Pulp Arcana Studios: A Lot of Bang-Bang for Your Buck

An Impressive Show of (Action) Force

Growing up, I absolutely loved my collection of GI JOEs, and as I discovered toy photography and collecting modern figures, I dove into the GI JOE Classified line. In terms of articulation and accessories, they are among my favorite figures that Hasbro produces. I even took a look at the fantastic, and delightfully macabre Crystal Ball here on Fanboy Planet. For the Classified figures, I find myself drawn to the weird and kinda wacky. However, when I want something a little more grounded in reality, I tend to look at Valaverse’s Action Force.

After parting ways with Hasbro, designer Bobby Vala acquired the Action Force trademark and shaped it into something new. With clear roots to the original ideas of GI JOE, the Valaverse Action Force line is a six inch near future military figure line, with an emphasis on accessories and customization. I’ve picked up a few figures in the line, and, almost to my surprise, they have become some of my favorite figures to just pick up and pose and play with. I’m particularly enamored of the Swarm Tracer figure which makes an appearance on my top desk toys column.

While a relatively controversial figure in the toy industry, Vala makes a darn good figure and he keeps pushing and improving. So when I got the chance to get my hands on the Action Force Infantry Commando 2.0 recent release, I knew I wanted to put it through its paces here at Fanboy Planet. I also managed to acquire the Action Force Hand Pack Bravo when I snagged one of their blind boxes, and will be adding some of those hands to the mix. So come with me, and let’s get in on the action, with the Action Force Infantry Commando 2.0

A PULP ARCANA FIGURE FIELD REPORT Mission Brief:

Artifact Identified:

Infantry Commando 2.0 and Hand Pack Bravo

Action Force

Valaverse

OUT OF THE CRATE:

Valaverse has opted for a simple, classic approach to their packaging. For me, it hearkens back to the toys I would pick up as a child, even down to the file card. It is a blister on a card back, and it just works really well.

The clear blister shows off the figure, and, strategically, all the accompanying accessories. Valaverse figures are known for their extensive accessories, and putting them front and center like this is definitely a smart move.

The Action Force branding is clear and clean on the front of the package. Finally, for that final touch of nostalgia made modern, there are “action points” on the back of each blister that you can use on the Valaverse web page for discounts on exclusive figures. While the packaging doesn’t have the majestic shelf-presence as we have seen from some other smaller company lines, that is not its purpose. It is here to show you that you’ve got a great looking, fully-loaded action figure waiting for you, and I can fully get behind that.

THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS:

Out of the package, the Infantry Commando 2.0 oozes tacti-cool. While GI JOE Classified seems to go for a comic book vibe for their design aesthetic, Action Force always gives me more of the feeling of a Call of Duty vibe. Military accuracy but dialed up to “11” like a Spinal Tap amplifier. It absolutely works for me. I think this figure looks fantastic.

The figure has a palette of light greens and sandy-tans that feels realistic, yet surprisingly flexible. It would look great in a desert scene, but it would also fare just fine in a rocky or lightly wooded shot. Good detail work on the boots and knee pads work well, though I would have loved a light wash on the boots and gloves to bring out the sculpted details even more.

The chest rig is fantastic. Valaverse figures are known for the quality of their accessory gear, and this new chest rig design is absolutely great. Everything has great detail, from the sculpted and painted shears tucked behind the medical pack on the chest to the zippers on the pouches. I love the way this looks.

A sidearm in holster is attached to the right leg, and dual magazines for the assault rifle are in a carry-rig on the left. However, both can be removed and swapped, leaning into the Valaverse ethos of customization. When removed, the pistol itself is massive, which may play more to that Call of Duty look and vibe than pure military realism, but I really like it. It looks imposing and has a presence, rather than getting lost on the figure.

One of the great things about Action Force figures is that they come with a fantastic supply of expressive hands. You get a right and left trigger finger hand, and a right and left cupping hand that is perfect for holding larger weapons. This is such a simple thing, but the inclusion of these cupped hands to hold the rifle does SO MUCH to help the posing of the figure. I can’t believe more military type figures aren’t making these standard. A set of gripping hands and fists are also included. I went a step further though, and threw in a bunch of the hands in an olive drab from the Bravo hand pack. They go great with the camo scheme of the Commando 2.0, and the extra expressions they allow were far more fun than I thought they would be.

In addition to the pistol sidearm, the figure also comes with a detailed assault rifle. I won’t attempt to identify the specific type, as I am likely to get it wrong, much to the consternation of weapon connoisseurs. However, it looks fantastic, and is a strong, solid plastic. GI JOE Classified weapons have the unfortunate distinction of being notoriously gummy and are often bent and warped right out of the packaging. This was rigid plastic, with great detail, and a removable magazine.

The Commando comes with two heads. The first is a fully masked head with glasses and a green beanie and radio headset moulded on. This is the head that is on the figure in the package and I really liked it. I thought for sure this was the head I would use to display and shoot the figure. The second head retains the balaclava face mask and glasses, but is bare beside that, allowing for the included infantry helmet and face mask to fit over it. When I put these together, along with the night vision goggles on the helmet, I was really impressed by how drastically it altered the look of the figure. I am an absolutely huge fan of accessories that allow you to make multiple versions or characters with a single figure, and this did it remarkably well.

Finally, an incredibly detailed backpack rounds out the accessories, alongside an Action Force base stand. This stand has a slot for you to display the file card, and has a great sandy texture. Six different pegs allow you to get your figure posed and standing right out of the box. The stand proved to be far more useful than I imagined it to be, and allowed some great posing with a stability that was absolutely appreciated.

MOBILITY AND MANEUVERS:

I’m just going to put it out there on front street. The Action Force figures are some of my absolute figures to pose. Lately, I have been finding them spending more and more time on my desk. Not because I am going to set them up for a photo shoot, but simply because they are a ton of fun to play with. They are not quite the pure hand candy that you get with Jada’s Street Fighter line but they come pretty darn close. And when you add the accessories they might even put them over the top.

The Infantry Commando 2.0 figure poses like an absolute champ. Even with the relative bulk of the chest rig, you can get the figure into convincing military poses or push them further into full action movie territory. Good movement at the ankles and well-disguised thigh cuts pair with drop-down hips to give great freedom to pose the legs. I’ve become a bit of a snob for a good butterfly joint at the shoulders, particularly in figures who need to bring both hands to bear holding a weapon or accessory. The Commando does not disappoint in this regard, and even allows the arms to come up higher, so that he can sight down the rifle for that added bit of realism.

The head and neck allows decent movement across multiple directions, and this gives the figure a degree of expression that is frankly a bit surprising, given the faceless balaclava. As a whole, the figure moves great, and looks even better doing it. The shots for this review took twice as long as normal, as I was constantly going back for “just one more pose.” That is an absolutely great problem to have.

RECOVERED EVIDENCE:

FINAL RECKONING:

Some people might not be as into the military aesthetic that Action Force figures pull off so well. However, the versatility of the figures impressed. I have started using Action Force figures to supplement scenes for other lines, like Operation Monster Force, GI JOE Classified, and even shots with super heroes, in addition to dedicated Action Force photos. The Infantry Commando is a fantastic figure, packed with great accessories, and a wonderful articulation suite. Best of all though, they all work so well together. This is a figure that not only looks great in photos and on a shelf, but is so much fun in hand.

I think I may go pose mine some more right now.