While it feels like these figures are only trickling out, NECA's classic horror has been one of my favorite things over the past year and almost every new release is worth celebrating. While the Universal Monsters action figures seem to be their primary focus, NECA has also released a number of public domain and silent film characters in their Classic Monsters line. They've also just started getting into the Hammer films with
Christopher Lee's take on Count Dracula released last year. Peter Cushing's Van Helsing is a newer release from the past six months or so, now giving us someone to take on the Count. I've watched a handful of Hammer horror films over the years but not all of them. My watch marathon of all of the classic Universal horror films is still going (as of my writing this review back in August I'm at 1953's
It Came From Outer Space) but when I'm done there I'm still deciding if I want to make my way through Vincent Price's filmography or the Hammer horror releases. NECA's pair of figures are based on 1958's
Dracula, or
Horror of Dracula, as it was titled in the United States. Starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Melissa Stribling, and Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth!), the film was a hit and spawned eight sequels, six with Christopher Lee returning as the Count. I don't know if NECA has plans to go all in on the Hammer House of Horror line or if they're only planning to do Lee and Cushing due to their popularity, but I'd love to see Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith from
The Vampire Lovers, Raquel Welch from
One Million Years B.C., Cushing and Lee as
Baron Frankenstein and the Creature, Hammer's take on the Werewolf, and perhaps the Collinson twins from
Twins of Evil. I know there have been other Van Helsing figures made (along with other collectibles based on Cushing's Van Helsing), but this one is great because you can mix him with so many other classic horror icons. Ready to take a look at Peter Cushing's take on the heroic Dr. Van Helsing? 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: 10 swappable hands, 3 portraits, 2 swappable torsos, single stake, set of stakes, hammer, cross, and 2 candlesticks.
Non-Scalper Price: $35 dollars
The Positives:
* Right out of the package you get Dr. Van Helsing dressed rather warmly for his travels between Romania and Germany. Van Helsing's wearing a rather long coat with a fur collar and a scarf. It's definitely an outfit befitting a Victorian era gentleman traipsing about Europe and it looks rather warm. It's not black, but a very, very dark blue. The buttons are black, though. They're shiny, too.
* Whenever I think of Peter Cushing, I still think of
Grand Moff Tarkin. I really had to remind myself that this isn't Cushing in his 60s, like in Star Wars, but as a much younger man. He still has great features, but it much less gaunt. Three portraits are included, the first having a non-removable hat for when he's out and about searching for his friends and hunting vampires. The paintwork is excellent with piercing eyes and a mixture of colors to give the skin a more life-like appearance.
* The second portrait might be the most accurate, depicting Van Helsing with a more neutral expression and no hat. Interestingly, in the Hammer films Van Helsing is not given the first name Abraham. In one of the later movies he is referred to as Lawrence Van Helsing. He's still supposed to be the same Van Helsing, though. This one just appears very life-like with fantastic paint work.
* Last up is a very scene specific portrait for Van Helsing from when he uses the candlesticks in the shape of the cross to drive Dracula into the sunlight while battling the Count in his castle. That scene is a popular still from the film and I believe it's been used for other merchandise, so it's quite cool of NECA to include it. His hair's a bit of a sweaty mess and he's clearly exerting himself against the desperate Count.
* The back of the coat doesn't have any extra paint besides the buttons, but it is quite nicely sculpted, looking like it's wrapped tightly around Dr. Van Helsing to keep out the chill.
* NECA actually included an entire separate torso featuring Van Helsing in a collared shirt with a tie and a maroon vest. His sleeves are rolled up as he is ready to do some serious work. You know; blood transfusions, driving a state through a vampire's heart. That kind of stuff. This is a pretty impressive extra! The torsos sit on a simple balljoint above the waist and a little pressure removes the tors rather easily. Considering you get a full torso and multiple heads, if you had an extra set of legs somehow you could have two different Van Helsings. The second is as fully articulated as the first and it moves better since the coat doesn't restrict it at all.
* NECA's Classic Monsters line is filled with guys in suits. If you're collecting other figures from this line then you already know what to expect for the articulation. These aren't superheroes with the range of a Marvel Legends or Japanese import figure, but they do very well at looking life-like in neutral poses or taking nuanced and expressive poses that utilize the hands, arms, and head. The articulation is quite good overall and everything feels sturdy with nothing that concerns me. The version of Val Helsing wearing his coat is more restrictive, but the vest wearing version is much more mobile.
* NECA has included multiple hands to utilize all of Van Helsing's accessories. When he's all bundled up in his coat he has six swappable gloved hands: A pair for holding the cross in either hand, a pair for holding the candlesticks he positions into the sign of the cross, and a right hand for holding the hammer and a left hand for holding a stake.
* For his ungloved hands, he has four options: A pair of hands for holding the cross and a pair for using the hammer and stake. You can even see his ring on the left pinkie.
* Van Helsing comes with a nice assortment of vampire hunting equipment. First up is a set of candlesticks. They're interesting designs; very spartan with unusual bases and little spies on top for holding the candle in place. Van Helsing uses these as an improvised weapon near the end of the film, holding them in the shape of the cross to drive Dracula into the light of the sun.
* Next up is a small cross. There's no chain or rosary attached to it but there is a small loop. It's silver (also a plus for fighting the undead) and it fits well in various hands included with the figure.
* Last up is a nice set of stakes with a hammer. There's a single piece that looks like four separate stakes, a single stake, and a hammer for pounding them in to the vampire's chest. A Hammer hammer. for hammering. They look great and also work well with some of the included hands. What good is a great accessory if the figure can't hold it, right?
Van Helsing is a very impressive figure. If you're not a fan of the source material or of Peter Cushing, I could see you not being overly thrilled wit this figure, but for those who are? This is just incredible. Three excellent portraits, stakes, crosses, and hammers, and swappable portraits? You really get a lot of options here, especially the ability to put Peter Van Helsing into the candlestick cross pose. I'm loving it. NECA loaded this guy down with features and he's definitely an Epic release. I'm hoping NECA isn't doesn't with the Hammer license as there's still a lot of great material to work with.
Looking for more of Van Helsing? I've reviewed a variety of different takes on the character including the Diamond Select Van Helsing which is a different take on
Abraham Van Helsing, and the Universal Monsters Alliance
Van Helsing (Gabriel, i.e. Hugh Jackman's Van Helsing), and
Declan Van Helsing from Operation: Monster Force.
* Whenever I think of Peter Cushing, I still think of Grand Moff Tarkin. I really had to remind myself that this isn't Cushing in his 60s, like in Star Wars, but as a much younger man. He still has great features, but it much less gaunt. Three portraits are included, the first having a non-removable hat for when he's out and about searching for his friends and hunting vampires. The paintwork is excellent with piercing eyes and a mixture of colors to give the skin a more life-like appearance. 
No comments:
Post a Comment
What'chu talkin' 'bout?