Knock Off... Cheapo Man... Hong Konger... or just plain 'Konger'! Emotive labels used to describe a once ubiquitous 12 inch tall action figure who was made in Hong Kong and drafted into military service in the 1960s... his mission... to infiltrate supply lines and cash-in on the booming Action Man dominated action figure market of Great Britain... and maybe elsewhere.
Throughout the Sixties, this cheap plastic combat clone came in a variety of dramatically illustrated product boxes... branded with equally dramatic names - Johnnie Goes To War, Combat Johnnie, and Battleman - The Fighting Soldier.
Johnnie's product box was the same size as Action Man's and featured evocative combat soldier artwork. Little wonder the purses of unsuspecting parents, ill-informed aunts, and short-sighted grandma's, were regularly ambushed and looted by this renegade Johnnie-come-lately from a far off corner of a vanishing empire.
Johnnie's product box was the same size as Action Man's and featured evocative combat soldier artwork. Little wonder the purses of unsuspecting parents, ill-informed aunts, and short-sighted grandma's, were regularly ambushed and looted by this renegade Johnnie-come-lately from a far off corner of a vanishing empire.
Johnnie was a rank and file outsider... an ill-equipped soldier of misfortune, sent to exploit the military toy mania. Regular troops like Action Man and Tommy Gunn, were marching through bright high street store chains... but Johnnie was an 'Irregular' and waged a guerrilla campaign from smokey backstreet shopping arcades, grim market halls and discount outlets.
He infiltrated sunny seaside towns with pier front stalls, where sun faded plastic pocket-money toys from Hong Kong were sold to day-tripping kids from the inner cities and suburbs.
He infiltrated sunny seaside towns with pier front stalls, where sun faded plastic pocket-money toys from Hong Kong were sold to day-tripping kids from the inner cities and suburbs.
Johnnie was the nervous kid straight out of basic training. He was made of lightweight hollow plastic, with feeble plastic rivet joints which offered no support to his poor articulation. This plastic pseudo soldier was notoriously impossible to pose, had no balance, and was easy to break.
Later versions had metal rivets and movable ankle joints and fared little better in action. The baby faced teenager with a wide-eyed expression, would've been better dating Barbie, instead of being pitched against Palitoy's hardened German Stormtroopers and tough Australian Jungle Fighters.
Later versions had metal rivets and movable ankle joints and fared little better in action. The baby faced teenager with a wide-eyed expression, would've been better dating Barbie, instead of being pitched against Palitoy's hardened German Stormtroopers and tough Australian Jungle Fighters.
Hostilities opened the moment Johnnie was pulled from his product box. He was instantly disliked by a generation of kids who were gutted to get Johnnie instead of Action Man. He was soon vilified with the 'Cheapo Man' and 'Konger' stamps of disapproval.
Needless to say, Johnnie had a short life expectancy. Like a sentenced soldier serving in a Sven Hassel novel, Johnnie went where the casualty ratio was considered unacceptable for the Action Man.
Needless to say, Johnnie had a short life expectancy. Like a sentenced soldier serving in a Sven Hassel novel, Johnnie went where the casualty ratio was considered unacceptable for the Action Man.
Johnnie became the 'forlorn hope' of the action figure scene. He may be vaguely remembered as the paratrooper thrown out of bedroom windows with an improvised parachute... he was the target for the business end of the Johnny Seven... and he faced incoming pellets fired from a psychotic older cousin's GAT air pistol. Combat Johnnie clones lived and died on borrowed time.
At the conclusion of hostilities, Action Man was awarded with any number of medals, including the Victoria Cross, the Iron Cross, and the Silver Star. Johnnie wasn't even mentioned in dispatches.
These days few collectors acknowledge Johnnie. But perhaps he should be remembered? He played a distinct role in the backstory of Action Man and Tommy Gunn during the 1960s and 70s.
These days few collectors acknowledge Johnnie. But perhaps he should be remembered? He played a distinct role in the backstory of Action Man and Tommy Gunn during the 1960s and 70s.
