A Triple shot of Mego Planet of the Apes

A beautiful new addition to the Mego Museum Planet of the Apes Galleries courtesy of Mike D'Aloia. Three stunning window boxed Mego General Ursus figures each with an outfit variation, click on the picture to visit the gallery and see larger shots.

Watch for more "Ape Updates" this month.

Spotlight on the EMCE/Mattel Green Lantern

Here is another in our new gallery pages for the upcoming EMCE/Mattel "World's Greatest Superheroes" line. This time we focus on the first official 8" Green Lantern figure. Click here to see large photos of the prototype. Images courtesy of Mark Huckabone.

Watch for new Gallery pages all this week.

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

Read the Original EMCE announcement here

EMCE GREEN LANTERN GALLERY PAGE

The Mego World's Greatest Superheroes are Back!

At the "Mattel and DC Comics: A Heroic Partnership" Panel at this year's San Diego Comic Con the big announcement was the return of the 8" Superhero format!

It's the one Mego fans have been waiting for and something Dr.Mego (AKA Paul Clarke) and Joe Sena of EMCE toys have toiled on for ages.

It's a bright and sunny day in Megoland, for soon the heroes will return to toy store shelves before Easter 2010.

Wave One Includes:

Green Arrow

Hal Jordan GL

Superman

Lex Luthor

Sinestro

John Stewart GL

Read all about it here at EMCE Forum

Vintage Mego Ad from the pages of Starlog

Click on the ad for a larger view

New to the MegoMuseum Ad Archive is this wonderful ad from Starlog Magazine circa 1985, over the years I've heard many folks mention this ad as being the thing that drew them back to Mego in their adult life. The company is no long called "Planet Earth" but they are still in business.

I ordered a Frankenstein from this ad, I had never seen one before and had to have it. The Spider-Man figures in this ad were actually the very rare Canadian Parkdale Novelty cards.

Check out the MegoMuseum Library for hours of Mego browsing.

Canadian Boxed Spider-Car

Mark Schmidt sent in photos of this rare item, a bilingual boxed Spider-Car from Parkdale Novelty. Previously it was believed all Parkdale did was sticker the US packaging, it seems that they also did a run of their own box. Thanks to Mark for sharing this northern rarity.

MegoMuseum Spider Car Gallery

The Mego Superheroes Down Under

New to the MegoMuseum Ad Archive is this rare Australian Magazine Ad for Toltoys (the down under distributer) who took the 1973 Mego Superheroes Catalog page and made it their own! Click on the image to see a bigger version.

Many thanks to Catherine AKA "SlipperyLilSuckers" for bringing this to our attention!

Check out the MegoMuseum Library for hours of Mego browsing.

For More on Toltoys and Australian toys in general visit this great blog

Celebrity Dolls: Cameos Of Our Culture

NEW YORK - If the $3 billion toy business is a "crap shoot." as Marty Abrams savs, he's on a winning streak betting that kids would rather dress a sexv superstar than change diapers “ After all," says the youthful entrepreneur, "toys are cameos of our culture " So even as the dogwoods are blossoming, Abrams is launching an advertising campaign for Christmas buyers featuring - you guessed it — Farrah Fawcett-Majors and Fonzie and Cher and Tennile and other hot show biz characters While many tov manufacturers soured on the idea after the market was glutted with Batman toys in the late 1960s. Abrams has built the family business into a $70 million a-year enterprise with celebrity dolls In the past six years his Mego International Inc has climbed from about 100th on the list to seventh among the country's largest toy firms.

The only companies that really got hurt licensing ( contracting for celebrity dolls) were those that over-licensed."
Abrams said Last vear his Cher doll was the top seller in the industry. For her part Mrs Cher Bono Allman collected a cool $1 million in royalties from Mego. Abrams said But Abrams won't divulge his contract
Terms “It varies from star to star," he said "It's a crap shoot, anyway," he added.

Fawcett-Majors, as well as the others will remain at the top of the heap long enough to sell as mans dolls as she did pinup posters (five million) last fall.

"We have to keep our fingers on the pulse of pop culture." he said "I'm continually watching TV and reading the show business publications The media continually creates new fads new idols "

Abrams' instincts are reflected in his showroom 40 floors above Fifth Avenue where this season's real life stars such as Starsky and Hutch share shelf space with science fiction’s King Kong, Wonder Woman and characters from Star Ti ek. Noting the boom in citizens band radios. Abrams was quick to come out w ith a line of toy trucks and microphones built around a character called CB McHaul.


There is a Diana Ross doll and Muhammad Ali, aimed at the black market.


