Action Figure Fumble

How the G.I. Joe design team has lost the Classified Series

Introduction

When the G.I. Joe Classified Series was first announced back in 2019, one Hasbro executive stated that they expected the line to last around five years, or from 2020-2025.

I think it’s safe to say that the line’s popularity with adult collectors (who comprise eighty percent or greater of the line’s sales) have helped sustain it beyond that original projection.

That does not mean however, that the line has not seen its share of failures. In this blog post, I want to take a look at a few of the specific figures revealed going into SDCC this year, and then look at some of the sub lines in the series.

We’ll wrap things up by examining how some of these entries have affected the line in the larger context, as well as examining strategies that Hasbro could pursue in the future.

Facial recognition

One of the things that Hasbro has excelled at have been the portraits on the Classified Series. The continued evolution of their Photo-Real ink jet printing technology have given their action figures the most realistic life-like resemblance of any one twelfth scale line to date.

That is not to say however, that there haven’t been quality control issues along the way, and nowhere is that more evident than with Lt. Falcon.

Originally released in 2023, Lieutenant Falcon was voted the worst figure in the line by collectors due to the horrid head sculpt.

Hasbro wasn’t oblivious to the fan backlash, and they released an updated Falcon under the Night Force subline in 2024, as part of a deluxe two-pack with Quarrel.

Unfortunately, the latter figure’s success has been overshadowed by the recently revealed Retro Cardback version.

The Retro Cardback figures are a sub-line within the Classified Series, first released back in 2022. They are variants that are identical to the original three and three quarter scale action figures from the eighties.

The Retro line are marketed towards adult collectors who grew up with the original G.I.Joe cartoon and toy lines, in an effort to capitalize on nostalgia.

They typically include very minimalist accessories that differ from their main line release, and have for the most part been received with mixed reviews.

The real issue here is over saturation of the market with variants. The initial release of Falcon was a flop, while the Night Force variant was a success. The Retro variant aims to release an improved version, to correct the problems with the first.

Personally, I don’t see it being a success for the line. Simply put, it’s nothing more than a repaint/retool of the original mold.

It doesn’t look good, and it retains that awkward appearance that the original is known for, in spite of the new head sculpt.

She’s got the looks

In 2023 Hasbro released a deluxe boxed set of two female Cobra troopers called Valkyries. They were a hot item among collectors, and have retained their value on the secondary market thus far.

During SDCC, it was revealed that these figures will also be receiving the Retro treatment, with the female Cobra Trooper.

This figure is intended to be an army builder, and though there are slight differences from the original, it’s one figure that I’m not opposed to.

This will no doubt be one of the more sought after figures in the Retro line by adult collectors, much like the mainline counterpart.

I will say that I’m not a fan of their choices for kit on these figures, and the remedy is simple: Replacing the cheap harness with a plate carrier from Valaverse.

Making this minor change, along with some minor paint apps will drastically improve the appearance and realism of this figure.

Flash, Gambello!

New, from Worlds of Wonder! Okay, so it’s not a Lazer Tag commercial, but it is a laser trooper. Enter Anthony Gambello, call sign Flash.

If you’re looking for nostalgia, this figure is oozing with it, as he is a modern upscaled copy of the original figure.

The problem that I have with this reveal is complex. To begin, this is another example of over saturation of the line by releasing another laser gun figure.

Sci-Fi was released in 2025, and is a much nicer figure than Flash. You also have to consider the cost of these figures, which was increased to $27.99 here in the U.S.

Adult collectors are going to look at this on the pegs, and these two things are going to immediately dictate their decision to pick or pass on this figure.

This isn’t going to be a major financial win for Hasbro in any sense of the word. They have already lost revenue on the Retro sub line, and it’s not a lesson that they seem to be learning from.

Less than honorable mention

Sergeant Slaughter has been a household hero since the early eighties, and his involvement with and contributions to G.I. Joe are nothing less than heroic.

The same can’t be said however, for the recently announced Triple T Tank. It is for the most part an exact replica of the early eighties toy, with the exception of the mini guns and canopy.

And herein lies the problem with this toy. The design team at Hasbro has ignored the call from fans to bring realism to this line.

