Mego Bizarro: A Mr. Mxyzptlk Trick?

[imp]

Tonight I posted a brand new Blog, the third in my series of "Mego copyright and trademark" articles. I am so pleased by the outpouring of comments and interest in the first two Blogs, and I hope this one elicits similar discussion and excitement.

Read the blog.

Thanks!

Benjamin

[The Toyroom]

Interesting!

[imp]

Interesting!

Thanks Anthony!

If I knew how to edit the TITLE of a thread, I wouldn't have to 'give away the farm' trying to capture the direct URL for my Blog. Sigh.

Anyway, the Blog is now live. I hope y'all enjoy it.

Benjamin

[Meule]

Interesting indeed. You would think it a no-brainer for Mego to do a Bizarro. All they needed was a new sculpt and they could've easily taken an existing one and altered it a bit, minor work. And reversing a Superman emblem is no biggie either.
I can somewhat understand Mego not doing Creature from the Black Lagoon because of AHI being first or because of copyright infringments, but why not do Bizarro? Still, Mxy was somewhat popular back then, he even appeared in a couple of Batman comics, teaming up with Bat-Mite. I guess it's all about timing. Whoever decided on Mxy must've just seen him on the cover of a comic. Had Bizarro been on that comic maybe there would've been one now.

[imp]

Interesting indeed. You would think it a no-brainer for Mego to do a Bizarro. All they needed was a new sculpt and they could've easily taken an existing one and altered it a bit, minor work. And reversing a Superman emblem is no biggie either.

I can somewhat understand Mego not doing Creature from the Black Lagoon because of AHI being first or because of copyright infringments, but why not do Bizarro? Still, Mxy was somewhat popular back then, he even appeared in a couple of Batman comics, teaming up with Bat-Mite. I guess it's all about timing. Whoever decided on Mxy must've just seen him on the cover of a comic. Had Bizarro been on that comic maybe there would've been one now.

I absolutely agree, Thomas. For what it's worth, I think Mr. Mxyzptlk is a superior choice to Bizarro. Aside from the fact that, according to Kublan at least, Mxyzptlk was a reasonable choice at the time, I think Mego's decision gives us a wildly different toy to collect. Mego's "imp" from the 5th Dimension is vastly different than a modified Superman figure, from head to toe.

Given the minor changes necessary (new head, reverse logo and packaging), I personally feel Bizarro would have resulted in a very boring Mego figure. Sure, it would have been cost-effective — kinda cool, even — but where's the play value? We may never know whether Mego made a cost- or aesthetic-decision here, but I am happy they never made a Bizarro figure.

That said, as a student of Mego Super-Heroes, I am also thrilled to know that Bizarro's existence was a distinct possibility, perhaps on several occasions.

Benjamin

[Meule]

You're probably right, Ben. The differences between Superman and Bizarro are so small that Mego probably dropped him because it would be too confusing for little children: two different figures looking almost exactly the same. Then again, remember Cornelius and Galen?

[huedell]

Ah---such a tough debate---

"Easy to make" vs. "A retread of another figure in the line"

I think the winner for me would hinge on the answer to: "Just exactly HOW easy
would've it have been to make a BIZARRO figure?"

I mean---if it was laughably easy to do it (we're talkin' new sculpt, new emblem,
new logo on card---colored hands--the whole shebang)---then the idea of the figure
being unwarranted merely because its a retread or confusing to children just couldn't
hold up for me personally.

I remember seeing Bizarro on the SF for the first time as quite a little kid (8 I believe)
and thinking "What the heck?" .............for like half a second. Then I loved the guy.
Another guy with SUPERMAN'S powers? A BAD guy? -------All right!

[Earth 2 Chris]

Very cool Benjamin. Gotta say though, as a kid, I'd much rather have Bizarro over Mxy. My son is constantly taking two Superman figures and making one Bizarro. Even though he has a few official Bizarro figures! Never underestimate the alure of the "evil twin". From Professor Zoom to Star Trek's "Mirror, Mirror" its a winner every time.

I'm surprised frugal, cost-effective, recycling-friendly Mego didn't jump on this like crazy.

Chris

[The Toyroom]

For me, I think Bizarro would've had more "play value" than Mr. Mxyzptlk. That's why I always passed on Mxy's MIB whenever I was at K-B Toys back in the 70s. Didn't appeal to me...

[ScottA]

Very interesting. Any thoughts that Bizarro might have been the first in a possible second wave of DC villains?

[megozilla13]

Interesting. I'm confused though, were they trying to trademark the name? It already belonged to DC.

Hey Ben, have any ex-mego employees contacted you since the book was released?

mikej

[Bionic Joe]

I think it would have been a poor choice, As a kid it would have been hard to con my mom into buying me that figure, She would have said you all ready have Superman why do you need a second one?

[Brue]

Wow - I never thought about sticking a zombie head and revesing my emble scan to make Bizzaro - maybe I will.

Cool Stuff.

I mentioned it in my Superboy TV series thread but will restate here for relevence -The second my sculpt and the costume and body look identical to the Micheal J Pollard character on Superboy. Of course the part was cast 10 years after the scuplt was made. I wonder if the Mego figure was used as reference for the casting and costume design?

[imp]

Very interesting. Any thoughts that Bizarro might have been the first in a possible second wave of DC villains?

I think the evidence suggests Mego considered Bizarro for both the 1st and (hypothetical) 2nd Foes Waves. The date on the USPTO listing puts their submission around 1974-75, while Baiera's notes were taken in 1977-78.

Interesting. I'm confused though, were they trying to trademark the name? It already belonged to DC.

Not true, and that never stopped Mego from submitting trademark applications anyway. Not only did Mego attempt to register other properties (Star Trek and WGSH characters, for examples), they didn't hesitate to submit paperwork for REAL people like Sitting Bull and others. Mego was actually quite savvy regarding the law. That's why I find it ironic Mego could never protect their OWN name!

Hey Ben, have any ex-mego employees contacted you since the book was released?

No.

Benjamin

[megozilla13]

No.

Benjamin

Its probably too soon yet. I was hoping it would bring a few out that would be able to solve some of the mysteries although the speculation is probably more fun in the end.

mikej