12in. Mego Superman & Jor-El (1978)

It's been mentioned on this blog more than twice that the importance of Richard Donner's Superman, starring Christopher Reeve, could not be overstated in the mind of this '70s kid. Mego's 12" Superman dropped in the U.S. market in 1978 as well, the colorful character seeming to step right out of the silver screen and into my hands. Neither of these samples are my childhood dolls, and I didn't have any other Mego Superman-related characters, but I recently found a loose sample of Jor-El in good condition at about 35% more than either of the Superman figures- a reasonable price considering what some I've seen sell for.

Both of these Superman figures are on the bulkier body released in the U.S., a thinner body and different face sculpt used on the figure Parkdale Novelties distributed in Canada and Europe the previous year. These are often referred to as Mego's 12" figures, but they are really more like 12.5". The head on this Superman was sculpted with the intention to more closely resemble actor Christopher Reeve. I'm unsure what the reason was for the difference in belt style, but my childhood figure had the fully stitched down belt. I prefer, however, the higher chest emblem placement of the other figure. 

I had to replace a knee pin on the figure on the right, and there is a faint stain on the torso of the suit that I couldn't fully erase, but he looks great overall. Mego didn't put the yellow insignia on back of the cape, a minor gripe of mine, and though I could add an after-market fabric decal, I'm compelled to leave them in their original state. The figure on the left needs work on the underside seam of his shorts, and that's likely all the work I'll do in the future on these two. Nearly fifty years later and they still look vibrant and fun!

Like Superman, the head sculpt this Jor-El was based on the movie actor, Marlon Brando, and might have been a little closer in semblance than Superman. I never had this figure as a child, but I love the more comic book inspired outfit. Mego opted to go this direction with this figure, as they did with the General Zod and Lex Luthor, reasoning that the more colorful outfits better complemented Superman's bright palette.

The vinyl parts pf Jor-El's outfit are somewhat misshapen, stiffened by age, but solidly intact, and though his pants droop from loss of elasticity in the band, he displays beautifully. There are no stains or discoloration, and his paint is flawless. I paid more than average, but he's an extraordinarily clean sample. It's fun to have one that you never did in childhood!

Mego's 1978 Superman and Jor-El with their more recent 14" General Zod, New 52 Superman, and Lex Luthor. I love the newer, larger scale Mego figures, but fear we have seen the last of that scale- at least for now. I also have three Universal Monsters in this larger format, and though I don't have room to display them all year-round, I'm mad for them.

Below, Mego's 1978 Superman with their 8" 50th WGSH Anniversary Superman, 8" Classic Superman, 14" Classic Superman, 14" New 52 Superman, Mattel's Movie Masters Christopher Reeve Superman, and 8" 50th Anniversary "Fleischer" Superman...

And this post wouldn't be complete without including Mego's 12" Hulk and Spider-Man, two other childhood favorites that bring me joy to this very day. There are better articulated, more detailed, modern action figures available nowadays, but I prefer the toyetic presentation that made these dolls so attractive to children in the '70s! Link to the online Mego Museum's 12" Superheroes Gallery to read more about these- a fantastic resource and forums community!

More Later! Make Mine MEGO!

8" Mego Accessories (Hulk, Green Goblin)

 I've augmented my 8" figure collection with a variety of custom/repro accessories over time, these being the first for some Marvel characters I've recently acquired. An 8" Mego Hulk I found on eBay with decent coloring only needed pants. I had this figure as a child, and though they came with purple pants, I opted for this black pair for a little twist...

Here's one of my 12" Mego Hulks with the 8" Hulk- 

the character was a favorite of mine as a child in the '70s ...

Like their larger counterparts, the 8" Mego Spider-Man is taller than the 8" Mego Hulk...

When I got the Disney Store Spider-Man/Arch Enemies 4pk, I found the Green Goblin a little more difficult to pose than the other figures due to the slick texture of his purple boots. Another eBay seller offered an inexpensive glider stand that works quite well for this purpose and greatly enhances Gobby's shelf presence. I also picked up a pack of pumpkin bombs from the seller I bought the 8" Hulk pants.

Below, a Green Goblin mini figure I got over 15 years ago that ride a similar glider...

Visit the Mego Museum's World's Greatest Superheroes Gallery

 to see the figures that started it all back in 1972!

More Later-Make Mine MEGO!

12" Mego Spider-Man & Hulk (1978)

Not to oversell it in any way, but this post has been a long time coming, due in large part to this pair of over-sized Mego figures being my all-time favorites, and that lifelong tether to Mego leading me to starting this blog sixteen years ago when discovering lines like Mattel's 8" DC Retro-Action and ToyBiz 9" Marvel Famous Covers. Before even Kenner's dominating Star Wars presence, Mego were among my first action figures, starting with their 8" figures in '74-'75. Getting the larger 12" Mego later on in '78-'79 was just over-the-top!

