Mego-ey or realistic?

[Werewolf]

That's too simple an answer

That's my answer and I am sticking to it!

For me this is not about Mattel or what is defined as realism. I like a retro look. I want a Mego like figure that looks like it was made in the 70s. I don't like modern looking as much. I prefer something that looks like it was made in the 70s over something that looks like a shrunk down Sideshow or Hot Toys doll. There is no right or wrong answer to this. It's all a matter of personal taste.

[The Bat]

I prefer the retro look. When they get too modern looking they stop looking like Megos and more like smaller Sideshow dolls.

That's too simple an answer .As John pointed out...some of the original Megos(Mr.Fantastic, Green Goblin) had such well sculpted and accurate likenesses, but Mego didn't reject them because weren't as goody looking as some of their other Sculpts.

Mattel's philosophy is flawed...you can have both. I great looking likeness of the Character...and still capture the Mego vibe.

P.S. define RETRO. Its it Cloth Costumes & removable accessories...or Head Sculpts?

[huedell]

I would like to collect BOTH styles... but my wallet can't afford to do that
to any great extent...so, for nostalgia, I chose the bulk of my customs
to be Megoey (choosing solely one style for consistency's sake).

If I had unlimited money, I'd comission both EASILY.

[PNGwynne]

Megoesque for me--I love things tha look like line extensions, and I always plan my customs that way.

[Werewolf]

I prefer the retro look. When they get too modern looking they stop looking like Megos and more like smaller Sideshow dolls.

[Captain]

When it comes to customs, I always try to make mine to fit the Mego esqe mold, but I can see where the realism movement has its place too.

As for the Re-Mego stuff, I like that it also follows both edicts. the Trek stuff is painstakingly made to match up to the original line, while others like Zica and Spectre are showing us just how high the bar can be set for realism. A nice mix!

[MIB41]

I agree with Type3Toys as well. As a kid I thought Megos did translate well, for the most part, to the comics. But what made Megos a novelty for me were the removable outfits and masks. You could custom build your own adventures and mix them with other lines, like AHI, LJN, etc. So when a new line comes along and has these qualities, that is fun. BUT I want the head sculpt of the figure to have a good likeness for me as an adult. The removable outfits and 8 inch scale satisfy the nostalgia, but there has to be a modern evolution to the sculpt because I'm not that kid anymore. This Mattel line is aimed at the collectors, so why not give them a good head sculpt? This idea of giving a vanilla flavor to the heads as one person's interpretation of what a Mego was for them, misses a big segment of the collectors market that are now accustom to quality likeness in better made figures. Something to consider anyway.

[The Bat]

Well, back in the day, original mego WAS realistic. Do you think mego rejected outfits or head sculpt prototype because they looked to good? Wanting stuff to look "real", even back in the mego 70's, is the reason we see the progression in the likeness of the original WGSH and other mego lines.
I have a pretty good original mego collection and I enjoy seeing all types of custom figures. To be able to make something brand new, yet capture a look that is decades old is no easy feat.
But I beleive mego always intended to make figures realistic. That is why when I design and build my own figures, it is important to me to capture the best, most accurate likness to the character that I possibly can, which is just what mego tried to do.

Well said John!! Like you said, some Megos were very accurate Sculpts of the Characters(Mr.Fantastic, Green Goblin, Cpt.Kirk)...and Mego didn't reject them because they weren't goofy looking enough(MC Batman, etc...).
As far as Customs go...I'm in the "both" Camps. Some of my Customs look like Mego could have made them...and others look more modern.

[bobws]

Another vote for both, however i won an ebay auction of a character i was going to make and figured this would save me some trouble. when it came in parts for the design on the figure were cut foam and tan tape used for details. it looked sooo much better in the distance shot on ebay. i just set it aside it never made it near my collection of custom Mego's. that was i little too far the other way.

[BlackKnight]

Threw the yrs, I have since been thought in different directions on what Terms like Megoey, Mego Like and Megoesque even mean.

To Me ..., Stuff like Hot Toys, and DC Direct 13incher's are Mego Like , Made in 2010 instead of 1975 .

I want the Best Representation of a Character Ever , and if it means to shell out a few more bucks to do so, then so be it. I still enjoy my Vintage Mego's ..., But do not need them to Look that way to purchase New 1's , add to lines and Expand outside of what is offered.

[ScottA]

Mego-like for me. But I can see the appeal of other styles.

[samurainoir]

I'm cool with both as well. Sometimes I'm feeling a figure is more nostalgic and other times you want something more contemporary. It's mostly the character itself that dictates it for me I guess. If it's the Barry Allan Flash, definitely "Megoey", Wally West, I choose a more contemporary sculpt.

Although I think even vintage Megos kind of have it both ways, particularly as some of the actor likenesses got quite good.

I've been thinking a great deal of the 8" format lately and while it's the classic Mego look that has brought the scale/format back with a nostalgia driven market, I think it's continued and healthy survival will be to go the high end Hot Toys route as well. Looking at the quality of the Zica figures, here is hoping this starts that upwards trend at the $30 prince point.

[SeattleEd]

Vote for both camps.
I highly appreciate those that can replicate "What if" and those that do "Here is how I see it".
I have and do both. I love my all black RM Batman. Mego-esque but modern.

[Meule]

Both appeal to me. For my own customs I do both styles as well

[robbo1970]

me too.

100% mego-ey. I love the simplicity of the way the mego characters were put together.

Some of the customs are complete works of art, but for me, part of the charm with mego is the basic simplicity of the figures and outfits.