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Captain Action
Synopsis of Toy
“Oh, the brave, strong and true,
Streak of lightning from the blue,
Captain Action!”
With a change of clothes and mask, Captain Action could alter his identity into some of the mightiest heroes on the planet. But if you even thought about saying the words “playing dress-up” around Captain Action, you were pretty much asking for whatever smacking you got. He’s not a doll, he’s an action figure! And yes, smarty pants, there is a difference. Dolls are for girls, action figures are for boys, okay?
’s outfit, a sword, and a ray gun (making Captain Action ready to fight both ancient Romans and futuristic aliens). Alone, the Captain was indeed a man ready for action (and fully-poseable action at that), but the toy’s real hook was its bevy of accessories. Nine separately-sold sets could turn Captain Action into famous figures from the comics—Batman, Superman, The Lone Ranger, The Phantom, Aquaman, Flash Gordon, Captain America, Sgt. Fury and Steve Canyon. Each new set came with the proper outfit and accessories, but the identity-swap wasn’t over yet—to complete the transformation, Captain Action donned a customized mask molded with the hero’s features.
The prospect of owning ten different heroes for the price of one (well, one plus nine new accessory packs) was enough to overcome any qualms about buying a “dress-up doll” (don’t tell Captain Action we said that). Kids scooped up the Captain, and Ideal responded to their enthusiasm by releasing new additions to the Captain Action line in 1967. New suits were a given—Buck Rogers, Tonto, Spider-Man and The Green Hornet—but the toymakers also brought out a new sidekick in Action Boy and a new nemesis in Dr. Evil (no relation to the later Austin Powers character). Both of the new characters shared Captain Action’s gift for role-playing, donning the garb of Aqualad, Superboy, Ming the Merciless, and more. The line also expanded to include play accessories (parachute, survival vest, etc.), the multi-purpose vehicle The Silver Streak, a carrying case playset, and even a short-lived Captain Action comic book from DC.
Alas, like many of the good ones, Captain Action’s multi-faceted career was all-too-brief. The line was discontinued in 1968, and Captain Action’s separate identities all moved on to toy lines of their own. The dolls (action figures, sorry) and their outfits became hot collectors’ items, and devoted fans continued to produce home-designed costumes and accessories to expand the Captain’s repertoire. And when all else failed, desperate fans realized that since they were the same size, the Captain could trade wardrobes with that other 12-inch action figure, G.I. Joe.
Finally, in the late 90’s, retro toy kings Playing Mantis unveiled a new line of Captain Action figures, including The Lone Ranger, The Phantom, The Green Hornet and sidekick Kato. The comic book superheroes have yet to rejoin the party (they have solo careers to think of, after all), but Captain Action is not a man used to defeat. That iron jaw and steely gaze may yet convince those tights-wearing pantywaists to step back in line with the king of dress-up, Captain Action!
“Fighting evil, that’s his creed,
Thundering power, lightning speed,
Captain Action!”