We say 12" with this Spider-Man, but he's really more like 12.75". There was an earlier Parkdale version distributed in Canada and Europe in 1977, but the American release got a beefed-up body. Each of my three samples have this body with the red torso, but the outfits have small differences- one with a shallower neck fit, one with taller boots, etc.. The middle one is the brightest/cleanest, though the stitch at his belt from front to back on the left is the most egregiously aligned of all of them. But you can't see that from the front.

I actually just got ahold of an eight inch '74 Spidey. He's on a Type 2 Mego body and may be an earlier sample in the long run of this particular action figure on account of the narrower "hourglass" design on his torso. I loved both of these immensely as a child and still do. Spider-Man was everything to a kid in the '70s, through Marvel Comics, the "Spidey Super Stories" on PBS' Electric Company kids show, and the '77-'79 CBS live action TV show. Universally Loved!

Mego improved the fit of Spidey's costume, though the color on my 1974 sample is richer, dare I say. The older head is larger, but the new band-less Mego body appears more slender- be it the tighter outfit or smaller buck.

Below, 12.75" and 8" Mego Spider-Man with my 12" Marvel Legends Spider-Man, 

the new Disney Store 8" Spider-Man, and my 9" Hasbro Origins Spider-Man...

Below, a 1978 Imperial Toy Spider-Man finger puppet I found recently- I'm 99% certain I had this at some point during childhood, which tracks having been released the same year as 12" Mego Spider-Man. And further down another recent Spider find, a "Spider-Sense" Peter Parker Happy Meal Toy from 1996...

I actually have two samples of the 12" Mego Hulk, neither with the white lab coat my childhood Hulk wore, regrettably. The second one I found is the cleaner of the two and with nicer pants. Though comically shorter than Spider-Man, this 12" Mego Hulk was such an improvement over his 8" counterpart and is, undoubtedly, my all-time favorite Hulk.

In the years prior to finding a 12" Mego Hulk, I made do with the very charming 9" ToyBiz Marvel Famous Covers Hulk. A dashing stand-in I love, but not the OG, which towers over him...

Below, 12" Mego Hulk with 9" Marvel Select Immortal Hulk, 9" ToyBiz Famous Covers Hulk, 14.5" Hasbro Marvel Legends Hulk, and 6" ToyBiz Marvel Legends "1st Appearance" Hulk...

The Bulldozer Hulk was a fast-food premium from a 1990 Hardee's Kids Meal- I found it with a She-Hulk in a pink car recently, both of which roll nicely. I have a soft spot for simple toys like this. Like the Pez dispensers, they really take me back to the Marvel Bronze-Age era of licensed merchandise we had as kids in the '70s/'80s.   

Visit the Mego Museum's World's Greatest Superheroes Gallery

 to see the figures that started it all back in 1972!

More Later-Make Mine MEGO!

Mego Stan Lee

I want to say this figure dropped in Spring of 2021, with a light-yellow sweater, but I picked up this red sweater variant from an eBay seller at a deep discount. There was an earlier Mego Stan Lee released in 2020 without the web-spinning hands as well. I have been looking at him for years wondering how he'd fit into my purely DC Mego figure collection, but after I got ahold of the Disney Store Mego Spider-Man & Arch Enemies 4-pk, I felt he'd finally have some Marvel friends to pose with.

Below, Mego Stan Lee with my Marvel Legends Stan Lee ...!

Now that I have an official Mego Spider-Man in my collection, 

Mego Stan Lee will always have a trusted ally! Excelsior!

More Later- Make It FUN!

Batman the Animated Happy Meal Premiums (1993)

These Batman the Animated Happy Meal premiums from '93 were a random antique mall find for under eight bucks, the complete set pictured below in a recent eBay listing:

I've seen that Poison Ivy Plant Car and remember the Riddler maybe, but I like this cheap little assortment I found. Robin and the panther accessory bring some color, and Batman and Catwoman have a clean, uniform look.

I'm not crazy about the head sculpt on this Batman, but I like his classic presentation in gray and black with yellow oval chest insignia.

Double back and check out my enormous

  Batman the Animated/New Adventures figure dump from December!

My initial thought regarding Catwoman's panther accessory was "I wonder where else was this included", but the collar matching its master's belt made it seem more like a matching part than a parts reuse from another line. Her green eyes and red lipstick are crisp!

Catwoman and Batman have screws in back; the Caped Crusader's covered by a removable cape. They both have shoulder and waist swivels, but Batman has the added neck articulation. A great pair!

Now this Robin on his wind-up cycle was a treat- zips around in an uncontrollable fashion that made any video shot on my modest table underwhelming compared to its remarkable pull. Wild kid! I like that they made the front wheel green, but it's hard to see. 

And finally, Happy Meal Robin on his cycle with my Kenner Turbo Glider Robin 

and Spin Master Batman Forever Robin...

More Later- Make It FUN!