Who doesn’t love Robin Hood? He’s everybody’s favourite Medieval subversive, known for his archery skills, noble acts, and his commitment to robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. Despite being a fictional character, Robin Hood has become a cultural icon, inspiring numerous adaptations in literature, films, and television shows. The legend of Robin Hood continues to captivate audiences around the world and Hollywood revisits his tale with regularity, although the last attempt to revamp the classic with Taron Egerton wielding the longbow, was nominated for three Golden Raspberry Awards! Ouch! Stealing from the 1% to feed the 99%? Better quash that concept, don’t want the movie-going peasants to get any strange ideas, do we now…?! But I digress…
Back in the 1975 Mego Corp were looking to expand their successful 8-inch action figure line. The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes had been Super-Successful, so they followed this with the World’s Greatest Super Knights as well as Super Pirates, so Mego naturally went with the title “Super Merry Men” for their line of Robin Hood figures. Robin was released alongside erstwhile sidekicks Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, and Little John. Alas, they proved to be a bit of a flop domestically, although we loved them over here in Europe. Italian toy firm Baravelli simply slapped their label on US Mego Merry Men boxes. I recently found this figure at a local collectors’ fair in Rome, in fact. Sadly, there were never any enemies added to this set – my fantasy Mego collection would definitely include a Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy of Gisborne, and Prince John, and could we have a Maid Marion too, please?
With no specific movie tie-in or inherent licensing fees to worry about, Mego nevertheless sculpted a beautiful set of figures, with a dashing Robin who bears more than a passing resemblance to Errol Flynn, the Australian-American actor who became famous for playing him in the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood, filmed in vibrant Technicolor. Flynn’s portrayal of the swashbuckling hero became iconic and is often considered one of his most memorable roles. His charming and dashing performance helped solidify the popular image of Robin Hood as a heroic outlaw.
These figures were issued with a plethora of accessories and carefully designed costumes. My Robin here, wears an original tunic that is reminiscent of Flynn’s with its fringed sleeves and velvety faux-suede appearance, yellow-ochre tights, a bright green belt with matching green boots. All that remains of his weapons, unfortunately, is his longbow – his quiver of bows, knife, and hat are missing.
This is a Type 1 body with metal wrist joints, marked 1971, while the head sculpt is marked 1974. The elastic strung between the ball joints in this almost 50-year-old toy has seen better days, so his hip joints are very loose and he needs a bit of careful positioning to pose him standing upright. His other joints – 13 points of articulation in all – at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and knees are all nice and stiff, however, and presumably his ankles too, although I dare not check for fear of breaking them as sliding off boots can be a tricky business with a vintage figure.
The paintwork on the head sculpt is immaculate with very little play-wear, and the clothes are still quite clean and bright, with very little fading. He’s a great find and a must-have for any Mego collection! Altogether now …
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men
Feared by the bad, loved by the good
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood!
Collect them all…you know you want to!