They have consistently missed opportunities to balance nostalgia with real world military models, and that has translated into failed marketing strategies.

As previously stated, Adult collectors are the primary consumers of this line, and these “kidults” as we’re called, have grown up with the original G.I. Joe toys in the eighties and nineties.

We were inundated with playsets and vehicles that kitbashed real world technology, with fantasy and science fiction elements.

As adults we have become accustomed to seeing real world military technology, and that clicks with the child in us. The “wouldn’t it be cool if they made this as a toy?” mindset.

So naturally, there may be stuff from the original toys that we want to see made that we could play with, there’s also that nagging feeling of viewing G.I. Joe from a more gritty, grounded perspective.

The Triple T in my opinion looks like a tracked snow plow. The cockpit is cramped, and there’s nothing practical about it.

It’s the sort of thing you envision a disabled person driving out the back of their minivan at Walmart to buy groceries. Not exactly G.I. Joe material.

Since we’re already in the hundred dollar price range for every toy we buy, why not take the opportunity to improve upon the original design?

Increase the scale, lengthen the chassis. Give it a small troop carrier capacity in the rear, with a remote weapons station on top! Make it look like it came to destroy Cobra, instead of pulling your car out of the snow pile at work.

Mental health awareness

Finally, I have to go here because nobody else will. The Mad Marauders sub line sucks. Who wants G.I. Joe figures in bright Blue, Brown, and lime Green?

If there was ever a way to demoralize adult collectors and hurt sales, this was it. To date, Hasbro has released half a dozen figures in the Mad Marauders line, which is a reimagining of the original Slaughters Marauders.

They should probably check the sales of this crap, and find a better use for these molds, much like Valaverse does with their figures.

You don’t have to be a calculus major to figure out this is the least popular sub-line of the series, and it’s destined to become a favorite at Ollies and Ross.

*The new approach to tactical fashion on the battlefield.*

Conclusion

Like any toy line, the sales and success of the Classified Series are determined by a number of factors that marketing teams are constantly evaluating.

Somewhere along the line though, the design and marketing teams for the Classified Series have missed some major indicators as well as opportunities.

Ultimately, the longevity and success of this line will be determined by the direction that they continue to take it. At some point, someone needs to call for a tactical pause and reevaluate the line.

They need to take a very careful look at each figure and toy individually, and note what worked, and what didn’t.

They also need to drop the nostalgia, and listen to collectors. At least fifty percent of their consumers also buy the Action Force line of figures from Valaverse, and Hasbro needs to pay attention.

They have a more modern and realistic line of military figures, which is one of their major selling points.

Action Force figures are also highly customizable, due to most of the figures either using or reusing existing tooling.

This is a major attraction for collectors who liked to customize their figures. They also use a better grade of plastics for their molds, and all of their accessories are made from ABS with zero warping.

Their lone vehicle the Vanguard, is just as popular as the G.I.Joe VAMP. It’s larger, and far less expensive. Judging from it’s popularity, the Vanguard has probably surpassed the VAMP in sales.

Like the old saying goes, you can’t compare apples to oranges, but in this case there are takeaways that anyone in the toy industry should be paying attention to.

If I had to guess, I would argue that the Classified Series is on a downward trend, with 2027-2028 being critical, and I don’t make that analysis lightly.

The only way it could feasibly continue is if Hasbro were to make some very real changes to the line, including in how it’s marketed.

Then again, what do I know? I’m just a child trapped in a man’s body, who’s willing to work for more toys.

The price is wrong

Why the cancellation of Haslab projects in 2026 may be pointing to a downward turn for Hasbro

Introduction

Two weeks ago an announcement was made by Hasbro representative Ben MacCrae that there would be no new Haslab projects for 2026.

I’m certain there were many collectors who were taken aback by the news, while others have posted their relief in the decision.

I am more reserved in my conclusions as to why Hasbro may have made this call, and I don’t think that it is an indicator of anything good for the company.

Before I share my thoughts, let’s look back specifically at Haslab itself, as well as some other business decisions made by Hasbro that fans should be paying attention to.

Scalping the fan base 101

Haslab was founded in 2018 as a direct to consumer crowdfunding platform for premium collectible toys.

