Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Mayor Manor from LEGO Icons: Midnight Valley Collection by LEGO

   Happy Halloween 2026! Ever since today's set was leaked this past summer, I knew it was going to be the October 31st review for Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror. While I don't collect LEGO as heavily as I do action figures, I do love them and pick up sets fairly often. Usually I prefer the modular buildings and such but I'm absolutely a sucker for the spooky stuff and today's review, Mayor Manor, is the beginning of a new annual series from LEGO that is essentially a Halloween village. LEGO has been releasing a winter/ Christmas village theme for quite a few years now and the Midnight Valley Collection is the spooky counterpart of that concept. This set was officially released on September 1st but a few retailers and independent toy stores got the set in early. I built mine over a couple evenings in September and I'm quite thrilled with how it turned out. Besides just being spooky, the concept of the Midnight Valley Collection also seems to be focused on builds with distorted and asymmetrical construction. Mayor Manor might just look like your classic rundown haunted house but it's actively being twisted apart by a tree growing up through the right side of the model. That's a pretty cool design decision and it makes the set far more interesting than it could have been. Mayor Manor isn't one of the modular buildings; it's simply a façade. It looks excellent, though, and should be easier to store on a shelf. 

   Rather than a standard review of the Positives and the Negatives, with building brick sets I'm trying to capture a little bit of what the building experience is like, giving you a glimpse of the set as it's being constructed about every 10 steps or so. I hope you enjoy that as I may be doing more brick building reviews on the site as I've been attracted to not many LEGO sets but also to some of the other companies putting out brick built sets like Lumibricks and Pantasy. Ready to dive inside the spooky Mayor Manor on this Halloween night? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Night-Creeper (D.I.R.E. Tech) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Last year Hasbro released Crystal Ball into the G.I. Joe: Classified Series and he ended up being my October 31st review for last year's 31 Days of Toy Terror. With his introduction, Hasbro introduced something of a new Cobra sub-team into G.I. Joe as an adversary for Night Force: Cobra troops augmented with D.I.R.E. tech, or Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy. The D.I.R.E. tech is a mystical energy that can be used to both induce fear in adversaries and to create tangible constructs and it's a rather cool new concept for the G.I. Joe universe. Today I'm looking at the third figure released in this unofficial sub-team, the Night-Creeper (D.I.R.E. Tech). Like all of the D.I.R.E. tech figures released thus far, he's exclusive to Walmart. This guy showed up earlier this summer in rather limited numbers before showing up in September in greater numbers as part of Walmart's fall reset (there's also a new troop, the Cobra D.I.R.E. Hawk who actually started showing up in stores before he was officially announced on October 1st, but as of this writing I haven't procured one yet. Ready to check out the Night-Creeper (D.I.R.E. Tech) figure? Does anyone else, upon picking up a Night-Creeper, find themselves singing "Night-Creeper, Night-Creeper" to the tune of the BeeGee's "Night Fever?" All this and more will be discussed after the break...

Action Figure Review: Blackbeard from The Black by Valaverse

 

   Valaverse launched a new toy line this year that is connected to Action Force: The Black. The Black features a group of modern day "pirates" who are made up of former Navy Seals. Blackbeard is the moniker taken by Austin Moore, the commanding officer of the group known as The Black. The Black don't seem to be straight up good guys or bad guys in the Action Force/ Valaverse lore; instead, they're just kind of their own faction.. Yes, they're protecting the coast of the now divided US from outside forces but they're also controlling trade and seemingly engaging in piracy. They're connected to and loyal to each other, rather than the warring factions of the Citadel, Action Force, or the SWARM. Modern day pirates? Cool stuff and not something you see that much in modern day action figures. Blackbeard shipped over the summer along with a few other new releases from The Black and Action Force and I've had him for a few months now. He's a solid figure and definitely one of the most interesting releases from Valaverse this year. Ready to check out the leader of the Black? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Perfect Pairs from Peanuts by Just Play

