Unknown Soldier?

I got this figure in a job lot some years back. The head looks just like the one
on the Dreams and Visions Unknown Soldier figure, part of the Sgt. Rock line.

But photos I found online show different hands than this one, and the body is
marked M&C Toys, the company that made Power Team/World Peacekeepers.
The hands on the D&V doesn't have gloves.

Does anyone know what figure it is? or is it possible somebody has done a
head swap?

Sorry, no ideas, but it would make a great zombie!

Pore chap, his whole face was burnt somehow. He would look fantastic in smart shoes, smart trousers, shirt, tie and finally a trench coat.

No Face Fan. wrote:

Pore chap, his whole face was burnt somehow. He would look fantastic in smart shoes, smart trousers, shirt, tie and finally a trench coat.

That's exactly the way the Unknown Soldier was dressed!
It also included a bandage mask to cover the head.

I also think he would look perfect in a turtleneck jumper and smart trousers.

he does look like the Unknown soldier, a classic DC comic character. I wonder if he is an US figure, but made by another firm? or maybe someone already swapped the head?

I haven't got a clue about who he is, but I do know that he's a great looking figure. I can't wait to see what you do with him

Blondeactionman wrote:

he does look like the Unknown soldier, a classic DC comic character. I wonder if he is an US figure, but made by another firm? or maybe someone already swapped the head?

I'm beginning to believe someone swapped the head. I'm not aware of
M&C Toys making such a figure.

Rogue-Trooper wrote:

I haven't got a clue about who he is, but I do know that he's a great looking figure. I can't wait to see what you do with him

Thanks Chris. But to be honest, I'm not sure what I will do with him.
I haven't had any thoughts what I can make of him.

My guess is that somebody has been head-transplanting.
There seem to have been at least two versions, black trench and khaki, (although I do remember seeing tan), neither having those black gauntlets.

They both came with the facial bandages shown here.
Was this sold to be in a coffin or something? Seems a bit macabre even for 1/6?
What's the story?

LeStryge wrote:

Was this sold to be in a coffin or something? Seems a bit macabre even for 1/6?
What's the story?

The unknown soldier was a character from Sgt. Rock, a DC comic.
Looking online I saw comic covers that appear he had his own comic.

Dreams and Visions made the Sgt. Rock figures in 1/6. They all had
Joe/VAM bodies with hard hands, but this figure seems to have
different style hands. I don't know if the body was the same as the
other figures. I'm guessing he didn't have the same body, as the
head/neck post is not the same.

Thanks for the info Daryl.
It's just that the concept of "The Unknown Soldier" in those various tombs around the world is virtually sacred and the thought of making an action figure of that name, particularly one so hideously disfigured, seems a little disrespectful somehow.

I see what you mean LeStryge.

I think they called him that because of the bandages, nobody knew who he was.

Well yes, I can see the idea now that you've shown me the comic cover. I was unfamiliar with the character. Who is the ghost on horseback behind the tank?

I thought it might be Sherman as in Sherman tank but the hat and sabre suggest Custer? Someone else?

Wiki says:
The character is named after The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. The character of the Unknown Soldier is symbolic of the nameless soldiers that have fought throughout America's wars; as stated in his first featured story "They Came From Shangri-La!" He is the "man who no one knows — but — is known by everyone!" Another nickname for the character used in the series is "The Immortal G.I."
The series takes place during World War II, and focuses on the missions of a United States intelligence agent code-named "The Unknown Soldier", whose head and face are so severely disfigured that he typically has it completely wrapped in heavy bandages. Despite this, he is a master of disguise who can assume the identity of almost any man using latex masks and make-up. However, his disguises occasionally itch where they meet the scar tissue of his face, forcing him to be conscious not to give himself away by scratching. He is also prone to loss of temper at enemy atrocities and has been seen to blow his cover in this manner.


I get that but is he meant to be a ghostly zombie-like return from the Arlington grave, or is he a living breathing character?

I don't know his origin, as I have never had the chance to read the Sgt Rock
comics. But I am familiar with the comic. I saw it in stores when I was a kid.
But I collected super hero comics, I wasn't into WWII then.

In later years, looking up Sgt Rock, I saw they had stories about the
"Haunted Tank." I'm not sure who the ghost is supposed to be.

I researched Sgt Rock when the figures came out. I found out there were
books that each one had many issues of the old comic. But they were
really expensive, it would seem they came out when I had a hiatus from the
hobby.

I would like the opportunity to be able to read them.

The trench coat is a great piece! I sold the figure years ago, but kept the coat for my staff officer colonel.

Colonel (left) and Brigadier General (right):





-Nate

The Haunted Tank is about a tank crew in WWII.

The gist is, as I recall, the ghosts of great military leaders are 'assigned' to certain soldiers or groups to assist, mentor, etc.

The ghost of CSA General Jeb Stuart is assigned to Sergeant Jeb Stuart, and by extension, the rest of the tank crew.

They started in a dinky little Stuart Tank, the start of the naming convention for the comic I'm sure. Eventually they moved to a Sherman Tank (they temporarily traded ghosts for Sherman before switching back to Stuart).

Eventually the crew built a custom tank from pieces found at a tank graveyard. That tank they named " Jigsaw."

LeStryge wrote:

I get that but is he meant to be a ghostly zombie-like return from the Arlington grave, or is he a living breathing character?

He's a living breathing character, as much as a comic character can be. I think his origin is that he and his brother join the US Army and they're caught in the Philippines when Imperial Japan invaded. During the defense of the islands, the Soldier's brother is killed and the Soldier's face is disfigured. The Soldier than becomes inspired to use this tragedy to become an operative that would fight behind the scenes the same way he hid behind a mask.

Good find Daryl, he would be cool for DC's Unknown Soldier or you could make him as Deadpool or better yet even your own new character