Mego 50th Anniversary WGSH revealed

[scott metzger]

- Height of the figure is nearly identical to the original T2 Megos it might be slightly taller but we're talking about only 1/16th of an inch.

That is very good news. I'm hoping that puts the heads in scale with the classics Megos.

- Chest Emblems/Insignias that aren't paper stickers, nor crack and flake off like Mattel Retro Action Heroes, nor some poorly screen printed logo. The original 12 inch Mego Superman Movie figure and the Magnetic Batman figure had some kind of almost 3D like vinyl logo attached to the fabric and those have still held up until this day.

FF had them, too. My 12" Supes had one, but eventually it did start pulling away from the material on one edge.

- Blue molded underwear/trunks as a nod to the original figures

That's not a good idea if the material is thinner or light colored. It may be classic, but it is better in practice to keep the bodies one color.

[Orion1]

Update to the body articulation. This figure features a better body then the most recent "super-poseable releases" like the newest non-Topps Shazam and Black Adam. The elbows and knees are pinless and the shoulders sit deeper in the sockets. The waist is a much thicker connection and looks better and less floppy. The plastic used is very similar to the 12 inch GI Joe bodies from the 1990s - It has some weight to it.

Be careful when first opening your figures and attempting to pose - the joints are very tight and could SNAP. After some experimenting - I found that if you dip the figure (After removing the outfit/accessories) in boiling water for a minute or two it softens up the entire figure and the joints. As a bonus it also allows the KNEE joints to bend further to a near 90 Degree angle.

The overall body is similar to the Type-S but actually looks more aesthetically pleasing. Better muscle tone and it can perform a full leg split out to the sides - something neither the Shazam/Black Adam Bodies nor the type-S can do.

The body - after softening it up - in my opinion is actually superior to the Type-S body. Especially in the Pelvic Hip region which features less of a "thigh gap". Also the Mego ankle joints are not floppy like the Type-S.

You can also easily trim off some plastic on the back of the upper calf below the knee joint with an exacto knife around the lower knee joint to allow a full 90 Degree or more bend if you so choose.

Bottom line - This is the best body currently made for the Mego size figures.

[KnightDetective]

I actually kind of welcome the sticker approach. (Never thought I would say that after a childhood of constantly smoothing them down with my thumb while playing!) Recently received the new Captain Marvel. It was absolutely pristine except for a woefully whomper-sided lightning bolt. If it had been a sticker, I could have easily repositioned or replaced it. The newer insignia decos can look great when placed properly, but if not, well what can you do? The hazards of buying sight unseen, I guess!

[supes]

Great review! I am super excited about these figures!! Mego can transition into the more sealed emblems like the Fantastic Four, Kid Flash, Thor and the 12 inch Batman and Superman. No need to stay with stickers after Batman Superman and Robin

[Mejo]

Thanks, Orion and Scott, for clearing that up. The only Megos I remember having "speedos" were the Trek ones. The first earliest heroes I had--Superman, Batman, Robin, and Aquaman were type 1's with the paler, less muscular bodies, the thin stringlike connectors which broke easily (I don't know how many Superman figures I went through), and the tops of the legs that went into the "hips" were all bumpy, like a plucked chicken. Later figures I got were the slightly tanned, more muscular bodies with the smooth legs/hips but I thought all of those had skin-tone trunks but I could be miss-remembering on some figures.

[scott metzger]

On the second point, I remember it only being my Star Trek figures that had the indigo-colored underwear (to preserve the dignity of the actors they were based on, perhaps?) All the super-heroes were flesh tones, weren't they? In any case, great review and assessment, Orion1!

Early type 2s came with the light or dark blue shorts, including heroes. I started seeing the black/dark brown trunks with the Dukes. THe flesh trunks seemed most common toward the end of the line; all the French carded figures I got at Lionel Playworld back in the day had flesh trunks.

[Orion1]

On the first point, I thought we were assured for the past few months that the logos weren't going to be paper but vinyl. On the second point, I remember it only being my Star Trek figures that had the indigo-colored underwear (to preserve the dignity of the actors they were based on, perhaps?) All the super-heroes were flesh tones, weren't they? In any case, great review and assessment, Orion1!

The stickers could be vinyl - if they are they are very thin, but as stickers go they do look Sharp, Clean and Vibrant. I can't tell and I don't want to try tearing them to find out. I still have an original Mego T2 Spider-Man figure with the blue shorts.

[Mejo]

Ah, okay, that makes sense.

I'll bet Jolly Jumper wished they'd thought of that. LOL

[palitoy]

The 17+ notation (also on NECA toys) is due to insurance costs. It is much more reasonable to insure a toy for an adult than it is for a child.

Can you let a kid play with it? We turned out ok.

[Mejo]

Humorously on the back of the packaging it says "Recommended for Collectors over 17 Years of Age" However, I see no problem giving this figure to an intelligent child to play with. It looks like it could handle play wear more so than the original Megos.

I've always wondered about this notation on the new Mego packages and I don't think it has to do with the figures being more fragile as much as it has to do with the toy mindset having shifted in the last 40 or 50 years, particularly for boys. The 3.75" virtually inarticulate "hunk of plastic" action figure has been around for a while now, so the articulated figure with actual clothes that can snag or fray is a novelty now. Plus there's the collector mentality of keeping things in perfect condition, hence the "17+" recommendation.

What I'd like to see going forward for future DC Super Heroes:
- Chest Emblems/Insignias that aren't paper stickers, nor crack and flake off like Mattel Retro Action Heroes, nor some poorly screen printed logo. The original 12 inch Mego Superman Movie figure and the Magnetic Batman figure had some kind of almost 3D like vinyl logo attached to the fabric and those have still held up until this day.
- Blue molded underwear/trunks as a nod to the original figures

On the first point, I thought we were assured for the past few months that the logos weren't going to be paper but vinyl. On the second point, I remember it only being my Star Trek figures that had the indigo-colored underwear (to preserve the dignity of the actors they were based on, perhaps?) All the super-heroes were flesh tones, weren't they? In any case, great review and assessment, Orion1!

[Orion1]

Update to the unboxed figure.

The pros:

- Arm articulation is great - The arms can be positioned with hands on hips, or straight out to the sides, or perfectly placed above head for flying poses and the figure holds the position. The Swivel elbow joints are great.
- Hips allow legs to be placed in a near perfect split out to the sides or straight out for a kick position and the figure holds either position. Something the originals couldn't do. Yes - even with the costume on.
- The material used for the hands is nice - it's a little bit softer than the rest of the figure so it can grip accessories with ease without fear of breaking. Seems very durable.
- The material used for the Head is not squishy, but retains the original "skin like" look of the classic rubber soft Mego heads. It looks great. It does Not have that cheap plastic like shiny sheen that modern Hasbro figures seem to have.
- Ankle articulation is sturdy
- The cape material could be identical to the original, but to me just seems slightly better
- The weight of the body has some heft to it - seems solid.
- The boots are similar to the original but much better material and sculpting
- Swivel knees for enhanced posing
- Height of the figure is nearly identical to the original T2 Megos it might be slightly taller but we're talking about only 1/16th of an inch.

Neutral:

- The costume is thinner than the original Mego outfits but still seems durable enough. The colors look identical to the original
- The Logo is a sticker - just like the original (Hopefully Doc Mego will be selling replacement sheets of these emblems)
- No more rubber bands and metal hooks - The new bodies are quite sturdy. Although I still appreciate the original T2 body as still being superior to anything EMCE or Mego has produced until this one.

The Cons:

Really not that much

- Velcro closures in the back. Watch out for snagging on the outfit. Disappointed they didn't use Metal snaps here.
- Knee articulation - the knees do not bend to a proper 90 Degree angle. As is they can only bend to about a 60 Degree Angle. Possibly some plastic could be shaved off on the back of the calf to allow a full 90 Degree bend.


Overall would I recommend them - Yes Absolutely.

Humorously on the back of the packaging it says "Recommended for Collectors over 17 Years of Age" However, I see no problem giving this figure to an intelligent child to play with. It looks like it could handle play wear more so than the original Megos.


I realize these are meant to be reproductions of the original figures and they achieve that.

What I'd like to see going forward for future DC Super Heroes:

- Fixed knees that can bend at least 90 Degrees
- Chest Emblems/Insignias that aren't paper stickers, nor crack and flake off like Mattel Retro Action Heroes, nor some poorly screen printed logo. The original 12 inch Mego Superman Movie figure and the Magnetic Batman figure had some kind of almost 3D like vinyl logo attached to the fabric and those have still held up until this day.
- Blue molded underwear/trunks as a nod to the original figures

[bat fisto]

... GL is probably the best figure in the line

[TrekStar]

Nice pics, is the new costume thinner and finer than the original? I’m also not into preordering rather buy them off the shelves, just hope my local Walmart will carry them. I want to get Batman and Aquaman first.

[Liu Bei]

I’ve got my preorders from ZLC. Hopefully we’ll start to see these hit soon. Gosh, what a time to be alive. This Mego relaunch has gone far beyond any expectations I ever had. Congratulations to Marty and crew, and thanks as well. They’re hitting home-run after home-run.

[nubee]

Many thanks for the pics. Looks like Mego got a winner.