.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

It would seem that such a cheap and relatively unsuccessful line would not lend itself to other companies creating knock-off products.  However, since the Fighting Yank was itself a knock off of G. I. Joe, it comes as no surprise that an extremely large number of figures have been found that either used the Fighting Yank mold completely or were a rip-off of the idea and/or outfits.  The main reason for this can be traced back to the way Mego produced their figures in the early 1970's as well as the way the toy industry in Hong Kong was run.  It even flows over into the bankruptcy ending and sell off of the Mego company assets in order to pay the creditors. 

To begin with, in the early 1970's (when this line was produced), Mego contracted with other companies to make the figures.  In this way, they were able to keep the costs down - they did not own any of the factories or machines, and thus had no overhead to worry about.  This did, however, lend itself to potential 'sharing' of molds.  According to Marty Abrams, it was not uncommon for Hong Kong factories to make a large run of figures to cost justify running the machines.  If Mego did not want or pay for all of the product made, these extra figures would sometimes show up as knock-offs sold by smaller companies just churning out any old product to make a buck.  In addition, sometimes  the Mego company itself would sell overrun product to other smaller companies in order to defray costs on lines or figures that were not going to be continued but that of which they had extra inventory.  Finally, much of Mego's excess inventory and molds were sold to creditors after the company went bankrupt.  There are many examples of molds and figures being reissued by other companies (Tim-Mee and many of the Lion Rock soldier figures are two good examples of this) as well as extra product appearing in bundled packaging sold with non-Mego figures (Captain Action and Action Jackson outfit combinations are commonly found by collectors).   After the bankruptcy, the core of the Mego company also contracted with Phoenix toys in the mid 1980's to continue some of the lines - sadly, this collaboration did not last either. 

Below are some examples of the many knock-offs and variations of figures that have been found that are either based directly on or related to the Fighting Yank line.

FIGHTING YANK (PGD TOYS)

THE ADVENTURER

A good example of a US release knock-off.  This was released around the same time that the Fighting Yank was released (copyright date is 1971), and probably done through a subsidiary of the Mego company.  The card says manufactured for the Kresge Company (the precursor to K-Mart).  Kresge carded Mego WGSH are highly sought after, since they are the first bubble card figures ever sold.  In some way, it is interesting to believe that this figure might have been the test market figure for this kind of packaging.

An Australian variation.  The description says it all:  "With movable arms, twistable wrist, bendable knees and ankles."  What more could you possibly want?

What more could possibly be said?  You just have to love that dogtag!!

Produced by LJN Toys (most know for their SWAT, Rookies and Emergency 911 line of figures), Mr. Action was a line of G. I. Joe/Fighting Yank knock off playsets and figures.  This set was one of four listed on the back, which included Bunkhouse, Snow Station and Deep Sea Station.  A Fire Station was also produced.