Spotlight on the EMCE/Mattel Green Lantern

[warlock664]

GL

As a kid, I always felt the two most glaring omissions from Mego's WGSH line were Green Lantern and Flash. At the time the line launched (1972), GL's book (co-starring Green Arrow) had just been cancelled, and Hal was relegated to backup status in Flash's comic, and regular appearances in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. I don't know if his dip in visibility at that time entered into Mego's decision , but Green Arrow, Mego's last new DC entry into the line (with the exception of the Teen Titans), had NEVER had his own book (and wouldn't receive one until the 80's) , so that seems unlikely. Hal's series with GA was revived in 1976, but with the exception of the Titans, Mego had pretty much halted new DC additions to the WGSH by then. I'm REALLY looking forward to finally buying a Green Lantern Mego!

Flash is another head-scratcher; he was popular enough to support his own monthly book, was a regular in JLA, and would seem to have been a fairly uncomplicated character to produce. All that was needed was a new head sculpt, a red bodysuit with insignia and lightning bolt belt and arm cuffs, yellow boots with wings, and red hands. When you add in the debut of Kid Flash from the Teen Titans line, you have to wonder how they missed adding Flash to the WGSH! Oh well, I'm sure Mattel/EMCE won't make that mistake!

[drmego]

You are confused because you are focusing on the comics at that time.
MEGO's choices for characters came from Super Friends, not comics.
Toys are usually tied to TV shows. Shazam (sorry) was in the early
line-up because DC had just bought the rights to him from Fawett
and was eager to pimp him out.

Green Arrow was added in '74 because Alex Toth did some character
sheet for Super Friends. I don't remember if GA ever was in any episodes,
but he definitely was planned.

There was a Teen Titans cartoons planned for '77 but it was not picked
up. In the late '60s Filmation did some Flash, GL, Hawkman, Atom, and
Teen Titans cartoons to run on the Superman/Batman hour because
DC was hoping to get some interest in some of the other characters.

I just got a DVD of these cartoons in FYE - stumbled on it by accident.

[The Toyroom]

You are confused because you are focusing on the comics at that time.
MEGO's choices for characters came from Super Friends, not comics.
Toys are usually tied to TV shows. Shazam (sorry) was in the early
line-up because DC had just bought the rights to him from Fawett
and was eager to pimp him out.

Green Arrow was added in '74 because Alex Toth did some character
sheet for Super Friends. I don't remember if GA ever was in any episodes,
but he definitely was planned.

Green Arrow was a guest-star in Season 1 (1973-74) as was Plastic Man and The Flash. So using your theory of GA being chosen by Mego because Toth did some model sheets, presumably for Season 1, would lend one to think that Plas or the Flash had an equally good chance of being made as well, as they also had model sheets by Toth. But since they weren't, I'm of the assumption that something other than just the Super Friends may have influenced Megos decision on which characters did or didn't join the line-up at that time. All 3 characters were guest-stars for only one episode each...would Mego put show much stock in a character's marketing potential based on just one episode? Especially an, at the time, unproven show in it's 1st season?

[drmego]

I really don't know why Green Arrow was made and why he was the last DC
figure until the Titans and Isis in '77. Flash may have been considered too
close to Shazam (Capt. Marvel) or not. Marty has said that the whole
line-up was open to him - why some were chosen and not others is not
known.

Apparently no one living knows why either - or we have yet to find that
person. Like any historian, denied access to the principals, we have to
put forth theories to be tested and explored.

[warlock664]

WGSH

You are confused because you are focusing on the comics at that time.
MEGO's choices for characters came from Super Friends, not comics.
Toys are usually tied to TV shows. Shazam (sorry) was in the early
line-up because DC had just bought the rights to him from Fawett
and was eager to pimp him out.

Green Arrow was added in '74 because Alex Toth did some character
sheet for Super Friends. I don't remember if GA ever was in any episodes,
but he definitely was planned.

That's interesting. SUPER FRIENDS debuted in the Fall of 1973; didn't WGSH come about a year prior to that? I realize Stan Weston has said he came up with the original concept for the WGSH toy line based on an idea he and Joseph Barbera (of Hanna-Barbera) had for a Saturday morning cartoon that was to focus on DC Superhero "origins", a show that that eventually became SUPER FRIENDS; were all the character choices based around that TV show? Was a weaker character like Aquaman released by Mego in 1972 in anticipation of his inclusion in a Saturday morning cartoon over a year later? What about the Super-Gals (except for Wonder Woman) ? Or were Catwoman, Supergirl, and Batgirl produced merely to justify the female body that was required and fill out the line, as they weren't featured in SF? The Super-Foes? I don't remember all the details about that initial SUPER FRIENDS show, but I don't recall any of the villains appearing in it (in its original iteration, not the later "Challenge of the Super Friends" from the late-70's).

And what about the Marvel characters? Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, and the Fantastic Four hadn't been featured in first-run shows since the late-60's. Conan never had any type of tie-in television show. Tarzan? His animated series didn't come along until 1976. Isis, I realize, was a character wholly created for television (and is NOT a DC property, though DC did produce a licensed short-lived comic book based on the character).

