Was Tarzan a big seller?

[Werewolf]

The Mego Superheroes in Spain thread got me thinking about the Tarzan figure again.

Mego's Tarzan is not one of their better efforts in my opinion. Looked way more like a generic circus strong man than the Lord of the Apes. I was into the Filmation Tarzan cartoon and I remember watching re-runs of the Ron Ely show as a kid, but never wanted the Mego figure. Was the figure a big seller and was there a reason why it didn't really look like Tarzan and was so generic looking?

[Orion]

I've always had a soft spot for this toy. My dad was a big Tarzan fan and suggested that I purchase him when we were looking through the Megos when I was a kid. I agree with your assessment on his appearance though - which was likely the byproduct of Mego's capabilities in 1973 compared to what they might have done with the character later on in the WGSH line. I assumed he wasn't a big seller because he never even hit a blister card and was removed from the line before that transition.

[VintageMike]

I don't think so but from what I've read it was licensing issues that kept him from going anywhere beyond the Kresge card.

[ScottA]

Tarzan is one I had as a kid. So they got my parents money with him.

[Mikey]

As a kid I didn't even want Tarzan

I never considered him a "super hero"

[torgospizza]

I was a Tarzan freak (liked him more than any superhero, back around Kindergarten), and thought they were trying to duplicate Joe Kubert's art with his hair cut. But my taste was weird for kid--one of my favorites back then was Cochise. Tarzan was the first I re-bought as an adult when I discovered eBay. He's the only Mego bendy I own, as well.

[MicromanZone]

I looked at Tarzan the same way I looked at the “Universal Monsters”: These were not for me, but somehow being licensed everywhere on Earth. Heck, as much as I liked the “Three Stooges” and was into corny stuff, I have 100% no clue who ever enthusiastically sought out such odd 1940s/1950s licenses in the 1970s.

[Marvelmania]

I HAD to have a Tarzan figure as a kid! I really think I had as least a couple of them.

[clemso]

Tarzan was unique having appeared in both DC & Marvel comics. I always thought his flesh tone outfit a bit odd, but only in the same way that both the Human Torch & Thing had what were essentially skin suits. Of course that is what makes them a trademark Mego look today

[MIB41]

If memory serves me correctly, I believe Mego had a contract dispute with the Edgar Rice Burrough's estate, and the character was subsequently dropped in 1976. Mego sold off the remaining stock and that was the end of that character.

[The Toyroom]

^ Yes I think that's touched on in the WGT book...Mego had some other plans drawn up for Tarzan but ERB wasn't willing to extend the license because of poor sales on the figure...

[palitoy]

Tarzan was created completely as a whim, as Neal Kublan's father used to call him Tarzan as a kid.

What caused Mego to drop him was ERB inc was seperately trying to license the Filmation cartoon to toymakers. The figure was not a hot seller so Mego just dropped him in 1976 as a retort. In 1977, Mattel made a Tarzan figure with a Big Jim body.

[david_b]

My best "Mego-buddy" when we were young gave me a boxed Tarzan as a birthday present, but apparently it was a 're-gifting' since he didn't want it.

That was fine. Didn't really know what to do with him other than making him part of the JLA, but glad to have another figure.

Later I cut down his loin to change Batgirl into a 'Shanna of the Jungle' or something..

[PNGwynne]

I didn't even know about Mego Tarzan as a kid, but I have a T2 Tarzan today and like him--the skin-suit is goofy, though.

Honestly, it still peeves me that we got Tarzan & Conan, but not Flash, Green Lantern, or Dr. Doom.

[drogge]

Yes

He was a good seller, he was kind of hard to find but he was an ealier figure if I remember right. I liked the fact he had that knife, he was the only WGSH to have a weapon. I do not remember seeing him on the discount table but don't forget the earlier figures where just a couple of bucks - new! Also Mego sold a ton of figures through the mail as they were advertised through comic books. Tarzan was a hot item, for sure.