An auction will be commencing today at the USA-based Heritage Auctions, featuring a Captain Action figure containing the Phantom costume.

The Captain Action figure was first introduced by the Ideal Toy Corporation in the United States during the spring of 1966. This action figure was conceived as a direct competitor to Hasbro’s highly popular 12-inch GI Joe. Rather than adopting the military theme prevalent among other action figures of the era, the Ideal Toy Corporation opted to center their action figure on comic book characters and television heroes.

The Ideal Toy Corporation devised a strategy to promote a fundamental action figure, subsequently offering fully equipped outfits and accessories for individual sale. This strategy proved effective, as the basic Captain Action action figure experienced significant sales success, accompanied by robust demand for the various character outfits.

A comic book advertisement showcasing the diverse range of costumes initially available is presented below, featuring a selection of comic book characters including the Phantom, Superman, Batman, Sgt. Fury, The Lone Ranger, Captain America, Steve Canyon, Flash Gordon, and Aquaman.

The Captain Action figure, featuring the Phantom costume and available through Heritage Auctions, is showcased below. With its vibrant colors and nostalgic design, it embodies the legacy of Captain Action and a true representation of themed action figures available in retail stores in the 1960s.

The auction advertisement reads:

The Captain Action The Phantom Uniform Equipment Set, released by Ideal in 1966, was part of the highly collectible Captain Action toy line, which allowed kids to transform the base Captain Action figure into various iconic superheroes and pop culture characters. This set pays homage to The Phantom, the classic comic strip hero known as “The Ghost Who Walks,” and faithfully recreates his signature look with automatic pistols, a rifle with scope, a knife, a pair of boots, and a skull brass knuckle press. The included belt with holsters shows degradation throughout. The set is secure in its original Captain Action packaging, which displays handling wear along the edges and corners, with noticeable scuffing throughout. The top and bottom panels feature dried yellowed tape seals, which are loose. There is a small surface tear in the bottom left corner and creasing along the top center, as well as in the upper left, upper right, and lower right corners. The cellophane window remains firmly attached, though it has a small dent in the lower center, along with scratching and scuffing. The back of the box exhibits water damage along the right side and center, in addition to more scuffing wear along the left side.

The Phantom costume exhibited a commendable resemblance to the depiction of the Phantom as seen on comic book pages, with the ensemble comprising a fabric jumpsuit, a purple cowl, a facial mask, a belt equipped with holsters, two automatic pistols, a rifle with a scope, a knife, brass knuckles adorned with a skull insignia, and boots.

The Captain Action figure containing the Phantom costume on the Heritage Auctions website can be found HERE

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