Captain Action Action Figures Identification Tool with Pictures

The creation of Captain Action

Weston originally named his concept Captain Magic, but that name would evolve into Captain Action by the time the toys were ready to launch. With the help of Stan Weston’s licenses, Ideal was prepared to launch a single action figure that could become various other characters. The IDEAL Toy company designed a series of costumes and masks that the base Captain Action toy would wear to achieve this. They also specially designed his head to be narrow enough to fit inside the masks easily.

IDEAL Toy Company Captain Action toy line

The base Captain Action toy wore only a blue and black uniform with a tri-color upside-down triangle logo. He also wore a blue cap and black boots. However, thanks to the various outfit accessory packs, this outfit could be easily swapped out.

His selection of costumes allowed him to become many popular comic book heroes. Originally, he only had the option to become heroes like Superman, Batman, Lone Ranger, The Phantom, Flash Gordon, Captain America, Sgt. Fury, Steve Canyon, and Aquaman. However, his second wave of toys expanded the selection to include Spider-Man, Buck Rogers, The Green Hornet, and Tonto. These outfit packs included a mask, boots, and a small selection of accessories.

As the line continued, Ideal added more characters and a side-line to the mix. As with most superheroes, Captain Action gained a side-kick, Action Boy. They also released a character who would act as his nemesis, Dr. Evil. Meanwhile, Ideal introduced a brand-new toy line for the girls, the Super Queens Posin’ Dolls. Unlike the Captain Action Figures, these toys did not feature swappable outfits. Still, the Super Queens represented characters like Batgirl, Mera, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman.

Ideal also introduced a 2-foot-long vehicle that Captain Action and Action Boy could easily ride. The Silver Streak became Captain Action’s official vehicle. They also introduced two secret lair playsets that served as carrying cases. One of these playsets functioned as Captain Action’s secret base, and the other was Dr. Evil’s.

The decline of the original toy line

Due to declining sales, Ideal discontinued the original run in 1968. Still, the accessories for the Captain Action figures could be obtained since they were sold in markets like China as bootleg figures. Ideal repurposed the mold to create the Knight of Darkness toy line in 1977. However, they never returned Captain Action to toy store shelves.

Captain Action in DC

At the height of the toy line’s popularity, DC published a five-issue comic book series that began in 1968. It featured illustrations from artists like Wally Wood and Gil Kane, and Jim Shooter and Gil Kane helped write the issues.

Since some of the outfits were from licenses that had nothing to do with DC or were from competing comic companies, the comic removed any references to the costume swapping. In exchange, Captain Action gains a magical coin that grants him powers from mythological deities. He also gained a secret identity: Clive Arno. Action Boy also appeared in the series as the alter ego of Carl Arno. Meanwhile, Dr. Evil had been Captain Action’s father-in-law before he went mad and turned evil. The series concluded in July 1969.

The decline of the comic book series was mostly attributed to the slowdown of superhero excitement. For a time, the Batman series left the public wanting more superheroes. However, as it reached its final season, all parts of the genre also lost traction. This shift also heralded a downturn in interest in the action figures.

Captain Action in the 1980s and 1990s

In 1980, Captain Action almost had a chance to shine again in DC’s comics. In the “Whatever Happened To…?” series, the likeness of both Captain Action and Action Boy would have popped up with new names: Captain Triumph and Javelin. Unfortunately, the editors did not believe they had the rights to follow through with this idea.

Captain Action officially returned to stores in 1998, this time produced by Playing Mantis. Captain Action had a small choice of outfits: The Lone Ranger, Tonto, The Green Hornet, Kato, and Flash Gordon. Meanwhile, Dr. Evil could be decked out as Ming the Merciless.

They also created a small series of outfit accessories that the figures could wear. There were outfits for the Green Hornet, Kato, The Lone Ranger, Tonto, The Phantom, and Kabi Singh. This toy line also brought back Action Boy. Since Hasbro had begun using the name Action Boy, it was released with a brand new name: Kid Action.

The modern Captain Action

Playing Mantis’s revival of Captain Action had some success. It lasted a few years before it vanished in 2000.

Still, that was not the end for Captain Action. In 2005, Captain Action Enterprises began producing new merchandise for Captain Action.