A look back at Action Man's 50th Birthday Year

A quick look back at 2016 - Action Man’s 50th Birthday year.

2016 has been a cruel year for childhood heroes - robbing us of David Bowie, Prince, Gene Wilder, Muhammad Ali, Ronnie Corbett, Terry Wogan, Victoria Wood - the list was devastating and finished with the legendary John Glenn. Way back in January we must have wondered what kind of year it would turn out to be for our 50-year-old eternal hero. Sitting here in late December I can contently reflect back upon an outstanding year for Action Man and his community, a time of nostalgia, comradery, creativeness and optimism for an ever-present future.

In addition to the excellent individual Action Man events provided by the leading ‘generals’ around the country there was a wonderful ‘official’ free organised ‘AmCon’ convention by Alan Dawson to cap of the year in style. Many, ex-Palitoy key members of staff kindly gave their time to talk about the vintage years at the Palitoy, factory and even answer questions and give guided tours. The film documentary of Major Bob Tom’s epic mission - the first Action Man into near space was seen here for the first time. There were notable attendees from around the world and it is set to be a regular date in the diary for the Action Man enthusiast, and bigger and better year by year. It’s good news that there will be provision for enthusiasts to have more of an open dialogue, attend more events next year and enjoy and share their collection and enthusiasm to its fullest.

Action Man has also made the national news on a number of occasions, caused more than a stir on social media, and appearances to 4.1 million TV viewers (and many more on catch up) on the BBC’s prime time ‘One Show’ and many more on Channel 5’s ‘The Greatest Christmas TV Ads Ever’. In fact the Channel 5 one is more than likely to crop up every Christmas somewhere in the schedules. Coalville has been put back on the map a handful of times thanks to Deana Wildgoose and Julia Burkin’s ‘Coalville Heroes’ project and Also Action Man’s 50th Birthday Trail. Action Man has been recommended for a Green Plaque, beating off some stiff opposition. Action Man is back in the shops for Christmas, always a prime time in our personal memories. Action Man has made his first pairing with a Cancer Charity, and has a new head sculpt to celebrate a national footballing hero, hopefully one of many partnerships with good causes. An official Action Man website is almost at launch, and Action Man HQ has been ‘officialised’ so it can work towards becoming a complete resource for the vintage period of Action Man’s history. Bob Brechin has newly become a chairman to a panel looking to the future for the vintage and new Action Man, and what a fine safe pair of hands they promise to be.

These year’s celebrations and events have not happened by chance. Had it not been for a genuine enthusiasm from , quite often the same people, to run shows, entertain, accommodate and persevere to unify a community that all cherish their own childhood memories and collections of Action Man each in their unique way, the year could have passed us by with nothing much to reflect upon at all. Take a bow, and many, many thanks for all the hours of organising behind the scenes, and your perseverance to get us all together, and making us all have a reason to be happy.

Action Man seems to continue to reach out to a new range of fans and that should be commended and encouraged. You may have noticed a number of international TV adverts featuring GI Joe, Action Man and his friends around the world - there’s a new buzz of excitement amongst TV content producers I am aware of - there are plans for a special series but I can say no more. I’d say the future is as bright as it could be, with more on-screen presences lined up on the drawing board.

With the success of the Art & Science Action Man Mission Mercury 10, a new regular adventure/challenge is planned, something for both vintage and new Action Man, taking them both to new limits and horizons. The project united many fans around the world, and all of them had a key part in making the mission take off. If we all share our ideas for all-new missions, discuss our constructive hopes and fears, then we can all say we contributed something positive to give back to our lifelong friend, Action Man.

So happy collecting, it’s been fun sharing in a year of spectacle with each and every Action Man fan.

The main thanks must, as always, go to Action Man himself for inspiring us all to 50 years of companionship, adventure, creativity and joyful recollection.

To collectors and friends old and new, I look forward to what 2017 will bring for our ever-youthful hero and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year.

Rob Wisdom

Very true Rob, this year has been a year for the Action Man collector! and in my opinion more shows and events is great news for us all who collect! So well done to all who made 2016 such a great year! Let us look forward to 2017 and hope it is as eventful as last year for Action Man events!

It's definitely been a good year for the toy action hero, with plenty of supporting events throughout his 50th anniversary year. Whether it's original Action Man, or the so called modern Action Man (MAM), there's no denying how much joy these iconic action hero toys have brought to the fans worldwide. Action Man is not just a local thing, it's global, and has brought many together in friendship to celebrate Hasbro's much loved product, which is a heart warming thing. Onwards and forwards i say... I would like to thank Hasbro for bringing us Action Man.

Happy Christmas to Hasbro and all the Action Man & GI Joe fans everywhere..



clivvers @ AMWIC 2016.

Well Said Rob, 2016 has been good for our little hero,

So Action Man Years Past...... Action Man year Present, and Action Man Years to Come,


I wish all our Action Man collectors young and old a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2017