Meg Clearance in 1983

A President's day sale after Mego's demise shows clearance pricing on everything, including the World's Greatest Superheroes! Sure, the ad shows Batman but I bet it was mostly Hulks.....

The 1974 Mego Planet of the Apes Show Room

A rather epic addition today to our Planet of the Apes Galleries, the first (but hopefully not last) known shot of the 1974 Mego Toyfair showroom featuring the Planet of the Apes action figures and Doctor Cornelius himself (obviously one of the store appearance suits) click on the image for a larger view.

Thirsty for more Explore the Mego Museum Planet of the Apes Galleries!

Discuss at the Mego Forums

Buck Rogers Galleries Updated

Thanks to some great submissions from Chris Jefferys, we've got a complete section for the Buck Rogers 12" figures. Come feat your eyes on what is honestly one of the nicest figure sets ever produced by Mego.

Be sure to scope out the other Buck Rogers Galleries for never before seen prototypes and rare promotional material. It'll have you typing "biddy biddy biddy" into your ebay searchs.....

MEGO MUSEUM BUCK ROGERS GALLERIES

Spotlight on the EMCE/Mattel Sinestro

Here is another in our new gallery pages for the upcoming EMCE/Mattel "World's Greatest Superheroes" line. This time we focus on the Green Lantern's arch enemy, Sinestro. Click here to see large photos of the prototype. Images courtesy of Mark Huckabone.

Another terrific figure inspired by Challenge of the Superfriends that fufills a lot of 31 year old wish lists.

What do you think? Have your say on the Mego Forums

Read the Original EMCE announcement here

EMCE SINESTRO GALLERY PAGE

Upcoming WGSH Spotlight: Lex Luthor

Courtesy of World's Greatest Toys author Benjamin Holcomb is the Lex Luthor prototype, our first of the new figures from this Mattel/EMCE collaberation.

With all due respect to fans of Mr. Mxyzptlk, this figure is helping to erase one of the original WGSH lines biggest errors, the addition of Superman's true arch enemy, the leader of the Legion of Doom himself, Lex Luthor.

Again, we have a look that 70s kids will immediately identify as being from Challenge of the Superfriends, Bravo EMCE and Mattel!

What do you think? Have your say on the Mego Forums

Read the Original EMCE announcement here

World's Greatest Toys buy a copy today!

Upcoming WGSH Spotlight: Superman

Now that the dust has settled from the SDCC, we thought it might be fun to take a look individually of wave one of Mattel's World's Greatest Superheroes line (which is, still trippy to say) and hey, it'll pass the time until Spring right? So, courtesy of World's Greatest Toys author Benjamin Holcomb is the Superman prototype, a very fitting choice for wave one as he is part of the "original four".

Eventhough his look has been altered, there is something very familiar about Supes, you can almost hear Danny Dark's voice coming out of this figure, Bravo EMCE and Mattel!

What do you think? Have your say on the Mego Forums

Read the Original EMCE announcement here

World's Greatest Toys buy a copy today!

1973s Greatest Stars: The World's Greatest Superheroes

Again thanks to Steve F., we've got a much bigger scan of the 1974 Mego World's Greatest Superheroes Catalog page, click on it to see a larger view.

I want to go to there...

Mego Catalog Library

The American West Series

Thanks to the generosity of Steve F., we also have a much bigger scan of the 1974 Mego American West Catalog page, click on it to see a larger view.

That includes a much nicer view of the Dodge City Playset, sigh....

Mego Catalog Library

The Mad Monsters Series

Thanks to the generosity of Steve F., we have a much bigger scan of the 1974 Mego Mad Monsters Catalog page, click on it to see a larger view.

I'd also love to know what the heck this is supposed to be....

Mego Catalog Library

Mego's Superheroes lead pack in Windy City Sales

Mego Greatest American Hero Gallery Updates

Today we've got an indepth look at a Ralph Hinkley production sample figure from the Greatest American Hero line of toys. What makes this one different is that he's an earlier production sample, lots of big pictures and history about this neat figure.

Mego Museum Greatest American Hero Gallery

Some of the offerings at this weekend's MegoMeet

Folks are showing off some of their wares early this year at the Megomeet Forum. Hang on to your waller, here is just a sampling of what will be available this weekend:

Romulans by Azrak

Vintage Mego will be in abundance thanks to folks like Blue Meanie, these type two monsters won't last long nor will this beauty of a mego Superheroes display card:

Here is Mego Spidey's Megomeet display, bet it looks even better in person!

Here is the box for this year's exclusive figure Doctor KromeDome, ignore that webslinger, box creator Mike just put him there for show.

Boss is bringing some of his custom creations to the show like this lovely Superman.

Forget Matt Murdock, the Knock Knock Toy Company will have a different Dare Devil available...

Check out the Mego Meet Forum for more

Megomeet Official Website

Best Wishes, Cornelius or Planet of the Apes Day!

Neat piece added to the Mego Museum Planet of the Apes gallery today. It's an autographed handout from a store appearance made by Cornelius, although any fan worth his salt could tell you that it's Caesar in the photo. Those toy company execs can't tell their McDowell's apart. Mego did a great deal of promotion for Apes, here are some wonderful back in the day photos.

The infamous Apes Macy parade float, some new photos have come out thanks to the generosity of the Abrams family, check out this thread for more.

A Long Island store appearance for Planet of the Apes, dig the minty rack of action figures....

A colour shot of a similiar appearance.

Discuss Planet of the Apes at the Mego Forum

Visit the MegoMuseum Planet of the Apes Gallery

Palitoy of the Day: The Thing

Oh yes indeed it's Clobbering time with the ever loving blue eyed Thing on his very rare Palitoy green card. Sure he's common as heck on a French "Pin Pin" card but hop the English Channel and he's one tough cookie to find. This comes from the collection of Bill Frost. More Palitoy goodness on Monday....

