Rambo is a successful franchise based on a series of action movies. These movies are based on the trials and adventures of a United States Army veteran named John Rambo. So, it is no surprise that there have been five film adaptations (First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, Rambo, and Rambo: Last Blood) of the franchise. Each of these films is also based on the novel First Blood by David Morrell, which debuted in 1972.
An animated television series, Rambo: The Force of Freedom, debuted in April 1986. This series thus provided a Rambo storyline that will appeal to kids and early teenagers. After the production of the cartoon, it was only normal for toy companies to join in and produce action figures. Thus, Rambo spawned a toy line not only based on the cartoon series but also on characters from the movies.
Here, we examined toys produced by top toy companies like Coleco, NECA, and Toy Island. So, we can present you with the top ten Rambo toys ever produced.
The Top 10 Rambo Toys
10. Toy Island’s Rambo: Champion of Liberty (1995)
Toy Island produced the Rambo: Champion of Liberty action figure in 1995 as part of the Rambo series. They based this action figure on the movie. The action figure features a shirtless Rambo with his red headband, green trousers, and boot. Rambo: Champion of Liberty also has moveable limbs and comes with a hunting crossbow accessory. This figurine then takes inspiration from John Rambo in a battle-ready mood while in the jungle.
9. Coleco’s Twin-Mounted 7.62mm Machine Gun with Bunker (1985)
The Twin Mounted 7.62mm Machine Gun is the most lethal weapon shown in the animated television series Rambo: The Force of Freedom. This weapon can fire 700 to 1300 rounds in a minute, has an effective range of about 2200 meters with a muzzle velocity of 820 meters per second. Also, the Twin Mounted 7.62mm Machine Gun can elevate between the angles of 0 and 45, and it can rotate the whole 360 degrees. Thus, this weapon is both defensively and offensively sound.
Coleco produced the Twin Mounted 7.62mm Machine Gun replica in 1985 as part of their Rambo toy series. Twin Pedestal Mount, Ammo Boxes, a Bunker Wall, and Ammo Belts came with this toy.
8. Coleco’s Defender 6X6 Assault Vehicle (1985)
The Defender 6×6 Assault Vehicle is a 6-wheel rugged vehicle that featured a lot across the movie adaptations of Rambo. John Rambo regularly drove this vehicle himself. Coleco produced the replica of this amazing vehicle in 1985 as part of their Rambo series. They categorized it under the accessories, vehicles, and playset subseries. Coleco’s Defender 6×6 Assault Vehicle has a T.O.W. (Target on Wire) Missile Launcher that is located on the back of the vehicle and an M60 Machine Gun that is strategically mounted beside the driver, making it easy to drive and operate the weapon at the same time. The sophisticated toy vehicle is a favorite among fans, and it was well-received by kids of the 80s. This toy is now a vintage collection item.
7. Coleco’s Skywolf Assault Jet (1985)
Turbo (the mechanical engineer member of The Force of Freedom) designed the Skywolf assault jet to enable Rambo and the rest of the team with significant aerial firepower, top speed, and superb maneuverability. In 1985, Coleco produced a toy of this amazing fighter jet. Coleco’s Skywolf Assault Jet comes with eight H.O.T. missiles, four on each side, a front-mounted AGS-17 grenade launcher, retractable swing wings, two-side mounted MANIAC miniguns, and a sliding canopy to cover the head. Coleco produced the replica of the Skywolf Assault Jet used by Rambo to break through enemy airspace and ensure the utter destruction of his target with the help of the H.O.T. missiles, which he dropped twice, four at a time.
6. Coleco’s General Warhawk (1985)
Coleco, in 1985 created General Warhawk as part of the series “The Enemy of Rambo”. This action figure takes inspiration from the character General Warhawk from the television series Rambo: The Force of Freedom. In the series, General Warhawk was the cruel, evil genius and leader of the S.A.V.A.G.E. (Specialist-Administrators of Vengeance, Anarchy, and Global Extortion). However, he was previously a soldier before the army dismissed him for selling state secrets. He is distinguishable by the reflective sunglasses that he never takes off and the ceremonial sword that he claimed had been in his family for generations. Coleco’s General Warhawk comes with a type 56 machine gun, his ceremonial family sword, a grenade launcher, and an M52 pistol with a holster belt.
