The PopCult Toybox

Next week is a big week for fans of Captain Action.  And in case you don’t know who or what Captain Action is, he was the pioneering 12″ superhero action figure, and the first toy I ever mentioned in this blog, way back in 2005. He’s seen two full-fledged revivals in the last twenty-five years, and is poised to make his third comeback, this time with new friends, an animated companion series and new disguises to wear in his efforts to fight evil.

Dr. Evil, that is.

The second time we went to Toy Fair, we even sat down and talked with Ed Catto and Joe Ahearn of Captain Action Enterprises, who have been steering his fates and adventures for the last fifteen years or so.

I’ve written about the collection of his comic book adventures, the big 2012 revival at Toys R Us, the reproduction of his card game, his life as a 4-inch action figure, and some of the teases and hints at previous editions of SDCC (that’s the San Diego Comic Con, by the way). And next week we’ll get actual pre-order info and more details on the new figures, costumes and even a convention-exclusive accessory set.

So that I don’t mess up any of the details, I’m just going to run the press release here:

Captain Action Plans for San Diego Comic-Con
More toy and animation plans to be revealed at panel

Captain Action, The Original Superhero Action Figure™ and Dr. Evil , The Original Evil Action Figure™ known for their transformative abilities, are building on last year’s announcements. LBO, Let’s Be Onyx, a cutting-edge manufacturer of designer collectibles comprised of seasoned industry creatives has been granted the licensing rights by Captain Action Enterprises, LLC to produce groundbreaking and reimagined, high-end 1/6 scale action figures and collectibles for the Captain Action property.

LBO will be exhibiting (booth #2549) the latest designs, including a new character that opens new licensing possibilities. LBO Collective and Atomic Toybox (booth #3921) will be selling Captain Action Merchandise and collectibles, as well as accepting pre-orders for upcoming collectibles.

“We are excited to invite fans into what we have been developing and how we can build the future of Captain Action together,” said Steve Forde, GoHero / LBO cofounder.

The Captain Action Panel will focus on animation but is expected to reveal new merchandise too.

Translating Toys: From Toys to Animation Just how do toys, or any ideas, make it into the world of animation? Following on the heels of last year’s Captain Action Classic Collection, this year the team, with  special  guests Flint Dille (GI Joe, Transformers), Michael Polis  (Yo  Gabba  Gabba, Captain Action), Steve Forde (Go Hero),  Acori  Honzo  (LBO)  and Joe Ahearn (Captain Action), looks to the future with a major announcement, and offers experiences that can also be used as a primer or template for other IPs looking to launch animation in today’s competitive marketplace.   Moderated by Ed Catto (Captain Action).

This panel will be held Friday, July 26 from 7 to 8 pm in Room 23ABC at the convention center.

“Translating toys into animation is a fascinating journey that combines creativity, strategy, and a deep understanding of both mediums. I’m excited to join this panel and share insights from my experiences with GI Joe and Transformers.”, said Flint Dille.

LBO will also unveil their plans for Captain Action figures, uniform sets and co-licensing. This rebranding will infuse the Captain Action universe with a touch of the unexpected, creating a diverse and captivating world that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation.

So you can see, there’s a lot of cool stuff coming for us aging fans (and new fans) of the first superhero action figure.

What I can tell you ahead of time is that there will be the official unveiling (hopefully with pricing and pre-order info) and the first three new figures, Dr. Evil, Captain Action and Major Action.

There will also be a very limited very cool accessory set…Lady Action’s Action Attaché. This is limited to 30 pieces, half of which were pre-sold to lucky subscribers of the Captain Action Mailing List.

Here’s one that wound up in my office…

There will also be a limited edition Skate Deck featuring Dr. Evil as drawn by Tim Baron…

And it looks like Dr. Evil may not be the only enemy the good Captain has to worry about…

The panel where more details will be revealed happens Friday, July 26, at 7 PM (Pacific Time) in room 23 ABC at SDCC.

Of course, I’ll be telling you more about what we can expect from Captain Action after they spill the beans.

A bonus for comic book fans of a certain age happens Sunday, July 28 at 1 PM as CAE’s Ed Catto moderates a panel devoted to legendary Bronze-age comic book writer, Don McGregor (Black Panther, Killraven, Sabre, Detectives Inc., Nathaniel Dusk, Creepy, Eerie and many, many others). Ed and Don will chat about Don’s half-century of creating cool comics.