Mego Museum Thing Gallery Page

Discuss Mego at our Forum

The Mego Museum Friar Tuck Trading Card

Another series of cards is upon us, continuing with the Legends theme we have Friar Tuck from the World's Greatest Super Merry Men giving Mego Robin Hood a little help across the river. Our own Scott Adams designed this fun scene and the card was sponsored by Anderson, Erik and Mark, three great members of the Mego Forum.

As is par for the course, we've also redesigned the Mego Museum Gallery for Page for the good Friar so be sure to check it out.

MegoMuseum Friar Tuck Gallery

Megotronic Cheque

An odd little piece of Mego history today, looks like somebody got the big payday of forty two smackers from the electronics division of Mego.

One man's trash is another man's lunatic obsession. Click on the image for a larger look (if your heart can take it)

Mego Toyfair Showroom 1975

Toy Fair 1975: B. Goldberg and J. Romaine (presumably sales reps) show the new Wizard of Oz line from Mego. The Diorama featued makes you wonder what other displays looked like...

Mego of the Day: Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

No "Dammit Jim" jokes please. I've always loved this figures expression, it's a great likeness.

Mego of the Day: Steve Goal Getter

Mego of the Day is UK Exclusive Steve Goalgetter, produced by Mego corp for toy distributor Wiggens Teape in the late Seventies. Steve remains one of the harder items to find in the Mego collecting world.

Mego of the Day: Forbidden Zone Trap

Mego of the Day is the Planet of the Apes Forbidden Zone Trap playset, what a time we lived in when our folks let us have a post nuclear city environment....

Mego of the Day: Bend N Flex Batgirl

Just like her WGSH counterpart Bend N Flex Batgirl is super cute and a little tougher to find in good shape than most of her male counterparts.

The Mego Doctor Zaius Prototype

We end our week of never before seen shots of the original hand made Mego production prototypes of the Planet of the Apes figures with the big guy himself, Dr. Zaius. Thanks for reading!

Click Here to see the original Prototype Dr. Zaius figure by Mego.

The Genesis of the Mego Soldier Ape Figure

Today, we have not one but two different stages of prototypes for the Mego Planet of the Apes Characters.

These original samples have been rumoured to exist for years and now we finally have beautiful full colour shots of the very first Mego Planet of the Apes characters.

Not only do we have the original hand made prototype but an early factory test shot of the Soldier Ape (or as early advertising states "General Ursus")

Click Here to see the original Prototype Soldier Ape figure by Mego.

Also, don't forget to register for this year's Megomeet convention, which is being held this June 5 & 6th in Wheeling WV. Admission is $20 and a dealer table (which includes admission) is $32. It's the only all Mego event of it's kind. Click here to register.

The 1974 Mego Cornelius Prototype

As promised, we kick off a week of never before seen shots of the original hand made Mego production prototypes of the Planet of the Apes Characters.

These original samples have been rumoured to exist for years and now we finally have beautiful full colour shots of the very first Mego Planet of the Apes characters.

Just like Zira yesterday, Cornelius proves to be another wonderfully detailed figure.

Click Here to see the original Prototype Cornelius figure by Mego.

Also, don't forget to register for this year's Megomeet convention, which is being held this June 5 & 6th in Wheeling WV. Admission is $20 and a dealer table (which includes admission) is $32. It's the only all Mego event of it's kind. Click here to register.

The Original 1974 Mego Zira Prototype

As promised, we kick off a week of never before seen shots of the original hand made Mego production prototypes of the Planet of the Apes Characters.

These original samples have been rumoured to exist for years and now we finally have beautiful full colour shots of the very first Mego Planet of the Apes characters.

Click Here to see the original Prototype Zira figure by Mego.

It's Vinyl Cape Superman!

Megohead Steve Bracha sent in this rarely seen variation of the Mego Man of Steel, the vinyl cape. Check it out here at the Mego Superman Gallery. Thanks Steve and thanks also to Chet for pointing this out.

The Doctor's Enemy #1 : The Daleks

I'm sure everybody saw this coming, today we take a new look at the demented product of the planet Skaro, the Daleks! Check out the new gallery page.

This concludes are look at the Denys Fisher Doctor Who line, many thanks to Bill Frost for all the help.

Stay Tuned Next Week for the Prototypes from 1974!

Action Jackson is only $0.99 at Two Guys

And to think I almost spent an extra $0.29 yesterday, I'm glad I waited.....

Coming this Monday: The birth of the World's Greatest Superheroes!

Toy maker grows into a giant on Hollywood, comic motifs

"He is now bringing out toy figures based on the popular TV series "The Waltons." He expects they will do as well as the "Planet of the Apes" line, which had $10 million in sales "

Hey, you can't win them all....

The Apes are at Big N

We Don't Monkey Around!

"Giantway" is the coolest name for a store ever. This ad makes me giddy.

The Mego Apes are at Mammoth Mart

$2.69? I can get them for a $1.99 at Kiddie City!

Apes and Christmas Trees

Mego Apes on sale in an ad for Kings Department Store Portsmouth New Hampshire (October 1975)

Friday Nov 22, 1974:

As a TV series, "Planet of the Apes" has been a major disappointment to Fred Silverman, Program VP at CBS, but it has been a big hit in the eyes of Marty Abrams, president of Mego International. Mego is the company which manufactures those Ape toys, and so far they have made $8 million in retail sales! But how does Mego feel about the possibility of CBS cancelling "Planet of
the Apes"? "We'll get by," says Marty Abrams, "so long as they don't cancel before the Christmas toy season."

The Apes Are Coming!

Coming soon to MegoMuseum.com: Mike Jimenez has created a complete revisal of the Mego Planet of the Apes Galleries with every page containg new information and photography.

In the spirit of all things Apes, we'll let a few jaw dropping twists escape that we have hiding beneath the Museum archives. While it will be quite a battle, you won't want to miss the ape conquest of the Mego Museum.

