Did Action Forces GI Joe link detract from its appeal in UK

The Baron · Post by **The Baron** » 15 Jul 2003 09:20

There was never really a struggle between Transformers and Action Force, Transformers started its run over three years before Marvel acquired the Action Force rights. If anything, I suspect the struggle was between Battle Action Force and Action Force, and their loyal fanbase.

I've always loved the way that the UK Transformers editorial team were continually hampered by the US reprints, and had to slot their storylines in and around them, and yet come the end of the run were actually the ones creating the US strip! An' doing a far better job of it too!

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » 03 Mar 2004 21:31

In reply to countjason, while the cartoon was a bit silly with its dubbing of action force over gi joe, and even "full force" to replace "yo joe", the cartoons weren't shown on terrestrial tv, so most kids never saw the cartoon. As such it didn't have much of an impact really.

andy hopton · Post by **andy hopton** » 12 Mar 2004 17:25

i'm new to the internet and so new to all this, but i'm glad someone else takes such a deep interest in AF as i do.

in my mind the americanisation of AF was the end of its credibilty to many european kids. the four division AF and the baron's reds were a real fighting force. thier kit and uniform was recognisable to anyone who had watched the princess gate siege and the falklands war unfold on thier screens as a kid like i did. it was also easy to switch from an enemy dressed in field grey in warlord and battle to one in the same uniform but in red in BAF.

when troops began appearing carrying weapons too big to hold and wearing silver arm guards and kit that looked like fetish wear that was the end of AF for my brother and i 'cos it had no credibilty and american culture had not invaded the UK to the lengths it has today.

Antybots · Post by **Antybots** » 13 May 2004 16:39

When the BAF ended and AF appeared, I hated it. The characters had very diferent personalities than I was used to and the G.I. Joe reprint stories had a totally different continuity than BAF. Then, when combat colin and master of kung-fu appeared I switched off completely and never bought it again (until ten years later. Now I have them all and I enjoy reading them every so often).

The Baron · Post by **The Baron** » 08 Jun 2004 10:53

Some of the early attempts to bridge the gap by Marvel UK were pretty cringeworthy, some poor sod had the job of tippexing out GI Joe and writing in Action Force on all the word balloons, oftimes with no regard to the original typeface, that and the "* see issue #" boxes were often overlooked.

But no, I like the US stories, it just annoys me that the reprints were so happenstance, they start at # 21, miss three issues, then reprint only half of # 41 and stop one issue before the climax of the Coba Island battle!

seaneley · Post by **seaneley** » 15 Jun 2004 05:36

You Brits think you have it bad? I didn't even know Battle Action Force existed until a few weeks ago! Here I have discovered a whole collection of 80's stories revolving around my favorite characters (& some "new ones" I didn't even know existed - i.e. Red Shadows, Black Major, etc.) and I have no way of collecting them or finding them that I know of! Do you know how difficult it is to find 20-year-old out of print U.K. comics? Man, I'm depressed...

seaneley · Post by **seaneley** » 16 Jun 2004 01:08

I want to thank everyone for pointing me to web-sites and other fellow Action Force lovers who have back issues of what I'm looking for! You boys in the U.K. are great! I really appreciate you!