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Batman (1971-1982)
We have gone with
the Mego Removable Cowl Batman as our new Batman graphic. The difference between
him and the second softer version is remarkable. When you get the cowl set just
right on his head it's a great visage. Tough lookin', ain't he? The trick, of
course, is to get the cowl on right. Robert Levy pointed out to me that almost
every other Mego short haired male looks better than Bruce Wayne in the thing.
The Mego Bruce Wayne head really is one of the flattest, featureless faces Mego ever
made. It's noticeably smaller than most, and it's likely that it was among the
first ever sculpted by Mego. He's like a second cousin to Action Jackson. Anyway,
it doesn't fill out the cowl as well as, say, Mego Captain Kirk who looks fabulous
in it.
The Removable
Cowl was issued between 1971 and 74.
For the Mego "Molded Cowl" Batman, we present the original
Museum photo and text. One of the few items from the first Museum that has stood
the test of time. THIS is what the Mego Museum has always been about:
Okay, here is where Mego loses some folks. This is an early Seventies post-Adam West Batman, so he's of the corny, hokey, "Holy Stubby Bat Ears!" Era. Now, I certainly approve of the Gothic Revivalism Batman has gone through lately, and only occasionally watch the old TV show anymore, and then only for odd celebrity sightings (Have ya seen the Liberace Evil Twin episodes? ...whew.) That said: When you're talking corny, you have to be talking MEGO OVEN MITT GLOVES!
Nothing emasculates a hero more than the oven mitt glove; and I think the popularity of Mego's Batman and Robin dolls in the seventies, the fact that this one horrible design decision didn't bankrupt the whole company and sink the line into the swamp of truly rare collectibles is a pointed testament to the changes that our culture and it's heroes have undergone.
Yep, the oven mitt glove is a powerful metaphor for an entire nation's loss of innocence. (That's what I said. STOP laughing, I mean it. )
Be sure to check out the many playsets and vehicles Mego gave Batman, his popularity is apparant.
Some loose variations of Batman courtesy of Tom. I'll let you write your own "Holy _____ Batman!" remark.
While the graphic is the same on the back of all Mego Batman boxes, this is in fact a solid box from the very first wave of Heroes. The solid Batman box is one of the hardest to find items of all, and is proudly owned by Imp
This regular version Batman box is one of many variations. Earlier boxes featured Captain America but were replaced with Shazam!
Above is the Mego Fist Fighting Batman in box courtesy Terry D. See below for foreign releases and a link to the FF Gallery.
First Issue Mego Kresge RC Batman (note the four heroes on the header). Note that the Mego Logo doesn't appear on this card. Courtesy of Tom.
Above is a later Batman on the Kresge card, note the Green Arrow replacing Tarzan in the header. This is the last Kresge card variant in the series.
Tom provides the Museum with a look at all of the US cards.
on the Left is Batman on his 1979 Pin Pin Toys Card (France) Courtesy of Troy. Left is a 79 Harbert Italy Card (From Scott Arendsen) Many foreign companies simply chose to put their logo over stock mego products.
Palitoy (UK) Mego Carded Batman and Popy (Japan) Boxed Batman courtesy of Palitoy
Palitoy (UK) Mego Carded Fist Fighting Batman's card shows how creative the company was.
Mego Batman had two playsets and five vehicles produced in his name, not to mention role play items. Click on the pick to go to our Mego Vehicles section.
Mego released Batman into every superhero toyline they created, so there are literally dozens of Mego Batman toys. For Mego Batman in other figure formats, check these galleries:
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Small
figure formats: Comic Action, Pocket and Bendy Heroes.
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12 inch Gallery. |
The Batman Art Gallery Launches!If you like the packaging art on Mego Batman then you'll love the new retrospective of his packaging at The Mego Art Gallery
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