When a star is hot she or he gets a full compliment of accessories. To dress Cher in the styIe to which she is accustomed. for example, there are 32 different costumes There is a vintage sports car with Cher's ex-husband and TV partner. Sonny Bono, at the wheel. Figuring that Farrah's sunstreaked hair is her top asset Mego has a bust of the beauty so that little girls can wash and comb her hair They may even apply lipstick and makeup and false eye lashes. "It's somewhat of a status svmbol to be a doll," Abrams said.

May 1977

Canadian Comic Action Heroes Spider-Car

Really neat foreign variation today, courtesy of Mark Schmidt, it's the Canadian Version of the Mego Comic Action heroes Spider-Car which is drastically different than it's US counterpart seen below:

For more on these figures, please visit the Mego Museum Comic Action Heroes Gallery:

Action Jackson Goes Vroom Vroom

Cool update to the Mego Action Jackson Galleries today, thanks to the help of Scott Arendsen, Rob Chatlin and Tom Ligotti. It's the ever elusive Formula Racer and it's mysterious Australian counter part, the Green BP Racer. Be sure to check out the rest of the AJ gallery, it's some of the coolest stuff Mego made...

The Mego Museum Robin Hood Trading Card

Finishing our Merry Men theme this week is Robin Hoodt from the World's Greatest Super Merry Men being a desperate outlaw (although as we've seen, he won't alone for long) Our own Scott Adams designed this fun night scene and the card was sponsored by Thomas, Joe and Paul at 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 Robin Hood Gallery

The Mego Museum Will Scarlett Trading Card

Continuing on our Merry Men theme this week is WillScarlett from the World's Greatest Super Merry Men giving Mego Robin Hood a lesson in humility it seems. Our own Scott Adams designed this fun night scene and the card was sponsored by Jadan and his dad Darren aka "Starsky" at 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 WillScarlett Gallery

Mego Quality Control 1975

This not so shining example of quality control in Hong Kong was sent to us by our friends at Amazing 3rd Planet and was pulled from a factory case.

Captain Kirk, you've looked better....

MegoMuseum Forum

Mego Corp Memo from Martin Abrams : September 29, 1977

Rare inter office Memo from Mego Corp., describing the promotions of Tom Fauls, Sid Noble and Harry Rotenberg. Click on the picture to see a larger view.

Mego Museum Forum

Mego Apes Selling Well in Miami

This report is from March 1975

Mego of the Day: Richie Cunningham

From the days when everyone knew what "Ayyyyyyy!" meant....

Cyberman: The Threat from the Outer World!

Today's gallery in our Mego Doctor Who "upgrade" (I'm a clever boy!) are the Cybermen, while the figure isn't really show accurate, it does kind of reflect the charm the original series had.

Check out the Mego Museum Cyberman Gallery Here

1977 Superhero Toy Explosion!

Mego Mad Monsters Blow Out at Two Guys

I've got something in my eye....

More Heroes at Two Guys

The World's Greatest Superheroes Arrive at Boscovs

This March 1973 ad is one of the earliest known pieces of advertising for the Mego World's Greatest Superheroes line, by December of this year, they are everywhere!

Action Jackson and his Sno-Mobile are at Kids Town

Wow a free AJ with vehicle, very cool Kids Town of Syracuse!

Enter Action Jackson

1972 saw Action Jackson begin his full scale attack on the Media .

A Mego Planet of the Apes Coupon

Sadly this Kiddie City coupon expired 34 years ago but one can dream......

Redemption at the Sword of King Arthur

The Black Knight finally gets an audience with Mego King Arthur and all is made right again. THis card was sponsored by Thomas Meuleman and Dave "Aussie Mego Man".

Thanks to all our sponsors and of course to Scott for making this week of Knights happen and be so darn cool.

Mego Ivanhoe Jousts for Justice

Ivanhoe's card was sponsored by Derek Richardson (Flynne) and as always was designed by Scott. This card also has an appearance by the wonderful jousting horse.

Want more? Check out the new Ivanhoe gallery...

The Mego Superheroes start small

It's hard to believe this but the World's Greatest Superhero Line had a very humble start in the 1973 Sears Catalog, they were regulated to the "Bargain Page" of toys under $2.00, you'd miss them if you weren't careful.

Megomuseum Department Store Catalog Archive

The 1977 Mego Green Arrow A Card

An interesting new addition to the Megomuseum Galleries is this 1977 A carded Green Arrow, he most notable feature of these figures is the butterfly punch and the thinner plastic bubble.

While both backers are non glossy on these versions, what's unique about the card on the left unique about the card on the right is it's purple backer, proving to many that there was an Aquaman in this A card series as well..

MOTD: Wyatt Earp

Today's Mego of the Day is American West Good GuyWyatt Earp.

American West is one of the easiest lines to get into, is it part of your collection?

Mego of The Day: Glinda

The Good Witch of the North from the Mego Wizard of Oz line is the spotlight today. A favourite of yours or something that will not grace your collection? Tell us about it at the Mego forum.

