Baron Ironblood
Encyclopedia
Baron Ironblood is a fictional character
from Action Force
, the British
equivalent to the G. I. Joe Franchise
. He appeared in the Battle Action Force comic books and annuals
of the 1980s and was cast as an action figure
by toy-makers Palitoy
and distributed around Europe
.
In West Germany, he was known as Baron Eisenblut.
, sworn enemies of Action Force. According to Battle Action Force his real name and birth place are unknown (though a detailed comic book back-story
, which featured in an early Battle Action Force annual
, places him of possible Swiss descent).
In addition, Ironblood's datafile (as it appeared in Battle Action Force) states that his "primary military speciality" is organisational military strategy and that his "secondary military speciality" is that he is a born leader.
Ironblood was said to be...
He is also described as a:
Ironblood was said to be the culprit of several armed revolutions in Latin America and was previously a South American-based warlord
. In addition, he uses hypnotic control to indoctrinate the Red Shadow soldiers.
) Baron Ironblood appears dressed in all white suit (jacket and trousers) with a red 'V' design on the torso
, together with a skull and crossbones decoration, the insignia
of the Red Shadows. He also wears long black boots, reminiscent of German military
uniforms of World War II
. Various editions of the figure were produced with either black or white gloves.
Ironblood wears a Ned Kelly
-style iron helmet
, with a small slot opening for vision. As an action figure this helmet is removable, revealing a Caucasian
male with white hair and a dark goatee
beard. This representation is also clear in his early appearances in the Battle Action Force comics and in the action figure.
He also comes armed with an Uzi.
. As the Shadows are wiped out, Ironblood goes into hiding and constructs a new identity for himself, undergoing a mithridatisation process and becoming Cobra Commander
before creating Cobra as a new enemy force.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from 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...
, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
equivalent to the G. I. Joe Franchise
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
. He appeared in the Battle Action Force comic books and annuals
Annual publication
An annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
of the 1980s and was cast as an action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
by toy-makers Palitoy
Palitoy
Palitoy was the name of a British toy company.It manufactured some of the most popular toys in Britain, some original items and others under licence...
and distributed around 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...
.
In West Germany, he was known as Baron Eisenblut.
Character
Baron Ironblood is the leader of the Red ShadowsRed Shadows
The Red Shadows are the fictional fighting force opposed to Action Force and depicted in the UK Battle Action Force comic books. They were also portrayed in action figures by Palitoy as a European version of the G.I. Joe range. Later US G.I. Joe storylines have revived the Red Shadows as an...
, sworn enemies of Action Force. According to Battle Action Force his real name and birth place are unknown (though a detailed comic book back-story
Back-story
A back-story, background story, or backstory is the literary device of a narrative chronologically earlier than, and related to, a narrative of primary interest. Generally, it is the history of characters or other elements that underlie the situation existing at the main narrative's start...
, which featured in an early Battle Action Force annual
Annual publication
An annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
, places him of possible Swiss descent).
In addition, Ironblood's datafile (as it appeared in Battle Action Force) states that his "primary military speciality" is organisational military strategy and that his "secondary military speciality" is that he is a born leader.
Ironblood was said to be...
Twisted criminal brain dreams of world dominance. Noted for hypnotic control over men, his madness leads to wild fury in defeat, often taken out on his own troops.
He is also described as a:
Genius of Evil. Ironblood's sworn intent is to destroy all organised government in Europe.
Ironblood was said to be the culprit of several armed revolutions in Latin America and was previously a South American-based warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
. In addition, he uses hypnotic control to indoctrinate the Red Shadow soldiers.
Graphic representation
Both as an action figure and comic book character (first drawn by artist Jim Watson in a strip written by Gerry DayGerry Finley-Day
Gerry Finley-Day was a prolific British comics writer from the 1960s to the 1980s, best known as the creator of Rogue Trooper.He started out at D. C. Thomson & Co., before becoming the editor of IPC's girls' title Tammy in 1971, for which he wrote strips such as "Ella on Easy Street" and "The Camp...
) Baron Ironblood appears dressed in all white suit (jacket and trousers) with a red 'V' design on the torso
Torso
Trunk or torso is an anatomical term for the central part of the many animal bodies from which extend the neck and limbs. The trunk includes the thorax and abdomen.-Major organs:...
, together with a skull and crossbones decoration, the insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
of the Red Shadows. He also wears long black boots, reminiscent of German military
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
uniforms of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Various editions of the figure were produced with either black or white gloves.
Ironblood wears a Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly
Edward "Ned" Kelly was an Irish Australian bushranger. He is considered by some to be merely a cold-blooded cop killer — others, however, consider him to be a folk hero and symbol of Irish Australian resistance against the Anglo-Australian ruling class.Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish...
-style iron helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
, with a small slot opening for vision. As an action figure this helmet is removable, revealing a Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
male with white hair and a dark goatee
Goatee
Goatee refers to a style of facial hair incorporating hair on a man’s chin. The exact nature of the style has varied according to time and culture.Traditionally, goatee refers solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin...
beard. This representation is also clear in his early appearances in the Battle Action Force comics and in the action figure.
He also comes armed with an Uzi.
Transition to Cobra Commander
In later editions of the Battle Action Force series, Ironblood betrays the Red Shadows, leaking information about their bases and intentions to the UNUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. As the Shadows are wiped out, Ironblood goes into hiding and constructs a new identity for himself, undergoing a mithridatisation process and becoming Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe franchise. He appears in the toyline, animated series , comic books, video games, and movie as the usual principal antagonist. He is the supreme leader of the terrorist organization Cobra, and archnemesis of the Joes...
before creating Cobra as a new enemy force.