Action Figure Review: The Invisible Man (Glow in the Dark) from Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   I love the Invisible Man. The original film is one of my favorite Universal Monsters films (probably my second favorite of the major movies) and I'm also a fan of many of the sequels, specifically The Invisible Man Returns and Invisible Agent. None of the sequels have the same character of Dr. Jack Griffin, the titular Invisible Man (played by Claude Rains), but they're quite a bit of fun. NECA released a figure of Dr. Griffin last year and they have another version of him in his classic smoking maroon smoking jacket set to release in the next few months. A year or two ago NECA began releasing "Glow in the Dark!" versions of the Universal Monsters that are based on the 1980 Remco Mini Monsters (also labeled as the Universal City Studio's Monsters) which had glow in the dark variants and could be "charged up" with the Monsterizer (NECA makes a Monsterizer for the 7inch figures, too). There was not an Invisible Man in that vintage line but NECA has gone far beyond what the original line offered now. The Invisible Man was offered as a NYCC 2024 exclusive and I managed to get mine from NECA's pre-sale. Ready to check out a version of the Invisible Man who might actually be easier to spot than normal, at least at night? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 7 inches

Articulation: Double swivel/hinge ankles, swivel/hinge knees, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/ hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: None

Non-Scalper Price: $30 dollars

The Packaging:

* While the Remco Universal Monsters toys, and even the Mini Monsters, are before my time, I do like NECA's commitment to the vintage style packaging. It looks fantastic. It's also very, very thick and sturdy. It's legitimately hard to even crease or bend the card. I'm not one who keeps my action figures packaged but I can definitely see the appeal here if you chose to have a set of these on pegs. The artwork and design is quite neat and the card is probably four to five times as thick as something like Hasbro's retro releases in Star Wars: The Black Series, Marvel Legends, or the G.I. Joe: Classified Series. 

* The back of the card is also very faithful to Remco's released. Heck, NECA has even designed their logo to look like Remco's. NECA has even included Nosferatu as part of this line and they have the Bride of Frankenstein shown, though I don't believe she has been released yet anywhere.

Comparison:

* The Glow in the Dark Invisible Man is on the left while the standard "color" version of the Invisible Man is on the right. The Glow in the Dark version of Griffin is the standard figure with a simpler paintjob. There are a few color differences and the addition of the glow in the dark paint on the head, shirt, and gloves.

The Positives:

* I never reviewed the standard Invisible Man figure but, be assured, it's a masterpiece. A great sculpt of a guy in a suit, sure, but the accessories and the imaginative headsculpts really made it standout. And standing out is quite an accomplishment for an invisible guy. This is the same figure but with no extras. The suit is still nicely sculpted with additional details like the jacket and necktie being separate (though nonremovable) pieces, though now it's a much simpler bluish color. Dr. Griffin is also sporting a black tie and white gloves here. 

* The standard figure comes with three portraits, but this guy only has one. It features his head all wrapped up with his goggles and prosthetic nose attached. The glasses are a separate piece but they're not removable. It's the most recognizable look for the Invisible Man and it looks great. of course, you could always swap out parts from the standard figure if you wanted to get creative. You can also remove the head and hands to make his head and hands invisible. Technically you can do that with a lot of figures, but it actually makes sense here.

* I like how Dr. Griffin's hair (it's really a wig) is poking out in different places from underneath his wrappings. 

* The first of these figures I picked up was actually the Phantom of the Opera (who is now a tough figure to nab) and I was really impressed by how bright his glow is. There are a few companies who have released glow in the dark items lately and the glow effects really left a lot to be desired. They sucked. NECA's Universal Monsters, though? These guys are glowing champs. I love how these look. It's fun to flip off the light and see their frightening faces glowing in the dark. The glow in the dark feature is definitely a huge plus here.

* The Invisible Man isn't a trained martial artist (though the Invisible Man in Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man is a boxer) but he poses quite well and is a solid, sturdy figure. You're not going to be getting Spider-Man poses or Iron Man ground pounds but he's plenty dynamic for an Invisible Man. The joints have a nice range of motion, especially in the arms. The neck, head, and waist are pretty solid, too.

   How's the glow in he dark Invisible Man? He's a cool figure who looks fantastic on the shelf when the lights go out. This subline of the regular Universal Monsters/ Classic Horror line is pretty cool though it's definitely catering to a niche audience. The release, while being fairly limited, is barebones with no accessories whatsoever. You get a ton of stuff with the standard figure for $5 to $7 dollars more. You know what you're getting here and if you're a fan of the style and the line it pays tribute to, you'll probably be happy. It's a Good figure. Incredible glow but no other real frills. 




Looking for more of the Invisible Man? I've also reviewed the Funko ReAction Invisible Man, the Monster in My Pocket Invisible Man, and the Jada Toys Invisible Man.

For more Universal Monsters from NECA check out the following:
Dracula (Translyvania)
The Mummy (Black & White)
Wolf Man