MISSION BRIEF

Operation: Recall's roots date back to 1989, when a naive but ambitious ten year old set out to design his very own action figure. Unsuccessful, but undeterred, R. Carson Mataxis would return!

MISSION BRIEF

In 1989, the Toy Wars were in full force. On the battle lines were the likes of Kirk Bozigian, Ron Rudat, Mark Pennington, Larry Hama, Ed Morrill, Doug Hart, and Bill Merklein. These intrepid toy warriors produced countless action figures which are still celebrated today. 

As the decades wore on and the Toy Wars cooled, they each received an Honorable Discharge – having performed their duties well and having faithfully executed the mission: to entertain a generation.

MISSION BRIEF

Decades later, in an era of action figure stagnation and replication, that still naive but ambitious 40-something decided to do something –recall these legendary veterans to active duty for one more tour in the Toy Wars! Together, they are creating exciting all-new action figures to reignite the Toy Wars. Will you join them on this mission? Enlist today!

MEET THE OPERATION: RECALL TEAM!

RON RUDAT / O:R designer

Ron Rudat served as the G.I. Joe figure designer from the launch of A Real American Hero in 1982 until he moved off of the brand in 1986. Ron also designed several vehicles, decals sheets, and the timeless Cobra logo! Ron has designed the A.T.L.A.S. and Orthrus icons, as well as half of the O:R action figures and accessories. 

MARK PENNINGTON / O:R designer

Mark Pennington served as the second full-time G.I.JOE: A Real American Hero figure designer from December 31st, 1985 to August 1988. In that time he helped develop over 75 figures. Mark left Hasbro in August of 1988 to pursue a career in illustration. Mark has designed half of the O:R action figures and accessories.

KIRK BOZIGIAN / O:R DESIGN DIRECTOR

Kirk Bozigian was called to spearhead the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero launch in 1982. Kirk worked with Ron Rudat to refine each figure design, and continued to serve the brand as Brand Manager and Vice President of Boys Toys through 1994. Kirk has reviewed and directed all of the O:R action figures and accessories. 

LARRY HAMA / O:R AUTHOR

Larry Hama joined the team in advance of the 1982 A Real American Hero launch. His imagination transformed action figures into a universe of entertainment as he authored hundreds of G.I. Joe comics and file cards. Larry has written all of the O:R file cards, turning plastic into unforgettable characters. 

BILL MERKLEIN​​​ / O:R SCULPTOR

 Bill Merklein was perhaps the most prolific figure sculptor of G.I.JOE: A Real American Hero. He worked for Hasbro as a freelance sculptor from 1983 to 1989, and during that time he sculpted over 70 G.I.JOE figures. Bill hand sculpted half of the O:R figures. 

MIKE GOOD ​/ O:R SCULPTOR

Once Bill Merklein was knee deep in sculpt work for Hasbro he called in a couple recruits - friends of his from the military miniatures field. Mike Good came on board and sculpted many a G.I.JOE back in the late-1980s. Mike hand sculpted half of the O:R figures.

ED MORRILL / O:R BRAND+PACKAGING

Ed Morrill, a package design and brand identity executive, was called to serve G.I. Joe in 1969. His first assignment was the 1970 Adventure Team rebranding. Morrill served for 20 years, overseeing packaging design and illustration. Ed oversaw O:R package design and illustration, working with his son Shawn to design the packaging, and providing thumbnail sketches for Doug Hart's package art.

DOUG HART / O:R PACKAGE ART

Doug Hart joined Hasbro in 1984 as an illustrator – initially working on My Little Pony. He was called to serve the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero brand in 1987 and painted beautiful figure and box art until then end of the line in 1994. Doug hand painted twenty new paintings for O:R year one, and he has many more in the queue for year two.

MARK GERWIG / O:R 3D DESIGN

​​After 26 years of service in the United States Navy, Mark decided to turn his passion for action figures into his next career. Mark has been working as a freelance 3D artist since 2020, getting his start creating hard surface models of action figure accessories for brands like Action Force, Operation Monster Force, Delta-17, and more. More recently he has expanded into organic sculpting, including Ozzie and Luna for Operation: Recall. Mark has also developed his own line of 1:12 scale action figure accessories under the brand Mark 2 Toys.

CARTER! / O:R 3D FIGURES

James Carter has been in the toys and games industry since 1998. He specializes in sculpting and art direction, and his work includes action figures, tabletop miniatures, and girls toys. He's worked on a multitude of brands including Star Wars, Marvel, Ghostbusters, Transformers, Aliens, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Disney Princesses, and DC Comics for companies like Upper Deck, Wizkids, Blizzard, and Hasbro. Carter has brought an invaluable amount of passion and detail to the O:R figures.

BIG JO / O:R MANUFACTURING

Big JO worked in Hasbro's Hong Kong office for 15 years (2006-2021). There he managed product development for boys toys including G.I.JOE, Transformers, Marvel, and Star Wars. He specialises in action figures, from design and development to manufacturing, with extensive experience across 3.75" and 6" scales.

R. CARSON MATAXIS / O:R XO

R. Carson Mataxis is an Emmy-winning animator and editor, author, and now toy maker! Carson started collecting G.I.JOE in 1985. He started building 3DJOES in 2012, authored The Art of G.I.JOE: A Real American Hero from 2015-2023, and has been leading the charge on Operation: Recall since funding in 2022.

​​BACK THE OPERATION: RECALL TEAM TODAY!
​BACKERKIT CLOSES DECEMBER 1ST, 2025. ​WAVE 1 SHIPS IN DECEMBER!

MISSION OBJECTIVES

Together, we will create all new action figure concepts. We will document the techniques and processes of these legendary creators, and we will produce exciting new action figures for your armies.

MEET THE OPERATION: RECALL TEAM!

​​​Together, we will create all new action figure concepts. We will document the techniques and processes of these legendary creators, and we will produce exciting new action figures for your armies. Back Operation: Recall today, ​and help these legendary creators do what they do best, create timeless action figures!

​BACK THE ATTACK BY DECEMBER 1sT, 2025 TO SECURE KICKSTARTER PRICING.
​BACKERKIT CLOSES DECEMBER 1ST, 2025. ​WAVE 1 SHIPS IN DECEMBER!​

THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY:

FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION –

WE'VE DOCUMENTED EVERY STEP OF THE JOURNEY

LEARN MORE