His eyes reflecting the fire of determination: The Plastic Warrior’s Burden
In the hidden folds of the Plastic World, where battles raged between Green and Tan armies, there existed a legend: a soldier named Iron Will. His real name was John “Iron Green” Morell, but he had long forsaken that identity. His comrades knew him by the crimson bandana that encircled his plastic brow, a symbol of defiance, courage, and the weight of memory.
He resembled a Human hero from Human war movies from the 80′ with whom he clearly felt identified to the point of being his fan, with his camouflage uniform adorned with tiny plastic grenades and a bandolier of paperclip bullets. His favorite sport came from the same source: Boxing and arm wrestling.
Iron Will was one of the three Victoria’s comrades (with Murphy) that gathered around her. Together, they formed an unbreakable bond: a trio of misfit heroes, each carrying a piece of the Plastic World’s legacy. They are part of the Army Men Strike Team
The Origin of Iron Will:
John had been molded in the heyday of the 1960s, when Army Men were more than mere toys: they were conduits for imagination. His plastic limbs bore the scars of countless skirmishes in the jungle of the backyard, where blades of grass became towering trees and pebbles transformed into treacherous cliffs.
But it was during the Green-Tan War that John’s destiny took a dark turn. He fought alongside Sarge, a grizzled veteran with a voice like gravel. They battled Tan Troopers, their tiny rifles firing paperclip bullets. John’s red bandana fluttered in the breeze as he charged forward, his plastic heart pounding with purpose.
The Tragedy of the Pigeon:
Amidst the chaos, John forged an unlikely friendship with a Real World pigeon named Feathers. Feathers perched on the windowsill of John’s base’s room, cooing tales of distant lands and forgotten skies. They shared secrets: the pigeon’s longing for flight, John’s desire for freedom beyond the Plastic World.
One fateful day, a Tan Commander named General Braunen took aim. His plastic rifle spat a tiny dart, and Feathers fell with a crimson stain on the windowsill. John cradled the lifeless bird, his plastic fingers trembling. The Real World had finally intruded, leaving a scar deeper than any battle wound.
Iron Will’s PSTSD:
John returned to the battlefield, but he was no longer the same. His red bandana absorbed Feathers’ blood, and its hue darkened… a reminder of loss and betrayal. He suffered from Plastic Soldier Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTSD), a condition that plagued those who straddled the line between worlds.
At night, John dreamed of soaring skies, of Feathers’ wings carrying him beyond the confines of plastic grass and cardboard forts. He woke with phantom pains, his plastic heart racing. Sarge Hawk, his next commander, noticed the change: the haunted look in John’s eyes, the way he clutched the red bandana as if it held salvation remembered him his own loss of the Heroes.
The Redemption of Iron Will:
John sought solace in the Real World’s forgotten corners. He tinkered with broken toy cars, whispered secrets to wind-up soldiers, and stared at the moon, a distant echo of Feathers’ flight. And then, he found an ancient relic buried beneath a pile of discarded Blocko bricks: a tiny vial of imagination.
He drank from it, and the Real World shifted. John became Iron Will, a warrior with a purpose beyond battles. His bow glowed, infused with Feathers’ spirit. He fought not for victory but for redemption, for Real World’s animals, for himself, for all the forgotten toys who yearned for more.
After this, Iron Will think his bow absorbed Feathers’ spirit, becoming more than a simple weapon. He think it carried the weight of friendship, sacrifice, and the fragility of life forms existence.
John whispered “Feathers”, who inside his mind cooed in reply. The pigeon’s essence flowed into his weapon, nourishing it. Iron Will’s memories surged: the Real World reclaimed him again.
This way, with this internal trip, he remembered the soldier he was before the Super Soldier process to which he was subjected.
Iron Will’s Quest:
Iron Will’s mission was clear: to bridge the gap between Real and Plastic. He sought the Portal of Imagination, a mythical gateway said to lead to Feathers’ realm. Alongside Sarge Hawk and later Victoria, he faced Tan Troopers, Dust Bunnies, giant Mechasaws and the dreaded Under-Bed Monster. Each step brought him closer to salvation.
The Bow
Based on Vikki Grimm’s Portal Runner Bow, John obtained an identical weapon and coated the wood with ironically, iron, obtaining a weapon with the same powers, but more resistant.