Historically, so called Kongers were considered cheap and inferior... and perhaps they were compared to the movable men of Palitoy, Pedigree, and Zodiac Toys. But when viewed from our Forward Observation Post looking back into the past, these modest money spinners established themselves as the pathfinder platoon who infiltrated a flourishing worldwide action figure market...
.... a market which is now firmly dominated by Hong Kong based toy companies. Wonder how many kids who used the term 'Konger' back then, now have Hot Toys and Dragon Models action figures in their 1/6 line up?
.... a market which is now firmly dominated by Hong Kong based toy companies. Wonder how many kids who used the term 'Konger' back then, now have Hot Toys and Dragon Models action figures in their 1/6 line up?
Looking at the timeline, Johnnie Goes to war, Combat Johnnie, and Battleman, invaded and breached the walls of the domestic market of Great Britain and cleared a path for their modern protéges to follow.
Few of these fragile combat clones survived the battles of our childhood... but those which have, should perhaps be welcome additions to the ranks of our toy collections today. Johnnie was the anonymous shrapnel-catcher who blocked the bullets and took the falls... and saved Action Man's plastic skin on more than one occasion.
Maybe Johnnie wasn't the action figure of legend, but he certainly went to war...
Few of these fragile combat clones survived the battles of our childhood... but those which have, should perhaps be welcome additions to the ranks of our toy collections today. Johnnie was the anonymous shrapnel-catcher who blocked the bullets and took the falls... and saved Action Man's plastic skin on more than one occasion.
Maybe Johnnie wasn't the action figure of legend, but he certainly went to war...
Tony K
You've just put a name on some heretofore unknown soldiers in my collection Tony. Excellent research indeed. Did these Johnnies ever come with an ammunition belt or other accessories?
ReplyDeleteHello Arto, Brilliant to know you have surviving examples in your collection. These guys are a cherished part of the bigger 1/6 action figure story! Also, I'm really pleased the article shed some light on this lesser known toy soldier which many of us had as kids. An early boxed example of Combat Johnnie which I found did include a rifle, so it's quite possible that other versions of Johnnie did as well. Although it's also possible that rifles and equipment may have found their way to Johnnie through the various small carded accessory packs which were also around at the time. The version of Combat Johnnie with the header card (pic4), does include a Sterling SMG in the package. :)
ReplyDeleteAt least Johnnie had elbow and knee joints.a lot of the imitation Joes I saw were only articulated at hip and shoulder.I never had a problem with knock off toys as I was always gentle with toys to begin with.If I couldnt afford the big name toys, at least there was something I could buy.If I already had the big name toy, well, the more the merrier.All of my present collections contain some percentage of knock offs.I like the variety and contrast,not to mention a lot of toys for relatively little money.
ReplyDeleteHi Brian, Yes, that's a very valid point you've raised... some imitation figures had even less articulation than Johnnie. I agree, Johnnie and his plastic brothers in arms made wonderful army builders for pocket money prices! Great to know that just like Arto, you also have vintage KO figures in your own collection. I wonder if this particular type of 'Combat Johnnie' or 'Johnnie Goes to War' was ever sold on the US market?
ReplyDeletePossibly under a different name and distributor.The most common KO here was marketed by Hasbro(The makers of GiJoe no less!)and they were called the Defenders.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian, Yes I think I know what The Defenders were. Possibly smaller GI Joe type figures with a futuristic adventure theme?
DeleteSuper Joe Commander is what you're thinking.Defenders were Blow molded replicas (more or less) of the foot tall GI Joes,which were pretty much identical to Action Man.
DeleteIn that case I don't think I've seen The Defenders. I'll have to keep an eagle-eye out for 'em. Thanks Brian, I'm always interested to learn new things about old toys, especially action figures from around the world :)
DeleteLovely article, Tony, written with wholly-appropriate hyperbole. :)
ReplyDeleteNever had any of these chaps myself, but the points you make about their significance are most convincing. I'm glad you've rescued a few survivors to preserve fo posterity.
