Characters from the Creator/IDWPublishing ''ComicBook/ActionMan'' comic series, and related characters from ''ComicBook/{{Revolutionaries}}'' and the ComicBook/HasbroComicUniverse.
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[[foldercontrol]]

!Action Man Programme

[[folder:Action Man (Ian Noble)]]
!!Action Man/Ian Noble
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/revolution_prelude_action_man.jpg]]
A young [[UsefulNotes/{{London}} South London]] lad who was recruited into Action Man's support team after managing to break into an A.M.P. facility; he was pushed into becoming the new Action Man after being present during the mission in which his predecessor [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificed his life]]. Cheerful, friendly, irreverent and reckless, Ian struggles to live up to his predecessor's impossible legacy, but is equipped with serious skills and a sharper mind than most give him credit for.
%%* BeehiveBarrier: Armed with one of these.
* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: His power suit, which among other things, somehow supplies his respirator with air without an oxygen tank.
* CowboyCop: He doesn't always follow orders to the letter... or at all. His ''Revolution'' bio indicates that he undertook multiple pieces of unauthorised fieldwork in the years before becoming Action Man.
* CrazyIsCool: Derailing trains, destroying castles, crashing a jetski into a fortified compound, befriending a Transformer... Ian is proof of the fact that "[[WesternAnimation/BeastWars sometimes, crazy works]]".
* DestructiveSavior: A lot of his operations involve StuffBlowingUp; most notably, the occasion when he stopped a train from crashing (and detonating a dirty bomb) by derailing it into a wildlife park.
%%* GunsAkimbo: His standard fighting technique.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Brogan, and to a lesser extent with Mercy. Kup is ''[[TimeAbyss literally older than the universe]]''.
* JumpedAtTheCall:
-->'''Ian''': ""Action"... that's gotta mean something. What's it an acronym for?
-->'''Action Man''': Nothing, Ian. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin It just means action.]]
-->'''Ian''': Heh. Now that's the kind of life I've been looking for.
* LikesOlderWomen: Ian admits that himself. He even flirts with [[ComicBook/TheTransformersRobotsInDisguise Arcee]], who is significantly older than he is, and is a robot.
* NiceGuy: Kind, friendly, brave and outgoing... even if he does have a tendency to annoy people with his [[{{Pun}} terrible puns]].
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Plays the fool a lot, claiming that he thought that Creator/AndrewLloydWebber wrote ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' and that he ''didn't know that Mount Olympus existed''. He's a lot sharper than he lets on, though.
* OddFriendship: With [[ComicBook/TheTransformersRobotsInDisguise Kup]].
%%* OneRiotOneRanger: As Action Man, this is his job.
* ThePollyanna: No matter how bad the situation gets, Ian's going to come at it with a grin and a wisecrack.
-->'''Salmons:''' Are you kidding me? I thought you were seriously injured.
-->'''Ian''': I'm not seriously '''anything''', Salmons.
* PungeonMaster: ''Loves'' a good pun, and [[{{Pun}} loves bad ones even more]]. He even criticises Vanessa Warfield for telling him to "stop" and not to "[[AnIcePerson freeze]]"!
* TriggerHappy: Not much of one for subtlety, and likes to go in guns blazing.
* UnfortunateName: A RunningGag in ''[[ComicBook/Revolution2016 Revolution]]'' is people being incredulous about his name being Action Man. Miles Mayhem, Mainframe, Kup, and Scarlett all get in on it.
* UnskilledButStrong: He's hardly ''unskilled'', but compared to his predecessor he likes using brute-force solutions more than elegant infiltrations and expert technical skill.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Terrence Salmons]]
!!Agent Terrence Salmons
One of the Action Man Programme's field agents, and the front-runner to succeed Agent Brogan as Action Man until [[SlaveToPR circumstance forced Ian's promotion]]. He's rather bitter over Ian getting the role despite not being nearly as qualified, and nurses a grudge against Ian for it.
* TheAce: Considered good enough to be the frontrunner to become the new Action Man.
* CynicalMentor: Doesn't think that Ian deserves to be Action Man or is good enough, but trains him regardless. Salmons eventually comes around a little, saying that he's good even if he still has a long way to go.
* DeadpanSnarker:
-->'''Ian''': What would I do without you, Salmons?
-->'''Salmons''': [[RhetoricalQuestionBlunder Probably plant yourself face-first into the side of a mountain you don't believe in.]]
* FireForgedFriends: [[spoiler:It's not exactly "friendship", but he and Ian gain more of a mutual respect once they work together to stop Doctor X.]]
* TheResenter: Is bitter over being passed over as Action Man in favour of Ian.
* SourSupporter: Doesn't like Ian much, but works with him regardless.
* TrainingFromHell: As Ian put it: "I think he's trying to kill me, but I think ''he'' thinks that's training."


