Greatest American Hero

Mego 3 inch figures were becoming more prominant in the eighties






 

Pam most likely wouldn't have been made for this series

Ralph and Bill: Pocket Greatest American Heroes

Mego Greatest American Hero Car

Mego Greatest American Hero Set

Mego did manage to sneak one Greatest American Hero toy into the market before shutting it’s doors, albeit in limited numbers. (pics courtesy Brian @ PlaidStallions)

Mego Greatest American hero bug

Mego Greatest American Hero Car

The car and figures playset was similiar in concept and packaging to sets Mego produced for CHiPs,
Dukes of Hazzard and Pocket Superheroes.

Mego greatest American Hero Bug Set

Mego Greatest American Hero Bug

In terms of rarity, this set does crop up from time to time, although the show’s cult popularity keeps the prices rather high. THe majority of boxed sets found seem to have “Kay-bee Tys’ Stickers on them, suggesting that these were exclusively cleared out at that retailer.

Mego greatest American Hero Bug

“Now Available Ralph,Bill and Pam Action Figures. Poseable 8 inches tall and Fully Costumed. Only by Mego” If only
that were true….

 
Ralph Prototypes

The Ralph sculpt is somewhat more cartoony than usual mego standards

Prototypes for the eight inch Mego Greatest American Hero line are extremely rare, This is one of the first two Ralph prototypes that were found at a flea market in a dollar box, one such figure ended up in the collection of Toy Collector Extraordinaire John MacGonagle.

It later ended up in the hands of John Bonavita, who shared it with the world with his ground breaking Mego books. In fact, Bonavita claims this figure was the thing that convinced the publisher to go ahead with his well known series. Above is that example, note the finished belt with symbol. Thanks to Bonavita’s educating the world, several more Ralph Hinkley’s have surfaced coming former mego employees and sometimes, their children! It’s estimated that are there 5 known but perhaps there are close to ten examples out there.

mego museum

Thanks to good our friends at Heroes West Coast, we have what is generally referred to as an embarrassment of riches. Not one but  three different stage Ralph Hinkley action figures, two early prototypes and a finished, carded production figure.

mego museum

You can tell that MOC Ralph is a production sample because of his head paint and his belt is show accurate unlike the other two figures.

mego museum

Prototype Ralph has a crude hand painted head along which is also much harder than the other example posted below.

mego museum

Note that this card also features a revised logo from the earlier version featured below. .

The Ralph sculpt is somewhat more cartoony than usual mego standards

This second example is the most recent to crop up, a former salesman sample it differs slightly from the example above, the biggest difference is the belt, which is greay and features a buckle. It’s postulated that this is an earlier sample as this was found in the same lot as the Bill Maxwell and the Walking Twiki Prototype.

The Ralph sculpt is somewhat more cartoony than usual mego standards

Ralph is waving to show something interesting, the divet in his hand. As pointed out by Roberto Ligotti, this trait is shared by several mego prototypes, including Bill Maxwell, Web Handed Aquaman and the Logan’s Run Characters.

The Ralph sculpt is somewhat more cartoony than usual mego standards

Ralph from the back, note the plastic snaps, commonplace for so late in the game.

The Ralph sculpt is somewhat more cartoony than usual mego standards

What’s unique about this Ralph is it’s the only known carded example, the loose cards exist, but they are rarely with a figure. The card is much larger than the WGSH packaging, more in line with the Dukes of Hazzard. What adds more evidence to the concept that this is an earlier sample is the card itself, unlike the Pam figure below,this card doesn’t feature a backer. It is merely a printed litho glued to a cardboard backer. The bubbles (there are two) are held on by scotch tape and not factory sealed, this truly is a sales sample, possibly used at toy fairs or buyer presentations.

 

Pam Prototypes

Mego carded Pam is the only one known to exist

This carded Pam actually surfaced in Scotland of all
places, courtesy of Max Espie. As you can see below, it’s a production
sample.

Pam looks like another reworking of the Nubia Head

It’s estimated that there are at least 2 loose and 2 carded Pam figures out there currently.

Actual production notes on this smple prove that it's a prototype

 

Bill Prototypes
Mego Bill Maxwell

Another terrific discovery this year provided by our friends at Heroes West Coast, this is a carded Bill Maxwell sales sample recently purchased from a former department store toy buyer. The sample gives great indication as to what the finished product would have looked like.

Mego Bill Maxwell

A close up of the figure, note it’s differences to the earlier Maxwell sample found.

Mego Bill Maxwell

The big Mego discovery of the year hands down goes to the recent find of an original Bill Maxwell sample figure from Mego. While other characters such as Ralph and Pam have been uncovered in small numbers, the figure of Bill (played by Robert Culp) has been largely feard lost. Now, MegoMuseum has an indepth look at the first reported Bill Maxwell figure.

Mego Bill Maxwell

The hair appears to be handpainted and while photographs white it is actually gray. What’s interesting is that if you look in the Mego 1982 catalog, both the 8″ & the 3-3/4″ Bill figures are shown with brown hair. But the actual production 3-3/4″ Bill was produced with gray hair. Maybe this explains the gray hair on this figure. .

Mego Bill Maxwell

Bill sans his jacket, much like Fonzie or Frankenstein (or most characters with a jacket), he has no sleeves.The material of all the clothing (jacket, shirt and pants) is very similar to the material used for Mego Frankensteins pants. The collar, waistband and cuffs of the jacket are a thicker ribbed material. The shirt is sleeveless & is sewn to the pants. All the stitching is factory machine sewn. The back of the shirt has 2 sets of the square plastic snaps, one at the neck, one at the waist.

Mego Bill Maxwell
Mego Bill Maxwell

Bill from the back, his pants and shirt are a one piece.

Mego Bill Maxwell

Bill sports Duke boots and a Chips watch. The body is a standard Type 2 Mego body with black lower torso.

Mego Bill Maxwell

A closeup of the head, a good likeness of actor Robert Culp.

Mego Bill Maxwell

Shot of the Bill figure from the 1983 Mego Catalog..

Article on Mego and GAH

Here is a 1981 Advertising Age article describing Mego’s launch of Greatest American Hero

Mego turns to “Hero” in licensing effort” (Advertising Age June 1981)

New York- Mego Corp lucked out when it snared the licensing rights to “Dukes of Hazzard” before that TV series became popular and it’s hoping lightning will strike again with “The Greatest American Hero”.

(Mego VP of Marketing Alan) Chernoff said Mego will have it’s “Greatest American Hero” action figures out in the shortest possible time span, six months, giving it an October retail introduction.

To capitilize on the series while it is hot, Mr Chernoff said Mego will use bodies from unsold “”CHiPs” figures and costumes from past Superman figures.

“CHiPs” is a Mego’s other TV property and not nearly selling as well as “Dukes” the exec said. Reusing old dolls figures for new characters is not new, for example, Mr Chernoff noted that Mego reworked it’s Diana Ross dolls into current Coppertone Candi.

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