Mego Worlds Greatest Super Hero Action Figures

While tracking down a lead for the rumored Mego Three Musketeers action figures, I made contact with a very knowledgable French James Bond collector. This person mentioned to me that he had a case of very old 1970s action figures that were sold in Italy. Upon hearing that the case included Musketeer action figures, I quickly purchased it and waited for its arrival (even airmail takes too long today when the next great Mego discovery is waiting to be made!). What I received a few weeks later did not disappoint me (even though they were not Mego figures). Being a collector of classic figures (Pirates, Knights, Zorro and such), I was delighted to find that a company made my all time favorite characters: The Musketeers! But while I was happy I was also puzzled. What were these figures? Italy is a country that has been fairly well mined by action figure collectors over the past twenty years. Having family there (in Rome), as well as two very good action figure contacts, I was amazed that I had never heard of these figures before. What was even more amazing is that my Italian toy contacts had no idea as to what I had discovered!

The Story

In 1974, Italian doll maker Migliorati, decided that it was going to try its hand at a male orientated action figure line. Looking closely at the "Mego Model", the company developed a 10" body that with a change of head and outfit could become any character. Based upon generic characters (with the exception of Tarzan and Zorro), each figure would be blister carded and would feature an authentic outfit and accessory.

A total of eleven different action figures were issued that included Zorro, Tarzan, The Four Musketeers, Black, Red and Green Cursaros (land pirates), Pirata Unciono (Captain Hook?), and Sandokan (desert pirate). The case of figures that I purchased did not include Tarzan, Pirata Uncino or the red and green Corsaros. It is currently unknown if theses figures were ever produced. My Italian source contacted a Migliorati doll collector and was initially told that the line was not produced! Further investigation with other collectors revealed that the entire line was produced for a very short period of time and is very rare. Migliorati did not know how to market a "boys" line and faced with competition from Mattel's Big Jim quickly retreated back to its "baby doll" niche.

Figures came packaged on a very flimsy generic blister cards with blank backs (with the exception of four figures whose card backs featured a picture. See photo above). It is unknown if Migliorati received a license for their Tarzan and Zorro figures. The Zorro figures examined do not have any markings on them.

While not Megos (bodys are sturdy but with very little joints, outfits are great), one has to love these characters. Not since the early days of Mego has a company created such a classic childhood line of Pirates, Heroes, and Musketeers! Discuss this and other Mego Mysteries at the Mego Forums