Action Man (comics)
Encyclopedia
Action Man was a UK comic series published by Panini Comics
, based on the toy line of the same name
. It ran for 138 issues between 1996 and 18 January 2006 before being surpassed by spin-off series Action Man: A.T.O.M.
.
The comic was originally published every month but this was later changed to every three weeks. The final editor was Ed Caruana.
, Dr.X and his 'Council of Doom'. The first strip featured in the comic was named 'Into Action'.
team mates. Native American
archer
, Redwolf and Australian, Flynt.
The plot for this story arc centred around new villain No-Face creating an army of X Robots, built in Dr.X's image, to spread terror across the world before later bringing Dr.X back to life as a cyborg
. No-Face then kidnapped a scientist named Professor Moran to force him to make a mind control gas for Dr.X which would help him achieve his goal of taking over the world.
At first Professor Moran refused but Dr.X claimed he would blow up every capital city in Europe
if he did not help him.
A direct to VHS
and DVD
film named Action Man: X Missions-The Movie was also released in 2005.
obtained the Marvel UK
licence in 1995 and Marvel UK had previously published an Action Force
comic.
Then, in 1996, the first issue of Action Man was published with the Marvel logo on the cover however, this was later removed.
The comic ended in 2006 to be replaced by a spin-off, Action Man: A.T.O.M.
comic. A.T.O.M. had also replaced the Action Man toy line and TV show
.
Panini Comics
Panini Comics is an Italian comic book publisher. A division of Panini Group, best known for their collectible stickers, it is headquartered in Modena, Italy...
, based on the toy line of the same name
Action Man: 1993-2006
-New era:Action Man was relaunched in 1993 by Hasbro. The initial releases were the US Hall of Fame figures modelled on the 3 3/4" GI Joe line-up. This was followed by a 30th anniversary edition modelled after the original 1966 release, but using the GI Joe "Hall of Fame" body, that lacked the...
. It ran for 138 issues between 1996 and 18 January 2006 before being surpassed by spin-off series Action Man: A.T.O.M.
A.T.O.M.
A.T.O.M. is a French animated television series, which chronicles the adventures of five teenagers , set in the fictional Landmark City...
.
The comic was originally published every month but this was later changed to every three weeks. The final editor was Ed Caruana.
Strip
The comic strip was the main feature for each issue. At first, the stories in each issue featured little to no continuity between them however, as the comic progressed, full story arcs would become more prominent. Many different characters were introduced over the comics course. The comic always focused on Action Man's efforts to thwart the evil plans of his arch enemy, the mad scientistMad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
, Dr.X and his 'Council of Doom'. The first strip featured in the comic was named 'Into Action'.
2003 Arc
2003 introduced the fictional Island X. A x shaped island which was the home of Dr.X and the Council of Doom. This would become the setting for many stories for years to come. The plot was about Dr.X building a huge Death ray on Island X which he would use to destroy capital cities unless he was made world leader. Action Man had to explore Island X in his quest to find the doctor and they would have several confrontations before the final battle in issue 100. The outcome was shown in the following issue on a giant poster. New villain 'Antifreeze' was introduced this year.2004 Arc
2004 introduced two new Action ForceAction Force
Action Force was a 1980s range of European action figures initially based on Action Man, and later used to introduce G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys to European markets...
team mates. Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
archer
Archer
An archer is a person who uses a bow and arrow; a practitioner of archery.- People with the surname Archer :* Jeffrey Archer, an English author and former politician.* Archer , the surname...
, Redwolf and Australian, Flynt.
The plot for this story arc centred around new villain No-Face creating an army of X Robots, built in Dr.X's image, to spread terror across the world before later bringing Dr.X back to life as a cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
. No-Face then kidnapped a scientist named Professor Moran to force him to make a mind control gas for Dr.X which would help him achieve his goal of taking over the world.
At first Professor Moran refused but Dr.X claimed he would blow up every capital city in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
if he did not help him.
X Missions (2005/06 Arc)
The final story arc was called X Missions. This name featured on the cover of each issue, as well as on the boxes of the action figures.The plot involved Dr.X harnessing animal DNA and using it to create 'Terror Toxin'. He planned to use this on innocent people to turn them into his Toxic Troopers. Some X Robots were also upgraded to become Toxic Robots which had blades for hands. Action Man also had to complete ten deadly missions that Dr.X had set out for him.A direct to VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
film named Action Man: X Missions-The Movie was also released in 2005.
Contents
- Mission Brief
- Comic Strip
- Colouring Page
- Character profiles, features on past stories from the comic etc.
- Competition-Often for the toy featured in the issues strip. Other competition prizes included games and DVDs.
- Puzzles
- Posters-A giant pull-out poster in the centre of the comic and occasional back cover poster.
- Letters Page-Had various names over the comics course including 'Gangrene's Gunk Mail', 'Antifreezes Cool Mail' and 'Dr X's Hate Mail'.
History
Panini ComicsPanini Comics
Panini Comics is an Italian comic book publisher. A division of Panini Group, best known for their collectible stickers, it is headquartered in Modena, Italy...
obtained the Marvel UK
Marvel UK
Marvel UK was an imprint of Marvel Comics formed in 1972 to reprint US produced stories for the British weekly comic market, though it later did produce original material by British creators such as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Dave Gibbons, Steve Dillon and Grant Morrison.Panini Comics obtained the...
licence in 1995 and Marvel UK had previously published an Action Force
Action Force
Action Force was a 1980s range of European action figures initially based on Action Man, and later used to introduce G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys to European markets...
comic.
Then, in 1996, the first issue of Action Man was published with the Marvel logo on the cover however, this was later removed.
The comic ended in 2006 to be replaced by a spin-off, Action Man: A.T.O.M.
A.T.O.M.
A.T.O.M. is a French animated television series, which chronicles the adventures of five teenagers , set in the fictional Landmark City...
comic. A.T.O.M. had also replaced the Action Man toy line and TV show
Action Man (TV series)
Action Man may refer to:*Action Man *Action Man *A.T.O.M....
.