FTC Mego Box vs. Original Mego Box (w/pics)

[ScottA]

I had to order some parts for the MM exclusive and added a boxed Robin. Here are side-by-side shots of the FTC Mego boxed Robin against an original Mego boxed Robin. I tried to line up the bottoms in each shot for reference.

This picture is straight our of the box my order was placed in. I did not mess with the FTC box in any way. You can tell it's a hair shorter than an original Mego box and the window lines do not line up.



This next picture is the figures and inserts removed. Nothing more.



This one shows there are 4 holes to attach the figure to the insert. I have no idea if this was the plan or not.



In this one I actually messed with the FTC Robin.



This final one is him back in the box after I futzed with him for a minute. I think he looks pretty good.



My takeaway is I think it's more the insert than the actual box. The vertical distance of the insert above his head is greater in the FTC box than the Mego. That forces the figure down farther in the box thus pushing his feet out of the bottom. In the last pick his knees are indeed bent just slightly. You hay have to bend them more with a figure that wears hero boots since their ankles won't bend like Robins or Jokers. You could also try and re-fold the head of the insert to give you more room. Of course if the insert was perfect you probably wouldn't see his hairline.

BUT - overall I like him and will get more as I can. Are they perfect - no. But not many toys are nowadays.

[Riderfan]

Certainly a lot better than what many of us were thinking-thanks for this review!

Oh so close to being bang on though, eh?

K

[PNGwynne]

Thusly, I'm wondering how these FTC boxes might be with a shorter figure like Penguin and a tweaked or new insert. Hmmmm......

[sprytel]

Thusly, I'm wondering how these FTC boxes might be with a shorter figure like Penguin and a tweaked or new insert. Hmmmm......

It would be funny if you just traded a height issue for a depth issue with the "fat body"...

[sprytel]

Scott, thanks for the pictures. You are a good man for posting these. And not for nothing, that Mego boxed Robin is an incredible piece.

[MIB41]

FTC does more to create problems for themselves by posting lousy photos than any company I have ever seen. I sometimes get the impression they have a 10 year old setting up shots. I would like to see if this spacing holds true for Batman and a few of the others where the knees are severely bent. Thanks though for posting this one. I really appreciate it. It just makes me shake my head though why FTC doesn't wake up and post several themselves to explain this nonsense. They sure have no IQ when it comes to presentation.

[enyawd72]

I wonder if the changes FTC made were intentional to distinguish their boxes from originals? Notice FTC added a white highlight on Robin's name, absent from the original. There's really no other reason to make such an aesthetic change.

[thunderbolt]

^^^ Seems like the modern DC logo and lack of a Mego one would be enough of a tell for them.

[warlock664]

FTC does more to create problems for themselves by posting lousy photos than any company I have ever seen. I sometimes get the impression they have a 10 year old setting up shots. I would like to see if this spacing holds true for Batman and a few of the others where the knees are severely bent.

That's very true.
Check out FTC's website: it seems they've updated their boxed hero pics with less extreme "bent knee" photos (with the exception of Batgirl):

http://figurestoycompany.com/newproducts.aspx

[MIB41]

That's very true.
Check out FTC's website: it seems they've updated their boxed hero pics with less extreme "bent knee" photos (with the exception of Batgirl):

http://figurestoycompany.com/newproducts.aspx

Thanks for the link! Nice to see someone took new shots. Looks like Green Arrow needs a little tinkering but RC Batman looks good enough. Like the Robin artwork. Looks like the actual artwork Mego emulated on theirs.

[Hedji]

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics, Scott.

Now, looking at FTC's new pics:

Hmm. Without being too mean, I'll say that they still don't do what they're supposed to do, and that is present well. Considering it's just the packaging, could they cut their losses and try again? It seems to me the costs of box printing would be less than figure production. This is really hard to defend. They still either have to twist to one side or crouch slightly to look even close to presentable.

[Gumby01]

I agree with you on that it doesn't present well. I'm going to skip these unless they correct them. Seriously, how hard is it to copy the dimensions of a box (including the clear window and insert) that was made 40+ years ago? If the manufacturers screwed them up, then FTC should of insisted on a re-do. Also, thank you to everyone that posted pics of these for us to review.

[megalomaniac001]

The difference Kind of reminds me of the diamond marvel boxes

[tiinacat]

Same exact size. Only difference is Diamond ones don't have insert just plane boring brown cardboard.

[Ninersphan1]

Hmm don't know whether to be happy or sad about this. Happy, cause it looks like all I have to do is trim and refold the insert and the figure will fit well, or sad, because now I'll be dropping a boatload of cash.

Thank you though for definitively clearing it up.