The GI Joe Ripoffs from the 80s

[@ThatJunkman]

Thank you all, and watch for the second video, where I read all the comments telling that Action man is just Gi Joe in the UK (like I didnt know)

[@jasonboyett8867]

Also, not just the Action Man stuff. It was also you giving the wrong names to the figures as you showed their cards on screen! 4 times!!!! Just sayin🤙🏻

[@bladestar2322]

The best one was probably 'The Corps'! They were well made and almost G.I. Joe quality for half the price!

[@georgetrapp6666]

I'm surprised by the omission of The C.O.R.P.S. . Anyone who got stuck with one or more of these figures instantly created a backstory that these were offshoot villains (regardless of the toy line's parameters) and sometime collaborators with Cobra (the comics backstories of Cobra says they have secret affiliation with all kinds of international terrorist cells, why not?) Sometimes C.O.R.P.S. weapons were less farfetched (Joe sometimes had goofy science-fiction-ish guns in fluorescent colors) and it was worth it, sometimes to strip C.O.R.P.S. figures of theirs, and award them to Joe figures. There is a semi-famous run of stop-motion animation done with GI Joe figures (unauthorized) and at one point, they encounter C.O.R.P.S. guys, who seem not-all-there, inept, and even a bit (politically incorrectly) effeminate. To the credit of the filmmaker, some C.O.R.P.S. civilian figures looked like The Village People, with their painter, construction worker (the guy is wearing jorts!), cop, etc.

[@bladestar2322]

The Corps made great Villains, one was an Arab, another looked like a Nazi, one idiot had the word SPY on his chest. I think my son had either a 24 pack or 2 12 packs.

[@3Storms]

Action force becomes the GI Joe of Britain, and even uses Hasbro molds. You should see the British-dubbed GI Joe cartoons where instead of yelling "YO JOE" they yell "FULL FORCE!" The blonde "Quarrel" version of Scarlett, the red Cobra Commander, and Destro with red chest with a skull on it are three of the most valuable Action Force figures.

[@applehead6179]

Action force was the best.

[@ThatJunkman]

Come on dude. You ain’t new around here. :)

[@akxion_figs]

And Don't forget Sgt Slammer!

[@applehead6179]

Palitoy could have renamed Gung Ho to Tally Ho. The Red Skull was a crazy toy. Loved Action force back in the day. Space force was cool designs. Hours of fun. 👍👍

[@BioFactory1]

4:20 - Action Force was the UK version of GI Joe. They started off with comics with a different story line and different bad guys before US came up with Cobra as the bad guys.

[@BioFactory1]

Action Man was called that cos as a 12 inch 'Barbie/Ken doll' figure he had more outfits than just military ones. Like Safari and hunting and other like adventure flapadoodle until they shifted into making more military toys like GI Joe did in the US. In the UK it was still popular to have German based bad guys, so they had different bad guys until they finally shifted to Cobra.

[@ThatJunkman]

Fake news. They came with magazines not comics

[@BioFactory1]

@@ThatJunkman half true, the Action Force and Transformers comics, just like Star Wars were all called magazines.

[@BioFactory1]

@@ThatJunkman I have a bunch of import Action Force, Transformers and Star Wars magazines, they are all comics. Just magazines by name.

[@ThatJunkman]

@@BioFactory1 if its made out of metal its not a comic, dude

[@mickmo4700]

Action Man was GI Joe but when 3 3/4 inch became the standard, Palitoy released the most 12 popular 12 inch figures in the smaller scale. Action Force was released at the perfect time in my childhood and it was easily my favourite toy line. SAS Force, Z Force, Space Force and Q Force versus Baron Ironblood and the Red Shadows. An epic toy line!

[@georgetrapp6666]

They (Action Force) also did magazine-sized reprints of Marvel GI Joe comics, with of course, the British spelling of common words (realise, colour, etc) edited. They were available in the States, and I had some. In hindsight, I should have saved mine just like I saved actual comics, but I wore them out and eventually threw mine away. They're probably valuable, now.

[@superpaul79]

Others have already said it, but I need the attention; Action Force is to Gi Joe as Transformers is to Diaclone and Microman. They're essentially the same toys, but for a different market.

[@ThatJunkman]

And I seen you around here. I understand the new guys :)

[@superpaul79]

@@ThatJunkman I NEED THE ATTENTION! 😋

[@thomasthompson2431]

Being from the UK, seeing as GIJoe was US, it needed a generic name. I Had the Rapid Fire Motorcycle with Scarlet repainted in green and black as Quarrell.

[@TheGreatDayne1983]

Hey some of the Corps were perfectly fine toys! Just don’t be super attached to their thumbs

[@tombowling8646]

I never had any military toys. I did have plastic cowboys and indians. You know the kind, you would get like fifty in a clear plastic bag for about $1.99. Then for my birthday one year, I got Fort Apache with plastic cavalry men and indians.

[@ronniemckinney6808]

I had a Remco American Defense figure when I was 9 years old. It worked with my G.I. Joes. I'm not sure about any other knock-off G.I. Joe figures (except Lanard, which was crappy), but Remco American Defense figures are a good example of imitation being a sincere form of flattery.

