Red Shadows
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The Red Shadows are the fighting force opposed to Action Force and depicted in the Battle Action Force comic books. They were also portrayed in action figures by Palitoy as a European version of the GI Joe range. Later G.I. Joe storylines in the United States have revived the Red Shadows as an additional enemy faction in the G.I. Joe universe.
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History and characterisation
Created first in print in the Battle Action Force comic books, the Red Shadows are led by Baron Ironblood and are believed to be fanatical in their devotion to their leader and cause, as described in their comic strip portrayal:
"An Evil genius threatens the world. His name is Baron Ironblood and his twisted criminal brain dreams of only one thing.......world domination. Using powerful and sophisticated weaponry, Ironblood's ruthless followers would gladly die for their master. Baron Ironblood has vowed to destroy Action Force"Red Shadow toy range Palitoy promotional material from Blood for the Baron!
The Red Shadows were an enemy force created to face a second generation of Action Force characters following the evolution of the Action Force range (see the History of Action Force).
Graphic representation
The standard Red Shadows (predominantly the infantry troops) were controversially depicted in the comic books and annuals of the mid 1980s in quasi-Wehrmacht (German military uniform) from the World War II era. Their red clothing was similar in style to the WWII German military wear including long black boots, black gloves and 'Jerry (WWII)' style helmets, albeit extended to cover the face. In addition, the weapons they carried also included German-style Model 24 grenade (stick grenades) and bazookas. This was due to the Red Shadow figure being made from a modestly altered (by adding the face plate) WWII German soldier figure from the Action_Force#First_generation_.281982.29|first generation figure release.Carded Red Shadow figure, part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council MuseumLoose Red Shadow figure, part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council Museum
Additional characters and vehicles also had strong associations with the German military in the WWII era - The Black Major for example (Baron Ironblood's deputy) was dressed in a similar style to a Allgemeine SS officerBlack Major figure, part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council Museum and the Shadowtrak armored vehicle had a German-influenced design. Indeed one of the final storylines involving the Red Shadows had them operating alongside the Nazis in South America, including a re-animated Adolf HitlerDeath in South America storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron! (despite ostensibly being set in the present day). However, as the range developed, further characters were even more fantastical and included mutantsMuton figure, part of the collection at Leicestershire County Council Museum, krakensCodename Kraken storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!, and cyborgsRed Jackal storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!.
Characters
Major Characters
Rank and File
Training
Potential candidates for Red Shadows are sent into an obstacle courses filled with traps, such as machine gun nests and anti-personnel mines with the use of other kinds of traps such as broken bridges, piranhas and grenades tied from nests above trees. Both Baron Ironblood and the Black Major weed out candidates not worthy of being Red Shadow soldiers by letting them die in the traps or shoot them with small arms. Attack! storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!
Weaponry and vehicles
The Red Shadows weapons, vehicles and armoury consisted of:
- The Laser Exterminator
- The Shadowtrak
- Hyena
Roboskull
The Roboskull was a aircraft-cum-spacecraft designed exclusively by Palitoy as representative of the Red Shadows aerial threat. Piloted by the Red Wolf character, it was a loose variation of the Star Wars TIE Fighter design built around a human skull.Roboskull Datafile graphic representation in Battle Action Force courtesy of Blood for the Baron! Its wings rotated ostensibly to allow the craft vertical-take-off-and-landing (or VTOL) capability.
The Roboskull was heavily armoured and featured in numerous Battle Action Force storylines as a formidable weapon in the Red Shadows arsenal.Codename Moondancer storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!
The aircraft had a single pilot cockpit together with a rear-gunner site and an escape chute. It also featured brainwashing equipment and wing-tip mounted searchlights.Roboskull blueprints datafile courtesy of Blood for the Baron!
The Roboskull was one of the few Palitoy Red Shadows creations that survived the transition to Cobra and continued to feature (still piloted by Red Wolf and, sometimes, by Wild Weasel) in comic storylines fighting Action Figures alongside both Cobra and Red Shadow units.Venom of Cobra storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!
Escape Armour
The first release of the Red Shadow Escape Armour came packaged with a standard Red Shadow figure however the difference in moulding from the Red Shadow (fixed-limb) action figure and the multi-jointed Cobra action figures, caused some difficulty in the using the toy.
A later version was packaged with the European Cobra release and used the 'Hiss' tank-driver character and new decals to incorporate it into the range.
The armour was written into at least one storyline allowing Baron Ironblood to evade capture by SAS and Z Force units. Made from unknown materials, the armour was capable of withstanding missile attacks and could respond with flamethrower or a single anti-tank missile. Escape of the Baron! Combat Story from Battle Action Force, courtesy of Blood for the Baron
Transition to Cobra
In later editions of the Battle Action Force seriesWorld Enemy No. 1 storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!, Ironblood betrays the Red Shadows, leaking information about their bases and intentions to the United Nations. As the Shadows are under attack, Ironblood goes into hiding and constructs a new identity for himself, becoming Cobra Commander, and creating Cobra as a new enemy force.
The continuity of the storyline was maintained as the Black Major (himself a former traitor from Action Force), Red Laser and Red Vulture re-grouped the Red Shadows and sought revenge against Cobra Commander and the newly-amalgamated 'AF' whilst prominent Red Shadow character Red Jackal was given his own storyline, transforming to Destro and joining Cobra. Additional storylines saw the Red Shadows fighting alongside the Nazis against both Cobra and Action Force. In Showdown for the ShadowsShowdown for the Shadows! storyline courtesy of Blood for the Baron!the Shadows make their final appearance.
Devil's Due Red Shadows
Towards the end of the original Devil's Due GI Joe comic series, the Red Shadows were officially incorporated into the US GI Joe universe canon.Dawn of the Red Shadows - Part 1 and Part 2 from the G.I. Joe comic book archive at YoJoe.comUnion of the Snake - Part 6 from the G.I. Joe comic book archive at YoJoe.com
The Devil's Due incarnation of the Red Shadows organization bares little resemblence to the Red Shadows organization that fought the UK-centric "Action Force". The organization is portrayed as a truly independant organization, one that has no ties to Cobra.
Lead by Wilder Vaughn, the group attempted to destroy both Cobra and GI Joe, ultimately killing GI Joe member Lady Jaye in the process of their attempt to wipe out both sides by way of eliminating key members of both organizations.