Mego World's Greatest Superheroes

In 1972, Mego Corporation's Action Jackson line was doing fair business in toy stores, but not quite what the company was hoping for. It was decided to create a toy line that had a less generic, more character-oriented focus. Since comic books were popular with kids, and since there existed practically no real superhero action figures at the time, it was decided to approach the two main publishers of comics - Marvel and DC - about licensing some of their more popular characters.

Thus was born Mego's World's Greatest Superheroes line of action figures, which would reap the company millions of dollars over the following decade, allowing them to dominate toy store shelves all across the country.

The toys themselves were relatively simple: the bodies from the Action Jackson line were reused, along with the basic configurations for attaching hands, feet, etc. A new head would be sculpted for each character out of softer plastic, and real fabric clothing for each uniform; softer vinyl boots and gloves (where applicable) were also created. Each figure stood approximately 8" in height.

This configuration allowed body parts - other than heads - to be reused, sometimes with color changes (Batman's gloves were blue, Robin's green, etc.). Sometimes characters required larger body configurations, such as the Hulk; the Thing from the Fantastic Four required different arms (due to his unique skin condition). Some figures were packaged with the appropriate weaponry, as with Green Arrow and his quiver and bow.
Test marketing of the line proved it irresistible to young boys eager for make-believe adventures featuring their favorite superheroes. The first characters issued were Superman, Aquaman, Batman, and Robin.

From 1974 to 1976, the line was expanded greatly as more and more characters were in demand. Marvel superheroes were added to the line, the first of course being Spider-Man; other groups of characters such as the Super Foes (arch-enemies from the comics such as the Joker and Penguin); the Teen Titans; the Fantastic Four; and an assortment of Super Gals (Wonder Woman, Supergirl, etc.). Vehicles and playsets were also added, including even a Wayne Manor for Batman to relax between missions.

After 1976, the line began to slowly lose steam. Mego stopped introducing new characters, but continued to produce the figures until 1982, when the company went bankrupt.

Mego's success with superheroes allowed them to successfully expand into other fictional universes, such as Star Trek and Planet of the Apes, using the same basic 8" figure type. But the World's Greatest Superheroes remained their most successful endeavor.

The first four figure releases came in solid, windowless boxes; these were quickly destroyed by young boys wanting a look at the figures, so these were soon replaced by windowed boxes.

More rare packaging were the 'Kresge' carded figures, made for the Kresge (later K-Mart) retail chain; these consisted of figures behind clear plastic on cards, which could be hung on pegs within the stores. Collectors pay a premium for such packaged figures.
A number of figures were available exclusively at Montgomery Ward's; these include such secret-identity characters as Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker, and are now some of the rarest figures.

Early runs of figures with gloves (such as Batman and Robin) wore fingerless vinyl 'oven mit' gloves; in later production runs these were replaced by molding the appropriate characters' hands in the appropriate color.

Batman exists in two versions: one with his mask painted on, the other with removable mask. The same goes for his sidekick Robin.

The rarest and most valuable playset is probably the afore-mentioned Wayne Manor. Boxed, good-condition examples are nearly impossible to locate at this late date.