It is Hasbro’s solution for making insane stuff that would be cost prohibitive, and high- risk as a mass- retail production item.

They kicked things off with the Star Wars Vintage Collection Jabba’s Sail Barge that same year. The project required eight thousand backers to go into production, with a price tag of five hundred dollars per unit.

Each backer could purchase up to five units each, and many did (Scalpers go a step further, and use the names and emails of other relatives to buy more, in order to flip them for a profit on eBay).

The project closed with exactly eight thousand, eight hundred and ten units ordered, giving Hasbro a total of four point four million dollars in revenue from their first Haslab project.

What they didn’t disclose to consumers Is that each of those units cost Hasbro seventy five dollars to produce, at a total of six hundred and sixty thousand, seven hundred and fifty dollars!

That means that they raked in nearly three point eight million dollars in profits, at a five hundred percent profit over cost margin.

This makes Hasbro the biggest scalpers of the toy industry.

Hasbro Pulse

So, now that we have had our math lesson for the day with the very first Haslab project, let’s talk about the other side of the coin, Hasbro Pulse.

Pulse is a direct to consumer hub, that is part of their e-commerce website. It is marketed exclusively to adult collectors, who comprise eighty percent of Hasbro’s revenue for their five largest brands.

Star Wars Black Series, Star Wars Vintage Collection, G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, and Transformers Studio Series all feature Pulse exclusives, that are not available through traditional mass retailers.

Both Haslab and Hasbro Pulse are similar in that they eliminate lost revenue, while maximizing profits on sales. They force consumers to buy from them directly, in order to get what they want.

Why it matters

Let’s pause for a moment and take a look at Star Wars as an example. In 2012 Disney acquires Lucasfilm in a four billion dollar deal, that gives the mouse total control over the greatest science fiction franchise of all time.

That control also trickles down to tie-in merchandising like toys. Disney, not George Lucas, now has the final say on what Hasbro gets to do with their new intellectual property.

From 2012 until 2015, Hasbro lost five hundred million dollars in lost revenue on its Star Wars brands alone, which was due primarily to poor sales from The Force Awakens toy line.

This prompted major changes from Hasbro, including the cancellation of the five POA basic assortment of figures in 2019, which were the back bone of the brand since 1977.

It also cancelled the 1/18 scale playsets and vehicles that had previously dominated every Star Wars toy line since the early days at Kenner, up until 2010.

All of these losses were instrumental factors that led to the creation of both Hasbro Pulse, and ultimately Haslab.

Cutting Corners

Now that we’ve taken a look back at some of the factors that led to the creation of Haslab, let’s talk about the here and now.

Hasbro’s current CEO Chris Cocks may become the fault in the company’s foundation. His new “playing to win” strategy is calling for a minimum of three to five percent revenue growth this year.

That strategy included cutting Hasbro’s global staff by twenty percent, or just over eleven hundred positions worldwide.

That may not seem like much for the world’s largest and most profitable toy company, but in reality it may be an indicator of things to come.

Another area that they are cutting costs isn’t just their staff, it’s also in production and assembly of existing toys.

Take for example, the Star Wars Black Series figures. Since 2023 Hasbro has removed points of articulation such as swivel hips, and replaced them with seamless leg joints.

They have transitioned to pinless, single elbow and knee joints, over double elbow and knees with greater range of motion.

By reducing the points of articulation in the line, Hasbro has cut the total cost of production and assembly.

They have also minimized the included accessories with each figure, while capitalizing on their perceived marketing strategy.

The savings to the company then are transferred to the consumer, by giving them a figure with less articulation, and a cost increase to twenty seven dollars and ninety nine cents for a basic figure!

So for the collector, we are paying more while receiving less. Hasbro’s marketing team have done their homework, and they know that collectors will continue to take the bait, as long as they give just enough to keep us hooked on the line.

The same holds true for Haslab. When you take projects like the Vintage Collection Cantina, it isn’t as great as it is made out to be.

Rather than being a Haslab project, they could easily have offered that same project as a mass retail or store exclusive.

It could have been marketed in multiple sections, drawing collectors to buy each one in order to build the full Cantina.

