A collector’s comparison to the brands battling for best military action figure
I grew up in the early eighties watching the original G.I. Joe A Real American Hero cartoon, collecting and playing with the action figures, and dreaming of becoming a unit member.
I was such a fan, that my nickname became G.I. Joe! I continued to collect and play with the action figures and toys into my teens, while also reading the comics.
G.I. Joe wasn’t just a cartoon, comic, or toy line for me; it was an integral part of my life growing up.
It inspired me to want to serve my country, as it did for millions of others during that time. Each G.I. Joe episode or comic taught us ethics, morals, and patriotism.
It promoted values that at the time, were held in high regard in literally every home in America.
Forty years later, I find myself experiencing that same excitement and nostalgia, as the G.I. Joe Classified Series brings America’s heroes back to life in a larger scale.
First revealed by Hasbro in 2019, the G.I. Joe Classified Series was set to re-introduce the line to fans new and old.
The Classified Series would bring G.I. Joe back in a new, six inch scale, with revised designs that would incorporate features from the classic Real American Hero toy line.
The first wave featured five action figures, with a deluxe Snake-Eyes being a Pulse exclusive. Since that time there have been forty figures released in the past two years.
Each of the Classified Series action figures comes packaged with individual box art, and feature thirty-eight points of articulation.
Most figures also include at least two weapons, and several accessories to complete a loadout. There have also been several deluxe figures as well as exclusives released.
I’m excited that G.I. Joe is back, and I really like the scale, as it appeals to me more as an adult collector.
The level of articulation and detail make the Classified Series figures ideal for use in toy photography.
The figures are manufactured using high grade plastics, with professional paint applications, and life like head sculpts.
There are however, several areas that I do take issue with: First, these figures include soft plastic weapons, which have a tendency to warp.
Sometimes they can be fixed, and sometimes they can’t, which has often led collectors like myself to third party sources for 3D printed accessories.
They also do not include a file card or display base. These really are the only issues that I have with the line so far.
Action Force
As often happens there are companies out there whose brand becomes a competitor in a specific genre, and such is the case with military action figures.
Prior to the Classified Series, there was no six inch scale military line of figures being produced; That changed with Action Force.
Action Force is a new line of six inch scale military themed action figures created by former Hasbro toy designer, and CEO of Valaverse Bobby Vala.
Action Force is an adult oriented collector’s line, designed with attention to detail and realism at it’s core.
Each Action Force figure is also based on the six inch scale, and features thirty eight points of articulation.
The Action Force line of figures seem to be made from a cheaper quality of plastic than the Classified Series, and during the first series there were issues with some figures experiencing broken joints on them.
This issue was supposedly remedied in Series Two, and each figure has life like head sculpts, detailed design, and multiple paint apps.
Unlike the Classified Series, the Action Force figures include five to six interchangeable hands, at least two weapons, and nearly a dozen accessories total.
Action Force figures also include a display base, and a file card on the back of the box. Action Force began as a kickstarter nearly two years ago, and the first series began shipping out in January 2020.
At the time of this writing Valaverse has already released twenty action figures, as well as multiple gear packs.
By the end of 2022 they will have released nearly forty figures. That is an impressive feat, considering that Valaverse is a privately owned start-up.
Their line has become wildly popular and successful with collectors around the world, which leads us to the proverbial question of which line is better?
To answer that, you have to take into consideration what each line offers the collector, their overall articulation, design, features, and included accessories.
You also have to consider who each line is made for. So let’s take a look at each aspect of these figures, and determine which one is best in each category, and see what the results are:
Packaging
To be fair, both the Classified Series as well as Action Force figures have really nicely designed packaging.
While Hasbro transitioned to the plastic free packaging in late 2022, they have recently announced plans to bring it back.
The window display box was a big selling point for the Classified Series, and fans were not happy about the change.
I personally like the plastic free packaging, as it incorporates new product art, as well as a scale on the back of the box showing the actual height of the figure.
Action Force has continued to utilize their version of the window display box, but will soon be transitioning to new packaging of their own.
In an effort to keep the packaging design appealing and cost effective, Valaverse will be moving to a blister card back for their line.
The Action Force packaging also includes a file card printed on the back which can be cut out, and inserted into the display base.
Articulation
This would be a tie in my opinion, as both Action Force and the Classified Series have thirty eight points of articulation.
Hasbro it seems has continued to improve the design of the Classified Series with each successive wave, while Action Force has only made changes where necessary.
Accessories and Weapons
There is no comparison in this category, as each of the Action Force figures include nearly a dozen accessories, display base, and at least two solid ABS plastic weapons.
In addition, the gear packs offered separately provide a complete kit for the unique Republic Guard figures.
The Classified Series figures include soft plastic weapons which are often warped inside the packaging, and which cannot be readily fixed.
This leads many G.I. Joe collectors to either use Action Force gear packs with their JOEs, or else buy 3D printed weapons from a third party retailer like Arsenal of Pew Pews.
Overall Design and Paint Apps
Both brands have given attention to detail in the design of the figure, as well as to the realism of the head sculpt.
I have seen no issues with the placement of paint applications, either.
Poseability
I would have to give this category to Action Force, as their figures tend to be more stable when standing upright on a flat surface.
They seem to be better balanced, and they also have the advantage of having an included display base, which the Classified Series figures do not.
Overall Best Figure?
After looking at all of this from a technical standpoint, the Classified Series excels with the best overall figures.
That being said, Action Force has consistently provided better accessories, with greater variety, and that has appealed to collectors.
There are many adult collectors out there who are fans of G.I. JOE, and who have gotten back into collecting because of the Classified Series.
These fans account for eighty percent or more of the revenue on this line, and that’s who they were created for.
In addition, many of these collectors are also fans of Action Force, and incorporate those figures into their G.I. JOEs.
Either way, both lines are benefiting from the fan base. In the end, I think that the Classified Series line is the winner of this battle, because G.I.JOE is such a well known and loved franchise.
There are also many new fans being introduced to the brand for the first time through this line.
Brand Longevity
One question on everyone’s mind is how long will the Classified Series continue to be produced?
Early on, one executive at Hasbro estimated that the line would be produced for at least five years.
We are coming up on 2024, and after four years the line shows no signs of slowing down. If anything Hasbro seems to be going all out with the Classified Series.
They have continued to design and produce a limited number of vehicles for the line, with the Haslab H.I.SS. tank and Dragonfly being their most ambitious projects to date.
Quarter Two of 2024 will see the mass retail release of the G.I. Joe Classified Series VAMP, which will offer stiff competition to the Valaverse Vanguard vehicle.
As for Action Force, it was created from the outset to be a line of adult collectible action figures, with a tie-in comic series also targeted to adult readers.
It has a very specific market, and by all accounts, it has more than succeeded thus far in reaching that market.
It remains to be seen if it’s success will be sustained, or if interest in the line will decline over time.
G.I. JOE was made popular through the Sunbow cartoon as well as the comics, and both helped to market the Real American Hero toy line of the eighties.
Over time, the brand would change to remain relevant, but eventually it declined in the mid nineties, which saw the end of the comics, as well as the main toy lines for a time.
The lesson here is that there has always existed a core group of dedicated collectors and fans, which are now in their mid forties or older.
Toy companies are recognizing that children have drifted away to the digital age, while middle aged adults have never lost that child like wonder.
That is what is special about G.I.JOE, and that’s why I have to say that it’s still the best there is. Action Force may do some things better, but even it has It’s roots in G.I.JOE.
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