 

   It just isn't Halloween without a visit from the Peanuts gang, is it? The first Halloween strip for Peanuts ran on October 31st, 1956 and they've ever since been key ambassadors of Halloween nostalgia. Five Below has had quite a few Peanuts themed Halloween items over the past few years and this year they have this little set from Just Play called Perfect Pairs. Who is the titular Perfect Pair? Why Charlie Brown and Snoopy, of course! They're both decked out for trick or treating with costumes, candy pails, and even some treats. Snoopy showed up earlier this month but I don't think there's anything wrong with giving him some more attention. Ready to check these two out? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Sylvester #1675 from POP! Animation: Looney Tunes by Funko

 "Sufferin' succotash!" Halloween is getting nearer and nothing goes together better than jack o' lanterns and black cats. So how about one for today's spooky review? Well, at least we've got a jack o' lantern and a tuxedo cat. Yes, today we're taking a look at Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr. and a fantastic Halloween jack o' lantern that he's been using as a hiding place. Perhaps he was curled up in here waiting for Tweety? Sylvester is from a Halloween series of Looney Tunes from the Funko POP! Animation line and he's just such a fun toy that I had to pick him up. He's from 2024 (and was released alongside of a ghostly version of Bugs Bunny, a mummy Marvin the Martian, and a witch version of Tweety) but I actually found him at regular retail this year despite being listed as "vaulted" on Funko's website. Looney Tunes has had a great year in 2026 with the popularity of Coyote Vs. Acme and while Sylvester only had a small cameo, it was still nice to see this classic brand have an incredibly fun and well receive film. Of course, I bought this guy because he's coming out of a pumpkin. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. Let's check out Sylvester after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Tauraton from Masters of the Universe Origins: The Powers of Grayskull by Mattel

 

So today's review might not fit this year's theme perfectly but I've really been wanting to review Tauraton and I usually have at least one Masters of the Universe toy on the countdown. If you don't keep up to the minute with Masters of the Universe, you might be wondering who this guy is. Fret not; he's actually a new character that's part of the Power of Grayskull subset being sold exclusively through Mattel Creations. Tauraton was created by Axel Gimenez and Roy Juarez for the packaging of the Mattel Creations exclusive He-Ro and then was developed into a figure this year. He's a mighty minotaur inspired by Greek myth and Ray Harryhausen's "The Minoton" from "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger." It's a cool design for a MOTU villain, especially one from the Preternian era (many years before the time of He-Man/ Prince Adam). For so many of us, our first experiences with the horror genre and horror toys were through toylines with creepy characters, so it's fun to check out one that feels like it could have existed during my childhood. I know I owned the old The Real Ghostbusters: Monsters long before I ever saw any of the classic Universal Studios horror films and I'm sure many others had similar experiences. Ready to check out a classic monster reimagined for MOTU? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Bride of Frankenstein Glow-In-The-Dark Character Spoon from Universal Monsters by Sonic/ C3

   It wasn't until the first week of October that I realized that Sonic is running a Universal Monsters October promotion in their Wacky Pack kids meals. A quick trip to sonic and one milkshake later, I was the proud owner of the full set of all seven toys from the series. Five of the the prizes are more traditional toys while two are spoons. I've previously reviewed items from Sonic's He-Man and She-Ra promotions from a few years back and those included some spoons and straw caddies as well, which I guess is fitting for a place that sells various ice cream shakes, sundaes, and other sweet beverages. The Bride of Frankenstein is represented here as a glow in the dark spoon. It's not the most exciting prize on its own but, at the same time, it's pretty thrilling to pull in to a Sonic drive-in and get a glow in the dark spoon based on a film that's 91 years old. Burger King and Jack in the Box are famous for having Universal Monsters themed kids meals in the past (I've reviewed of them on this site) but now Sonic is stepping in. Ready to dig in with the Bride of Frankenstein? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Moss Man & Ram Man from Masters of the Universe Origins: Masters of the Universe (2026) by Mattel

