The Legacy of Mego

[Wee67]

What do you think it is?

The move from 12" to 8" dominance? The popularity of blister cards?

I think it is licensing. Sure, there were plenty of licensing deals before Mego, but Marty and friends seemed to really build the success of the company around (mainly) licensing. Other companies had licensed products, but they also had other things. So did Mego, of course, but most of their brief success was based on it. Other companies saw the profit in this and getting the rights became that much more competitive. Look how cheaply Mego got POTA in the early 70's and how much it would cost to get lesser lines in the late 70's.

I also think think the existence of licensing successes ultimately inspired the "need" to pitch execute projects bundled with potential merchandising. No longer did you wait for a success to to try and license your project. Now merchandise was part of thee project (I'm looking at you Transformers, GI Joe:RAH. Mego's deal with Marvel for the Micronauts book was a recognition of the "need" for this multi-platform approach.

I know Mego wasn't solely responsible for this evolution (and I think it would have happened without them), but I think they were the single strongest driver behind it during a critical period.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think licensing is definitely a good chunk with it. Not only the licensing of the property, but the back and forth with the licensees. Legend has it that the Amazing Spider-Car came about because Stan Lee didn't like the Marvel figures not getting any accessories, so he ordered Gerry Conway and Ross Andru to come up with the Spider-Mobile, while Mego developed the Amazing Spider-Car. Mego developed DC properties that were very "of the moment", like the then-recently relaunched Teen Titans and fairly new Wayne Foundation building being made into toys.

Chris

[Mr.Marion]

I think licensing is definitely a good chunk with it. Not only the licensing of the property, but the back and forth with the licensees. Legend has it that the Amazing Spider-Car came about because Stan Lee didn't like the Marvel figures not getting any accessories, so he ordered Gerry Conway and Ross Andru to come up with the Spider-Mobile, while Mego developed the Amazing Spider-Car. Mego developed DC properties that were very "of the moment", like the then-recently relaunched Teen Titans and fairly new Wayne Foundation building being made into toys.

Chris

You have to add neal Adam's new Green Arrow design. Conan being relaunched by Marvel in 1970 and especially Falcon who didn't get wings until cap 171



Maybe mego wasnt the first but the window boxes are still used from time to time and that is very much a mego thing.

[Mikey]

licensing is everything imo

print Star Wars on a dog t_rd and people will buy it.

[MIB41]

I think their legacy is two fold. They proved you could take popular licensing and make detailed figures that were profitable. I think that is the business perspective. But ultimately what their legacy with fans resides on is the eight inch, clothed figure. No one did it before them and everyone who has come along since gets to share the Mego name in that description. The vintage figures are called "Megos", and figures made like them are called "ReMegos". There's your legacy.

[HardyGirl]

In a word, superheroes.

Yeah, before Mego, Captain Action did it too, but I'm not sure the word "superhero" was so widely used before Mego. Never again will a company get access to the 2 greatest Superhero licenses (DC and Marvel) like Mego did. I believe Mego paved the way for future action figure companies to release superheroes on a mass scale even w/o the mixed licenses. Mego did it first, and to me, that's the legacy.

[SKotK]

In a word, superheroes.

Yeah, before Mego, Captain Action did it too, but I'm not sure the word "superhero" was so widely used before Mego. Never again will a company get access to the 2 greatest Superhero licenses (DC and Marvel) like Mego did.

I hate to be contrary, but in a word: LEGO.

Yep, they have both Marvel and DC. And only LEGO could make a film (The LEGO Movie) that features characters from both those universes as well as Star Wars and many other licenses...all in the same film. I would have said that was impossible.

--SKot

[HardyGirl]

I don't consider Legos action figures. (and please don't argue that point). And I'm saying that's the legacy Mego started. When Megos were being made, Lego didn't have superhero anything.

I hate to be contrary, but in a word: LEGO.

Yep, they have both Marvel and DC. And only LEGO could make a film (The LEGO Movie) that features characters from both those universes as well as Star Wars and many other licenses...all in the same film. I would have said that was impossible.

--SKot

[SKotK]

I don't consider Legos action figures. (and please don't argue that point). And I'm saying that's the legacy Mego started. When Megos were being made, Lego didn't have superhero anything.

I won't argue that point. But you did say "Never again will a company get access to the 2 greatest Superhero licenses (DC and Marvel) like Mego did." - and a company did.

But yes, when Megos were being made, LEGO didn't have superhero anything. It had bricks, and all its characters would be made out of bricks as well. Proper "minifigures" didn't come along until 1978...but they definitely changed the world a bit. However, that's a different story for a different place. Mego definitely holds its own place in history.

--SKot

[huedell]

I know Mego wasn't solely responsible for this evolution (and I think it would have happened without them), but I think they were the single strongest driver behind it during a critical period.

Someone had to be....and Mego was it.

I agree. Licensing intellectual property from multiple media sources was a huge lesson for the toy AND entertainment industries still felt to this day.

Mego's passionate ambition to translate TV, film and comics into toys changed the game BIG time and whether they GET the credit or not---IMHO, they deserve the credit.