[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mercy Gale]]
!!Agent Mercy Gale
A high-ranking intelligence operative and field agent for the Action Man Programme, and one of Ian Noble's best friends. Unlike Salmons, she sympathises with the difficult position that Ian's in, and does her best to support him.

[[spoiler:In actuality, she is the true identity of the supervillain Doctor X. For tropes relating to her in this role, see Doctor X below.]]
%%* ActionGirl
* ImprobableAge: Joined [=MI6=] straight after graduation, and was running intelligence for the A.M.P. before she was thirty.
%%* TheLancer
* [[NiceGuy Nice Girl]]: Shows a lot of kindness and supportiveness to Ian, and was apparently good friends with Brogan.
* OopNorth: Originally hails from Manchester.


[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bryce Chan]]
!!Quartermaster Bryce Chan
Quartermaster of the Action Man Programme, who moved up to replace his predecessor Sinclair at some point after Ian became Action Man. He's one of Ian's friends, though his InsufferableGenius tendencies push it into VitriolicBestBuds territory; as well as that, he provides Action Man with all of his mission-specific tech and gear.
%%* AsianAndNerdy
* DeadpanSnarker: Gives a dry running commentary on Ian's blunders.
* ImprobableAge: He can't be older than his early 20s, and he's running tech support for one of the most elite organisations on the planet.
* InsufferableGenius: Very smart, and he wants you to know it.
%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold
* [[spoiler:TheScapegoat: Doctor X tries to have him framed as the traitor in the Action Man Programme, though it doesn't stick.]]
%%* VitriolicBestBuds: With Ian.
* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: Alongside Bestley, he oversees Action Man's operations.


[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pauline Bestley]]
!!Director Pauline Bestley
Director of the Action Man Programme, and boss of both Brogan and Ian. She quickly gets frustrated with Ian's antics, but is willing to recognise that he's good at what he does.
* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: She "didn't become A.M.P. Director by taking names".
* BeleagueredBureaucrat: The more Ian acts out, the more she has to deal with the bureaucracy and paperwork.
%%* BlackBossLady
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: While she doesn't like Ian's methods and CowboyCop antics, she's reasonable enough to recognise that they're effective and that his heart's in the right place.
* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: Alongside Bryce, she oversees Action Man's operations.

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[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mike Brogan]]
!!Action Man/Agent Mike Brogan
Ian Noble's predecessor as Action Man, and the man who recruited him into the Action Man Programme. A legendary hero, his death leaves an impossible legacy for Ian to live up to.
* TheAce: Very, VERY good at what he does.
* DeathByOriginStory[=/=]DyingToBeReplaced: His role in the story is essentially to die and pass the Action Man title on to Ian.
* HeroicSacrifice: Sacrifices himself to prevent London's destruction by Doctor X's rocket.
* IdealHero: Friendly, kind, and honorable [[spoiler:to the extent that Doctor X didn't have a place in her world for him.]]
* IntergenerationalFriendship: Ian considered him to be his best friend.
* LargeHam: He's a bit, er, ''larger-than-life''. Lampshaded by the Prime Minister, who asks "he really talks like that?"
* LegacyCharacter: Inherited a title that's been passed down for centuries.
* MythologyGag: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Brogan Mike Brogan]] was the pseudonym of an author who wrote several "Action Man" stories in the 1970's.

[[/folder]]


!Doctor X's forces

[[folder:Doctor X (SPOILERS)]]
!!Doctor X/Mercy Gale
[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/am_4_doctor_x.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:Click here]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/am_4_original_doctor_x.jpg[[/labelnote]] to see the original Doctor X]]
In the aftermath of a routine mission to counter the operations of the villain Doctor X, Mercy Gale -- who had grown weary and disillusioned with [[VillainsActHeroesReact the constant struggle of the Action Man Programme to break even]] -- discovered that, by pure chance, Doctor X was dead. Instead of reporting this to her superiors, she realised that if she [[RunningBothSides controlled both Doctor X's operations and those responsible for countering them]], she could accomplish ''real'' change. As such, she covered up the evidence of his death, and took control of his operations as the new Doctor X.