I'm sorry about the puns.

Mego Sir Launcelot Defends the Chamber

As the Black Knight enters the castle he is met by Arthur's best soldier, Sir Launcelot who luckily was on hand to protect Guenivere. This super card was sponsored by Bill McFarland AKA Wee67.

Check out the new and updated Museum Sir Launcelot Gallery here.

Mego Sir Galahad Does Battle

Our second card in the series depicts Sir Galahad taking on the Black Knight, this card was sponsored by our own Webmaster Joe DeRouen.

Check out the new Galahad Gallery at the Megomuseum.

The Black Knight is Coming

Mego Museum Wyatt Earp Trading Card and Gallery

Our Final Entry in American West Week is lawman Wyatt Earp, this card was sponsored by Rob Chatlin. Like every character featured, Wyatt Earp has a new Mego Museum Gallery.

Mego of the Day: Cochise

Mego of the Day is Cochise, we has a new Gallery page today.

Stay tuned all week for more American West Galleries and Card Reveals.

Mego Davy Crockett Gallery

Kicking off our American West week is the New Davy Crockett Gallery. The card was launched at this year's Mego Meet but come check out the new images and information added to his page.

Stay Tuned this week for new card reveals and galleries as American West Week continures

Mego of the Day will return this month, promise!

Black or White, He's Dynamite!

Well technically, he's not Dynamite, he's Mego's original 8 inch adventurer Action Jackson. The 1973 JC Penney Catalog doesn't have any Superhero content but it does have this swell offering AJ's world.

Megomuseum Action Jackson Gallery

Megomuseum Department Store Catalog Archive

MOTD: Miss Mary Ellen Walton

Our Mego of the Day may not have been a best seller back in '75 but her noggin has graced a metric ton of custom mego figures including Catwoman, Mary Marvel and Spider-Woman, she's a truly versatile figure.

Mego of the Day: Magnetic Superman

Our Mego spotlight goes to Magnetic Superman, the interchangable figure that borrowed it's concept from the Micronauts. Mego Trivia: The US came close to having these, Mego pitched them hard and even created North American packaging for this figures which sold well in Italy.

Mego of the Day: Zorro!

Rounding out "Moustache Week" at the Mego Museum is Spanish Superhero and UK exclusive Mego Zorro!

Mego of the Day: Dinah-Mite

There is no better way to round out the week devoted to some of our favourite 8" ladies than to finish by paying tribute to the original, Mego Dinah-Mite.

Do you collect Dinah? Or do you consider it too close to Barbie? Having trouble finding a Dinah Outfit? Let us know in the Mego Forum.

Mego of the Day: O Mighty Isis

Filmation's TV Superheroine is in the spotlight today, collectors sometimes debate as to whether or not Isis belongs in the WGSH. I frimly believe she does but what's your take?

Discuss at the Mego Forum

Mego From the Ashes: Toyfair 1983

While Mego Corporation might have shut their physical doors in 1982, the final chapter in the history of the company was yet to come. PAC Toys was already Mego's domestic Manufacturer and it's president Joe Ruzzi worked with the Mego sales force to retain them and create a new company out of the ashes of Mego.





PAC developed new toy lines based on existing Mego Product which resulted in the "Lords of Light" Toyline.


Two new ventures also came of this, the most famous being "Phoenix Toys" a collaboration of Ruzzi and former Mego President Marty Abrams:

Phoenix promised the same creativity Mego had and it's big lines that year were a girl's doll line called Charlotte Rouse (similiar to Strawberry Shortcake), a series called Shaboom Magic and the Fabulous Felines, which were based on the popularity of the musical "Cats".

(Felines image courtesy of Laurie Halbritter)

Meanwhile, another new company was formed comprising of as Ruzzi put it "The only powers left at Mego" Mike Bauer(Sales), Pat Sirkus and financial whiz Jim Groberg. The new company was to represent PAC and handle sales and R&D for the fledging toy company. It's name was OJEM.

It's announcement was somewhat frank and functional, a far cry from the highpoint of the company's creativity.

Sadly, this second attempt to launch the World's Greatest Toy Company seemed curse as it was beset by legal problems and in June 1984, facing 3 million in debt, PAC Packaging Corp, the parent company filed for bankruptcy protection.

For more information on this period, please read PAC TOYS: A Conversation with Joe Ruzzi.

More Updates at Megolike.com!

New Gallery! Come see the new Gallery for the Majic Productions Greatest American Hero figure, the latest releases from Castaway Toys and find out who the Mystery Mountie is in Unknown Toys Section..

Mego of the Day: Type 1 Kirk

Wednesday's entry into the Museum Forums Mego of the Day series is the incredibly suave Type 1 version of Captain Kirk, Command of the vinyl Starship Enterprise from the Star Trek line. I'm painfully aware of the in-joke, thankyou.

Is this your favourite figure? Did you have it as a kid? See it? Know of it? Is it in your collection now? On your want list? Do we need pictures of it's packaging in the Museum? Have you ever used it in a custom? Have you customized the character? Why wouldn't this make into your collection? Did you make funny caption pictures with it? Post pics, tell stories, say whatever, it's mego of the day.

Tomorrow's MOTD: Ralph Malph

Mego of the Day: Baron Karza

Our second entry into the Museum Forums Mego of the Day series is the deadly Baron Karza, foe to Force Commander from the Micronauts line.

Did you have it as a kid? See it? Know of it? Is it in your collection now? On your want list? Do we need pictures of it's packaging in the Museum? Have you ever used it in a custom? Have you customized the character? Why wouldn't this make into your collection? Did you make funny caption pictures with it? Post pics, tell stories, say whatever, it's mego of the day.

