Countdown to Halloween - Mego Mad Monsters and their Kin

In the 1970's Mego was THE toy company, they had cornered the market on action figures with their 8" "World's Greatest Superheroes" line of figures and in 1973 decided to branch out into other licences and themes including the Mad Monsters. The line consisted of four monsters that were made to not bear any resemblance to established actors or film versions of the characters. The line consisted of;

DREADFUL DRACULA

THE MONSTER FRANKENSTEIN

THE HORRIBLE MUMMY

THE HUMAN WEREWOLF

The line was available in windowless boxes with artwork that rivals even the Aurora Monster Model box art.

 In 1975 the Monsters received their own castle playset, made of card board with vinyl and plastic accessories that included a lab table and 4 parapets.

THE FLY 

The popularity of the Mad Monsters produced it's first "extension" in 1977 by Tomland Toys and sold in Kresge (later known as K-mart) and included;

THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN

THE CYCLOPS

THE MORLOCK

Recently Classic TV Toys has rereleased the original Mad Monsters line and then to top that released a Mad Monsters Series 2 which includes;

THE DEMONIC DEVIL

THE GRUESOME GHOST

THE SALEM WITCH

THE GRIM REAPER

 The detail on the series varies from the pretty pathetic ghost to the left here to the fabulous detail and paint on the Salem Witch....awwww couldn't ya just give her a kiss?


But that doesn't stop there, toy manufacturere Cast-Away-Toys is producing  limited edition extensions to the Mad Monsters with their Creepy Classics line. So far they have produced;

   

The Zombie bears a great resemblance to the Shock Monster mask made famous in ads that ran in Famous Monsters magazine. While My Hyde looks a little like the Frederick March Hyde mixed with Scooby Doo's Ghost of Mr Hyde.

The Line will be adding a Hunchback, Phantom and Nosferatu figure shortly...ooooooo I want the Nosferatu

Recently Diamond Direct has released a new line of licensed Universal Monster Retro Action Figures with likeness of the actual actors that portrayed the monsters on film.

 And of course with all the available parts and online casters selling new pieces and recast parts the customizing potential for new homemade additions to the line are always popping up. Take a look at the Mego Museum Forum or the Universal Monster Army forums and you'll see Mego style version of Christopher Lee as Dracula and Frankenstein and Oliver Reed as the Werewolf that will blow your mind.

And check out my friend Scott Morrisey's latest custom, The Living Scarecrow....he better be making me one