So after becoming the first Super Soldier in a successful military science experiment, the newly transformed Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is sadly consigned to playing a costume hero on the vaudeville stage wearing the Captain America USO (United Service Organizations Inc.) hero suit. The Captain America costume is pretty much what Steve Rogers wore in the comics and while it looks good on paper, it doesn't translate very well onto the big screen, which is what the movie producers and directors wanted to show the audience.
This is a review of the Captain Action Marvel Comics 1/6 scale Captain America Costume Set by Round 2 Corp. Captain Action was an action figure created in 1966, equipped with a wardrobe of costumes allowing him to become Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Aquaman, the Phantom, The Lone Ranger (and Tonto), Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Sgt. Fury, Steve Canyon, and the Green Hornet. Captain Action was a many-in-one hero, who could adopt the guise of several heroes. After 30 years off the market, Captain Action was revived in 1998, by retro toy company Playing Mantis but ended in 2000. In March 2011, Round 2 Corp. and Captain Action Enterprises announced plans for a redesigned 1/6 scale Captain Action figure and this is one of those costume sets that were released.
The Round 2 Corp Captain Action 1/6 scale costume set for Captain America includes: Cloth / fabric Captain America costume with emblem, Captain America mask, Steve Rogers mask, open gloved hands, fist gloved hands, boots, round shield with straps, triangular shield with straps, optional long straps for use with wither shield, newspaper and Hawkeye boots (a bonus item for their build-a-figure concept.
In the picture below, you can see all the items (1/6 scale uniform and equipment belonging to Captain America) neatly laid out in the tray for use to equip Captain Action in his transformation into Captain America. Captain Action is marketed as a kid's toy and hence cannot be compared to the highly detailed collectibles purchased by adults with a higher disposable income and who have a desire for more realistic looking figure and accessories. The price point of these Captain Action costume sets are also way way way below what Hot Toys is charging for their products. As a kid's toy, this set is still very FUN and enjoyable and it does work as well as Steve Rogers Captain America USO hero suit as seen the "Captain America: The First Avenger" movie.
Here's 12-inch Steve Rogers (1/6 scale Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America head sculpt by Hot Toys) wearing the Captain Action Captain America costume.
The classic Captain America costume is made up of vibrant red, white and blue form-fitting stretch fabric with velcro on the back. This version of the suit gave the designers an opportunity to portray a more traditional comic book look before taking it into the realm of serious superhero gear. The costume includes red gauntlet gloves, belt with removable pouches and red boots.
Steve Rogers USO stage shield is in the classic red, white and blue colors inspired by the United Sates of America flag. Steve Rogers as Captain America carried this style shield while on stage during his USO shows. Later Rogers wields this shield during his first incursion into Hydra factory and fights Red Skull in a memorable encounter.
Captain America uses several shields throughout his history, the most prevalent of which is a nigh-indestructible disc-shaped shield made from an experimental alloy of steel and the fictional vibranium BUT this was this triangular shield was his first shield which he is seen using during World War II before he switches to the all too familiar round shield.
Scroll down to see more pictures of this 1/6 scale Captain America costume set for Captain Action used here for Hot Toys Chris Evans as Steve Rogers 12-inch figure as his USO Captain America costume when he performed on the vaudeville stage to promote war bonds.
Hot Toys has released images and promoted a 1/6 scale Golden Age version Captain America 12-inch figure based on Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America in his USO Captain America costume and triangular shield during all their toy shows but no news yet as to whether they will be releasing this figure since the figure doesn't seem to have a lot of accessories and the costume is rather basic. How would Hot Toys price it? Will it be justifiable and who would be keen to buy it?
Check out the close-up pictures of Hot Toys Chris Evans as Steve Rogers wearing the 1/6 scale Captain Action Captain America costume meant for 12-inch figures. Not a bad fit IMHO and certainly not the kind of pricing Hot Toys would be charging.
The Hot Toys 1/6 scale Chris Evans Steve Rogers head sculpt is definitely a better option than the masks of Steve Rogers and Captain America that was included with this Captain Action Captain America costume set.
Here's Steve Rogers wearing the classic Golden Age Captain America costume with the triangular shield. The only thing missing is the mask.
The Captain America costume is made up of vibrant red, white and blue form-fitting stretch fabric with velcro on the back.
Steve Rogers USO stage shield is in the classic red, white and blue colors inspired by the United Sates of America flag. Steve Rogers as Captain America carried this style shield while on stage during his USO shows.
Here's a comparison picture of Captain Action Captain America costume or Golden Age Captain America costume with the modern Captain America costume as seen in the movie "The Avengers".
If you notice the waist area, I actually pulled up the pants of this Hot Toys 1/6 scale Captain America 12-inch Collectible Figure from "The Avengers" slightly higher and positioned his belt with pouches also higher in order to reduce the elongated look he came in where there was too much torso exposed. You can compare this shot / picture with the earlier ones I took in my review of this Hot Toys Captain America figure HERE
Here's a closer look at the improved waist region for the Captain America costume from "The Avengers" movie.
NEXT: Captain Action Marvels Comics 1/6 scale Captain America 12-inch figure with his round shield :)
Ah! Chris Evans looks great in the Captain Action outfit-
ReplyDeletethe avengers captain... is awesome. i still watch it too many times. thank you... i will tell the wife, she still says no.
ReplyDeleteyou must share your connections
:) kidding... i know what it is like to have an inside... though if you change your mind... ;)
Jeremy
yes he does :)
ReplyDeleteGotta agree with you about The Avengers Captain America being AWESOME Jeremy :)
ReplyDeletekeep on keeping on Jeremy ;p one day she'll give in haha
CHEERS
What body did you use on the test figure? TT slim? Very nice review as I've been thinking about picking a couple of these up for original '60s Cap. Action.
ReplyDeleteVic
Hi Vic, I used the Hot Toys TrueType TTM18 Caucasian Narrow Shoulder body for this :) thanks for the compliments CHEERS
ReplyDeleteThe Captain America costume is pretty much what Steve Rogers wore in the comics and while it looks good on paper, it doesn't translate very well onto the big screen, which is what the movie producers and directors wanted to show the audience.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that it doesn't translate. The version shown in the movie, didn't, but it was deliberately made not to by the moviemakers. The mask in particular was a deliberately shoddy creation.
Put Cap in a version of his classic costume made by filmmakers who are committed to doing it right, and he'll look like a million bucks.
I hasten to add, I give you HUGE props for this review of the costume, and I agree that Evans looks amazing in the Round 2 costume.