Tomorrow's MOTD: Type 1 Kirk

Some fine Mego Memories

Chris Flagg sent in this happy memory from Christmas 1974, he really hit the jack pot that year with the Mego Batcave playset, Batcycle, Batmobile and Batcopter. What more could a kid ask for?

Thanks Chris! Looks like the folks did a bit of catalog shopping as evidenced by this 1974 JC Penney spread:

Enjoy previous Mego Memories at the Megomuseum, Part 1 and Part 2 are full of vintage coolness. Got a pic to donate? Send it on down!

Mego Bill Maxwell Prototype Found!

A startling new discovery today, the Mego Greatest American Hero Bill Maxwell figure, long thought lost is now up for display at the Megomuseum.

One cannot begin to go on how incredibly cool that 25 years after Mego folded, that stuff like this is still being found.

Discuss this at the Mego Forum!

1976 Mego TV Promotion Schedule!

Olmo Giovannini sent in this wonderful piece of Mego history today for the Megomuseum ad archive today, the advertising Budget.

As you can see the really big money was on the Mego Star Trek Line with almost five times the budget that than the World's Greatest Superheroes. I don't ever recall seeing a commerical for the One Million BC line however...

Eight point three million bought a lof quality airtime across the country in 1976.

It's a shame this doesn't list the cartoons Mego advertised on but the local markets is cool too. Click here to see a listing of cartoons with commercials from 1977.

World's Greatest Superheroes commercials ran year round according to this chart, whereas most of the other lines such as The Waltons would only see advertising in the fall/winter months..

You won't want to miss the Megomuseum this Friday, we'll be unveiling a really big thing. Trust me on this, it's very cool.

Mego Walking Twiki Prototype

This sales sample of the walking Twiki Figure, meant to go along with the 12" Buck Rogers figure is a new addition to the Museum galleries. The figure is completely solid and does not have any moving parts, the label appears to be hand colored.

Mego Designer Tory Mucaro happily elaborated on the process used to create this figure, the figure is made of Carbolon casting material which was used at Mego. He adds "I would guess the original pattern was sculpted on the outside, and we poured RTV molds and cast duplicates to be used as sales samples"

This item was purchased from a former Mego sales rep, making it a sales sample.

A close up of the feet shows the carbolon material.

Want to see other Mego Prototypes? Here are just a few we've compiled at the MegoMuseum:

Prototype VINCent from the Black Hole

Prototype OLD B.O.B from Black Hole

Harry Booth Clay Sculpt

Original Hornetroid from the Micronauts

Logan 5 from Logan's Run

Bruce Jenner Action Figure Sculpt for CHiPs

Original 3 3/4" Klingon Figure from Star Trek: The Motion Picture

The Greatest American Hero 8" Figures

Moonraker Prototype Figures and Vehicles

Original 12" Hulk Figure

Unproduced Eagle Force Character Designs

Don't be scared, he's really a good guy

Wonderful catalog spread today just added to the Mego Museum Department Store Gallery, it's from the 1979 Spiegel catalog which like everybody else is all about TV's biggest star at the time, the Hulk.

The Mobile Batlab is a unique choice for this page, you didn't see it much in late seventies catalog.

Mego's in a Museum? Check out these terrific pics of the Mego content at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

The Ever Loving Blue Eyed Palitoy Thing

Completing our Trifecta of foreign cards this week, a clobberin' new addition to the Mego Museum World's Greatest Superheroes Section today courtesy of Bill Frost, it's a beautiful example of a UK Palitoy Carded Thing, only he and the Human Torch saw release on these sweet cards. No love for the Invisible Girl in London I guess....

The Mego Market Place Forum is a great place to find that part, custom head or that MOC figure you're looking for.

Hiss at the Palitoy Lizard!

A lovely new addition to the Mego Museum World's Greatest Superheroes Section today courtesy of Bill Frost, it's a beautiful example of a UK Palitoy Carded Lizard. One of the toughest to find in the series, no small accomplishment.

There is always something new to see at our Finished Customs Forum, each day somebody displays a new piece of Mego Art.

Wak! Wak! It's Palitoy Penguin!

A lovely new addition to the Mego Museum World's Greatest Superheroes Section today courtesy of Bill Frost, it's a beautiful example of a UK Palitoy Carded Penguin.

One of our most popular threads at the Mego Forum is New Mego Acquisitions, in which members show what the postman done brung 'em and we can live vicariously through them.

Dan’s Mego memories

Dan shares with us this happy moment from Christmas of 1974 where he received a World's Greatest Superheroes Batmobile in a beautiful header card box as well, drool, what I wouldn't give...

Enjoy previous Mego Memories at the Megomuseum, Part 1 and Part 2 are full of vintage coolness. Got a pic to donate? Send it on down!

Wes's Mego Memories

Wes shares with us this happy moment from Christmas of 1974 where he received not only a World's Greatest Superheroes Robin figure but a Planet of the Apes Soldier Ape as well. Nice stuff Wes!

Enjoy previous Mego Memories at the Megomuseum, Part 1 and Part 2 are full of vintage coolness. Got a pic to donate? Send it on down!

Canadian Buck Rogers Star Fighter

Mark sent in this great Canadian Grand Toys version of the Buck Rogers Star Fighter today, a truly hard to find piece.

Other Mego Rambling:

Tom posted his exhaustive collection of Mego meet Photos.

An extremely rare Kresge Carded Shazam is on Ebay.

Cool Customs this Week:

Sabretooth by Jason

Mack the Knife!

Mike Rogers went to town with these amazing Emergency customs.

Mego Meet Recap Part 2: The Dealers Room

Dealer's Room

A close second to being in a room full of people who share your obsession (and speak your Mego language) is the Mego Meet Dealers Room. Whether your poison is MOC, loose, custom, repro, parts, you will never find a better grouping of all things Mego under one roof than here.