So, while some projects may necessitate being offered as a single, large unit, others may benefit from a different marketing strategy.

Haslab’s future

To date, Haslab has funded and produced over a dozen projects, but they have also had at least six that did not receive enough backers to go into production.

Failed projects bring negative publicity, and that’s something that the leadership at Hasbro isn’t likely to allow to continue.

Furthermore, the overall success of Haslab is questionable at best. Support for the projects have declined, particularly in respect to the current economic climate and market.

Collectors are less likely to invest four or five hundred dollars in a project that they have to wait a year to receive, when they can invest that same amount in other toys that are readily available now.

Increased cost of existing lines also hasn’t escaped the attention of collectors, including social media influencers who have exposed it to the public.

When you take all of these factors into consideration, as well as the uncertainty and instability of global markets, it becomes clear that Haslab may be short lived.

Moving on up to the east side

The last thing that I will make note of is this: Hasbro is in the process of relocating its global headquarters from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Boston, Massachusetts.

The new facility is considerably smaller, at just two hundred and sixty five thousand square feet, and will house seven hundred employees. It is a very confined location, with an extremely different footprint than its current home.

By comparison, the legacy facility in Rhode Island is a whopping three hundred and forty three thousand square feet. That’s a considerable amount of floor space that the company is giving up.

That in itself is very perplexing from a business standpoint. The reason is this: why would an established company make a high risk move into a multi-million dollar leased facility in another state, when they have an adequate facility that they already own?

If the leadership at Hasbro is so concerned over cutting costs and playing it safe in the current market, then why make this decision?

So, if they are going to such extreme measures to cut costs, then projects like Haslab would certainly be at risk for cancellation.

Conclusion

Haslab was conceived as a means to bring the fans collectible toys that would be deemed cost prohibitive for retail, while eliminating lost revenue, and maximizing profits for the company.

That model is beginning to be seen as a risk in itself, due to decreased interest and negative publicity on failed projects. What is needed then, is a new marketing strategy.

In my opinion, if Haslab is going to continue as a platform, then the answer for its success is a simple one: reduce the cost per unit for the consumer.

Hasbro has made it a point to market the Haslab projects on average at five hundred percent profit over cost per unit.

That isn’t just ensuring zero lost revenue, it is an unethical business practice that has and will continue to have negative consequences.

The issue here isn’t a business model, a supply problem, or shortage of stickers; it’s greed. It is the craving and love of money which corrupts and motivates individuals and companies alike.

The simple fact is Hasbro like any other company is run by people, and not everyone lives a life above reproach. There is a way to make a profit, and do it in a fair and just manner.

That is not unfortunately, what we have seen to date with Haslab, and that may be the very reason why the platform itself fails.

The other possibility, and one that I think they should have implemented from day one, is to do the opposite of what they are doing.

Rather than play it safe by limiting these toys to Haslab, would be to market them through select retailers. If you think that wouldn’t work, think again.

The Vintage Collection Razorcrest was almost a Disney Store exclusive, rather than a Haslab project!

The fact is Hasbro has the ability and the means to market these toys however they wish; they simply choose to limit our options in order to maximize their profits.

So for now Haslab may continue to be an option to bring fans the toys they want, but in the end does the cost justify it, and will the platform be sustainable into the future?

Let’s make a deal

The pros and cons of buying collectible toys from online resellers versus brick and mortar retailers.

Intro

I wanted to take a brief moment and share some insight into collecting toys for just a moment, and I want to talk specifically about buying from third party sellers online, versus buying from a brick and mortar store, such as a comic book store or privately owned toy reseller.

Toy collecting is an increasingly growing sector of the economy, accounting for nineteen percent of toy sales world wide in 2025, with a thirty two percent increase in sales that same yearhttps://toycycle.co/pages/toy-industry-statistics.

Here in the U.S. toy sales generated forty billion dollars in 2024 alone. Roughly thirty percent of that revenue is from adult collectors, who have become the largest consumer for the toy industry worldwide. https://sourcing.hktdc.com/newsbites/trend/adult-collectibles/.

So when we look at collectible toys, we are primarily talking about those that are out of production by the manufacturer. This includes both vintage as well as modern-era toys.