I don't want to appear as though I'm doubting your story, Doc, as I realize you've been privy to more of the inside details on Mego's original WGSH line than I, certainly. I just have a hard time believing Mego's WGSH character selections were based primarily on SUPER FRIENDS, after maybe that first batch of four plus Green Arrow. And Batman, Robin, and Superman, all released by Mego a full year before SUPER FRIENDS, and Wonder Woman, released a bit after SF debuted, are universally recognized as DC's flagship characters, and would doubtless have been included in any Superhero line at that time, regardless of TV tie-ins. Aquaman, also released in '72, though not an "A" list character, had the distinction of having his own cartoon series in the late-60s, and was still recognizable from that. Really, the ONLY DC addition to WGSH after SUPER FRIENDS debuted in the Fall of '73, that would seem to be based solely from that show, was Green Arrow, and yes, he did appear in a single episode. Is this the reason Mego stopped new DC releases after Green Arrow, and Marvel characters dominated the new additions? Because there weren't any other JLA characters appearing in Super Friends (and wouldn't be until the late-70s) ?

[The Toyroom]

What about the Super-Gals (except for Wonder Woman) ? Or were Catwoman, Supergirl, and Batgirl produced merely to justify the female body that was required and fill out the line, as they weren't featured in SF?

There was a Catwoman model sheet done up for the Super Friends but to my knowledge it was never used. In fact, she is dressed in a variation of her 1950s outfit and not the version Mego used at the time. Not sure why Supergirl never made an appearance on Super Friends, but Batgirl presumably had her rights tied up with the Filmation cartoon.

The Super-Foes? I don't remember all the details about that initial SUPER FRIENDS show, but I don't recall any of the villains appearing in it (in its original iteration, not the later "Challenge of the Super Friends" from the late-70's).

Penguin and Joker were tied up with the Filmation Batman series. Riddler, of course, was featured on Challenge, and Mr. Mxyzptlk appeared in a couple of episodes after Challenge I believe. And Mxy was also featured years prior in the Filmation Superman series. Maybe it was his Filmation appearances that helped along the cause in a Mego figure for him.

And what about the Marvel characters? Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, and the Fantastic Four hadn't been featured in first-run shows since the late-60's.

All of these shows (Marvel Super-Heroes/Marvel Men, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man) were in syndication at the time though.

Conan never had any type of tie-in television show.

I've never been sure why Conan was in the mix for the Marvel charaters, as he was never a contemporary of the other heroes.

Tarzan? His animated series didn't come along until 1976.

I think Tarzan's rights were negotiated with the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate and not DC Comics, who held the rights at the time. Probably Tarzan was included because of the initial concept of the World's Greatest Super-Heroes, being similar to Stan Weston's concept for Captain Action.

[warlock664]

WGSH

All of these shows (Marvel Super-Heroes/Marvel Men, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man) were in syndication at the time though.

Oh yeah, I know! I used to race home from school every afternoon to watch "Marvel Super-heroes" and "Spider-Man" on WPGH-53 out of Pittsburgh! It's funny, those old syndicated shows in the early 70's led me to purchase my first superhero comic (CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE FALCON #141) in June of 1971. That created a love of comic books in me that eventually led to me being obsessed with the Mego WGSH line; so I definitely was/am attracted to the line primarily due to the ultimate source, comic books, rather than any cartoon show, even though it was a cartoon show that first led me to comics !

[vulcan2074]

Hell Yes. This Figure looks Great. I Love the Head sculpt. It's perfect
Sammy

[Meule]

He's absolutely perfect, great sculpt and costume

[UnderdogDJLSW]

He will be on my multiple purchase list. Perhaps the omission of GL back in the 70's could have been as simple as not wanting to change the hand sculpt to include a ring and thinking that it might not sell without it?

[david_b]

Definitely the RIGHT choice, but in addition to the wrist 'gauntlets' being changed, I'd also opt for a darker green in the mask and suit..

Still, HE ROCKS..!

david_b

[palitoy]

Tarzan? His animated series didn't come along until 1976.

That was entirely Neal Kublan, he was a big fan as was his father.

[david_b]

Oh yeah, I know! I used to race home from school every afternoon to watch "Marvel Super-heroes" and "Spider-Man" on WPGH-53 out of Pittsburgh! It's funny, those old syndicated shows in the early 70's led me to purchase my first superhero comic (CAPTAIN AMERICA & THE FALCON #141) in June of 1971. That created a love of comic books in me that eventually led to me being obsessed with the Mego WGSH line; so I definitely was/am attracted to the line primarily due to the ultimate source, comic books, rather than any cartoon show, even though it was a cartoon show that first led me to comics !

SAME FOR ME.. For me it was the wee memories of being 5-6 and watching the Marvel Heroes and Spiderman cartoons, which led to Marvel Team Up #13..! STILL the best early MTU ever. GREAT COVER of Cap and Spidey together. With FF#138 and Cap#113.., I read them, panel for panel for months. Living on farms.., I didn't have much access to comic stores.

david_b

[drmego]

Here is a close up shot of the GL ring fist.

[pmwasson]

Very nice! Love the details of that hand sculpt.