Q Force

Graphic Representation

A marine-based unit, and therefore without the scope for variety of characters and vehicles, Q Force was the smallest of the Action Force ranges.

Described in promotional material as:

"Made up of Underwater Specialists, they are the Action Force arm that strikes from the sea"

the unit was introduced as part of the second generation of Action Force (see Action Force – second generation (1983)). In contrast to the First Generation releases and Q Force's fellow units Z Force and SAS Force, the figures and vehicles moved away from the camouflage of their real-world equivalents (i.e. naval greys and light blues) and were painted in bold yellows, reds and dark blue.

The Battle Action Force back stories that accompanied the release of the figures (see Battle Action Force tie in), were less extensive than were the case for the SAS Force and Z Force ranges - the SAS Force for example featured in nearly twenty separate storylines, Q Force in contrast had seven.

However Q Force did appear in the first-ever Battle Action Force storyline, introducing the Action Force team. The Swordfish craft and the two characters Leviathan and Shark represented Action Force's debut in Action Force, written by Gerry Day. Later comic storylines also constructed Red Shadow frogmen and an enemy battlecruiser although these were never realised as action figures or toys.

Despite having frogmen and an array of waterborne characters and vehicles, the Action Force universe still included some cross-over with the SAS Force also including frogmen two water-based characters Stakeout (an SBS-style commando) and Beaver (a kayak pilot) although these characters were used for inland waterways whilst Q Force dealt with marine-based scenarios.

With limited theatres in which to operate and without toy representations of any marine-based Red Shadows characters or vehicles, the stories involving Q Force battling the enemy were limited, often to cameo roles in stories involving other Action Force units such as Operation Spearhead (a holiday special) and their last appearance, a fleeting role alongside Space Force in Crossfire! Unlike the SAS and Z Force units, Q Force were never written into any storylines involving Cobra or the Third Generation Action Force characters however the Dolphin character was one of the few profiles to be carried over to the AF (Third Generation) team (albeit without reference to the Q Force unit).

The paucity of storylines was also evident in that two of the seven comic book appearances by Q Force included sequences where sharks were exploded by hand grenades, in a likely homage to the shark's demise in the Jaws 3-D movie released in 1983, around the time of the comic book story.

The action figures were, in keeping with much of the second generation of Action Force, repaints and repackages of existing G.I. Joe figures and vehicles as well as some First Generation toys.

Vehicles, weaponry and armour

Unable to produce scale battleships or submarines due to the size such models would require, the figures were supplied with more fantastical equipment and the first release included one full-size missile boat (Swordfish, see below), a one-man submarine mini-vehicle (Stingray) and three stand-alone figures (Aqua Trooper, Deep Sea Defender and Sonar Officer (see above).

A further release added another vehicle and figure set, the two-seater submarine/hovercraft hybrid (Sealion) in addition the range added a mini-vehicle and figure pack, the jet-ski inspired Sea Skimmer.

First release

Second release

Both the Sealion and Dolphin were subsequently re-packaged as part of the Third Generation (AF) release, keeping the same codenames.