Webbed-Hand Aquaman: Search for Atlantis?

[MegoScott]

The timing is interesting. Man from Atlantis ran starting in the spring of 77 as TV movies before starting as a series in the fall, which would jive with the trademark date. But it was cancelled pretty quickly. Jaws 2 was coming out in 78...I'd guess their Atlantis plans got scrapped about reworked as the Jaws riff.

The Aquaman pic in the 78 catalog is the only WGSH in the catalog posed in front of a painted background. I wonder if you are seeing a glimpse of the concept art for this Search for Atlantis playset.

[dumbldor]

Rather than a short production run of these hands going in a kiln, maybe the hands (or bodies with these hands) were salvaged and combined with Aquaman suits and heads and dumped cheaply ala the red-carded figures or (speculation) the bagged mystery Astronauts. Maybe they ended up in dollar stores or scooted out the back door of the factory. I would not rule out the possibility of a small find of these web-handed figures in baggies someday.

[PCofmisfittoys]

After reading the blog, would it have not come in the Shark set and they are in MINT/unopened boxed sets ? I mean how many collectors have that set that is still sealed etc. Just hard to believe that there is ONLY ONE in the world that's not prototype form.
Was the figure not gloved in the set ? so if you opened it would be the only way you would know , correct?

[jemboy2004]

I think since in notes from Mego they have man from Atlantis and Aquaman/Submariner in a chain of thought together there that it has something to do with that TV show.

[Bionic Joe]

Rather than a short production run of these hands going in a kiln, maybe the hands (or bodies with these hands) were salvaged and combined with Aquaman suits and heads and dumped cheaply ala the red-carded figures or (speculation) the bagged mystery Astronauts. Maybe they ended up in dollar stores or scooted out the back door of the factory. I would not rule out the possibility of a small find of these web-handed figures in baggies someday.

Dan raises a good theory here, When Mego was going under they used what ever they had left over, Like the close out red cards and the Frankinstein carded /Superman carded Aquamans or the Mail order WOZ boxes with Aquaman inside. Something to think about

[imp]

The Aquaman pic in the 78 catalog is the only WGSH in the catalog posed in front of a painted background. I wonder if you are seeing a glimpse of the concept art for this Search for Atlantis playset.

OOOOH! Totally. Hmmmm. That background always kind of bothered me but I could never put my finger on it. Once again, Webbed-hand Aquaman presents another anomaly (this time amongst catalog photos). Good thinking, Scott.

I think since in notes from Mego they have man from Atlantis and Aquaman/Submariner in a chain of thought together there that it has something to do with that TV show.

I put those pages side by side (in my blog) for convenience, but I don't believe they were sequential in Vinny's sketchbook. I simply wanted to illustrate that 'aquatic' themes came up more than once. Your point is still valid, though, because it points to the fact that such themes were recurring in production meetings!

Dan raises a good theory here, When Mego was going under they used what ever they had left over, Like the close out red cards and the Frankinstein carded /Superman carded Aquamans or the Mail order WOZ boxes with Aquaman inside. Something to think about

I'm not sure if you're suggesting the Webbed-Hand figures were distributed after Mego cancelled the line. It's an interesting question, but I think it's a stretch to believe those unique hands would have been lying around the factory for four years (produced in 1978, Mego cancelled the line in 1982). That said, I agree Dan posed a valid supposition that more of them may have been salvaged earlier (back in 1978) and will reveal themselves on other products. Let's hope so!

Benjamin
NOTE: Edited because my tone seemed unintentionally rude. Sorry if that's how it sounded! My edited comments are in BOLD.

[dumbldor]

It's an interesting question, but I think it's a stretch to believe those unique hands would have been lying around the factory for four years (produced in 1978, Mego cancelled the line in 1982). That said, I agree Dan posed a valid supposition that more of them may have been salvaged earlier (back in 1978) and will reveal themselves on other products. Let's hope so!

Benjamin
NOTE: Edited because my tone seemed unintentionally rude. Sorry if that's how it sounded! My edited comments are in BOLD.

Why not? If Aquamans with paper stickers were sold on red cards in 1982 and mystery astronauts on T1 bodies were dumped in the early 1980s, then a cache of web-hand figures could have trickled onto the market in the early 80s as well.

[jemboy2004]

Imp I'm looking at the second page at the botton which is highlighted and they seem to be written altogether at the same time? I think it's odd as I don't think I've ever seen a comic in which Aquaman is shown with webbed hands? I have not been a long time comic fan of AM so maybe I missed it but don't think it was in his book and why pointy ears too? AM has a few odd things about him. I guess AM got alot attention at mego, he must of had a big fan who had some pull at mego.

[captact]

" So where are the other 300-1,000 specimens surely manufactured?!
The mystery remains".................

They were burned in the incinerators at the Mego Warehouse,..once the proyects were flunked,..just like what they did with the already produced 10" Logan Run figures (set of 4).....

Ray Flores

[starsky]

maybe they are in those kitchen sink cards that no one wants to open?