5. Coleco’s Black Dragon (1985)
The Black Dragon is the twin brother of White Dragon, but unlike his brother, he has chosen the dark path by being a member of General Warhawk’s S.A.V.A.G.E. Black Dragon is a character from the animated television series Rambo: The Force of Freedom. The Black Dragon is distinguishable by his all-black attire that covers more than half his face and a red belt. Black Dragon has extensively trained in the art of ninjitsu, and he claims to be the deadliest assassin in the animated television series.
In 1985, Coleco created an action figure to replicate Black Dragon. They released it as part of ” The Enemy of Rambo” series. The 6-and-a-half-inch figurine comes packaged with replicas of Black Dragon’s favorite weapons like the Bakahtsugama, a Pistol Crossbow, a Ninja Sword, Thro Star, and a Thro Knife.
4. Coleco’s White Dragon (1985)
Just as skilled in ninjitsu as his twin brother, Black Dragon, White Dragon is the opposite of his brother. White Dragon had chosen to be a protagonist where he was the head of a ninja program within the United States Army where he met and befriended John Rambo and joined The Force of Freedom. His white attire characterized him in contrast to his brother’s black motif. Coleco also created a replica of White Dragon as part of the Rambo series in 1985. This six and 3 quarters inches action figure comes with a Thro Star, a Thro Knife, a Ninja Sword, a Crossbow, and a Bakahtsugama. The White Dragon performed exceptionally well in the toy market.
3. Coleco’s Colonel Trautman (1985)
In both the animated television series Rambo: The Force of Freedom, and the movie, Rambo: First Blood II, Colonel Samuel “Sam” Trautman is the paragon of patriotism. Colonel Trautman is a United States Army Colonel, and he is distinguishable by his uniform. He is the commanding officer of the Force of Freedom, and he calls Rambo for his missions, sometimes joining in on the action too. Coleco produced replicas of Colonel Sam Trautman in 1985 as part of the Rambo series. This action figure comes with an Auto Feed Machine Gun, an Ammo Backpack, a Bullet Belt, an M16 Assault Rifle, and a .45 Pistol with a holster.
2. Coleco S.A.V.A.G.E. Strike Cycle (1985)
Specialist-Administrators of Vengeance, Anarchy and Global Extortion (S.A.V.A.G.E.) is an evil group of supervillains whose goal is for world domination. The S.A.V.A.G.E. Strike Cycle is one of the most sophisticated vehicles shown in the animated television series Rambo: The Force of Freedom and Mad Dog’s favorite vehicle. This tricycle comes with a conceal and reveal Maniac Minigun, MAC-10 Submachine guns, 6 Belgian grenades, and rubber-like tires that grip the road and allows for swift maneuvering. In 1985, Coleco released the replicas of this 3-wheeled monster with all the attributes of the one depicted in the animated television series.
1. NECA’s John J. Rambo (Survival Version) (2013)
In 2013, NECA produced John J. Rambo, a line of action figures that are based on the 1982 movie adaptation, First Blood. In the movie, Rambo is a green beret, United States Army war hero who the Vietnam War had seriously traumatized, where he became a prisoner of war and suffered torture. Rambo had entered a small town to eat after the futile effort of trying to find one of his friends. The sheriff of the town alienated him then unjustly arrested him. During his incarceration, his P.T.S.D. kicked in, and he assaulted some police officers and broke away. So, the officials pursued him into the jungle where Rambo sought refuge.
NECA tried to capture Rambo in this survival stage and produced an action figure for it. John J. Rambo (Survival Version) is heavily armed with replicas of a knife, a pistol, an assault rifle, a walkie-talkie, and a wooden spear.
Conclusion
The Rambo media franchise is incomplete without mentioning the Rambo toy line. The toy lines targeted children and early teenagers for them to have replicas of their favorite Rambo characters and the awesome weapons and vehicles shown in the franchise. Although the movies are R-rated because of the violence, the animated television show is tailor-made for kids viewing, and the reason why most of the toys were based on the animated television series rather than the movies or the novel. The Rambo toy line has now become a valuable collector’s item.
About the author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!
Interesting article it would be good if you spoke about all the action figures in the toy thanks because I am a collectior if I see action figures from the 80s