Mego of the Day: 12" Lex Luthor

Mego of the Day is the completely underrated 12" figure of Lex Luthor, looking like he just stepped out of the legion of doom, it's hard not to be in awe.

Check out our Superman the Movie Gallery

Discuss this figure on the Mego Forum

Mego of the Day: Tiger Jack

Mego of the Day is Italian Market exclusive, Tiger Jack from the Tex Willer series. Tiger is the most commen character in the series and usually serves as a gateway for collectors.

Meanwhile at the Hall of Justice....

On Friday, Scott unveiled his breath taking finished version of the Alex Toth Hall of Justice using his Dida (pronounced Dee-Dah) system. Click on the pictures to see more of this amazing set. It's the Hall of Justice you'll wish you had when you were seven....

For More Dida's check out the Website.

www.didadisplays.com

Mego of the Day: Type 2 Robin

Mego of the Day for Friday is the ever popular Robin, whom despite his longevity, never gets eough attention for my liking. Pop into the Mego forum and share with us on Mego Robin.

Did you have Robin 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 it into your collection? Did you make funny caption pictures with it? Post pics, tell stories, say whatever, it's mego of the day.

Monday's MOTD: Franz Beckenbauer

Mego of the Day: Ralph Malph

Mego of the Day series is the sidekick to a sidekick, Ralph Malph from the Mego Happy Days line.Pop into the Mego forum and share with us on this piece.

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: Robin!

Dinah-Mite's Fun Fashions!

A neat addition to the Mego Museum's Dinah-Mite Gallery today. It's a window boxed gift comprised of Dinah and three fashions. Except for the Folk Singer set, the other two fashions are from a series known as the "New Fashions". That would date this set as having a 1975 release, if only Mego had done the same things for Action Jackson.....drool......

We have new customizer spotlight for August, this month it's Dana Shaw, come check out some of his 8" handiwork. (that sounds dirty but it shouldn't)

Aaaaaaaaayyyy!

From the 19777 Western Auto Christmas Catalog comes this great image of a hot selling item for Mego, it's Fonzie and his motorcycle. Check out the Fonz and other great TV lines at the Mego Museum TV Gallery.

CHiPs Gets Launched!

Sweet update to our Mego CHiPs Gallery page today courtesy of the always great Olmo Giovannini, this is the bike launcher set (very similiar to the old Evel Knievel toys) and it's in the rarely seen Italian (GIG) box. Thanks Olmo!

Got something we don't? Send it to us, we'll gladly show it off.

Mego Hulk Goes Globe Trotting: Bill Aka Wee67 shared with us this awesome pictures of his Mego Hulk visiting Turkey. Click on the picture to see many more shots.

Tiny Timelords: Otherdude has obviously been busy, he posted an exhaustive amount of Doctor Who Customs on the boards this week and they're smashing too. I must admit, I'm totally jealous. Check them out here.

Mego Meet 2008 ReCap Part 3 Seminars and Toy Displayhttp://www.megomuseum.com/megomeet/megomeet2008.jpg

Like every year, folks from the Museum community step up and offer to run Mego Seminars in order to provide entertainment for the day. This also helps to thin the crowd down at the dealers area, so it's really win/win. This years seminar's included "Mego Mythbusters" headed by yours truly, Dave always gives me the early class after a pub crawl so he's a lot like my guidance counseller. Dave followed up with an Accessory Check talk based on his tireless efforts in that department.

After our group photo, Doc Mego discussed EMCE toys to a standing room only crowd, the final seminar was the Custom Q & A headed by a foursome of well known Museum customizers, which is always well attended.

In the midst of all this, Chris Johnson's Megomeet exclusive figure "Mighty Mightor" went on sale and sold out. Chris always takes these projects on himself and we're glad he does.While the day was winding down with our Custom Auction and Bandwidth Raffle (both great big successes, thank you very much) I decided to take a look at the epic toy display that was on the upper level.

John Santori provided this fantastic Star Trek bridge for our centerpiece this year and it was well appreciated. I was really smitten with the attention to detail here.

Ray Miller provided a beautiful display of Mego Micronauts including some rare prototypes from the Lords of Light line. Micronauts don't get enough love at Megomeet, so we're lucky to have Ray.

The rest of the display room was no less impressive, with an assortment of rare 3 3/4" figures provided by Chris Johnson and of course, an 8" display that is unmatched.

Finally the hall was home to the selections from the 1978 Project, that Scott tirelessly worked on all weekend. There was also space to some of Mego's rarer items including a horse display that was pretty impressive.

Eventually it was time to pack up, have our well attended annual meal at Undo's and head back to the Mego Suite andbegrudgingly say our goodbyes. We made a few new friends this year and that's what this is all about. Mego Meet 2008 was another roaring success and a tremendous reflection of all the good people that I'm happy to be affiliated with.

See you next year!