Wonder Woman

Last Saturday Mrs. Smith and I went to the Doll & Teddy Bear Show. It is nothing like it was in its former glory but is fun to go to just to see what's there. As we passed one booth, a doll fell to the floor beside me. I picked her up. It was a Barbie sized Wonder Woman!

The Torano Guy and Wondie

On the back of her head was DC Comics Inc 1976. Mrs. Smith pointed out that she had fallen off a $1 shelf. While we were waiting for the owner of the booth to finish with another customer, I examined her more closely and saw that rather than being Mattel, like Lois Lane, she was a Mego doll! Just like Red Nicky! Then I noticed that her legs looked like they were glued on. I asked the booth lady if that's why she was only $1 and she said probably. She appeared to have no interest in Wondie whatsoever but eagerly took my dollar.

That's the only purchase we made at the Doll Show. When I got to work, I started looking at Barbies with the idea of doing a head transplant for Wonder Woman. I bought a $1.49 Barbie as a donor, although I had my doubts. I also bought what I call The Torano Guy, mainly because I liked his face and he wasn't Ken. The back of his head says 1991 Torano. Or that's what I thought. I just discovered it says Torand, not Torano. That's why I couldn't find any information about him. He is Brandon Walsh of Beverly Hills 90210. I knew he looked familiar. (Yes, I have to admit that I used to watch Beverly Hills 90210. My boyfriend-at-the-time's daughter lived with us and that's my excuse.)

Anyway, back to Wondie.

Time for another picture

I began researching Mego Wonder Woman and discovered many of their celebrity dolls developed a condition called Mego Melt, which has to do with the chemical reaction between the hard plastic torso and the softer vinyl limbs, especially if they were stored in hot places. I thought at first my Wondie's neck wouldn't turn but I wiggled it gently and it moved. Encouraged, I began trying to move her legs and sure enough, they moved. She has this gluey, melted plastic stuff between her legs but I will get some Goo Gone or something similar and see if it comes off. Her undies have it stuck on them and I'm hoping that will come out too.

There is a Wonder Woman Costume site that has a history of Wonder Woman's outfits through the years. There are 16 pages of info there and I didn't make it to the end, I was so overwhelmed. I must make her some silver bracelets and a golden lasso and a tiara. I put a sock dress on her just to see what she'd look like in "normal" clothes. I couldn't bring myself to put her in a princess dress.

Very mod

Wondie is 12 1/2 inches tall (because she's an Amazon, you know). She has real eyelashes and her hair keeps catching on them. She has articulated wrists. Some models I saw on eBay have articulated ankles. She and Red Nicky seem to get along well. Red Nicky knows that she is still my favorite.

"We Megos are the best!"

And now for some exciting Nigel news. Nigel has a new body!

There were no action figure booths at the doll show. I finally decided I just had to do something, anything for the poor boy. So I used a blow dryer on his neck and popped his head off.

Inside Nigel's head

The picture doesn't show that there was black paint inside his head. I had suspected that someone repainted his hair. It is brown underneath.

As I looked around for inspiration, I saw a cork. Auntie Berman had given me several corks to try to make doll shoes from. I whittled--or tried to. Cork doesn't whittle well. It crumbles a lot. I finally came up with a plug that fit down inside Girly Man's neck.

The cork neck plug

The only workable glue I could find on hand was some called Kids Choice Glue, similar to Elmer's or school glue, so I used it.

I kept twisting his head around until I found a good position

Then I let him rest overnight.

The Mini Deads were fascinated. If his head fell off, they could play with it.

The remains of Spidey Man and Girly Man's head

I am keeping the body parts because you never know when you might need a leg or a head or whatever. And I returned the donor Barbie, much to her relief.

I think Anakin likes Wondie

And now it's time to sew some guy clothes.