Mego Kirk and Ben Cooper Superman Jiggler connection

[Earth 2 Chris]

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This subject has come up here before, but recently Raymond Castile posted a great video covering the Ben Cooper Super Hero jigglers. Over on the associated FB page, the topic of the uncanny resemblance between Ben Cooper's Superman jiggler and Mego's Captain Kirk sculpt was brought up.

What do you think the connection is? It seems to close to be mere coincidence.

The Ben Cooper Jiggler is marked 1973, and the Mego Star Trek figures debuted in 1974. But given how much the Kirk sculpt LOOKS like Shatner, it had to originate as Kirk, correct?

What are your thoughts on this?

Be sure to check out Raymond's video. There's no mention of the Kirk-connection, but it's a great video on the jigglers, nonetheless.

[Werewolf]

Yeah, that's weird. Doesn't really look like Superman in my opinion. Missing the little "S" curl too.

[MIB41]

The answer could reside in who sculpted the Kirk head and whether he had any earlier associations with other products, like the Jigglers. Sometimes artist tendencies creep into other pieces of work, be it conscious or subconsciously. Look at the artist that sculpted the original GI Joe head. He was noted for doing JFK busts previous to that assignment. Years later someone had the idea to line up the face of a GI Joe with a JFK portrait and it was a dead match in the face.

[palitoy]

What Tom said, the Kirk was likely sculpted by Gene Salamacha and it's possible he sculpted both. I know he did the Superhero bendies as well.

[Earth 2 Chris]

So possibly a similar situation to the Lone Ranger, Magnetic Robin, Super Joe, and that Nurses doll all having essentially the same headsculpt?

[publiusr]

We’re there any dinosaur jigglers?