Mmmm… Mego-like

[AcroRay]

I think Mego73 has an excellent point on the off-model and innocent quality of the Mego designs. What always characterized "Mego" for me as far as costumed figure toys was concerned was the rather silly, unrealistic quality of them. They were fun little 'dolls' of super hero and Tv characters.

When I was younger, however, those were negative factors that kept me away from them. As an adult, I appreciate that as their charm and appeal.

I enjoy the very elaborate, realistic customs many people make. But its the odd combination of those off-scale fabrics and chunky details coupled with realistic head sculpts and an obvious attempt at 'authentic costumes/details' than make Mego for me. There'll always be a difference in execution that will say "Mego" that has a unique appeal that more dramatic, realistic lines like Dragon and Medicom can't duplicate.

[mego73]

Mego like for me is 8" articulated figures with real clothing. The figure bodies resemble real bodies rather than hyper stylized muscle bodies. The mindset of "Mego like" is that it's made for the kids or now that we are adults, the kid in us, not for adult fanboys.

This is what most companies doing action figures aiming to be "Mego like" fail to see.

Megos have a sunny disposition, so much so that if figures like Mego's came out today would shut down aintitcool.com with all the fanboy complaints. Batman is smiling, so is Robin. Fanboys are looking for "Badass", Megos are "innocent".

So Mego like:

Somewhat realistic body with clothing, good but idealized likenesses. Costume and likeness capture the "essence" but can be "off model" in many ways. Final result is aimed at kids, like the Batman Mego evokes the Adam West, Filmation, Hanna Barbara Batman rather than THE DARK KNIGHT and Burton films.

[thunderbolt]

I've always thought of any cloth be-suited figures that weren't military based to be Mego like and military ones, including Action Jackson and Lion Rock, to be Gi Joe like. Not sure where Captain Action fits into my definition, I guess he could be the Mego ancestor?

[ABMAC]

I don't consider 8" figures with sculpted-on clothing to be Mego-like, but they are Mego-compatible — especially the ones with fabric clothing that goes on over the sculpted clothes.

Marx's Safari Adventure figures look good with my Mego figures, but their Rat Patrol guys and Apollo astronauts don't fit in.

[Megotu]

So the 8 inch Durham Mash figures which had some removable aprons and hats was not Mego like. The 7-8 inch Marx figures which had the plastic hats and chaps and weapons and such but still molded-on clothes were also not quite Mego enough...

[Hulk]

I'm not trying to exclude any figures because of their size. I was just curious whether some people consider all superhero figures to be "Mego-like."

Articulation alone doesn't cut it for me. Its got to have the removeable clothing for me, and not just a small item like a hat or cape.

Exceptions made for the 3 3/4 inch scale of course. Mego made that format viable, Kenner just picked up the ball and ran with it.

Good thread to open this forum with.

[ABMAC]

I'm not trying to exclude any figures because of their size. I was just curious whether some people consider all superhero figures to be "Mego-like."

[Hulk]

I'm among the first to admit that when you say Mego, I see an 8 inch figure with removeable clothes. But I have say that I've been converted to those that see any figure with removeable clothes to be Mego-like. For example, in the 12 inch scale, I still see military figures as "GI Joe Like", but I see the 12 or 13 inch DC Direct figures as being Mego-like, in the same way that Famous Covers are. I know, heresy!

I don't want a 12 inch forum here, like the Micronauts and 3 3/4 " forum, so if we have to occassionally put up with some other scales here, I'll survive.

[palitoy]

If I may play devil's advocate, Mego made 10", 12" and 6" figures with an emphasis on articualtion. Life's too short to be hemmed down by too many regulations on a toy board, we're going to sound like the board of directors at my parent's condo.

Trust me, that's a bad thing.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Gotta go with the 8" cloth-costumed figure. This is what Mego pioneered, and produced more lines and figures in this format. I'd include the Hasbro DC and Marvel 9" and Famous Covers in a "Mego-Like" catergory, due to the subject being one Mego is so famous for, and the proximity in size.

Chris

[megowgsh]

What does "Mego-like" mean to you?

To me, it means a semi-realistically sculpted and articulated 8" figure with removable fabric clothing.

12" figures are "G.I. Joe-like"

DITTO!!!!!

[Megotu]

Oh I totally agree with Abmac on the 8 inch format as our focus here. I am just genetically pre-programmed to diametrically oppose starbuk on every single post he makes.

[HardyGirl]

Even though I did/do have an 18" Lainie doll, I do think 8" figure when I hear MEGO.

[ctc]

>it means a semi-realistically sculpted and articulated 8" figure with removable fabric clothing.

Yup!

>12" figures are "G.I. Joe-like"

Yup! 3.5" are "Star Wars-like" 9" are "Big Jim-like" 7" are justb weird....

Even though Mego did figures in pretty much every scale; I think they'll be forever associated with the 8" figure. At least to me.

Don C.

[Megotu]

Which is to say, the 1/9 scale. True 1/10 scale would be 7.2 inches...which isn't far at all from the true height of a barefooted Male Mego figure without any headgear.