Re-Imaging Havoc.

I've often thought about creating a Havoc figure, but was always put off by the top rate ones created by jacalls and Miskatonick from flickr,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacqalls

Flickr member Jacalls created a custom Agent HAVOC figure based on a MyScene doll (with rerooted hair, custom face repaint, and a custom costume):



https://www.flickr.com/photos/toyville/

Flickr member MiskatonicNick created a custom Agent HAVOC figure based on an Integrity "Youth Quake" Poppy Parker doll with a custom costume based on an Azone doll outfit:



However, recently I decided to put my own spin on the classic 1970s figure. Here is some background for anyone that doesn't know who Havoc is,

There wasn’t any other doll quite like Havoc in early 1970s Britain. This was because Havoc was a “fearless, fiery” super-agent who had the “skills and daring to surmount every hazard, outwit every foe.” She did not come equipped with a hair brush and comb but instead a training pack which featured a Karate outfit, tommy gun and a bullet proof vest. I wouldn’t have known about this very little known 70s doll had it not been for my Mum.
Havoc was an unusual toy both then and now – she didn’t have long hair like Barbie. Plus, she wore a jumpsuit accessorised with green eyeshadow and bright red lipstick. Not much was known about Havoc’s own background. She was a newspaper reporter and Havoc was the alias she assumed for her undercover work. Her main foe was Dr. Grizzle of S.M.O.G.G. International – a shadowy organisation which stood for Spying, Murder, Outrage and Gold Grabbing. Havoc went on many missions to fight organised crime taking place around the world. Some of these missions saw her go as far as Venice and Sweden. In Sweden, Havoc was responsible for recovering stolen plans for a new secret atomic rocket by the Swedish Defence Ministry. She was quite stylish too. Her involvement in foiling an assassination plot in Amsterdam was carried out in a matching red hat, boots and glasses. Even Action Man couldn’t quite beat that!

Despite the doll’s short life span, Havoc did lead the way for other action heroes including a doll version of Joan as Policewoman. Later on, Barbie too acquired her own karate outfit. We can be rest assured that Havoc was a true heroine of the 70s doll scene, and I would argue that is her most lasting legacy.
-Ruth Wainman
Curatorial and Social Media Volunteer
Girl Museum Inc.



Havoc Super Agent came packed in a striking red box with a plastic window and bright illustrations. The blurb on the back of the box summed up Havoc Super Agent pretty well:
"Fearless, fiery Havoc fights crime around the world. When danger or disaster threaten, she never fails! Her friends know Havoc as a top newspaper reporter. Fiendish international villains have learnt to fear her as 'Havoc, Super Agent'. Havoc's a girl in a million. With the skills and daring to surmount every hazard, outwit every foe. And with all the gear she needs for her fantastic adventures.
Collect all her gear - and help Havoc keep the world free from nastiness and crime!"
If you recognise the face of Havoc then that may be because it used the same mold as the Mary Quant Daisy Doll.
The 9-inch Havoc Doll was only around for a short while in the 1970s so unfortunately we never got to see what her arch enemy, the evil Dr Grizzle looked like.



Additional background researched by Field Station 42 (Dave)

Ya gotta love an action figure line... even if it is actually a doll... that is willing to use the word "murder" in the title of one of the accessory sets. Not to mention, a "girl doll" that includes a Tommy gun!



"With Havoc there is no ambiguity. She is nobody’s sidekick. Male characters entrust her with dangerous missions, and congratulate her in awe when she saves the day. She jumps out of airplanes, defuses a mine, does battle with a radioactive spider, takes out a sniper from across a crowded concert hall, and frequently rescues male characters from peril. Like all girl spies, she does her share of listening at doors too, but when the inevitable snapping twig sends a henchman running in her direction, we are simply told that “he was no match for Havoc.” It’s glorious."

Source:

https://wearethemutants.com/2019/08/07/she-never-fails-havok-super-agent-doll-1974-1975/

More Super Agent HAVOC links:

Photos of HAVOC accessory sets:
https://jasellesdaisypassion.com/havoc.html

Excellent photos in diorama settings on this doll blog page:
https://jenjoysalldolleduppage.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/its-havoc/

So, in which direction was I going to go? I finally decided to use this head,



Mainly because finding a red head female is next to impossible, especially as I didn't want to go down the route of a black widow sculpt. Yeah, I know she isn't a red head, but I had a plan . Using citadel paints, and layering various coats of highlights with paints, inks and shades I repainted the head to how I wanted it to look.
I then used an S22 tbleague body, though, I may switch it out to a VERYCOOL VCD-01/02 body yet. I'm still undecided yet. I still have no clue on an outfit for her, but she will probably have a few different outfit options, just like her original 1970s version.