When this was inadvertently revealed to Ian, Mercy attempted to convince him to join her, but her [[UnderestimatingBadassery underestimation of him]] allowed the Action Man Programme to learn the truth. Mercy faked her death, and took up the role of Doctor X full-time.
* AffablyEvil: Genuinely seems pleased to see Ian in ''ComicBook/{{Revolutionaries}}'' #1, and tries to make sure that he doesn't come to harm.
* BigBad Of ''Action Man''; [[BigBadDuumvirate doubles with]] Baron Ironblood in ''Revolutionaries''.
* EvilCostumeSwitch: After her true identity as Doctor X is revealed, Mercy switches to a new costume with a BadassLongcoat.
* EnemyMine: Like pretty much every other human villain in the Hasbro Comic Universe, she willingly works to repel the invading army of Predacons and Maximals commanded by Unicron in the final battle for Earth.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Gets an X-shaped scar on her forehead, matching the one on the original Doctor X.
%%* LegacyCharacter
%%* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate
* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: Some of what she says indicates that she's become less interested in saving the world, and more interested in power for the sake of it.
-->'''Ian''': God. The access to '''alien technology''' alone...
-->'''Mercy''': Is too much for '''them''' to have -- it should belong to the '''world'''. Or at least to '''me'''.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Part of the reason Britain's in much better condition than America is, after the Decepticons came along, is because of her.
%%* RunningBothSides
%%* SamusIsAGirl
* ThatManIsDead: After destroying the A.M.P. aircraft, she claims that "Agent Gale died in the VTOL explosion".
* VillainsActHeroesReact: The reason that she becomes disillusioned with the AMP, and decides to take over Doctor X's operations.
%%* WeCanRuleTogether
[[/folder]]


[[folder:The Professor]]
!!The Professor
The leader of Doctor X's [[MadScientist evil scientists]] at the Chateau.
* BodyHorror: His skin is green and mutilated.
* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: Had his sense of humour surgically removed so he could focus on coming up with new ways to murder.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Only ever referred to as "the Professor" in the series, but he's an update of the 90's ''Action Man'' villain Professor Gangrene.
%%* EvilGenius
%%* GlasgowGrin
%%* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate
[[/folder]]


[[folder:Colditz]]
!!Colditz
A helmeted German mercenary doing work for Doctor X.
%%* CoolHelmet
* GratuitousGerman: Coupled with GratuitousEnglish; he dots his sentences with German words and phrases, and then dots ''that'' with [[SophisticatedAsHell the English word "pillock"]].
* VerbalTic: "Pillock."
[[/folder]]


!Red Shadows

[[folder:Baron Ironblood]]
!!Baron Ironblood
A long-time enemy of the Action Man Programme; in the aftermath of the destruction of Doctor X's airship, Storm Shadow and Doctor X contacted him, and they subsequently began working together to secure the [[ComicBook/{{Revolutionaries}} Talisman]]. [[spoiler:In actuality, he's [[Characters/GIJoeIDW Joe Colton]], the original G.I. Joe, working with Earth's villains in an attempt to destroy all the Transformers.]]
* BadBoss: Orders his group to evacuate the Section Sabine moonbase without making any effort to secure those elsewhere in the base.
* BigBadDuumvirate: Forms one with Doctor X in ''Revolutionaries''.
* CanonImmigrant: Hails from ''Action Force'', the British counterpart to the ''[[ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' line.
* CoolHelmet: The classic Ironblood's helmet was pretty doofy looking; by contrast, the IDW one exudes pure menace.
* CreateYourOwnVillain: Ironblood wouldn't have gotten started if the Autobots and Decepticons had just stayed away from Earth, and ''especially'' if Optimus hadn't forcibly made it part of the Council of Worlds.
* TheFaceless: Unlike the classic Ironblood, who had a large eye-slit in his mask through which part of his face was visible, this version simply has a visor with GlowingEyesOfDoom showing through.
* NobleDemon: Claims to not want to see anyone die unnecessarily. Cybertronians, to him, don't count, and he's perfectly willing to do hideous things to them.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: His plans for the [[BigDumbObject Talisman]] are unknown, but he seems to think it's for the greater good. [[spoiler:It eventually turns out he plans to use the Talisman to kill all of the Transformers to protect the Earth from them.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Storm Shadow]]
!!Storm Shadow II
The mysterious leader of the Red Shadow ninja, formed from the remnants of the [[Characters/GIJoeIDW Arashikage clan]]; she acts as Doctor X's bodyguard and second in command.
* BodyHorror: Doctor X's enhancements mean her arm can burst into [[ComicBook/RomIDW Wraith-like]] CombatTentacles to attack with.
* DualWielding: Carries a pair of swords. Action Man [[SkewedPriorities comments on how appropriate it is]] when she puts them into an "X"-shape across his neck.
* HighlyVisibleNinja: Wears white.
* LegacyCharacter: To [[Characters/GIJoeIDW the first Storm Shadow]].
* MamaBear: Is ''furious'' when Action Man kills one of her ninja.
* ItsPersonal: Has it out for Action Man.
%%* StealthHiBye: Pulls one of these on Colditz.
[[/folder]]