Cheers (well-deserved!) -- Paul
Hi Paul, Hope you've been keeping well. It's always good to bump into you on the Moonbase. Thanks for your kind comments... very much appreciated! Good luck with your super-cool site which is always a pleasure to visit - http://www.triangspacextoys.info/
DeleteYet again another fascinating and well researched article - I never knew of this toy and I have to say Jonnie has a very unique and sexy quality about him - I think it's in his eyes and posture! I love the original boxes too so stunning
ReplyDeleteHi Doc, thank you for dropping by and giving your unique and welcome perspective on vintage toys. I saw our old pal Abby recently... she was looking good and working in retro noir. Take care :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous bloglet Tone, worthy of a chapter in a book! I adore these knockoff fighting men and was thrilled to find two myself in an old fashioned toy shop in Borth on the coast in Mid-Wales a few years back. They were the bagged Combat Johnny with header card I think. Alas, I sold them, which I now regret! I wonder if there is still a knockoff action man available new somewhere in the world?
ReplyDeleteThanks Woodsy, glad you enjoyed the piece... it was fun to do. A big thank you for including it in the blogs brilliant birthday bash line-up. And on that note... time for another helping of jelly... oi, whose nicked my party hat... :D
ReplyDeleteI had loads of cheapo action figures, though I don't remember if I had this one in particular - probably did. The best rip-off Action Man I ever got was in Largs in 1971; its face was the double of Action Man, but without the scar, though it did have the inverted nail on the right hand. It was almost as poseable as AM, the main differences being that, although the waist turned, it didn't bend. (Might've been the same with the head, but not sure.) Also, I think the hands and feet moved at the wrists and ankles, but didn't revolve. It was much cheaper plastic of course, but all in all a pretty good knock-off.
ReplyDeleteHiya Kid, Thanks for dropping by. That sounds like an interesting KO. Alas, another one I've not seen before. Wonder what name it was sold under? Thanks for the info; I'd certainly love to see a pic if you ever stumble across one on your blogging travels. For all their failings, there were some wonderful KO's out there :)
ReplyDeleteBack in the late 60' I was desperate for an Action Man as my best friend had one. With the best of intentions I'm sure I was given a Combat Johnnie instead. This soldier did well in battles with my friend's Action Man. Soon after I got a real Action Man, but Combat Johnnie was never too far away.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately both soldiers went missing in action as I got older.
I have since been given a 50th edition Action Man but the memories of Combat Johnnie have never gone.
Thanks for enjoyable read.
Hi Steve, Thanks for sharing some wonderful childhood memories of Combat Johnnie. I bet many of us were glad to see him, at least until the 'real' Action Man soldier was deployed to the backyard frontline. Combat Johnnie was certainly a toy many of us will never forget :)
ReplyDeleteHello from across the Pond ! Man, Fantastic Piece ! I learned a lot, these Kongers are Hella Cool ! Wish we had had them in the States, but I don't remember ever seeing anything like them, tho we had a few of our own knock offs. I also LOVED your Blog on Stony and Buddy Charlies, also learned a TON from that, as well, and I was HERE when those were out, as a kid !! Hahaha.. I didn't know half of all that stuff , well done !!
ReplyDeleteIDK WHY it posted as unknown, I can't seem to get the settings right, let me check my security stuff, maybe somethings blocking me. Steel
DeleteThanks Steel, I will pass on your well wishes to the author Tony K. Glad you enjoyed his piece. Cheers, Woodsy.
ReplyDeleteHi Steel, I'm really pleased that you found this and the Buddy Charlie material interesting. It's inspiring to know that people still read these things long after they were originally posted. Thanks for taking the time to comment, it's much appreciated. All the best, Tony K.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am reading this great article. Any idea on the current value of one of these guys? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAny chance of close up photos of helmet, boots and rifle.
ReplyDelete