The room was always tightly cramped, I often had to wait until Seminars were in session to get a good shot of what was available. Here are some but not all of the vendors in attendance:

Art Balthazar brought his impressive custom collection for all too see, he was also signing copies of my son's favourite comic, Tiny Titans.


Scott Adams brought a breath taking assortment of Dida Displays, these sets truly will make you wish you were six again. I'm really jealous of whoever got the last Monster set.

This Quick Video shows in greater details the offerings from Art, Dr. Mego EMCE Toys (the upcoming Khan and Gorn figures are awesome BTW) and Scott's Dida Displays.

Roberto "Blue Meanie" Ligotti brought a stellar assortment of items, which isn't really a surprise, he's done it for the past 4 Meets.

This case of Roberto's is where most of my Mego Money went this weekend but I am really happy about that, trust me.

John from Type 3 Toys was on hand showcasing his creations, the focus is on bronze age Marvel characters and honestly photos just don't do them justice, they are works of art.

More from Type 3 Toys, that Deathlok was truly superb.

Austin had a great assortment of customs including a '67 Spider-Man that so calling to me.

Brian Leitner had an awesome sampling of his uniforms.

New to the show Jim Hampton brought a terrific assortment of items including his Sherrif of Nottingham figure which he sold out of at the Meet.

Also new to the show was author Sean Griffen, who offered a bevy of minty figures.

Just a fun walk through video of the dealers room.

This video taken around closing time allowed me to get close to the upcoming Castaway toys Captain Action line including the Phantom, these figures looked amazing in person.

Much more Mego Meet Recollection at the Forum.

Coming Next: Mego Display, Seminars and Wrap Up.

Museum Raffle Deadline

The Deadline to buy Mego Meet raffle tickets online is Friday at noon. Mego Meet Attendess have all day to buy them from me (allowing for rest room breaks please)

Tickets are now available. Raffle tickets prices are : 1 for $5, 6 for $25 (1 Free), 12 for $50 (2 Free), 25 for $100 (5 Free). Tickets can be purchased at the meet, by paypal or email. See the paypal links below the pictures of the raffle items below. You DO NOT have to attend Mego Meet to buy raffle tickets. Winners not at the meet will have items shipped to them.

The Museum Raffle goes towards our expense and upkeep of the Mego Museum Site.

Mego Museum Annual Raffle Page

Speaking of which, it's two days until Mego Meet, the only toy show for Mego Collectors in the world. This year's event is off to a great start and hope to see you there!

The Mego Corp 1960 Catalog

A new entry into the Mego Library today, this time it's something rarely seen or talked about. Before they were the World's Greatest Toy Company Mego was an efficient company that sold modestly priced toys in something called "The Basement Department".

For a small company, they could provide an entire toy department with what needed and it's an interesting and terrific piece of Mego history.

Check out the 1960 Mego Toys Catalog

Browse the Other Mego Catalogs in the Library.

Then join us in the Mego Museum Forum, the largest and friendliest forum of it's kind on teh interweb.

Final Date for 1978 Entries

Today is the closing date for the Mego Museum's 1978 Re:Imagined project, so if you have projects/concepts today is the final day.

The entries will be judged by two members of the MegoMuseum Forum as well as two former Mego Employees, the selected pieces will then be included in our 1978: Re Imagined Catalog to be published later in the year.

Check out all the Entries Here

Two Weeks Until Mego Meet the fourth annual Mego Convention.

Lex Luthor Source Art Discovered

Chris Franklin has made another discovery in sourcing the origins of Mego packaging art, this time with the 1978 Superman the Movie Package.

It seems Lex is from the classic Treasury Edition Comic "Superman VS Spiderman" which of course our own Scott Adams paid tribute to with our Superhero Checklist Trading Card:

View more of these discoveries at our Comic Book Origins Section.

Speaking of Superheroes: Be sure to check out World's Greatest Toys Blog today, which has a funny and insightful tribute to Captain Marvel entitled "Mego Shazam Hanging by a Thread"

Portrait of the Mego Penguin done in Magna Doodle

This portrait of the Mego Penguin figure was done by World's Greatest Toys scribe Ben Holcomb on a Magna Doodle. There is no more fitting canvas for a Mego product than on another Mego product.

Great OA! Paul made this neat Guardian figure from the Green Lantern, check out all the new homemade heroes in the Finished Custom Section of the Museum forums.

Check out the Mego Museum Blog tomorrow for a very rare, never before seen display piece from the 1980 Mego Toy Fair Show Room.

Concentration Strategy Scores Gains for Mego

(February 1974) NEW YORK-A switch to a "concentration" television advertising strategy scored gains for Mego Corp. and its customers in 1973.

The change involved Mego's spending less for TV than the year before, but-achieving greater in-depth impact in selected key markets. As a result Mego returned to the black, three of its products appeared on the Toy Hit Parade during the year, and its customers are said to have had a highly successful year with the line.
The concentration strategy was developed with the aid of Ed Libov Associates, New York, a full service broadcast advertising agency that specializes in spot TV for consumer products and retail chains.

It involved cutting the number of markets on Mego's media schedule from 69 to the 23 that account for the "lion's share" of sales; shortening the campaign from 24 weeks to 16, and positioning each spot on the schedule in order to better reach the key target audience.

'You Can Control Position'

"There's a myth among spot TV advertisers that you can't control position if you get a bargain on the air time," says Libov. "The fact is, you can. And if your resources are limited, you must."

The key to positioning the Mego spots, he says, was to combine "early fringe" and "prime-access" time with children's A.M. time, heavily weighted toward "early fringe," when most school-age children are watching.

The target audience for Mego mer chandise, Libov notes, is the "plus five to nine-year-old, who's in school during most of the children's time. 'Early fringe' and 'prime-access' may appear to cost more, but the impression on the target audience actually is more effective. "

The schedule also used network TV time to reach those markets not covered by spots.