[@drexsonaljames8345]

I had tons of them.... and lost half of them when my grandfather put a dirt pile in the backyard... and when he finally smoothed it out for the driveway they were all broke to hell lol....I loved playing with my action figures on that dirt pile those were the good ole days

[@customgod]

Action Man was actually a G.I. Joe line released in the U.K.

[@akxion_figs]

Mego actually had Eagle Force out before Hasbro released GiJoe. Hasbro actually used some of the codenames from Eagle Force for their figures!

[@akxion_figs]

Also, Action Man was officially licensed company to make the UK version of GiJoe from back in the 60s.

[@mattelder1971]

Yep, I was going to bring up both points.

[@philipanderson2168]

I was going to mention that too.

[@jasonboyett8867]

@@philipanderson2168 me too! Hence my first comment.

[@jamesstewart3771]

I think “Action Man” was just the British version of G.I. Joe . I’m pretty sure that where tha same figures just a different name .

[@lonniestringfellow9854]

Action Force predates GI Joe I believe., and Is actually the UK Joe line.

[@Barada73]

I liked GI Joe best when it was an America-centered military special forces unit. When they tried being more politically correct and turning it into a multinational UN force, it just lost all of its magic.

[@spankynater4242]

Exactly, like being a soldier isn’t exciting enough.

[@Dragonrider1227]

Action Man was actually officially licensed by Hasbro to be the UK GI Joe so Action Force isn’t technically a rip off.

[@machineman6498]

A small earthquake was just detected in Australia...... This will not end well.

[@jonathanwright8025]

I wonder if there is a Russian version of GI Joe?

[@bjpalm1994]

KO Joes in the 80s were the best, lol! I loved those American Defense figures and loved those CORPS figures.

[@marktroddyn3351]

My friend collected a line of military action figures from the early mid eighties that I have yet to find. They weren’t articulated like GI Joe, but as I remember they did have accessories and were pretty cool. They were all American soldiers with I think a WWII theme.

[@billrich2915]

I had that Eagle Force Ninja...still do. He was bad ass! Also, will chime in with the obligatory "Action Man" IS the UK version of GI-Joe, so not technically a rip off. I understand though, I lived in the UK in the 80s and was really confused by that. They had 5POA figures like you showed, but the later started using the same figures and vehicles as GI-Joe, just different colors and names.

[@Mike_oliver1313]

How is corps not on this list? Lol

[@ciscodeer9094]

I remember the Bronze Bomber I also use to have a Mexican version of GIjoe but I think I lost him. good one Junkman

[@acrodave9287]

Sorry JM, but you're just I'll informed on this one. Palitoy in the UK had a business relationship with Hasbro/ Kenner, as did Takara in Japan. It was mainly for distribution rights throughout Europe and Japan, the original design for the basic GI Joe figure was sold to Palitoy in the UK and Takara in Japan. These were adapted to local tastes, so the basic figure in Japan, after WW2, was given a more Sci-fi twist, made of clear plastic with internal robotic components and released as ' Henshin Cyborg '. The idea then bounced back to the States and Europe as the 'Cyborg' line of figures throughout Europe. Because of the lack of space in Japanese households, Takara made the figures smaller, 3 3/4 inches tall. Starting to sound familiar? These were marketed in Japan as 'Microman', and were distributed throughout Europe and the States as 'Micronauts'. As for Palitoys Action Man, it was Palitoy who developed the flock hair and later on the gripping hands, or, in the US, Kung Fu grip, and passed the idea back to Hasbro/Kenner. Sorry to go on, but the UK Action Force line was licensed and adapted, not a RIP off! Jesus, how do I know this shit? I suppose somebody has to...🤭

[@machineman6498]

I thought Hasbro owned Micronauts......

[@acrodave9287]

@@machineman6498 No, Micronauts were marketed through Mego in the US. I think Hasbro owns the name, but not the property. It's a massive tangle of who owns what! That's why, even though Micronauts are part of Marvel comics continuity, they can't be included in the MCU! There was a mention of 'the Quantum Realm' in the Ant Man film, which was the Microverse of the comics, but it can only be referred to, not used directly. F*****g Copyright..!

[@machineman6498]

@@acrodave9287 I joke. Got the Hasbro convention release up on a shelf now. The cardboard insert of Astro Station is just too good to take out of the box. Someone In Pawtucket was a fan. I’m guessing Micronauts is one of the IP Hasbro sits on until after Star Wars runs its course.

[@ThatJunkman]

You are new around these parts :)

[@acrodave9287]

@@ThatJunkman Hell will freeze over before I'm found anywhere near your parts, JM...

[@joemartin5669]

In actuality it wasn't so much that Mego turned down star wars but more they lost their shirt by going into the handheld electronic game business upon which in the late 70's and early 80's was oversaturated by many of those things by other companies.but in the years since they folded the legend of them turning down star wars as the reason they went bankrupt has practically become urban legend among us toy collectors and researchers.

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

some of them look more realistic than the crazy characters Hasbro started putting out in the late 80s

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

On the back of Bronze Bombers, they also included a character card with stats and stuff. Included was what major in college the soldier had been.

