Update on New Bandless Body

[Mejo]

Got the new Captain Marvel and Black Adam the other day, and while I like the figures on their own, they don't really blend in standing next to previous releases, all of which have much larger heads, adding to their height. Don't get me wrong, I prefer figures with more realistically proportioned heads (these aren't Funko Pops after all!), so when Mego puts out more figures like this, they won't seem so different.

Also, the hands on the newer figures, like Cap, have a more "realistic" finger positioning but, again, I'm used to the classic hands of Mego and so the new hands look almost "dainty" in comparison. They look like they're meant to be pulling a trigger, or something. I prefer the classic hands, which don't look so specific as to what they are doing; you could as easily pretend they are socking someone as much as holding something. And how many super-heroes use guns? These hands could be reserved for characters like Deadpool or Western themed sharpshooters.

I know it's a lot to ask of the company, which I think is doing a great job returning to the business, but maybe eventually figures could have several male body types, depending on the character. This applies to torsos, arm, and legs.

1) The Standard body: for characters who have a heroic physique but aren't overly developed. Examples: Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Black Adam, etc.

2) The Beefy body: for characters that have slightly bulkier look to them. Examples: Captain Marvel, Mr. Hyde, Absorbing Man, Baron Mordo, Beast, Dr. Octopus, etc.

3) The Child body: for characters that are significantly younger or smaller. Examples: Aang, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Billy Batson, etc.

Height adjustments to the Standard or Beefy characters could be minimal (just a quarter-inch taller or shorter would be enough) and achieved solely by a slight change in the length of the thighs. The Sidekick--Robin or Bucky, for example--could have the same arms and torsos as the Standard figure but have legs that are just a tad shorter. Same for Tall characters--like Tall Marvel or Thor--only with legs that are slightly longer than average (used sparingly, of course). The Beast, for example, could have the Beefier parts but with slightly shorter legs.

For characters known for their ample girth around the middle (i.e. Penguin, Bouncing Boy, Friar Tuck, Uncle Dudley, Harry Mudd, etc.), a special torso could be used in conjunction with either Standard or Beefy arms and legs, with either taller or shorter legs, depending on their overall look.

4) A special Monster body, with a far wider girth to arms, legs, and arms, could be used for characters like the Hulk and Juggernaut. The Hulk really doesn't need to be any more than 8.5" tall.

The 14" scale could be reserved for characters of exceptional height, like Galactus, Validus, Giant-Man, etc. Again, the body type (Standard, Beefy, Monster, etc.) could all apply, albeit scaled up.

Anyway, I'm just rambling on now. I'm no toy designer, but I do have complete faith in Mego to perfect their brand ... after all, they invented the 8" action figure, which we all love, and I look forward to many more characters to come!

[LonnieFisher]

The waist is also higher, so the legs are longer, too. Not just the torso.

The only change in the bodies is actually just the torso being stretched out a little. Legs are the same length and arms are also the same length.

[KingKickass1983]

Hmm...if only the lower legs were a bit longer they'd be perfect...

[thunderbolt]

The waist is also higher, so the legs are longer, too. Not just the torso.

in the chest to chest shot they look close and the shorter body has the pelvis rolled toward the back too

[LonnieFisher]

It's just a new torso. That's the added height. The torso is a bit bigger.

The waist is also higher, so the legs are longer, too. Not just the torso.

[ODBJBG]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]33415[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]33416[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]33417[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]33418[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]33419[/ATTACH]

Attached are the the requested pics. I also attached 2 pics of the Sidekick-like CM body to the headless Son of Frankenstein body. Again, for me, this is a nada body for superheroes. Civilians like the upcoming Ghost Busters r Ok but not for CM, Supes, Batman, Aquaman, etc.

Thanks for the pics. It's just a new torso. That's the added height. The torso is a bit bigger.

Very odd that they would fix that but not the waist gap.

I'll be honest, I find Mego's regular changing of the bodies and releasing what it essentially unfinished and piecemeal product baffling.

Part of the whole "charm" of Mego is that there is a body more or less already made and they can quickly crank out new costumes, heads, add ons, etc to make new figures. But in a way it feels like this new venture has been all about getting licenses and cranking out toys without actually having that base body done.

[scott metzger]

They aren't changing this newer body, they are making another body at a different factory that will have the fixed waist gap.

That's good news on the waist gap.

Got some wave 15 figures last night and took a look at the bodies compared to an original Mego. It's almost the same height, back to back. As you can see in the pictures in the post above, the tops of the arms where they plug into the shoulders are pretty much dead even. The difference seems to be above the collar bone. The new body is a lot more flat where the old body slopes up more toward the neck hole/peg. The legs are a little shorter, but the torso is a little longer, so it almost evens out. The difference is small now. As long as the heads are a little bigger in the future to match the larger torso, I think the difference is going to be within most folks' tolerance.

[LonnieFisher]

Thanks for the pics. They got it pretty close. It looks like the difference now is below the waist (nah... too easy).

I know Joel mentioned the potential for additional changes to the waist gap. Hopefully when they make that change, they get the rest of these kinks worked out.

They aren't changing this newer body, they are making another body at a different factory that will have the fixed waist gap.

[sprytel]

Thanks for the pics. They got it pretty close. It looks like the difference now is below the waist (nah... too easy).

I know Joel mentioned the potential for additional changes to the waist gap. Hopefully when they make that change, they get the rest of these kinks worked out.

[nubee]

Anyone got a pic of the newest body nude? Where is the added height coming from? Does it still have that awkward gap between the torso and hips?

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Attached are the the requested pics. I also attached 2 pics of the Sidekick-like CM body to the headless Son of Frankenstein body. Again, for me, this is a nada body for superheroes. Civilians like the upcoming Ghost Busters r Ok but not for CM, Supes, Batman, Aquaman, etc.

[LonnieFisher]

Lonnie, is the head painted flesh? it sure doesn't match the body color.

I don't own this figure. It's a picture from facebook.

[thunderbolt]

Between his chest and waist he was stretched out a little. Other than that, I don't know where he was made taller. He still has the waist gap.

Lonnie, is the head painted flesh? it sure doesn't match the body color.

[nubee]

Anyone got a pic of the newest body nude? Where is the added height coming from? Does it still have that awkward gap between the torso and hips?

I will stripped the two CMs (Topps and Wave 15) and take a pic when I get home. (I really have no use for them as is. I plan on using them to kit-bash a better custom....sign.) Yes, it will definitely give a better perception of the height difference. With the daylight, I may even have a better perception of the reason why the Wave 15 CM has such a hard time balancing in a neutral position such as standing. From my flashlight, I swear it looks like it's due to the feet not fitting correctly into the boots. My Wave 15 CM keeps leaning forward unless I bend the knees or take the boots off. The Wave 15 suit is kinda tight on CM too. It was made for the Topps CM :(. I was so happy with Flash I bought 2. I now have 4 CMs (2 Topps and 2 Wave 15) and I am not happy with either of 'em.

[LonnieFisher]

Between his chest and waist he was stretched out a little. Other than that, I don't know where he was made taller. He still has the waist gap.

[ODBJBG]

Anyone got a pic of the newest body nude? Where is the added height coming from? Does it still have that awkward gap between the torso and hips?