Batman, like Robin and
Superman were the first WGSH figures produced and never left
the assortment. Batman also has the distinction of being one of
the few figures to make it into every Mego Superhero line, no matter
the format, Mego put a Batman into the mix.
The character, still made popular by afternoon reruns of it's 60's smash TV Series, was a standout seller for Mego. The early figures had a removable cowl that allowed children to go from Batman to his alter ego Bruce Wayne.
To learn more about what a Removable Cowl Batman should and shouldn't have, please visit the Removable Cowl Batman guide.
After a while (somewhere in 1974 by any guess) Mego switched to a molded head, or "Painted Cowl" Batman. The sculpt was a very light-hearted and kid-friendly approach. Note the small stubby ears on the caped crusader. It's not known whether this was caused by consumer complaints (kids would lose the cowl in a heartbeat) or a cost cutting decision.
One of the more fondly remembered features of the Mego Batman figure are the "oven mitt" style gloves that the early WGSH characters had. The "oven mitt' gloves had a relativly short tenure at Mego, by 1974 the Green Arrow had painted hands with a cloth cuff. In 1975, characters like Iron Man began appearing with a solid plastic glove. Despite the fact that the company kept improving the gloves, Mego never thought to go back and fix the oven mitts from previous releases. "If it ain't broke don't fix it", seems to be the motto here.
The character of Batman has always been appealing to toy manufacturers because of the many vehicles and gadgets the character uses. Mego was quick to exploit Batman with many Bat related playsets and vehicles.
Because Batman was produced from 1973 until 1982 by Mego, there are a staggering amount of variations both subtle and obvious to the figure. Here, Tom has provided a dramatic group shot of various Mego Batman figures all in someways different from each other.
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,
because it was in circulation for a very short period of time.
Retailer's complained tthat kids ripped the solid boxes open to
see the doll, so window boxes and bubble cards were quickly introduced.
This example is proudly owned by Imp
As
illustrated in the Mego Museum Library's Comic
Origins of Mego Art the Mego Batman box art was a Mego trace-job
of a now-classic Batman Carmine Infantino image that was sold
on posters advertised in comic books.
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. See the FF Gallery for more info.
Above, a First Issue Mego Kresge RC Batman (1st issue by the four heroes on the header). Note that the Mego logo doesn't appear on this card. Courtesy of Tom.
Left 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. Note the ever changing style guide artwork.
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
New to the Museum is the Mexican Batman produced by Lili Ledy under License by Mego. It seems Mexican toys had to be produced locally so Mexican Mego figures have a different, albeit charming look. This UBER rare boxed figure comes courtesy of Luis, a friend to the Museum.
Mego Batman had two playsets and five vehicles produced in his name, not to mention role play items. Visit the Playsets department in the left menu bar.
A number of Batman playsets and vehicles were produced in other formats by Mego. Of particular note would be the Super Softies , Bend N Flex and Comic Action Heroes but if it was a Superhero item made by Mego, Batman was there.
- Removeable Cowl
- Costume Variations
- Explore original parts and identify reproductions!
- Solid Box
- Window Boxes
- Kresge Cards
- 1976 Card
- 1977 Card
- 1979 Card
- French Card
- Harbert Italy Card
- Palitoy Green Card
- Palitoy UK Card
- Fist Fighter
- Fist Fighter UK
- Popy
- Lili Ledy
- Collect Them All!
- 12 Inch Figures
- Bendies
- Comic Action Heroes
- Die-Cast Heroes
- Elastic Heroes
- Pocket Heroes
- Super Softies
- Super Savers Banks