In the early 1980s, Palitoy reinvented Action Man with the Action Force line to compete with the rising popularity of smaller-scale figures like Kenner’s Star Wars. Released between 1982–1984, Action Force featured 3.75-inch military figures, vehicles, and playsets, alongside repackaged and rebranded Action Man equipment. The line included factions such as Z Force, Space Force, Q Force, and the villainous Red Shadows, offering kids a new way to play with Action Man in a smaller, more affordable format. Action Force later evolved and merged with Hasbro’s G.I. Joe in the mid-1980s, cementing its legacy in the world of action figures.
