My Christopher Reeve Superman Tribute Figure

By Les Walker

 

Like many other collectors and enthusiasts, I have wanted a nice, accurate Christopher Reeve Superman figure since seeing the movie for the first time in 1978. I didn’t know of the Mego 12 ½” Movie tie-in doll that would have made my day back then, way before I knew how to make my own figures. It would have sufficed for a long time as I am sure it did for whoever was lucky enough to have had one.

 

I only learned of it’s existence last year, in 2004.

As soon as I found one on Ebay, I got one. It was great! I repainted the head, as I am prone to do, and set him up on my shelf. By chance I had bought another 12” Superman doll, the 1996 Kenner Man of Steel figure, that had a better cape. I did transfer it to my new Mego and was satisfied…for a while.

But soon, I began to seek out a more accurate head for it.

 

After several months of searching, I found a 1/6 scale bust sculpted by Jim Mattox. It was superb! I got my bust and thought about transferring the head to my Mego figure. That was a mistake for two reasons. One, was that it was slightly smaller than 1/6 scale and two, was that it was much more suited to it’s original purpose, a beautiful sculpture. So, I altered my plans.

 

About that time an amazing coincidence occurred. I got a custom commission from a fellow named Graig Weich, of the comic books Civilian Justice and Ravedactyl. He wanted the very best Reeve Superman figure I could possibly make and his timing was perfect. He had caught me right in that frame of mind. So, together we set out to research Reeve’s head so I could sculpt the best one possible for the both of us. Graig sent me images and ideas (and graphs and charts and photos…the guy was on a mission!) to help me study Reeve’s features and so, I began to sculpt.

 

Using all the information that Graig sent me, plus referring to the image bank at capedwonder.com, and using my new epoxy material, Magic Sculpt, I started.

It took forever. I never knew what subtle features Reeve had until I started this. Plus, I had never sculpted to this fine a detail degree before. But, after a time, I had the face the width and shape and expression I wanted, plus I added lots more hair and shaped it as correctly as my references would allow.

 

I finally finished the head and began the process of gathering some Mego 12” Superman figures for bodies. Not only was it nostalgic to use this body, it was also a larger, more muscled and dramatic body. More powerful looking. Appropriate for the Man of Steel.

So, I mounted the head, without movement, so I could build up Reeve’s neck muscles, giving the figure even more likeness and power.

 

I painted the head, neck, chest and hands, and began to dress him up. I again used the cape from the 12” Kenner Superman figure, since it was more accurate and a good length, then crafted the belt and buckle by hand.

 

 

I then began the task of making the boots. The original Mego boots were great, but not accurate. They also didn’t allow the feet to pivot down in “flight” mode, even though the feet could pose that way. So, I got some replacement boots from Dr. MEGO and trimmed them down to shoes, losing the high sides of the boots. To this I added soft vinyl which I seamed  in the back and made the boot toppers with the recognizable wing designs.

 

Then, the “crown” of the figure would be the famous chest emblem. The one in the 1978 movie was very distinctive and larger than any used on any 12” figure. Plus, it had no black outlines and it seemed that every Superman figure emblem made had a black outline!  So, I tried some iron-ons but was left dissatisfied with the finished look of that, so I laid out exactly what I wanted and took it to a local screenprinter along with some yellow fabric. It took me several attempts to get it just right, and it was expensive, but I finally got exactly what I had in my mind’s eye.

 

I then glued the new emblem on my Supe’s chest and a more accurate cape emblem to his cape and VOILA! My 12 ½” Superman was done!

 

The only thing left to finish the project off was a box.

I wanted to surprise my new buddy and co-designer, Graig with something for all his trouble, as well as pay tribute to Chris Reeve with yet one more element to the whole project, so I went to Anthony Durso and his box making skills at The Toy Room and he made me a box that was fitting for my Chris Reeve salute. He even made me a certificate of authenticity. His work on the box is outstanding and I salute him for his quality final product.

 

So, that is the story of how I finally, finally got my 1/6 scale Christopher Reeve.

 

I can only hope it does him justice and pays him the respect that he is due, because he will always be a SUPER man to me.

See more of Les' work at his website.