In either instance, collectors must search third party sellers on the secondary market to find what they want. This is primarily accomplished through online searches through sites like eBay, Mercari, and others.

It can also include searching for local resellers who operate brick and mortar businesses. Most common among these are comic book stores which offer a mixed inventory of collectible toys that tie-in with their comics.

There are advantages as well as disadvantages to both, and I want to point out some of these. First, I will begin with online resellers.

eBay

By far, eBay is the largest online shopping platform for toy collectors. The ease of creating a listing from home, minimizing interaction with buyers, and the overall features provided by eBay make both buying and selling a simplified process.

Collectors have the ability to review multiple listings for the same toy, look at images, and ask questions of the seller. You also have the ability to make offers on some listings, as well as choosing the shipping method that you want.

The drawbacks to eBay as well as other online resellers is simple: the collector does not have the ability to inspect the toy in person. This means that you have to rely solely on the images and information provided by the seller.

For serious collectors, it takes time to search through listings, narrowing down the best options, and then refining your selections based on the criteria that you use.

For myself, I almost never buy anything used; it must be sealed in the packaging. I also will not buy toys from anyone that smokes, or from the home of one. I do not want anything that someone else has touched.

Since I am a box collector, I will carefully inspect the images of the box for damage, wear and tear, or anything that would detract from its value.

The toys that I buy are in grade C7-C9 when I buy them, and they remain that way in my collection due to how I store them.

I am very picky about how a seller ships an item, and this is unfortunately, another aspect of buying online that you as the collector do not have any control over.

Most sellers on eBay that are selling collectible toys know what they are, and what collectors are looking for.

For the most part, they go above and beyond in the care they take to package and ship them. There are however, the few who are only interested in money, and they do not care about the toys themselves.

In cases like this there are ways to address this, but for the most part you are stuck with an item after you receive it, no matter what condition it is in.

*A recent toy shipment from an eBay seller, and how it was packed.*

Brick and mortar retailers

Now that we have discussed online purchases, it’s time to take a look at brick and mortar locations. These are typically comic book stores that have incorporated collectible toys.

Most adults who collect and read comics also collect toys as well, so it just makes sense to offer them in a comic book store. You’ll also find some locations that are strictly toy resellers, which are usually owned and operated by collector’s themselves.

Going into these stores provides collectors a rare opportunity to look at and inspect collectible toys in person. Often, you may find rare items that you are not aware of, or were not searching for.

It also gives a sense of connection and nostalgia that you don’t get to experience when shopping online, and I would encourage any collector to get out and find a store to visit.

That being said, there are some very important things that you need to be aware of. To begin, you need to understand where these toys originated from.

Not everyone who sells or trades items to these stores care about the toys, or the condition that they are in. More often than not, they are sold for money, and in that process things can be tricky.

Sometimes there are individuals who mislead the owners of these stores to make money. An example would be stating that a toy is sealed in the box, when in reality it was not.

I encountered a situation like this with several toys purchased from a well known comic book store. Items inside the box had been switched out in one instance, while pieces were missing in the other.

The most extreme example was a Star Wars Vintage Collection E-Wing in that collection that had dried blood on the side of it, even though it was supposed to be new in the box.

Though the owner made it right, it was the experience and the outcome that ruined it for me. In truth it was my error for not paying closer attention to the packaging.

I had become accustomed to trusting that particular business, that I had slacked off on how I inspected packaging. So, the lesson here is to first ask questions about where the toy came from, and then inspect the packaging!

Look at the corners of the box, look for signs of wear and tear, water damage, ext. You also need to inspect the tape sealing the package, and see if it has been tampered with, or has oil stains on it from someone’s fingerprints.

These are all tell-tell signs of it being opened or tampered with, which brings us to my next point about buying toys in a store: they get handled by everyone!

You do not know who touched it, if it was dropped, ext. and this is the most negative consequence of buying collectible toys from a brick and mortar retailer.

There are very few stores that sell collectible toys which keep them in some sort of display case where they cannot be handled. Most stores reserve those locations for their most expensive collectibles.

