For a Mego collector, there is nothing more exciting than finding out you’re
not done. When Tex
Willer first appeared in the mid nineties or when John
Bonavita unveiled Zorro within
the pages of his book, making many collectors turn an eye towards the UK.
Watch our video history of Mego Jet Jungle.
Well, thanks to collector Jane in the UK, we have another one of those discoveries with South Africa’s Superhero Jet Jungle, a radio Superhero who is described as a mix of Tarzan and Superman .
In October of 2005, Jane joined the Mego Museum Forums and set the Mego Collecting world on it’s ear with the simple question as to the value of her boxed Jet Jungle.
Laurie, a long time regular of the forum recognized Jet as a mystery figure in her own collection she had been trying to identify, soon after 2 more Jets were discovered in private collections in Africa.
The figure is a retooled Bruce Wayne head, it’s amazing how practical this head is, it truly looks like an original sculpt of the character. Mego, as most know, used this head as the hero for the Italian Tex Willer line
The Box art is from promotional materials that featured Jet and is very fitting. Mego nailed the likeness without even trying.
Jet was used by Springbok radio to advertise Jungle Oats and is promoted as the fittest man in the World. Jet Jungle merchandise is very hard to find in South Africa
The outfit is a slightly modified Action
Jackson Signal Spy outfit which looks just like Jet Jungles outfit, this
must have been a slam dunk for Mego’s sales agents. The pants however have
a flare to them, which the AJ spy outfit doesn’t. Since Jet’s discovery,
three other examples of Jet have been found the photo above is courtesy of
Martin.
The box itself is in a combination of English and what might
be dutch (or the Afrikaans dialect). The colors are fantastic!
The Mego Museum Wishes to thank Jane for her incredible
contribution.
Discuss this find in the Mego Collectors Forum
Jet Jungle’s shirt has been factory reproduced by Classic TV Toys. The material of the repro is more slick and shiny. It has cuffs and the sleeves and a waistband, the original does not. The collar on the repro is larger, and lays flat compared to the orignial.
Like the shirt, CTVT’s repro pants are made of the same slick and shiny material. Original JJ pants flare at the bottom, the CTVT’s do not, they are made to tuck into the boots.
The original JJ emblem is rounded around the corners. The CTVT emblem is pointed at the corners and is VERY large when compared to the original.
Original JJ boots are short combat style boots. They are the same boots found on the Planet of the Apes Astronaut and in Action Jackson’s Navy set. CTVT’s reproductions are modeled after POTA’s Soldier Ape boots, which are also found in many Action Jackson sets. The repro’s are very soft and rubbery compared to the originals, and are unmarked.
Jet Jungle features a repainted Bruce Wayne head. The neck is unmarked. The CTVT repro is made of a softer material and is shaped a little different. It’s a little wider in the chin and more squat. It is unmarked.
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