (grey Short Fuze) Red Wolf (Wild Weasel) and Recondo respectively.
If you put those together with Snake Eyes (released previously as the SAS Squad’s version of the Vamp’s driver) Rock & Roll (Action Force’s Wolverine driver, replacing Cover Girl) & Grunt (Action Force Mail Away) the UK actually got EVERY 82-84 GI Joe carded figure…. bar Spirit Iron Knife. There’s a few drivers/pack ins missing though!