On the flip side of this coin, buying from an online reseller means getting a toy that typically has been owned by a single collector, in one location. That translates into less possibilities of damage.

So again, it is up to you as a collector to learn how to inspect toy packaging before you ever step foot in a store. It’s also up to you to be courteous to the owners, and wash your hands before going into their store and touching their product!

Last of all, I want to talk about cost. We have all encountered the evil scalpers who so wrongly buy bulk quantities in order take advantage of collectors, and truly there is a special place in hell reserved for them this very day.

No, what I wish to discuss is the cost of buying collectible toys in a brick and mortar store, versus buying them online. This is a touchy subject for some, but bear with me on this.

Gain versus loss

In reality, a toy is worth what you as the collector are willing to pay for it. By far, it is less expensive when buying them online from third party resellers, and the reason is simple.

Online resellers are typically selling their toys for a myriad of reasons, and will accept less, even if they know the current value of the toy they’re selling. Brick and mortar stores are the opposite.

If you sell a toy to them they typically offer forty percent of the average price the toy sold for on eBay, and I have a sneaking suspicion they always select the one that sold for the least amount.

They will then take said toy and flip it for a profit, marking it up as much as a hundred percent or more of the value! So you’re asking why?

It’s simple: these stores know they can get away with the price increase, because they have an established customer base. When they place a toy out for sale, they have customers in mind who they know will buy it if they can get them in the store to look at it.

It’s a scientific principal that all toy manufacturers marketing departments rely on. How they package and present a toy has as much to do with it being sold as the actual toy itself.

Brick and mortar stores who resell collectible toys rely on social media for fast advertising, and many also list items on eBay (shock, shock) to make money as well.

They are like sharks in the ocean looking for that autistic collector with ADHD and Schizophrenia who has to have their toys right now! That one child trapped in a man’s body who can’t stand to wait on the snails pace of the U.S. Postal Service is their best customer.

Poor bloke, he’s no idea it’s his money they’re after, and all he wants is his toy. That’s the reality you’ll find in a brick and mortar toy store.

They don’t care about you the collector; the reality is they’ll talk trash about you and laugh behind your back as soon as you walk out the door, and they start counting your cash towards that steak at Outback.

The other factor in cost is a more practical one. When you factor in how much it actually costs you to travel to said store and then buy a toy from them, compared to simply ordering it online, you can quickly see the difference in cost.

Where you choose to buy your toys and how can have a tremendous impact on your collection. The reality is it’s a lot of work! I typically spend hours going through listings, comparing them to stores that might have the item, to see which is the best offer.

In the end it’s up to you the collector how you go about searching for toys to add to your collection, and where you get them from.

Divide and Conquer

An in-depth discussion of the Action Force narrative

Introduction

I am a huge fan of the Action Force comics and figures produced by Valaverse, so naturally I am fascinated by the story behind it.

Bobby Vala has created a very interesting mythos for these characters, that in many ways has an eerily familiar parallel to modern day events.

The catalyst for the narrative is an event called “the Divide”, in which the United States of America is dissolved, with each state becoming its own sovereign republic.

In spite of reading the comics from the series, I find myself left with more questions than answers. How exactly did the United States cease to be? What caused it? What happens to the U.S. military, its assets, and infrastructure?

These are just a few of the immediate questions that one would be faced with in such a crisis of this magnitude. So, in this post I am endeavoring to fill in some of the unanswered aspects of the Action Force narrative, that may help casual readers as well as hard core fans to better understand the mythos.

I will preface this by stating that I am not endorsed nor have I received permission from Valaverse to write this post; I’m simply a fan having fun by delving into this exciting universe from my own experience and research.

Catalyst for crisis

In the Action Force mythos, a series of events leads to the dissolution of the United States of America. In its place are fifty independent states. Sovereign and fractured by the Divide, they now stand alone to pick up the pieces. The first question is, could this really occur, and if so, how?

In theory yes, the United States could be dissolved as a Republic, but it would not occur overnight. One possibility would be a series of catastrophic events that occur in succession.

An example would look like this: Economic collapse occurs, followed by riots, violence, natural disasters (like the earthquake of 2028 in the Action Force mythos), and even domestic conflict.

