Captain Action The Original Super-Hero Action Figure

Captain Action The Original Super-Hero Action Figure was published by TwoMorrows Publishing in USA in 2003. Written by Michael Eury’s the reference book is a comprehensive exploration of the iconic 1966 action figure, Captain Action. First introduced during the superhero boom of the 1960s, Captain Action stood out by allowing children to transform him into various superheroes through interchangeable costumes. Eury’s book delves into the history, cultural impact, and legacy of this unique toy.

The book is richly illustrated, featuring over 200 photographs of Captain Action products including rare and never-before-seen items containing 160 full color pages measuring 21.59cm x 27.94cm. It provides detailed insights into the creation and marketing strategies behind the toy, as well as its subsequent iterations and revivals. Eury also examines Captain Action’s expansion into comic books, highlighting contributions from notable artists like Wally Wood and Gil Kane.

A sample of internal pages can be seen below.

In addition to chronicling the main figure, the book spotlights related characters such as Action Boy, the Super Queens, and the arch-enemy Dr. Evil. It includes historical anecdotes from industry figures like Gil Kane, Jim Shooter, and Stan Weston, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at the toy industry of that era.

Advertisements for the book read:

Captain Action was introduced in 1966 in the wake of the Batman TV show craze, and quickly received his own DC comic book with art by Wally Wood. Able to assume the identities of 13 famous super-heroes, his initial career was short-lived, but continuing interest in the hero led to a recent return to toy-store shelves. Lavishly illustrated with over 200 toy photos, this new trade paperback by author Michael Eury chronicles the history of this quick-changing champion, including photos of virtually every Captain Action product ever released, spotlights on his allies Action Boy and the Super Queens, and his arch-enemy Dr. Evil; an examination of his comic-book appearances; and “Action Facts” that even the most die-hard Captain Action fan won’t know! It features a foreword, new cover, and unseen package illos by Murphy Anderson, plus historical anecdotes by the late Gil Kane, Jim Shooter, Stan Weston (co-creator of G.I. Joe, Captain Action, and Mego’s World’s Greatest Super-Heroes line), and Larry Reiner and Larry O’Daly, formerly of Ideal Toys. Plus, never-before-published Captain Action artwork by Gil Kane, Joe Staton, Carmine Infantino, Jerry Ordway, and Murphy Anderson.

A revised edition also under the name of Captain Action The Original Super-Hero Action Figure was published by TwoMorrows Publishing in USA in 2009. It was available in both paperback and hardcover editions with a revised front cover.

It covered Captain Action’s resurgence in the 2000s, detailing new collectibles and the character’s return to comic book shelves. For enthusiasts of vintage toys, comic book history, or 1960s pop culture, Eury’s work serves as an invaluable resource, preserving the legacy of a toy that allowed children to become their favorite superheroes.

The revised edition of Captain Action The Original Super-Hero Action Figure contains 176 full color pages, measures 22.86cm x 27.94cm and includes additional content not found in the original release, which can be seen below.

Advertisements for the book read:

  • Captain Action, the original super-hero action figure, was introduced in 1966 in the wake of the Batman TV show craze, and later received his own DC comic book with art by Wally Wood and Gil Kane. Able to assume the identities of 13 famous super-heroes, his initial career was short-lived, but continuing interest in the hero has led to two different returns to toy-store shelves.
  • Lavishly illustrated with over 200 toy photos, this second edition of the critically acclaimed volume by author Michael Eury chronicles the history of this quick-changing champion, including photos of virtually every Captain Action product ever released, spotlights on his allies Action Boy and the Super Queens and his arch enemy Dr. Evil, an examination of his comic-book appearances, and “Action facts” that even the most-diehard Captain Action fan won’t know!
  • Features a foreword, cover image, and previously unseen package illustrations by Murphy Anderson, as well as historical anecdotes by the late Gil Kane, Jim Shooter, Stan Weston (co-creator of G.I. Joe, Captain Action, and Mego’s World’s Greatest Super-Heroes), and Larry Reiner and Larry O’Daly, formerly of Ideal Toys, plus never-before-published and classic Captain Action artwork by Gil Kane, Joe Staton, Carmine Infantino, Jerry Ordway, Paul Gulacy, Mark Sparacio, Ruben Procopio, and Tom Yeates.
  • This revised second edition also includes behind-the-scenes material covering Captain Action’s triumphant 2008 return to comics shelves in his new series from Moonstone Books, and spotlights on the new wave of Captain Action collectibles.