Sales-to-Ad Ratio Doubles The new approach led to increases in Mego's sales and profits, and its sales-to-advertising ratio nearly doubled, according to Neil B. Saul, vice president of marketing. Three Mego products, Dinah Mite, Lainie and World's Greatest Super Heroes, became best sellers.

Until 1971 Mego had largely been known as a supplier of imported toys and dolls in the 88 cents class, and its promotional strategy had been built around that fact. That year the company introduced Action Jackson, an action doll in the $2 to $3 class, and backed it-with a $2 million "shotgun" TV campaign. The following year Mego added many Action Jackson tie-in items, and planned to repeat the same kind of TV approach.

"We tried too many things at once," Saul concedes. "Too drastic a change in company identity, too many new products at once, and too much of the wrong kind of TV." Bearing him out was the company's track record for the year-a loss, a poor sales-to-advertising ratio and spotty retailer success.

Late in 1972, with Ed Libov's aid, Mego adopted a new strategy of extreme selectivity in marketing and new product introductions and concentration in its advertising. While the planning was begun in '72, it bore fruit in 1973.

"We began with the conclusion that Mego is Mego and not Mattel," Saul states. "The line, however good, was small, distribution was limited, and obviously so were the funds available for advertising."

"Rather than try to outgun the big names in the TV toy business," he continues, "we instead settled on the more modest, but more realistic, goal of supporting the customers we had with TV advertising, and making sure the line was profitable for us and our retailers. "

"We'll be advertising more in '74," Saul says, "but we'll retain the concentration strategy and possibly refine it still further.

Neal Saul left Mego for Azrak-Hamway/Remco in 1975. For more vintage mego articles please visit the MegoMuseum Ad Archive.

Mego Star Trek Returns Twice Plus Captain Action News

A new addition to our growing department store catalog archive is this Sears 1980 Catalog Page featuring the return of the 8" Star Trek line. Even though Mego had stopped producing the figures in 1977, they made a return to Sears by the late seventies on what many call the "Blank Back Cards" (check the Museum Star Trek pages for more info).

You'll also notice a weird playset on this page, it's actually a recording studio playset for 12" Fashion dolls that has been all "spaced up" so to speak and is not a Mego product.

Speaking of Star Trek returning, our own Roberto (Aka Blue Meanie) has shared some terrific photos of the EMCE toys Star Trek display at this past weekend's New Yory City Comic Con, click here to see more.

Roberto also reports on the Cast-A-Way Captain Action display at last weekend's Comic Con and was very impressed, check out his thoughts on Captain Action, Doctor Evil and the Phantom here.

MegoMuseum Takes a Look at Superman: The Movie

December 15th, 1978 saw the release of the Richard Donner helmed Superman: The Movie, the world's first (but definitely not last) comic book blockbuster movie.

Mego Corporation, being the toy licensor for action figures was well prepared for this event and created a great deal of product to coincide with this fantastic opportunity.

Having a good relationship with DC Comics meant Mego had plenty of reference materials from the film itself.

Former Mego Designer Harvey Zelman elaborated in his interview " I remember sitting down with everybody and they lined up all the still frames from the movie and we got the insight of what was going on. Sitting there in the meeting saying: OK, we gotta do a Fortress of Solitude, we gotta do this, we gotta do that"

Evidence can be seen from Mego Designer Vinny Baiera's production notes from one of those meetings, the notes mention that the "New Movie Line" would feature and "Ali Size" (10") Chris Reeve, a Krypton with Space Ship playset and a series of action figures that would be 12.5" tall.

While most would have imagined there would be additions to the 8" World's Greatest Superheroes line, Mego President Marty Abrams had an inclination to produce figures in 1/6th scale for movie characters.

Harvey Zelman explained this philosophy to the Museum "You got a lot more for a 12" [figure] than you did an 8" figure. [Abrams] wanted more detail to the outfits, when you did a 12.5" figure you did nice, dressy outfits whereas the 8" were [not as nice]. "

Mego ordered six headsculpts from toy artist Ken Sheller, they included a Reeves Superman, Jor El, Lex Luthor, General Zod, partner in crime Ursa and his silent henchman Non. It's not known why the latter two were not released maybe Mego was made aware that much of their contribution to Superman The Movie would be put into the sequel (The majority of Superman 2 was filmed at the same time as the original) but in the end four 12" characters were released.

Mego was optimistic about the line and Marty Abrams was especially impressed with Sheller's work, as Mr. Sheller relates "when I delivered the six wax heads, I recall that Marty (Abrams) was so happy to have them that he held up the Chris Reeve head, looked at it, said "he looks great Ken!" and then gave it a big kiss. He did this probably for two reasons. One, he liked the head alot and two, he had to get on a plane to Hong Kong right away with them, and I'm sure that he was very happy that I made the deadline."

Only the Christopher Reeve Superman Figure bore both a head sculpt and outfit that matched the movie character. The rest of the line had outfits that followed the directive of their comic counterparts. It's not known why Mego chose to do this, it may have involved rights to the movie costumes or the fact that the company simply felt the movie apparel wasn't "toyetic" enough. Certainly in the case of Lex Luthor this is true, most would prefer purple and green to one that resembled Hackman in the movie.

Mego also pitched a playset for the 12" line that would include different scenes from the Movie, the playset though not released seems to have gone through several transitions and can be seen in great detail at it's new gallery page.

Mego also added new characters to their fledgling Pocket Super Heroes line in the guise of Jor El, Zod and Luthor. These figures appeared rushed as did their resulting generic packaging and were not good sellers for Mego.

Later revisions to the Pocket Superheroes packaging would still show the movie trio but they were not produced past their initial run.

Mego also pitched two playsets for this line, both movie based The Fortress of Solitude and Earth Quake sets were clever recycling of old "Comic Action Heroes" molds that made sense but buyers balked at the concept and both were not released.