Whatever the events that begin the chain reaction, they must all lead to the same outcome: multiple states become fed up with the state of affairs in the federal government.

From there, two-thirds of the state legislatures could then call for a constitutional convention under Article V.

The only way that the republic could be dissolved then, is that two-thirds vote determines that the dissolution of the union is in the best interests of the American people.

At this point an amendment to dissolve the Union is drafted, and sent to each state for ratification under Article V. If three fourths majority sign it, then it would become accepted as a legally binding document and become law.

At that point on that day, the United States of America would cease to exist as a unified republic of fifty states. This would then require and begin the process of disposition in each state of federal assets and liabilities.

This would include any and all United States military assets and infrastructure within each state. The process would be daunting, as each state would most likely activate their National Guard and use it as a temporary command to carry out this process in a controlled and safe manner.

At the top of this list would be the United States nuclear arsenal. Based on International law, The U.S. could theoretically request international assistance from NATO partners prior to the dissolution, in order to provide time for these weapons to be secured, dismantled, and taken into the custody of allied partners.

They may even assign NATO forces to oversee this at current decommissioning sites stateside. This process would take months, if not years to complete, and would be the most high-risk aspect of the dissolution of the union.

The second and third tiers of responsibility for the states would be Air and naval assets, respectively. By all accounts, the bulk of these would cease to be utilized due to the fact that their operation requires tens of thousands of certified personnel across the country to do so.

Of greatest concern would be the security risk they pose to foreign enemies seeking to take advantage of the fallen union. Internally, there would be an unprecedented amount of chaos and lawlessness in most states.

Disease, hunger, and violent crime would skyrocket. There would food shortages, power outages, uncontrollable reactions from the worst in society. These events would most likely result in localized armed conflicts of themselves.

Local first responders and the national guard would be outnumbered and overwhlemed by the sheer number of incidents. Medical emergencies would overwhelm local emergency rooms, and the death toll would rise.

The world would watch America tear itself apart, while it too felt the effects across the oceans. Without the commanding presence of the United States and its leadership to guide the free world, other nations would also suffer.

There would be untold economic repercussions, while the wild cards like China and Russia would seize the moment for their own agendas.

Wars would ensue that would require the entire free world to band together in a way that they never thought possible. It would be a trying time for everyone.

In the midst of the chaos, some states in the union may seek safety in numbers and propose regional alliances with each other. State governors would undoubtedly seek to maintain stable economic ties, while ensuring continuity of commerce across borders.

Laws would be amended, or at least temporarily so, in order to reflect the state of the fallen Republic.While there may be a conservative effort to restore the Republic, there would most likely be resistance from liberal states and their leaders.

They may enjoy their newfound independence, and begin making laws which benefit the ultra-elite, rather than the common good of everyday citizens. It is from these crevices in society that the greatest threat may emerge.

Leaders from every sector of society banding together in what would formerly be criminal enterprise, sowing discord within, while forming allegiances with external enemies of the former United States of America.

Evil people who would do anything to capitalize on open access to the land of the free, with unrestrained ambition driving their every move. The only way to counter such a threat would be a clandestine and unified military organization on land, derived from former military personnel who could be vetted.

They would have to have a single objective, with unequivocal support. Their missions would be clandestine by necessity and would require unparallel cooperation across state lines.

It would be a daunting task, but not an impossible one. The key to success would be unity and the use of surgical operations aimed at exploiting intelligence.

Months if not years would be required, but there would come a point in the near future where if enough states unified under a single banner, they could reclaim what was lost.

This then, is an extremely hypothetical yet realistic scenario for what we have been made privy to in the Action Force mythos.

Through the use of multiple factions playing different angles, we are being given a glimpse into corruption fully conceived in this nation.

The answer then, is a response as unconventional and unanticipated as the evil that demands we respond to it.

Conclusion

What we see in the Action Force mythos is if anything, an eerie parallel to current global events. This isn’t our favorite action cartoon of yesteryear; it is rather a wake-up call to the reality around us.

If anything, playing with these action figures or reading the comics should motivate us to live lives that are above reproach, abiding by an ethical, legal, and moral code no matter the conditions around us.

It’s time for Action!