Mad Monsters/Dark Shadows connection?

[Earth 2 Chris]

Now, maybe I'm just smoking my shoes, but I just noticed what may be a possible Dark Shadows influence on Mego's Mad Monsters series.

I'm now up to the Adam storyline on DS, and Adam is the show's very own Frankenstein monster. Now Adam's appearance is nothing breakthrough. He wears dark clothes, has scars on his face and is tall and menacing looking, when he's not child-like and goofy.

But his specific outfit around episode 515 (images from Dark Shadows Every Day blog) reminds me a LOT of Mego's version of the Frankenstein monster.







Adam sports a very specific gray turtleneck here, and I don't recall any Frankie really sporting one before. Add in the jet black jacket and suit, and you have a pretty strong resemblance.

I know DS was being syndicated around this time, just having been left the air a few years ago. Was Mego possibly influenced by the show, in their desire to NOT copy Universal directly? Maybe not, but it's fun to think about!

Chris

[Marvelmania]

I can see the resemblance too! Good eye!

[Werewolf]

Wow! That's awesome. Good catch. I can totally see it.

[Hedji]

Holy cats! I think you cracked the code!

[palitoy]

That's pretty interesting, some real similarities there.

I've often wondered if the Human WolfMan was inspired by the 1973 TV movie "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf"

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yeah, that makes perfect sense! Not too many overly lupine-snouted werewolves before that.

Chris

[cjefferys]

That is a really cool find, the resemblance is uncanny.

[newlyknighted]

Monster Mego History class is in session! I'm glad I didn't skip class to look for abby normal brains!

[Hedji]

I love both of these theories!

[palitoy]

Another one I've had is the Mummy. Around that time, Paul Naschy's amazing "Assignment Terror" was making the UHF rounds and featured this Mummy.

[hedrap]

yeahhh....I see that, Pali.

I could excuse the head bandages as a sculpting necessity, but the facial contours - hollowed eye sockets, grooved cheeks - are almost exact. You don't see those kind of markings in the classic Uni/Hammer or Marvel Monster mummies. I always felt Mad Mummy had an Asian vibe, but chalked it up to the HK sculptors.

I think the Dark Shadows/Frankie is possible. The irony being DS Frank looks more like a Batman '66 interpretation of Solomon Grundy then he does a Frankenstein.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Oh yeah, I can see the Mummy connection. The Mego Mummy also reminds me of the 60s Topstone Mummy mask as well.



Mego Mummy's face and bandaged head KINDA reminds me of Zombie Jeremiah from Dark Shadows, but I think that's a stretch.





Chris

[comicmike]

Really really great thread!!!!

[Hedji]

Yeah, I am loving this. Great archaeological work, guys.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Since we only have one monster left, why not talk Dracula? I personally think Mego may have been influenced by Filmation's Groovie Goolies cartoon from a few years prior, that was still running in syndication. The cartoony face with arched eyebrow, blue tux and red lining on the cape are VERY similar!