In the end, the man of Steel movie merchandise did not fly for Mego. Former Mego VP Cindy Schriebman explained in a 1982 newspaper interview "Superman didn't increase sales for us" she added "It came out at the time of Star Wars and other blockbusters. It was a question of vying for dollars for action figures."


Today, the Mego Superman line is somewhat underrated, the Pocket Heroes can be found MOC for under $20 and the high quality 12.5" figures are somewhat under appreciated for what they are. We are pleased at the Museum to debut our new galleries for this line:

Superman Lex Luthor Jor El General Zod Unproduced Playset

Discuss this on the Mego Forum


Also be sure to check the World's Greatest Toys Blog today, as they present the fifth and final segment in their series unveiling the 1975 Mego Spring Catalog, today's reveal is all about the heroes!

Heroes World Ad: Mego Black Hole

A fun ad in our Heroes world gallery today, this time it's a wonderfully illustrated piece for the Mego Black Hole 12" and 3 3/4" figures.

What's best about this image is how sneaky they depict Ernest Borgnine's character. Look at those shifty eyes, you know he's up to no good. DUN-DUN-DUN!

If this has left craving more Mego Black Hole, cruise over to our Black Hole Gallery for shots of loose, carded and even prototype items from Mego.

Mike Rogers unveiled his latest custom figure, Detective Dan McGarrett from Hawaii Five-0, which I think is gangbusters. Mike also has the Custom Spotlight this week with his Dracula figure, he's on a roll. Check out all the latest creations at Custom Mego.

Over at the World's Greatest Toys Blog, Benjamin is unveiling a page from the recently discovered 1975 Mego Spring Supplement , today's reveal is a never before seen page for Mego Bend N Flex, neat-o!

That's all the Mego for today, stay tuned this week for when the Mego Museum takes a look at Superman : The Movie merchandise.

The World of the Micronauts!

Another beautiful addition to the Mego Museum Department Store Catalog Archive . The 1979 Mongomery Wards Catalog had an impressive selection of Mego Micronauts including the Rocket Tubes playset.

Buy and Trade Mego Micronauts at the Mego Museum Forums, click here

We've expanded the Mego Custom Universe at our forum, now will three individual Custom Forums to serve you better, check out the expanded Custom universe at Custom Mego.

Only two months left for Megomeet, the world's only Mego Convention. Check out the official site for more information.

The Mego Superheroes Still Strong in 1979 Wards

To start a new month off right why not showcase a beautiful page such as this in the Mego Museum Department Store Catalog Archive . The 1979 Mongomery Wards Catalog had an impressive selection of Mego Superheroes including the Elastic Heroes and the larger then life play set The Wayne Foundation.

Buy and Trade Mego Superheroes at the Mego Museum Forums, click here

Speaking of Superheroes, check out this killer Mr.Fantastic figure, it's this week's custom spotlight. Check out all the cool goodies at Custom Mego.

Only two months left for Megomeet, the world's only Mego Convention. Check out the official site for more information.

Mego Memories: Wolfman Christmas

From 1974 Steve Banes opens a Mego Mad Monster Wolfman. Steve got all 4 of the Mad Monsters that year but this is the only one with a photo. He tells us he simply could not wait to have Wolfie kill G.I. Joe.

Enjoy previous Mego Memories at the Megomuseum, Part 1 and Part 2 are full of vintage coolness. Got a pic to donate? Send it on down!

Check out this week's Custom Spotlight in Custom Mego!

MegoMeet 2008: The fourth annual Mego Convention will be held on June 6 & 7 in Wheeling, WV. For more information check out the official site and forum. Be sure to see pics from past Megomeet, here are the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, Mego Meet is a blast, hope to see you there!

Action Jackson Appreciation Day

We pay a little homage to the original Mego 8" Man of Action Today with some much needed updates to the Mego Action Jackson gallery. Included are new photos to the boxed figure page, new entries in the foreign outfit section, more catalog gift sets and a page devoted to the long lost Adventure Set. There are literally dozens of new additions and changes to these pages so take your time and explore. If you have anything we don't and would like to add it, drop us a line!

Discuss, buy or sell Action Jackson at the Mego Forum!

Mego Action Figures In Full Force in 1976 Sears Catalog

This interesting catalog spread from the 1976 Sears (Canada) Catalog prominently features the Mego World's Greatest Superheroes being sold with their "official outfits" (which are of course, closed out Action Jackson uniforms. Star Trek was still riding high while Planet of the Apes were going into deep discount, they would appear in Sears Canada catalogs until 1978, note the exclusive Horse, Wagon and Catapult set pictured.

For More Retro Christmas Catalogs check out the Mego Museum Catalog Archive

Discuss your favourite Mego figures or do some buying and selling at the Mego Forum.

New! Captain America with Fly Away Action

New to the Mego Museum Ad Archive is this 1980 Toy Fair Flier for the Mego 12" Captain America figure. No mention of the giant head though....

Mego Gets a License to Kill with Moonraker

An exciting update today as we add a new page to our Mego Moonraker Gallery. Today's update explores the 1979 Mego Moonraker catalog which reveals many items that were never released, including color photographs of prototype figures and vehicles. See what Mego had in store for 007 with this new page.

Beaming Down Some Star Trek Goodness

A generous helping of new images to the Star Trek The Motion Picture Gallery today, courtesy of Craig MacKillop. Check out some very nice Canadian rarities such as MOC Aliens and the wonderful Grand Toys boxed Enterprise pictured above.

Today it's all about CHiPs!

A very thorough update today thanks to the contributions of collectors Craig MacKillop and Mark Schmidt, we have an exhaustive amount of Canadian packaged goodies from the Mego CHiPs line including the very rare "2+2" pack shown above. Enjoy!

Buck Rogers Gallery Updates

Thanks to Craig MacKillop we have some updates today to the Mego Buck Rogers Gallery including some rare Canadian issued Carded figures. Look for more Canadian updates all this week.

