However, unlike later releases, the first figures were not accompanied by file cards giving backstories, nor were they featured in comic books other than a series of mini-comics that were packaged with some of the vehicles, notably the AF-3 and AF-5.
Action Force sales accounted to about one million over six months in 1983, and the offering was expanded to include a new wave of figures and vehicles that were released in 1984.
For key figures, these profiles were expanded in the Battle Action Force comic with their own multi-issue storylines (e.g.
Later research revealed a pair of photographs from a toy catalog which showed the figures in different color schemes, along with vehicles featuring an 'SWS' logo instead.
[citation needed] Both the action figures and the vehicles borrowed elements from the first generation models and the new casts licensed from the G. I. Joe toyline from Hasbro.
During this time, the Action Force toyline branched out into video games, audio stories on cassette tapes, stationery, and toiletries.
[4] The parallel comic book storylines also maintained continuity with a number of plot lines that blended elements of the second range of figures with the third, featuring the new characters as an international elite anti-terrorist unit of a wider Action Force.
The characters created by Battle Action Force were altered in the European market to have mixed nationalities in contrast to the US-centric G.I.
[citation needed] In July 1983, the Action Force characters initially guest-featured in a comic strip serial in Battle.
The strip proved to be so popular that a further five promotional mini-comics were included free with every IPC publication in the weeks to follow.
After this appearance, where they caused substantial damage, they have not seen again; Vaughn made a cameo in the Black Major uniform in a later storyline, stating Cobra had decimated the organization off-panel.
[citation needed] The Action Force characters Quarrel, Moondancer, Hunter and Blades made cameo appearances in G.I.
[citation needed] The second-generation Action Force figures were also released in West Germany during the 1980s, albeit without the benefit of a comic book tie-in.
The German toys went under the title of Action Force and fought the "Terror-Bande" (roughly translated as "Terror Gang").
According to researchers of the German Palitoy range, most of the guns supplied with the figures were replaced by "less violent" stun-weapons, laser-weapons or knives.
[citation needed] In August 2009, a limited edition Blades (complete with "SAF Copter") was released in both toy and comic book character form as part of the 2009 G.I.
[citation needed] In April 2010 the Red Shadows and Black Major returned in o-ring style articulation form as part of the G.I.
In addition to the box set, other convention releases included Dolphin of Q-Force, a 33⁄4in Natalie Poole figure – based on the 1990s Action Man character and retroactively made an SAF agent – and Z Force's Jammer and Gaucho (who appeared in a three-pack with a new version of Joe medic Lifeline).
The convention comic featured Flint vacationing in Europe with Dolphin and Natalie before running afoul of Black Major and Interrogator, who were planning an alliance between Cobra and the Red Shadows.