Mattel DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Action Figure (2012)

By Walt Grogan

by Walt Grogan

Mattel's DC Universe Action League line of mini-action figures debuted in 2009. The action figures were based on the popular Batman: The Brave and The Bold line of larger figures and sculpted in the bigfoot style popularized by the animated TV show of the same name (which also debuted the same year).

Captain Marvel AKA "SHAZAM!" (for marketing purposes) and voiced by Jeff Bennett appeared in five episodes of the show: 

  • Season 2, Episode 3: "Death Race to Oblivion!" - November 20, 2009 (US). Cap appears in the teaser.
  • Season 2, Episode 10: "The Power of Shazam!" - April 2, 2010 (US). Cap appears in the main story along with Dr. Sivana, his Sivana Family and Black Adam.
  • Season 2, Episode 13: "The Siege of Starro! Part One" - September 17, 2010 (US). Batman teams up with Cap, Firestorm, Booster Gold, and B'wana Beast to battle Starro.
  • Season 2, Episode 26: "The Malicious Mr. Mind!" - April 8, 2011 (US). Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, and Captain Marvel, Jr. team-up with Batman to battle the Monster Society of Evil consisting of Mr. Mind, Dr. Sivana, Mr. Atom, Kru'll the Eternal, Ibac, Oom the Mighty, Jeepers the Bat, and a Crocodile Man.
  • Season 3, Episode 3: "Night of the Batmen!" - April 29, 2011 (US). Captain Marvel teams with Aquaman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, and Plastic Man to cover for Batman who is hurt.

At the same time the show was running, and for a few years after it ended, Mattel produced both large and small action figures based on the characters featured in the episodes.

Captain Marvel was never produced as one of the larger figures in the Batman: The Brave and The Bold line but was produced as a mini-figure in a five-pack (along with Jaime Reyes's Blue Beetle, Martian Manhunter, Batman, and Odyssey Wonder Woman) in 2012.

DC Universe Action League - Window Box
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Window Box

Box

"SHAZAM!" and four other figures are packaged in a four color window box utilizing a standard Mattel color scheme for its various DC Comics figures for the time period.

Box Dimensions

Width: 12"
Height: 6.25"
Depth: 2.75"
Weight: 8.8 oz.

Front of Box

The front of the box is windowed displaying five assorted action figures contained in a vacuum-formed clear plastic figure holder. The box artwork displays Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), and Aquaman. The DC Universe and Action League logos are prominently displayed and each of the five characters are identified: Blue Beetle, Martian Manhunter, Batman, Wonder Woman, and "SHAZAM!".

Front of Box Dimensions

Width: 12"
Height: 6.25"

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Front of Box
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Front of Box

Front of Box Text

3+
DC UNIVERSE
ACTION LEAGUE
BLUE BEETLE
MARTIAN MANHUNTER
BATMAN
WONDER WOMAN
"SHAZAM!"

Back of Box

The back of the box features character art and mini profiles of the five heroes contained in the box.

Back of Box Dimensions

Width: 12"
Height: 6.25"

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Back of Box
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Back of Box

Profile Card

Captain Marvel's profile card from the back of the box sums up his power set.

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Profile Card

Back of Box Text

ACTION LEAGUE — DC UNIVERSE
THESE FIVE HEROES ARE READY TO SAVE THE WORLD!
BLUE BEETLE - Bulletproof, Very Strong & Can Fly
MARTIAN MANHUNTER - Can Fly, Shapeshift & Has Telepathic Abilities
BATMAN - Has an Arsenal of Gadgets & Weapons
WONDER WOMAN - Extremely Strong, Can Fly & Carries Lasso of Truth
"SHAZAM!" - Can Fly, Moves Lightning Fast & Is Incredibly Strong

W9310 - Mattel logo
SMALL HEROES. BIG ATTITUDE™
WARNING: Small parts may be generated
Symbol: Not for Children 0-3

Top of Box

The top of the box contains a partial window which allows for the display of the heads of the enclosed figures. The box art displays artwork for the following characters: Green Arrow, Green Lantern (Guy Gardner), "SHAZAM" (Captain Marvel), Green Lantern (John Stewart), and The Guardian.

Top of Box Dimensions

Width: 12"
Height: 2.75"

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Back of Box
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Top of Box

Bottom of Box

The bottom of the box contains standard safety information as well as production information and Mattel office locations.

Bottom of Box Dimensions

Width: 12"
Height: 2.75"

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Bottom of Box
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Bottom of Box

Bottom of Box Text

CE logo. 
Lion Mark logo (is a British consumer symbol developed in 1988 by British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) and used to identify toys denoted as safe and of high quality.).

CONFORMS TO THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF ASTM F963.
©2011 Mattel. All Rights Reserved. MATTEL, and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by Mattel, ® and ™ designate U.S. trademarks, except as noted. MADE IN CHINA, Consumer Relations – Mattel, Inc., 636 Girard Ave., East Aurora, NY 14052, U.S.A. 1-800-524-8697. Mattel Australia Pty, Ltd., Richmond, Victoria 3121. Consumer Advisory Service - 1300 135 312. Mattel East Asia Ltd. Room 1106, South Tower, World Finance Centre, Harbour City, Tsimshatsui, HK, China. Dimport & Diedarkan Oleh: Mattel SEA Ptd Ltd. (993532-P) Lot 13.5, Menara Lien Hoe. Persiaran Tropicana Golf Country Resort, 47410 PJ. Tel: 03-78803817, Fax: 03-78803867. Manufactured for and imported into the EU by: Mattel, Europa B.V., Gondel 1, 1186MJ Amstelveen, Nederland. Additionally distributed in the EU by: Mattel U.K. Ltd., Vanwall Business Park, Maidenhead SL6 4UB.

DC swirl logo. 
Based on DC Comics Characters.
Warner Bros. Shield logo.
DC Comics Characters and all related elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
WB Shield: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s12)

Matty Collector logo. mattycollector.com

CONSUMER INFORMATION
Need Assistance? Visit service.mattel.com or call 1-800-524-8697 (US and Canada only).

W9310
Mattel logo.

Contents: 5 Figures


UPC: 7 46775 08972 6   

Figure

The Captain Marvel (AKA "SHAZAM!") figure is a four color figure using the traditional design of the character. The button flap, characterized by his first appearance in WHIZ COMICS #2 and popularized in THE POWER OF SHAZAM!, is subtly suggested and indicated by the gold flap button. Cap's gauntlets have been reduced to three bands. Reductions of this sort are not unusual of this type of figure. Missing are Captain Marvel's yellow cape ornaments but again that is not unusual for the scale of this type of figure.

Body

The body is nicely done, however there are several flaws in the painting which can be attributed to its size.

Body Dimensions

Height: 2.5"
Weight: 1.0 oz.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black
Points of Articulation: 4 (Head, Shoulders, and Waist) 

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Front of Figure
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Front of Figure

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Back of Figure
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Back of Figure


DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Right Side of Figure
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Right Side of Figure

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Left Side of Figure
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Left Side of Figure



DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Quarter coin comparison
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Quarter coin comparison

Face

Captain Marvel's face face is well done. He is squinting and smirking which is a nice relief from other figures. Captain Marvel should generally be presented as a happy super-hero.

DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Face views
DC Universe Action League - "SHAZAM!" - Face views

Walt says...

This is a nicely done mini-figure! I love that Cap is smiling and that he's in his bright red and yellow colors–no dark gold accents, thankfully. He has decent eyebrows and he's squinting! I have no complaints about this figure.




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