My Favorite Thing About WGT-

[Wee67]

This was a really hard one. The blog's demise inspired me to pull out my copy of 'World's Greatest Toys' and scan through the pages. At first I was reminded of the book's information. The detail of this tome is amazing and I learned so much about the Mego production process. Like an archeologist's lesson, I now see the package as a recording of the progress and purpose of the Mego Corporation.

But then maybe I was more impacted by the insight WGT provided into the Mego Corporation. I knew a lot about the figures themselves, but now I could get a sense of how the decisions that created them were made. Even more interesting, I could get a glimpse into how those toys were marketed (or not :( ). It may have actually took a bit of the luster off the company and reminded me that this is a business. Its not just about great toys.

That said, I have to come back to the photography. Its what hit me when I first saw those splash pages at Mego Meet a few years back. Somehow, Benjamin, you got into my 7-yr-old head and saw Megos the way I once did. The pictures really added life to these 8-inch pieces of plastic. You were able to highlight how these dolls channeled the comic heroes via my own imagination to create adventure after adventure. You were able to, once again, breath a life into these figures in a way that I had not truly seen in 30 years.

I think I'm going to cart my book over to Central Park this weekend and re-read this gem and remember what it was like to be a kid.

[imp]

That just made my week.

Thanks, Bill. It's really nice to hear you still get joy from the book. I'm especially embracing the image of you reading WGT while seated atop that giant rock in Central Park (you know the one? a few blocks away from the Natural History Museum?), constantly distracted by the super-hot jogger babes bouncing past you.

Try to be cool with that book in your hands, Bill. Just try.

Lay that Mego rap: "…and this here's a 'Type 1" figure, 'cause it's got metal rivets. It's SUPER rare. See?"

-b

[boss]

the fact that it's now in my house... is my favorite thing.

[starsky]

i like the clear, big, pictures of each figure and the way ben accurately details each one of them. it's the ultimate guide for collecting the mego wgsh line!

[megowgsh]

You are spot on Bill.

There has not been a day since I got the book X-mas morning that I do not pick it up and at the very least peruse it.

[DocDrako]

I love the pictures. They are so colorful and vivid that it's like I have all of the WGSH in mint condition. I just can't take them out and play with them. Which is the closest I'll get to having a MIB Mego since I don't collect packaged Megos. Why? I wouldn't be able to leave them packaged. So the book is an excellent way of "owning" all the WGSH and keeping them MIB (Mint In Book).

[imp]

Thanks for the generous posts, guys. I loved Boss' comment! Trust me, man, I know how you feel. I remember questioning whether I would EVER finish that monstrosity!

Doc, I really enjoyed your sentiment, as it's exactly how I was trying to position the book in the marketplace (as a "collection-in-a-box" kinda thing; I didn't do a very good job at marketing it that way, but you got it perfectly).

Starsky, thanks for the photography nod... my favorite aspect of the book.

And Austin, I love the idea that you look at the book every day (even though it can't possibly be true). Heck, I don't look it every day. I suppose four years of looking at it was enough for me? But I love the idea that someone else is diving into it head-first. And loving it.

Best to all of you,

-b

[Earth 2 Chris]

My favorite thing are those big honkin' character spreads. Benjamin's "frog diagrams". I remember when he unveiled those at Mego Meet '06. They are still super-stunning to me. And eveb with all that text and info, I'd still love to have some of these framed on my wall, the layout is that good.

My favorite, oddly enough, is one of Mego's worst WGSH, in my opinion: Captain America. That says TONS for Ben's layout and photography skills!

Chris

[Flynne]

My favorite thing about the book is that it can convey the love of Megos to those who do not understand Mego collecting. My family has always been very tolerant of the fact that I am a toy collector, but none of them have ever really understood it. But when I get out Ben's book it helps to communicate to them why I think they are so neat. Just a few instances of this have been:

* The recollections of my mother who worked in the K-Mart toy department from 1977-83, who not only remembers shelving them and picking them up for me as gifts, but was also stunned to see Mego's Falcon figure (which her store, at least to her recollection, never stocked).

* Showing my nephews how I played with Batman (Aric's favorite) and Spider-Man (Benjamin's favorite) at their age

* Best of all, my darling wife of 12 1/2 years now finally understands why my RC Batman figure had only one glove for almost a decade. She couldn't understand why I didn't just put one of my spares from the parts bin on it. I tried to explain, but my explanation fell short. However, after one reading of the Batman section of Ben's book - voila!

