This page is old click here for the new The New Mego Greatest American Hero page.

This 1980's Action Comedy series was a sleeper for ABC, it was also the last licensed product that made it out of Mego. (well half of it anyway) .

The Unproduced 8" line

Pam looks like another reworking of the Nubia Head

The Ralph sculpt is somewhat more cartoony than usual mego standards

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

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.

Here is a 1981 trade 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.

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

The Produced 3 3/4" line

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

Note the Jack Davis Art

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

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

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.

Picture cut outs like this were common on smaller vehicle sets

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

Click on the pic to see The 1982 Mego Catalog and it's Greatest American Hero coverage.



CUSTOMEGO GALLERIES HOME FAQ FORUMS SEARCH CONTACT LINKS