
Pre-orders for all three volumes of a Deluxe Treasury Edition set of “Action Force“, conscripted from the pages of the 1980s weekly comic Battle Action Force, are now open, published by Total Toy Books.
Fans take note, there’s an early bird deal of all three volumes for the price of two, which will only be open until 17th August 2024.
Offering more than 800 pages of “Tough, Tense, Terrific” Action Force stories and content, the collections see the return of material first published in Battle Action Force more than 40 years ago, in limited edition deluxe volumes.
Battle Action Force was published weekly from October 1983 to November 1986 by IPC Magazines limited, the later incarnation of Battle Picture Weekly, launched in 1975. The comic, which eventually merged with the new incarnation of Eagle after 644 issues in 1988, brought together some of the greatest talents in the British comics industry of that time, both on the editorial and illustrative fronts. Writers included Gerry Finley-Day and artists such as Geoff Campion and Cam Kennedy. Included within its pages were the adventures of “Action Force”, created by British toy manufacturer, Palitoy.
Four heroic Action Force teams, infantry specialists Z Force, ocean based Q Force, infiltration specialists the SAS and orbital guardians Space Force protected the world against the evil machinations of Baron Ironblood, The Black Major and their army of brainwashed Red Shadows.

Now, for the first time in over forty years, Total Toy Books, with permission from Hasbro and in collaboration with Rebellion Publishing and Skeletron, bring fans an officially licensed reprint of the “Action Force” tales, collected in a series of deluxe over-sized‘treasury editions.
Featuring action packed stories such as “Red Jackal”, “Operation Claymore” and “Assault on Atoll Z”, as well as many more hard hitting “Action Force” adventures, these special collections bring together tales hard to track down and and expensive to purchase in full. Definitely not a collection not to be missed by fans of the original series – or for those who only discovered the existence of the comic in more recent times.
Total Toy Books is a publisher of high quality, collectible books about vintage toys and comics and are publishers of Bob Brechin‘s My Palitoy Story, a comprehensive insight into one of the most iconic toy manufacturers of the 20th Century.


Also available to preorder now is More News As It’s Made, planned for an October 2024 release, which brings together Palitoy’s popular early 1980s Action Force range, with hand-made figures, vehicles and playsets that complement the line, to create unique narrated dioramas to offer a new photographic window on the global conflict with Baron Ironblood, as if captured by a fictional Action Force Photographic Unit, documenting the story for future generations.
• Pre-order your limited edition Action Force collections direct from Total Toy Books | Estimated delivery December 2024. Each volume also available separately
• Sign up to the mailing list at TotalToyBooks.com to be the first to find out more
Battle Action Force Treasury Edition Volume 1 – Red Tide Rising

By Gerry Finley-Day (writer) and Geoff Campion (artist). Also featuring the talents of James Tomlinson, Cam Kennedy, Robert Turner, Jim Watson, Anthony Coleman, Jim Bleach, John Cooper and Vanyo. Cover Art by Robin Smith and Geoff Campion.
This limited edition deluxe volume collects the secret origins of Baron Ironblood and his legions of Red Shadows, featuring the epic “Operation Bloodhound” by Gerry Finley-Day and Geoff Campion.
In the aftermath of “Action Ascendency” Action Force’s SAS team pursue Baron Ironblood across the South American continent but soon find that they themselves have become the quarry. Captain Buckingham, codename Eagle, and his squad must use all of their survival skills to stay one-step ahead of the hunt.
Also includes a covers gallery, Action Force data files and the top secret file on The Baron.
No. of pages: 272 | Dimensions: 270mm x 325mm x 30mm | Weight: 2.06KG
Battle Action Force Treasury Edition Volume 2 – World In Peril

By Gerry Finley-Day (writer) and John Cooper (artist). Also featuring the talents of James Tomlinson, Scott Goodall, Jim Watson, Robert Turner, Gual and Geoff Campion. Cover Art by John Cooper
Featuring the action packed “Operation Claymore” by Gerry Finley-Day and John Cooper, as well as other hard hitting Action Force stories.
The Action Force teams are spread across the globe in a desperate attempt to battle Baron Ironblood and his legions of Red Shadows.
Also includes a covers gallery and character data files.
No. of pages: 304 | Dimensions: 270mm x 325mm x 32mm | Weight: 2.26KG
Battle Action Force Treasury Edition Volume 3 – Axis Of Evil

By Gerry Finley-Day (writer) and Vanyo (artist). Cover Art by Vanyo
Collects the epic “Z Force” trilogy by Gerry Finley-Day and Vanyo.
From the desert sands of Duna to the coral islands of the South Pacific, Z Force, lead by Captain Grant Campbell, stand against the most fearsome terrorist factions on the planet.
Also includes a covers gallery, Action Force combat reports and character data files
No. of pages: 272 | Dimensions: 270mm x 325mm x 30mm | Weight: 2.06KG
• Pre-order your limited edition Action Force collections direct from Total Toy Books | Estimated delivery to December 2024. Each volume also available separately
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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