There's easily a half dozen stories like that just from my family, so I am guessing the book has amplified that all around the Mego World. To me, that's priceless. And that fact that it comes with fantastic layouts, dynamic photography, informative articles, and a dizzying array of colors? - Icing on the cake, baby!

Another story, unreleated completely to family, occurred while reading it on a flight from Wichita to Los Angeles in February. WGT turned out to be a conversation starter between myself and the couple seated behind me. The man was a huge Batman fan and saw the Robin layouts from between the seats. after a bit of back and forth I discovered they are both in the movie business, with he as her agent and she as an actress (of Kiwi extraction, no less, so I could listen to her talk all day). They were reading scripts to one another, with her constantly asking about who and what her character was ("In this one you role is a 24 year old graduate student", and so on). However, the most obvious question you would think to ask in this situation ("What movies have you done, and would I have seen you in anything recent?") turned out to be a conversational hard to starboard - because she's a porn actress - which didn't dawn on me until she reached the third movie title "After School Girls 7". I attempted to cover my awkward misconception as nimbly as possible, and I was valiantly able to keep form stuttering, but I'm guessing my face was still priceless.

And I owe it all to WGT :D

[Cadmus Customs]

It took me back to being this guy:



The catalog "wish-book" ads, fond memories of stores that are no longer with us, HOURS of playing with my superheroes...ahhh... you reconnected a few synapses long broken!

I passed by this book countless times in the comic shop. I grew up playing with the WGSH, and have always had an affinity for Batman. I moved on to Star Wars, then Super Powers, then LJN WWF figures...

Today I have been collecting everything from Jakks WWE Classic Superstars to Super Powers to JLU to Mattel's DCUC to several DC Direct figures. I customize in pretty much all those lines. I casually watched Mego from the sidelines, as a longtime lurker here on the boards. "I can't afford another collecting line! Megos are too expensive!" I'd tell myself...

Until 4 weeks ago. On June 16th, 2008 I bought your book. It's truly magical. A real change happened in me. A week later I began to sell off my entire collection (but not my Super Powers, lol! "from my cold dead hands...") and I'm still in the process of selling it all off.

In the month or so of buying your book, I've bought 4 Mego originals and I am in the process of putting together many customs & repros. I bought a freakin' Stately Manor for crying out loud! I'm 100% "in the game" now, and it was your book that got me here! Thanks...I think...

I always felt "inadequate" in the area of my Mego knowledge.
I now feel I have a PhD. in Megology! (or at least an honorary PhD!)
Thank you, Ben!

And on an even *more* personal note, being a cross between color-blind and color-stupid, Ieven I could see the brilliant 4-color comic book style colors in all their glory in your fantastic pictures! Well played sir, well played!

Joel

[marmes]

Cadmus(Joel)

That is AWESOME that you're getting into Mego again.

Thanx most of all for that amazing photo!!!We LOVE seeing that kinda' stuff...
Do you have any more Mego or other 70's toy xmas or otherwise pics??
Love to take a look at what you had.

M

[Cadmus Customs]

Cadmus(Joel)

That is AWESOME that you're getting into Mego again.

Thanx most of all for that amazing photo!!!We LOVE seeing that kinda' stuff...
Do you have any more Mego or other 70's toy xmas or otherwise pics??
Love to take a look at what you had.

M

Oh yeah, my parents were good like that! Next time I visit them I'll dig out the photo albums and ask to scan some of the goodies!

I'm *still* looking for info on a Bugs Bunny playset I had back in the 70's. It was his rabbit burrough with his mailbox on top. Came with like 8-10 Looney Tunes characters. I thought it was very cool at the time, and I can find no reference or mention of it!! Frusterating! I do have my memories, and 1 picture of it somewhere, lol.

Joel

[imp]

Dagnabit, you guys.

I'm over here trying to convince myself that I'd never do another toy book.

But then heartwarming posts like Chris', Derek's, and Joel's make me stop and think, "Wellll, it wasn't that bad. Maybe..."

You guys are twisting my melon, man.

Seriously, though: Thank you for the posts, memories and vignettes.

Joel, the idea that the book contributed to igniting your latent love of Mego is just too much. Too cool. Thank you.

-b

p.s. to Derek: "After School Girls 7" was good, but I prefer her performance in part 8 of the ASG series. There was just a... DEPTH to her emotion. She better captured the essence of her character, and I really think she grew as an actress between the two films.