Black Hole Gallery update

Thanks to Craig MacKillop we have some updates today to the Mego Black Hole Gallery including some rare Canadian issued Carded figures. Look for more Canadian updates all this week.

Mego's Big Ideas for 1980

This new addition to the Mego Ad Archive is a 1980 advertisement for the 1980 Mego Line Up the piece features examples from many toy companies including fashion Candy, Micronauts, Black Hole and the Elastic Superheroes.

Make Mine Marvel Mego

This new addition to the Mego Ad Archive is a 1980 advertisement for licensing Marvel comics characters the piece features examples from many toy companies including Milton bradley, Empire, funstuff, Remco and of course Mego World's Greatest Superheroes.

Mego's Outlook for 1980

A new entry to the Mego Museum Library today is this 1980 Toy Fair preview of some of Mego's new products. Sadly, many of them including cool Micronaut alien vehicles such as Iguanos and remote controlled VINCent from the Black Hole were never released.

The rest of the week on the Mego Museum will be devoted to Mego at the 1980 toy fair, stay tuned for updates.

Mego Toy Store Pic from 1980

This awesome new colour picture of the Mego Superheroes in Gimbels demonstrates how the line had shrunk down it's core by this time. Note there is a whole display of 12" Incredible Hulk dolls and Remco Spider-Copters behind.

This just one of many vintage toy store shots that we have in the Mego Museum Ad Archive.

This image is from 1975 and shows an end cap of Mego Super Vators and Batcaves as well as an above average selection of G.I. Joe.

Look carefully at this Circus World image from 1976, you'll see something familiar in the window.

Another great scene from 1976, this time a WGSH Display box nestles calmly between a literal army of Adventure Team Joes.

What was your favourite place to buy Mego back in the day?
Discuss it at the Mego Museum Forums.

Mego Prototype Harry Booth Sculpt from the Black Hole

Prototype Week finishes with another look at Mego Corp's lost treasures courtesy of Tory Mucaro, today it's the clay head sculpt for the 12" Harry Booth from the Black Hole, something Mego collectors rarely see.

Micronauts Prototype Hornetroid

Today's entry into prototype week is a submission by Ray Miller, who did some digging an uncovered the evolution of the killer Micronauts vehicle The Hornetroid. It's an interesting look at how many changes can be made to a toy before it gets to the store.

Mego Prototype V.I.N.Cent from the Black Hole

In keeping with our theme of Prototype week we present the original V.I.N.Cent from the Black Hole. Mego made some changes to this guy before he was released so it's an interesting piece to say the least.

Mego Prototype Old B.O.B from the Black Hole

Prototype continues with another look at Mego Corp's lost treasures courtesy of Tory Mucaro, today it's the weathered Old B.O.B from the Black Hole, a figure that never saw release in the United States.

Prototype Week Begins with Twiki!

Our first prototype is this amazing hand made resin sample of Twiki from the collection of former Mego designer Tory Mucaro and he shares with us not only the photos but some insight into how the item itself was made. Check out the Mego Twiki Prototype page.

Be sure to check back every day this week for another piece from the Mego model shop.

Coming Next Week

A week of test shots, original sculpts and original hand painted samples all straight from the Mego R&D office. Prototype Week will begin next Monday at the Megomuseum.

The Mego Superfoes will freak you out!

Neat addition to the MegoMuseum Ad Archive today, it's the 1974 Toyfair press release for the Mego Super Foes. Sadly, there isn't one for the Supergals.

Biddy! Biddy! Biddy!

Another addition to the growing Mego Department Store Catalog Archive this time focusing on their Buck Rogers Selection . Some 3 3/4" goodness for a Thursday morning.

Ward's dwindling Mego Selection in 1980

Another addition to the rapidly expanding Mego Department Store Catalog Archive this time focusing on the sad one page Mego content in the 1980's Wards Catalog. World's Greatest Superheroes Micronauts and the Elastic Heroes all smushed together....

Streeeetch Hulk

A cool addition to the Museum Galleries today, it's a UK released Stretch Hulk by Denys Fisher, courtesy of Will. Click on the picture to visit the gallery and see the new content.

1979 JC Penney's Superhero offerings: regular and elastic

Another addition to the rapidly expanding Mego Department Store Catalog Archive this time focusing on Superheroes both 8" or the Elastic kind, it's your choice!

Childworld 1975: Mego Wizard of Oz Ad

For the remainder of the week, we'll be looking at some wonderful clippings from a 1975 newspaper circular for Childworld in 1975 with it's wonderfully recoloured Mego Reproduction Art. First up is Mego Wizard of Oz which was another big attraction in 1975 for Mego. Check back everyday this week for a new piece from this flyer.

For more about Mego Reproduction Art, visit the Museum Gallery Here.

Childworld 1975 : Mego Star Trek Ad

For the remainder of the week, we'll be looking at some wonderful clippings from a 1975 newspaper circular for Childworld in 1975 with it's wonderfully recoloured Mego Reproduction Art. First up is Mego Star Trek which was the big star of 1975 for Mego. Check back everyday this week for a new piece from this flyer.

For more about Mego Reproduction Art, visit the Museum Gallery Here.

Lost Treasures of the 1974 Mego Showroom

The Mego find of the decade sounds a bit like a dream a lot of collectors have had, a young Mego employee asks to keep the items from the 1974 Toy Fair showroom and then stores them in a climate controlled closet for 34 years. That's exactly what toy collector/dealer Bruce Zalkin encountered recently when he unearthed rare store displays, prototype figures and never before seen items. Read Lost Treasures of the Mego Showroom, it's one you won't want to miss!

If that weren't enough, all of these items will be available for sale through Ebay this month in no reserve auctions! Details are in the article, happy bidding!

Also, be sure to pick up this month's Lee's Toy Review for an article on this find.