MMM Alien CAPT. LAZER

Capt. Lazer Detail

The Alien CAPT. LAZER® - Who is he?

Capt.Lazer was a battery operated, hard plastic 12" figure which came with various gun attachments which lit up (as did his eyes and chest "reactor"). He was advertised as "Major Matt Mason's Friend From Outer Space...YOU activate his superhuman Lazer powers: Lazer Sound! Lazer Beams! Flashing Eye Beams! Blazing Solar Reactor! Cosmic Coder! Radiation Shield! Lazer Wand! Cosmic Beacon! Movable Arms! Bendable Legs!" 

I'm not sure if this is the commercial that introduces Capt. Lazer but it's the only one to surface thus far:

It's likely that Capt. Lazer was created as a "bridge" figure that allowed the smaller scaled Men-in-Space astronauts to compete and play with the very popular GI Joe and Captain Action figures from the same period. As if kids needed a reason to mix up toys of different scales? From my memory of the "anything goes" backyard attitude from being a kid, scale meant little to our fantasy story lines. 

Capt. Lazer with his Equipment

Capt. Lazer Back View

Capt. Lazer Backpack Detail

Capt. Lazer Front View

Capt. Lazer Solar Reactor

Capt. Lazer Head Detail

Capt. Lazer Light-up Eyes

Capt. Lazer Seated

Mattel Figure Patents:

SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN ANIMATION DEVICE IN A FIGURE TOY (Capt Lazer)

3,531,890 Oct 6, 1970 Filed February 8, 1968

 Manning Citron and Melvin R. Kennedy

"Flow of electric current to electrically-operated animation means, such as light bulbs and a buzzer, is controlled by switch means including a vibratile contact which is caused to vibrate by movement of the switch-closing member."

Patent Found by John Eaton

John's Notes  

This was found by me on 2023.10.15 years after the following similar patent was found (also by me). Reading between the patents I think that the second patent filed was used to protect a similar, as yet un-filed idea, mostly to prevent a competitor from copying the basic idea with changes to the delivery system. Conjecture by me, of course but it's interesting that the two patents were filed 3 weeks apart and the Patents issued on the same day.

SWITCH MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AN ANIMATION DEVICE IN A FIGURE TOY (Capt Lazer)

3,531,891 Oct 6, 1970 Filed March 18, 1968

A.E. Goldfarb and Stanley A. Weston

"Flow of electric current to electrically-operated animation means, such as light bulbs and a buzzer, is controlled by switch means including a vibratile contact which may be caused to vibrate by flicking a weight carried thereby."

Patent Found by John Eaton

John's Notes  

This version of the Capt. Lazer concept was quite different from what made it onto the shelves, although the patent specifies the use of colored plastic rods to transfer the light, which was used in the actual figure - the helmet lit up instead of the eyes, and there were cross-braces across the chest that had small lights as did the belt. Instead of a backpack, the controls and power came from a base. Note that Marvin Glass is also attributed as one of the inventors - he was also attributed to creating both GI Joe and Captain Action - I did not know that he had ever done work for Mattel.

CAPT. LAZER Prototype:

Note the open right hand (this photo came from a 1968 Sears Christmas Wishbook Catalog. Also, the Mattel 1968 "Toy Fair" Catalog shows Capt. Lazer with a strange "prototype" helmet. This helmet is different from the production model (it looks to be air-brushed onto the photo) and is very similar to what was illustrated on the box art.

From 1968 Sears Christmas Wishbook

If you look closely at this very early photo from the Sears Christmas Wishbook  you'll see a shadow over the top of Capt. Lazer's face - I believe he was originally designed to have a clear lens covering his eyes but that this was dropped prior to production. The ends would fit into the openings on either side of the helmet covering the ears.

Figure Variations:

The only figure variation that I'm aware of, and it may just be a production flaw, is the presence or absence of a small ball at the tip of his backpack antenna.

His chest reactor, eyes and trio of gun attachments however, could be found in any combination of three colors.

Capt. Lazer Purple Eyes and Chest Reactor

Capt. Lazer Gun Attachments in Three Colors

As Above on Black Background

Packaging by Catalog Year:

CAPT. LAZER could be found in a number of Firebolt playsets, by himself or in one assortment. Here's a list of where you might find him by year and the case size (solicitation size from US Mattel Toy Trade Catalogs - Note that the assortments are all one large case of multiple items so the counts are of the contents):

• A6326 MATTEL'S MEN IN SPACE MASTER ASS.
• 1968
  
• 2 ea. Major MATT MASON FLIGHT #6300
• 2 ea. Major MATT MASON with MOON SUIT #630
• 2 ea. SGT. STORM FLIGHT SET #6317
• 6 ea. SGT. STORM #6319
• 6 ea. CAPT. LAZER #6330
• 6330 CAPT. LAZER
  
• 1968 Std. Pack: 6/12 Doz. 
• 1969 Std. Pack: ½ Doz.
  
• 6341 Firebolt Space Cannon Super Action Set
•  1968 Std. Pack: 4/12 Doz.
  
• 6351 CAPT. LAZER Firebolt Action Set
• 1969 Std. Pack: 1/3 Doz.
  

The most common CAPT. LAZER packaged figures are the individual figure boxed set  as few of the boxed sets survive intact.

Accessories:

Capt. Lazer is a fairly interesting Alien as he's a giant compared to the other MMM Astronauts and Aliens. He has limited articulation (the head can turn at the neck, the arms can be raised or lowered at the shoulders, and the legs can be bent at the hips). At about 12 inches tall he has the following gear:

• Helmet
• Gun Attachments
• Radiation Shield
• Lazer Wand
• Cosmic Coder (Cosmic Beacon)
• Space Tredders
• Solar Reactor (chest - not removable)
  
• Backpack (not removable) 
• Battery Door
• Antenna/switch
• Buttons to Activate
  

Capt. Lazer with Radiation Shield

Capt. Lazer with Lazer Wand

Capt. Lazer with Cosmic Coder (Cosmic Beacon)

Capt. Lazer wearing Space Tredders

John's Notes:

I personally have no memory of Capt Lazer as a child. I suppose he didn't appeal to me as did the astronauts and Callisto. He was, however, one of the first items I bought as a collecting adult. I still have the one I bought at a toy show for $30. With a little shake, he lights up just fine!

There's quite a bit of controversy regarding this figure - seems one either loves him or hates him. He's a bit awkward in scale and articulation when compared to the flexible MMM figure and he certainly doesn't hold up well when compared to GI Joe or Captain Action. Regardless, if you had him as a child you probably have fond memories of him and all other opinions are deflected by his Radiation Shield. 

I tried to be as thorough as possible with this information but as always, if you see something that's inaccurate, want to have the information updated for some reason or want to contribute, contact John Eaton.

All Mattel images and captions are copyright Mattel and used without permission. All other content, including images and editorial, is Copyright © 1997-2024 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton.