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Why does Mego Isis have sandals?

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  • Earth 2 Chris
    Verbose Member
    • Mar 7, 2004
    • 32944

    Why does Mego Isis have sandals?

    One thing that's bothered me ever since I first really noticed it: While Mego's Isis has those intricate, and annoyingly hard to find sandals, her TV and comic counterparts had boots! I couldn't find any pics of Joanna Cameron's Isis footwear online (hard to believe) but I've recently re-read Backissue's Isis article of a few issues ago, and she definitely has on short boots. The comics gave her some more standard super hero boots.





    So why did frugal Mego go out of their way to make such intricate, and inaccurate footwear, when they could have just used Uhura boots?

    Is it possible that Mego originally planned on using these for Wonder Woman? Wonder Woman wore sandals in the comics from the late 40s up til the mid-60s. All her figural interpretations from Ideal in the 60s, including the Super Queens doll, the JLA figurine, and the hand puppet have sandals. And we know some of other early efforts were directly influenced by Ideal's Captain Action line (esp. Robin). In the comics, she briefly switched back to boots before dropping her costume all together for her non-powered "mod" period in the very late 60s. She was only briefly back in costume (with boots) before Mego first issued their WW figure.

    So could Mego have originally planned these for WW, but decided against it when they kept her in her all-silkscreen suit, unlike the other 3 Super Gals, who got full costume upgrades? Did they just add the red boots to later issues because it was easier to mold them in red than put the sandals in production? Or maybe they thought there would be issues with the sandals fitting over the bodysuit?

    Or could maybe Mego have thought of making Wondergirl in her original outfit, which had sandals instead of boots? This was the costume she wore on the Filmation Teen Titan segments?

    Just throwing out some theories here. I may be totally off base. It just seems weird for Mego to tool something like this that is wholly inaccurate when they could have taken the easy way out with the boots, and have been right!

    Chris
    sigpic
  • megoscott
    Founding Partner
    • Nov 17, 2006
    • 8710

    #2
    Interesting. I doubt the WW idea myself, but I wonder where they did come up with sandals. I pulled this off of youtube---shorter than the comics, but definitely heeled boots.



    Don't forget the shoeless prototype...seems the sandals came late in the game.

    This profile is no longer active.

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    • The Toyroom
      The Packaging King
      • Dec 31, 2004
      • 16653

      #3
      I've gone with Uhura boots on my Isis so although she's not Mego-accurate she's comic book/TV accurate. Interesting subject though...why DID Mego do some of the things they did? Like "How many takes does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop"..."The world may never know".
      Think OUTSIDE the Box! For the BEST in Repro & Custom Packaging!

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      • megoscott
        Founding Partner
        • Nov 17, 2006
        • 8710

        #4
        I think I prefer the sandals, myself. They go with the costume better. I wonder if Mego based their design on an early costume design from the show--something from pre-production that didn't make the final cut.
        This profile is no longer active.

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        • Wee67
          Museum Correspondent
          • Apr 2, 2002
          • 10603

          #5
          Well the sandals definitely work better than the Flavor-Flav medallion she has on in the prototype version.

          Maybe it was just a matter of being able to do it. Remember, Mego's technology got better as they went along. A designer may have done it simply because they were now (or then) capable.
          WANTED - Solid-Boxed WGSH's, C.8 or better.

          Comment

          • jwyblejr
            galactic yo-yo
            • Apr 6, 2006
            • 11147

            #6
            Maybe they figured because she's suppose to be like Egyptian,it would make more sense for her to have sandals instead of boots? Maybe Mego figured someone on the tv series goofed by giving her boots. Just an idea.

            Comment

            • johnnystorm
              Hot Child in the City
              • Jul 3, 2008
              • 4293

              #7
              I'd have to agree with the prototype pre-production idea. JoAnna Cameron was not an overly tall woman (5'6"), so perhaps they originally planned Egyptian sandals then switched to the heeled boots to make her more imposing when in costume fighting the bad guys. Just guessing here, not really a whole lot out there on Isis.

              Still, I love my Mego figure! Wish there was more merchandise out there...I've found a bit of it, still looking for the coloring & sticker books.