Havoc portrait (1) by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Havoc portrait (2) by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Havoc, so now we need an outfit... by Dal Lee, on Flickr
I still haven't decided on her look yet, but expect more updates as this project progresses .

Here are a few portrait pics of the repaint.

She looks great

I love the hair... Nice job.

Looking forward to seeing her in whatever outfit you choose.

Great description and the history of the figure. I think I have seen reference to it before, but never really knew what it was or about.
I looked through the links, some great accessory sets. Some remind me of Action Jackson, although he wasn't exactly a secret agent,
others elements of Joe/Action Man.

A great looking line, it's a shame it didn't last long.

She probably had the same problem as the Joe 1967 Action Nurse. Boys didn't want it because it was a "doll" and girls didn't want it
because it was part of the Joe military line. In this case girls may have not been interested because it wasn't a fashion doll. I don't know.
But that makes the Joe nurse extremely rare, last time I heard of one boxed for sale it went for over $2,000!

But thanks for the post, a lot of history of a cool figure line.

Hi Dal  my friend   ,
She looks amazing Dal   ,
Like she has just been opened up, Just after being purchased.
Very    Indeed   .
I'll speak to you soon Dal
Very kind regards ,
Allan

Rogue-Trooper wrote:

She looks great

I love the hair... Nice job.

Looking forward to seeing her in whatever outfit you choose.

Cheers Chris, I was really pleased with how her hair came out in the end. As for her outfit/uniform, I'm still undecided on her look.

TNshooter wrote:

Great description and the history of the figure. I think I have seen reference to it before, but never really knew what it was or about.
I looked through the links, some great accessory sets. Some remind me of Action Jackson, although he wasn't exactly a secret agent,
others elements of Joe/Action Man.

A great looking line, it's a shame it didn't last long.

She probably had the same problem as the Joe 1967 Action Nurse. Boys didn't want it because it was a "doll" and girls didn't want it
because it was part of the Joe military line. In this case girls may have not been interested because it wasn't a fashion doll. I don't know.
But that makes the Joe nurse extremely rare, last time I heard of one boxed for sale it went for over $2,000!

But thanks for the post, a lot of history of a cool figure line.

Yeah, Havoc as a concept was well ahead of her time, and yeah, the Action Jackson comparison is spot on, especially for her size. I'm really hoping that I can do her justice with my 1/6 version .

Scottish.Actionman. wrote:

Hi Dal  my friend   ,
She looks amazing Dal   ,
Like she has just been opened up, Just after being purchased.
Very    Indeed   .
I'll speak to you soon Dal
Very kind regards ,
Allan

Cheers Allen , really pleased you like her so far. More to follow soon!

Nice job Dal looking good!

inntruderr61 wrote:

Nice job Dal looking good!

Cheers Jim, more updates to follow as she progresses .

Not Havoc's final look, but a look I wanted to experiment with a few pics. So far, this is all I've edited.

Rescuing Doctor Sanders! by Dal Lee, on Flickr

I’m really liking this picture.

Professor Gangrene Fan wrote:

I’m really liking this picture.

Many thanks Alex, here are a few more finished shots.

Did you hear that by Dal Lee, on Flickr
We have to move now, Doc! by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Security Camera 01. by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Security Camera 02. by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Great photos Dal, I particularly like the security camera ones.

TNshooter wrote:

Great photos Dal, I particularly like the security camera ones.

Thanks Daryl . It is not her final look, but they were great fun to do .

I’m really liking the second picture Dal but the security camera ones are very cool looking.

Professor Gangrene Fan wrote:

I’m really liking the second picture Dal but the security camera ones are very cool looking.

Thank you Alex! really pleased you liked them .

Great photos Dal!

inntruderr61 wrote:

Great photos Dal!

Cheers Jim

She looks great and makes you wish that Gi Joe and Action Man had female adventure figures like the French, German and Italian lines. (The later 3.75” lines did make up for that.)

-Nate