[@thesnook666]

Farmboys can be heroes

[@stevedenis8292]

Now you understand and understanding is 50% of the conflict action man!

[@shawnkarg3794]

I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero for the rest of the night. He's gotta be strong And he's gotta be fast, And he's gotta be fresh from the fight.

[@Floyds_Toys]

Actually, the 80s Joes ripped off Eagle Force which debuted a year earlier with a fairly similar concept. Being a huge Joe fan I love all this crap.

[@jeremyherndon2974]

None of those were named American Defenders!! They were named American Defense super simple to not mess that up! Also how would Hasbro sue a company they licensed the rights of their figures to (Action Man)?

[@retrojoe8290]

Even at the very beginning companies were ripping off Gi Joe. The 60's 12" figures had a manufacturing flaw that was kept just to catch them (the infamous reverse thumbnail👍). Yo Freaking Joe!

[@jonathansanders1657]

I always thought Action Man was the UK version of GI Joe and not a rip off.

[@Degro76]

Sgt rock was the #2 behind GI Joe. Loved them

[@akxion_figs]

I was thinking Junkman was going to mention Sgt Rock! Loved going to Kay Bee toys for some Sgt rock figs!

[@thomasthompson2431]

Used to have another line, the corps, those were the non Joe's I had.

[@QuantumShow2022]

Slam poetry by the junkman

[@qwaurk985]

American Defense. American Force. How did naming something American Defense Force elude them?

[@Zan_Jayna]

Action man is actually better than the original name they pitched: Jim Crack.

[@applehead6179]

All these looked good I would have love them back in the day and Palitoy was a brilliant toy company 👏 👌.

[@d00med74]

👀

[@1whu965]

Action force Action man love palitoy

[@nerdcraftercoley7305]

Was looking to see how many people said action force and Action Man are g.i. Joe LOL they should know you by now junkman

[@ThatJunkman]

You can tell the ones that always watch and the new guys :)

[@weboes1]

Some of them looked pretty good. GI Joe got a little silly as the years passed.It would have been nice to have had some realistic looking figures.

[@gspendlove]

Action Man? Couldn't they have come up with something more befitting a British military force of soldiers like I don't know, British Military Force? Or how about Crown's Soldiers? Queen's Elite? Royal Fighters? Action Man just seems like such a generic term.

[@robertdozier9481]

Junkman Can you please do an episode on Scooby-Doo cartoon clones or rip offs???

[@RocketPunchHero1]

"Those aren't Joes!" said the spoiled brat. "And Janice is not your father. So what's your point?" said your momma.

[@mickmo4700]

Oh, wait a minute. Is this a pop at a particular Action Man fan?

[@CobbicusPrime]

When I think Joe ripoff, I think The CORPS.

[@concierge1892]

The black guy, in the thumbnail is GI Bro😂😂😂

[@juanfierro7365]

These are GI Dunno

[@BioFactory1]

Now see you ended with a good T Shirt spoof idea. You should design a 'GI Junkman - A Real American (your logo for the Zero)' mocking the GI Joe A Real American Hero logo. It would still say Junkman if they don't catch the zero joke.

[@ThatJunkman]

Yes!

[@robertlong6027]

A hero ain't nothing but a sandwich maybe one day you'll be a star

[@juanfierro7365]

GI JOE was IMO the first woke toys as each soldier was diverse. On the back had detailed bio cards. I had several, the gay one, the blind one, the Indian, the wheelchair one.. woke during the Reagan era.

[@spankynater4242]

Having characters with a variety of abilities does not equal woke. At its most basic level, woke means “white people bad.“

[@alphatrion100]

Indian, Cowboy, sailor, and a shirtless police cap wearing guy..... Guess they were all gay :)

[@liveanadventure429]

I love gi joe knock offs, I think they are just as good as gi joes

[@craigbloxham8344]

My favorite subject.

[@jeffreyscarbroughboardgame2822]

Generic joes there American not international like joes for the most part

[@WarriorSmurf]

Actually, 1990 is the end of the 1980's. Also, You pronounced "American Defense" incorrectly three times in a row, lol.

[@ThatJunkman]

Me? Pronounce something wrong. Doubt it

[@spankynater4242]

I’ve heard this myth before, but it’s false, and based on faulty logic. 1990 was the beginning of the 1990s, surprise.

[@keyp.5499]

action force is oficialy licesend by hasbro! is not a knock off!

[@ThatJunkman]

Lol

[@jasonboyett8867]

Dude, no offense, but, you should probably do your homework before you put this vid.!!

[@ThatJunkman]

I did, but I am guessing you are one of the new watchers :) see you at noon

[@jasonboyett8867]

@@ThatJunkman if you “did”, then you got some bad study habits!🤙🏻

[@spankynater4242]

@@ThatJunkman all these people who make comments like the OP are probably people who have never kissed a girl.

[@Nomad0036]

Action Man & Action Force is now G.I. Joe. They were first their own line connected to Kenner. Then a Joe team in another country. And now are G.I. Joes.