              Comment

              • Bionic Joe
                Persistent Member
                • Dec 10, 2006
                • 1749

                #8
                As i collect loose MEGOs and as luck would have it my ISIS was missing her sandels and for awhile i checked for a pair with no luck so i just ordered a pair of black female superhero boots from DOC MEGO and they look great on her so i gave up looking for her sandels and are sticking with the boots ps Supergirl looks a lot better wearing red female superhero boots also

                Comment

                • Earth 2 Chris
                  Verbose Member
                  • Mar 7, 2004
                  • 32944

                  #9
                  I had thought of maybe an early costume design they were working from. That makes sense.

                  Either way, a fun thing to ponder.

                  Chris
                  sigpic

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                  • LOU
                    Museum FIN-atic
                    • Nov 20, 2003
                    • 2771

                    #10
                    Does anyone know if that Isis medallion thing in the prototype pic ever turned up in someone's collection or was it never discovered?

                    Comment

                    • jemboy2004
                      Persistent Member
                      • Aug 14, 2005
                      • 1703

                      #11
                      I love the idea that Wonder Woman could have come with the sandals that would have cool.

                      Although Scott points out that Isis's Proto didn't even show the sandals so if they had been planned for 8" Wonder Woman before they decided to ax her from the line in favor of the 12" they must likely would have been available for that proto pic but I do hope one day Doc Mego makes repros of Isis Sandals and has the good sense to do them in Red for Wonder Woman too.

                      Comment

                      • captact
                        King of Super Queens!
                        • Aug 19, 2007
                        • 1997

                        #12
                        I guess Mego back then,..always used pre-production studio pics when designing their TV or movie action figures,..once figures were done, inspected and were approved to be made, studios then decided in last minute changes in outfits/access. of the actors or cartoons, making it to late for mego to change them,..examples of these are:
                        Speedy (no pants and long sleeves), Wondergirl (no V shape blouse, no bracelets), Penguin (supposed to use longer pants), Mr. Mxyzptlk (wrong body), Catwoman, Capt. America (wrong sleeves, no gloves), 12" Capt. America (wrong body, no red hands), Cheron, Gorn, Mugato(u), Talos, Keeper, etc....

                        Comment

                        • mego73
                          Printed paperboard Tiger
                          • Aug 1, 2003
                          • 6690

                          #13
                          I think the reason why is because Mego knew that 30+years later us guys would have fun trying to get an Isis with a pair of those fragile sandals intact

                          P.S. This cover is kind of... hot.


                          Last edited by mego73; Sep 6, '08, 12:33 AM.

                          [email protected]

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                          • PNGwynne
                            Master of Fowl Play
                            • Jun 5, 2008
                            • 19917

                            #14
                            I think Isis' sandals, although inaccurate, look great.

                            I was always a big fan of her show--enjoyed it even more than Shazam, which seemed watered-down. (I'm a MAJOR fan of the Big Red Cheese, though.)

                            And if my two cents matters, I'd really like to see Doc do her sandals, as well. In red & black would be great! Isis sandals would look good on a custom Talosian, too.
                            WANTED: Dick Grayson SI trousers; gray AJ Mustang horse; vintage RC Batman (Bruce Wayne) head; minty Wolfman tights; mint Black Knight sword; minty Launcelot boots; Lion Rock (pale) Dracula & Mummy heads; Lion Rock Franky squared boots; Wayne Foundation blue furniture; Flash Gordon/Ming (10") unbroken holsters; CHiPs gloved arms; POTA T2 tan body; CTVT/vintage Friar Tuck robes, BBP TZ Burgess Meredith glasses.

                            Comment

                            • Earth 2 Chris
                              Verbose Member
                              • Mar 7, 2004
                              • 32944

                              #15
                              I think the reason why is because Mego knew that 30+years later us guys would have fun trying to get an Isis with a pair of those fragile sandals intact

                              P.S. This cover is kind of... hot.

                              Yeah, Dr. Wertham would have had a field day with that one. The snake is even going between her legs. Not suggestive AT ALL.

                              Chris
                              sigpic

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