Action Figure Review: Jordy Verrill (First Bloom) from Monstarz: Creepshow by Amok Time Toys

 

   Guess what! This is my second new review for 2025. In fact, I think it might actually have been the first 2025 release that I received in the mail, though I did look at Mezco's Toht with the Ark of the Covenant first. Read for another review from a classic 1980s film? Then let's take a look at Jordy Verrill (First Bloom) from Monstarz. Based on the classic anthology film Creepshow, a collaboration between George Romero and Stephen King, Jordy Verrill is the country bumpkin from the second short story who gets infected by a space virus in plant form. Played in a wonderfully kooky and over the top manner, Stephen King's Jordy Verrill might be my favorite part of the film (story wise, it's between this one and "Father's Day"). It's just a wonderfully delightful performance with some wacky quotes ("meteror $#!%") and it cracks me up that the king of horror has no problem being so goofy. Garth Marenghi would never take on such a comedic role, that's for sure. Amok Time's Monstarz line has been around since 2008 with a mix of scales and styles, but their Creepshow line started in 2016 with the Nathan Grantham from "Father's Day" and then continued with the zombies from "Something to Tide You Over," the creature from "The Crate," and the Creep himself. Jordy Verrill was definitely a missing spot in the line and it seems like Monstarz has further plans for the line as they've recently renewed the license. Jordy Verill comes in two styles: The First Bloom version I'm looking at here on a green card with a smaller mossy beard and the standard figure with a larger mossy beard. Ready to check out that old lunkhead Jordy Verrill? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 3 15/16ths inches

Articulation: Boot swivels, hinged knees, swivel hips, swivel waist, swivel shoulders, hinged elbows, swivel/ hinge wrists, and a swivel neck. 

Accessories: 6 swappable hands, 2 meteor halves, and a bucket. (Meteor $#!% not included.)

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars

The Packaging

* If you're buying these to keep on the card, they really do look nice and have a very retro flavor to them. The figures themselves look more modern than, say, Super7's ReAction line, but the cards have the look and flavor of a vintage 1980s toyline mixed with an EC Comics cover. These would look really cool with Super7's Pre-Code Horror line.

The Positives:

* I've mentioned before that the Monstarz 1/18th scaled figures are kind of interesting as they have pretty good sculpts with very modern paintwork. These aren't intentionally retro styled like ReAction or Hasbro's Star Wars, Marvel, and Indiana Jones vintage figures, though they still have some of that vibe. I'd honestly be curious to see Amok Time Toys bring more of these characters into a 7 inch scale to go along with other horror figures. Jordy Verrill might be a lunkhead with bad luck but he's a pretty darn neat looking figure. His overalls have a lot of detail and drape realistically like they're a bit baggy while his plaid shirt has an excellent paintjob. I wear plaid shirts about 90% of the time, so I know what I'm taking about. The alien growth is starting to take over Jordy, so he has patches of the creeping virus scattered about.

* This is a 1/18th scale figure but darn if Amok Time didn't nail Stephen King's likeness. The hair, the wide eyed expression. I love it! This version (First Bloom) has a smaller beard of the alien weed, and it really looks pretty funny. It's a very solid portrait for such a small figure.

* Here's a look at the back of the figure where all of the detail of the front is present, including mud and dust on Jordy's overalls and more creeping bits of the extraterrestrial growth. 

* Heck, even Jordy's boots are impressive. There's a color gradient effect on them that makes them look worn and stained in placed. Even the laces are really cleanly painted. Very impressive work, especially for the size of the figure.

* While the lack of swivel hinge hips and shoulders definitely limits posing, for this type of figure (a "quasi-retro figure") the articulation is pretty good. Most joints are sturdy (though watch those wrists) and Jordy has more articulation than any of the other figures from the Creepshow series thus far. I'd really like to see more of these figures upsized and given full modern articulation. I think Amok Time could really do them well and open up a new market.

* Six swappable hands are included. There are two grips (which can hold the bucket and kind of grip the meteor, two grips with green growth on them, and two flat hands. It's a nice selection, though use some heat when swapping the first couple times; I had a breakage issue (more on that shortly). 

* Jordy Verrill comes with the meteor he initially thinks will bring him financial gain but proves to be his (and maybe all of Earth's) downfall. The meteor comes in two pieces and does have a blue center to look like the innards of the meteor. I've always wondered if the story (it's based on the Stephen King short story "Weeds") was inspired at all by the Creedence Clearwater Revival/ Jon Fogerty 1969 song "It Came Out of the Sky," a satirical rock song about a man named Jody (not Jordy) who is frightened by a falling object (maybe a meteor or UFO) and becomes the center of attention from the government, the entertainment industry, and the Vatican. King's clearly a classic rock fan, so it's possible.

* Jordy also comes with the bucket he uses throw water on the meteor in an ill-fated attempt to cool it off. It ends up causing the meteor to split in two. This is a bucket alight, though it's a pretty impressive 1/18th scale bucket. It even has a metal handle.

The Negatives:

* The meteor does have tabs and slits so it can connect together but they don't work well at all. This is about as close to together as I could get it. 

* I've had the figure for a bit but when I went to swap hands for the first time while taking pictures Jordy's left hand broke right in two. Major bummer! I used some heat afterwards directed at his forearms and afterwards swapping things out was easy. I didn't think I was applying much pressure, so maybe I just had a dud? Be careful when swapping hands. 

   While I kind of wish Amok Times would start making these Monstarz in a 7 inch size to fit in with most other horror figures released these days (so, NECA's stuff, essentially) or make them in a true Kenner Star Wars style to fit in with my other horror figures like that, I like Creepshow so much that I started this collection a while back and I'm glad it's continuing. I did have a breakage issue, but with multiple hands In was able to swap up a joint and fix things pretty well. The figure itself looks superb and the accessories are pretty fun. For $20 bucks you're getting a lot more value than you'd see from most faux-retro lines. This is a Great set and definitely the Creepshow figure I've been most looking forward to. 

This is the first figure of Jordy Verrill I've reviewed. For more Monstarz figures check out the following:

The Creep (Creepshow)
Dr. Herbert West (Re-Animator)

Father's Day (Creepshow)