Action Force vs G.I. Joe:

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.

*Action Force Series 01 Republic Special Ops trooper*

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.

*Action Force Republic Guard Riot Warfare Trooper*

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.

*G.I. JOE Classified Series Beachhead and Duke*

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.

My thoughts on the G.I. Joe Classified Series

Introduction

2020 was a very devasting year for many, but there was also good in the midst of the bad. One of those things was the release of the G.I. Joe Classified Series line by Hasbro.

When I first learned about this line in 2019 I was both excited and skeptical about it, having only rumors to go on.

When the figures were first released in June of 2020, the demand exceeded supply, and stores were quickly stripped bare by collectors and scalpers alike.

The Target exclusive Cobra Island sub-line fared no better, with limited inventory, and some stores putting out stock before the street date.

This caused confusion, and led to Hasbro redacting the street date by a week, allowing inventory to be placed out for sale.

What followed was a merciless attempt by scalpers to get their hands on as much inventory as possible, forcing collectors and consumers to turn to eBay as their only source for these figures.

This allowed scalpers to inflate aftermarket prices by as much as five times or more the actual MSRP of the figure, forcing collectors to meet their demands if they wanted to obtain them.

It was and is a serious blight on both the toy industry, and collector community alike.Early on I managed to snag several of the Wave 01 figures from an area Wal-Mart and GameStop twenty miles away, before their inventory disappeared.

I was eager to get the new Target exclusive Beachhead and Cobra Troopers, and began waiting for their release date.

I live in a rural area, so the nearest Target store to me is roughly fifty miles away. My first trip there last year proved to be a nightmare.

They had inventory on hand in the stock room, but the management present was not aware that the street date had been lifted, and because of that they refused to sell me any of the figures.

I would make several more trips over the following months, with nothing to show for it but an empty gas tank.

I finally caved in and purchased two of the Cobra Troopers on eBay for a whopping one hundred dollars each! Thankfully, that would turn out to be the worst experience that I have had with the Classified Series line to date.

Meet our demands, or you’ll never have us in hand!

Overview

The G.I. Joe Classified Series is possibly the most successful line of figures within the franchise, since the debut of the three and three quarter inch scale A Real American Hero line in 1982.

Each of the figures is based on the six inch scale, with each figure being scaled according to their character’s stature in relation to each other.

They boast thirty six points of articulation, and include at minimum one weapon, and at least one accessory, with most having several of each.

The figures also feature updated appearances and uniforms, which are based upon their original A Real American Hero designs from the 1980s.

Most of the weapons are futuristic, and are scaled down replicas of some Nerf blasters. This was done intentionally, to steer the line away from being seen as promoting firearms and violence in play.

This has been a point of debate among adult collectors who grew up as fans of the original G.I. Joe cartoons, comics, and toy line.

The idea is that G.I. Joe has always stood as a symbol of morality, pitching good versus evil on the battlefield.

The individual weapons, aircraft, armor, and boats were all portrayed as implements of war, and each episode of the cartoons and comics depicted G.I. Joe fighting Cobra forces.

The idea that depicting either G.I. Joe or Cobra using actual weapons has any bearing or negative influence over the hearts and minds of today’s youth, simply has no foundation in reality.

The Classified Series figures are not the first G.I. Joe line to be designed in the six inch scale, but they are the first to go into production.

A previous line based loosely on the G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra figures was drawn up nearly ten years ago, but never went into production.

It is unknown why that line was cancelled, however it proves that the concept for a six inch line of G.I. Joe figures was seen as a valid direction to take the franchise.

Recently it was revealed in the updated Linkdin profile of Hasbro’s Senior Marketing Director Irvin Ducournau, that he was responsible for the development of a global brand strategy ( G.I. Joe Classified Series ) planned for three to five years.

If that’s true, then that would make the G.I. Joe Classified Series the third longest running line of action figures produced for the brand by Hasbro to date.

And if sales are any indication, it is has quickly become by far the most popular line as well.

My Assessment of the line

One thing that I strive for when I do a toy review is to remain unbiased in my report. I usually spend dozens of hours reviewing a single figure, including their in universe history, their production facts, as well as looking at other reviews.

Ultimately my assessment is based on my personal in hand experience with the toy. That includes addressing quality control issues that have been previously reported by other collectors and consumers, as well as offering my own opinion.

Overall I think that the G.I. Joe Classified Series has exceeded my personal expectations of the line, and it certainly lives up to the hype on social media.

I will say that my primary point of concern is with the weapons being made of soft plastic, as most of them have a tendency to be warped beyond the ability to correct.

If I could offer any suggestions for future waves, it would be to either include two weapons with every figure: a sidearm and a rifle, or to offer a weapons pack as a separate expansion kit that could be purchased at retail.

This would give collectors an additional means of outfitting their figures, and offer an attractive feature that would enhance the collector experience.

*G.I. Joe Classified Series Duke with warped rifle*

I think that the design team has done a tremendous job with this line, and so has the marketing team.

Their color choice, design, and layout on the packaging are both eye catching and simplistic. I also like the redesigned character abilities icons on the side panel, as it gives collectors an added feature to their experience with the figure.

I have found that some of the complaints by collectors and consumers are both biased and unfounded.

Conflict among collectors

First, when you are speaking about collectors, you are referring primarily to adult collectors who have been and are life long fans of G.I. Joe.

People collect for a myriad of reasons, but there are some of us who are more versed in this world then others, and can be considered subject matter experts when it comes to toys and toy collecting.

To that end, I want to address this issue:

There are some who use social media to compare the Classified Series with it’s only competitor, Action Force.

Any collector or influencer like myself, is going to offer their opinion when there is a standard to compare something to, but unfortunately that isn’t the case here.

The reason being is that the Action Force line of six inch military style figures has yet to be shipped from the manufacturer, and no one has these figures in hand to compare them to the Classified Series figures.

*Action Force? Is that* *like the girl scouts?*

Second, Action Force is a brand new start-up by a former employee of the Hasbro design team. Their target demographic is the adult collector community, whereas the Classified Series is marketed to collectors age four and up.

That means when designing these figures they were incorporating features that would appeal to a much broader consumer base than what Action Force is doing.

You also have to take into consideration that G.I. Joe has been around in one scale or another for the past sixty four years.

Action Force on the other hand is a new line, from a new start-up. The name Action Force originated in 1982 with Palitoy in Great Britain as a response to their failed Action Man line.

The new line was composed of multinational figures, but would soon include their own rebranding of G.I. Joe’s as well.

Once their trademark came up as available, it was purchased by Valaverse, and used to rebrand the Action Force line. The first wave of figures were offered through a kickstart campaign.

The video reviews that have been posted to social media sites like YouTube have mostly been of a biased nature, and used to promote the Action Force brand, while debasing the Classified Series.

With no Action Force figures in hand to actually compare to the Classified Series, these unprofessional reviews are of no merit to the collector and fan communities.

At best they demonstrate the polarizing views associated with individuals who have no regard for professional culture or ethics, and who offer no insight into the product itself.

Conclusions

The G.I. Joe Classified Series has brought new life to an old friend, and renewed interest among fans. It is a modern take on an eighties classic, that we all grew up with and loved.

In many ways it allows us to reconnect with our childhood, and experience emotions and familiarity with a far better time in our world, than the days in which we live.

The Classified Series has in fact, taken G.I. Joe fans by storm, and made our dreams come true. Despite opposition from a few, the G.I Joe Classified Series is here to stay.