Custom Mego Card Craziness! Catwoman! Rare Batgirl Figure! DC Comics!

I can't help myself. I have to create crazy custom cards for many of the action figures in my collection, be they original 70s issues, my own customs, or recent re-releases of the older gems! Click below to enlarge these indelible images of my new displays for two Mego Bat-blasts-from-the-past, Batgirl and Catwoman!

Above: That's right! It's one of the rare "screen-printed body suit" Batgirl
figures, made by Mego, briefly, in '74! The firm soon went to a different
type of outfit for the figure, making this version quite rare! I was lucky
to pick this up at a comics show, for a song!

Above: I wanted to create a custom card for the figure's display, one that reflected
the original toy graphics! So, I re-worked and re-figured the classic Carmine Infantino
art, and brought in familiar Mego card graphics and logos...

Above: Although her outfit and base figure are original issue,  I added
the custom glove fins, and a repo cape and helmet!

Above: The Batgirl custom card, featuring colossal Carmine Infantino!
The logo was whipped up by Don Heck, BG's early 70s artist!

Above: The actual 1967 DETECTIVE COMICS cover from which the
above Batgirl card image was lifted (with a ton of re-figuring)!
Art by Carmine Infantino!

Above: Here is the recent (from Figures, Inc.) re-issue of the catty Catwoman!
I wanted a card that had the feel of the  original 70s Mego offerings, so...
Once I added the other Mego logos and graphics, a terrific display was born!

Above: The custom Catwoman card, featuring re-worked Neal Adams art!

Above: Here's the actual 1969 BATMAN comic cover from
which the above capering Catwoman image was lifted!
Art by Neal Adams!

Above: Both fabulous figures, displayed!

The Riddler Strikes! 1973 Albert Bigley Art! DC Comics?!

Here's another gem from the treasure chest! It's my 1973 drawing of Batman's longtime super-foe, the rascally Riddler! Drawn on notebook paper (!), here is the Prince of Puzzlers, swiped shamelessly from the famous 1966 poster image (then appearing on toy packaging, lunchboxes, apparel, etc...) by Carmine Infantino! Click to enlarge, if you must!

Looks like I quit early after beginning the colored pencil stage
of this masterpiece! And, is the Riddler standing in the desert?!

BONUS! Click below to see the famed 1966 poster (featuring sterling Carmine Infantino imagery) that was my inspiration for the above artwork!

Batman! Robin! Superman! Rare 1974 Chemtoy Custom Painted Figures! DC Comics!

Most fans of a certain age recall these wonderfully cheap plastic figures of DC Comics' "Big Three" superheroes. These little (about 5 inches) replicas of Superman, Clark Kent, Batman, and Robin, were all sold loose in end-cap and counter display boxes in stores like Woolworth's in 1974. They were later hawked on blister cards thru Kresge and K-Mart outlets, and were very well-known back in the day! Tho not much to look at in their original state (due to very minimal paint applications), these minuscule masterpieces look quite nice, once a bit of "TLC" is applied! Click below to view images of both the original Bronze Age figures, and the same figures after I've applied paint, marker and lots of time! 

Above: The original Batman and Robin figures, as sold in 1974!

Above: The later-issued carded figures. As crude as they looked then (and
especially now) collectors still clamor for these simple, but colorful, toys!

Above: The original three Superman plastic figures.

Above: Superman on the "blister card!"

Above: The point-of-purchase store box that
housed the three Superman figures!

Above: The 1974 Batman and Robin figures with custom paint!
Marker, and gloss and dull coatings, were also applied!

Above: The '74 Superman (and Clark Kent) figures, with spiffy new custom paint applications!

BONUS! Click below to see the comic-art inspirations for the above figure poses, courtesy of artists Carmine Infantino and Curt Swan!

Batgirl! Albert Bigley vs Carmine Infantino! 1977 Comic(al) Art!

After another long (and merciful) drought, here is another of my splendid childhood superhero drawings. This time, it's that sexy, flame-haired crime-buster, Batgirl! Or, an odd, short, big-headed lady in a Batgirl costume. For your fun and amusement, I've included the original 1967 Carmine Infantino art that inspired this drawing by the 11-year old me. Click to enlarge if ya must.

1976 FLASH Artwork by Albert Bigley! Draw Like Infantino! Or Not!

Anyone recall the mid-70s DC oversized tabloids that had great features within, such as "How I Draw the Flash," by artist Carmine Infantino? Here is my drawing, done at age 11, inspired by the same instructional pages from the SUPERMAN vs FLASH Limited Collector's Edition!

I think Carmine did it better. Click fast to enlarge!

Superman vs The Flash! Albert Bigley 1976 Art! DC Comics!?

I loved the fast-motion art of comics legend Carmine Infantino, and here is my attempt (at age 11) to re-create those fabulous drawings. Here we see Superman zooming in for a frantic confrontation with the Flash! Sure, "Super-man" looks more like Bizzarro, but what do ya want?  Also note the fickle crowds in the background! Click to enlarge!