In Memoriam: Action Man and Star Wars Artist Dave Barnacle

By downthetubes Guests on April 21, 2025 • ( 1 )

Commando cover artist Simon Pritchard pays tribute to an artist who was, and always will be, a British toy industry legend…

*Iconic Action Man art by Dave Barnacle*

Dave Barnacle, one of the great British artists of the 1970s and 1980s toy industry passed away in April. For any kid like myself who grew up in Blighty during the 1970s the wonderful box art featured on the Action Man range from Palitoy will be imprinted on their minds, very deeply so for me. His painted box and packaging art truly lit up the lives of thousands of children back in the day with mind blowing illustrations of fantasy and adventure.

I still have my two Action Man dolls from my 1970s childhood, a brown haired all purpose soldier and Bullet Man but, sadly, the boxes have long gone although I still have my Scorpion tank with its box. Various uniforms and assessories packs were then acquired to kit out my figures, all featuring Dave Barnacle’s iconic art.

What many adults often forget is just how exciting it was to enter a toy shop or toy department as a kid and how important that was. For me, simply marvelling at the displays of toys featuring the stunning packaging artwork from the likes of Dave Barnacle and Roy Cross, who painted box illustrations for Airfix model kits, was a magical escapist experience, regardless of not being able to have every offering in the shop, and that’s the point, packaging and promotional art should be a form of entertainment in itself for both toys and movies. You can’t put a price on that. I remember all these images and countless others clearly from my boyhood and they are timeless in my mind.

*Palitoy Planet of the Apes art by Dave Barnacle*

*SAS Air Strike Artwork Print by Dave Barnacle*

Dave also provided the box art for various Mego figures when Palitoy acquired the distribution of their toys in the UK and I still have all my Planet of the Apes and other Megos, with the packaging ingrained on my brain. Visiting Preedys toy shop, British Home Stores toy department and many others with mum and dad, nan and grandad, with mates and by myself are all cherished memories.

Thanks to Dave Barnacle for painting so much joy and wonderment, I hope some of his and others influences shine a little in my own cover work for Commando comics and other work besides the many film poster artists that have inspired my own desire to work in the field…

Simon Pritchard

Artist Simon Pritchard, whose credits include covers for Commando comics, is online at artbeat64.com

Dave Barnacle, Remembered

Board Game Designer Bob Brechin, who was Chief Designer at Palitoy Ltd., the designer of Action Man also notes Dave Barnacle – “or ‘Barnie’ as we fondly called him” – not only provided Palitoy with some wonderful packaging designs and other artworks but was a personal friend.

*Action Man uniform designs by Dave Barnacle*

“I have known him since the early 1970s when he first took on the task of supplying the Action Man packaging” he commented on Facebook, “creating some celebrated illustrations that collectors seek out and cherish today.

“He would go on to produce the majority of packaging for toys in the growing Palitoy range from Tiny Tears and Pippa through to other toys such as Planet of the Apes and Talking Batmobile, and many many more, including board games such as Star Trek.

“When the Star Wars licence was taken on by Palitoy for the UK in 1977 Dave produced the packaging for the much sought after card Death Star with his son ‘young Dave’ as the child in the photo on the box.

“In the 1980s, just before the demise of Palitoy, he came up trumps with the iconic packaging style for the new Action Force concept.

“Dave would attend many toy conventions and other events and would happily talk with visitors and share his knowledge and memories.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Jan and his family and friends.”