 

   While Masters of the Universe has been out of theaters for sometime now and wasn't a hit, it's apparently been quite successful on Amazon Prime and the physical media versions (Blu-Ray, DVD, and 4K Blu-Ray) just came out last week and seem to be strong sellers. I really liked the movie and I'm still holding out hope that the numbers for streaming and toy sales are strong enough that Amazon wants to visit Eternia again. There was a fairly strong toy presence at retail but one issue that I think is worth talking about was the number of different scales and styles of figures available. These days it seems like most toylines for major media try to release a smaller number of characters in multiple scales and styles (so hitting multiple price points) rather than having one standard line with a wide selection of characters. The mainline figures seemed to have a decent number of releases and went fairly deep (with more figures apparently coming, though likely as Amazon exclusives) while Chronicles and the Movie-based Origins lines were a bit more limited. I like Origins for some things but I'm not sure they made a ton of sense for the new movie. Still, when I found out there was a Moss Man for the movie Origins line (who, to the best of my knowledge, is the only movie Moss Man yet released) I had to jump in. You all know that Moss Man is my dude and while I was maybe a 7/10 on his portrayal in the film with such limited screen time, I was absolutely devastated that he died so quickly. What? Why? Still, a Moss Man is a Moss Man and he can join my flock of Moss Men in my collection. I'm also a pretty big Ram Man fan as well, so I wasn't upset about getting him as the other figure in this two-pack which I believe is exclusive to Target. Ready to check out two of Eternia's most powerful warriors? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Starscream Armor Scare Glow from Masters of the Universe x Transformers by Mattel

   Today I'm checking out a figure that might not exactly fit this year's theme but I'm still going to go with it. When you have your own action figure blog, you can do stuff like this, too. Besides, I've reviewed Scare Glow action figures during 31 Days of Toy Terror a few times in the past, so let's just call it tradition at this point. Yes, today I'm checking out the Masters of the Universe x Transformers crossover version of Starscream Armor Scare Glow. If you've kept up with my reviews over the years you've probably realized that out of all of the big 1980s properties, I've never reviewed much when it comes to Transformers. I reviewed two of the Transformers BotBots a few years back and that's it. I'm just not that big of a Transformers fan. When it came to Mattel putting out a MOTU/ Transformers crossover, I was wondering if we'd get MOTU vehicles that transformed but, no, we got a couple characters wearing Transformer armor. He-Man is dressed like Optimus Prime, Man-At-Arms is dressed like Bumblebee, Skeletor is dressed like Megatron, and Scare Glow is dressed like Starscream. I skipped the others but I was interested in Scare Glow. Surprisingly, the first time I found this guy he was on clearance. That's wild, right? He was originally $30 dollars at Target and is now $33, and Mattel Creations had him for $30 at one point, too, but I only paid $8 to $12 bucks. That sealed the deal for me and now you can reap the benefits. Let's check out the spooky skeleton, Scare Glow, dressed up like a Transformer for trick 'r treating. Knock on the door and ask join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Ambassador of R'lyeh from Operation: Monster Force by Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction

 

   2026 has been an awesome year for Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction's Operation: Monster Force and its companion line, The Order of the Crimson Moon, and while I'm going to be reviewing a bunch of these guys during the last quarter of 2026, I wanted to give this Cthulhu inspired figure a spot on Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror. Who is the Ambassador R'lyeh? He's a Cthulhu-like representative of the sunken city of R'lyeh, the mythical resting place of the great Cthulhu himself. The ambassador is now part of the Forgotten King's army, bringing the eldritch menace of the elder gods into the world of Operation: Monster Force. This guy is a stellar release from Season 3, part 1 of this series and was my most anticipated figure from this set. I actually preordered the full set of six figures so I received the bonus head pack, but I'll look at that separately at some point. For now, let's basque in the cosmic horror of the Ambassador of R'lyeh...

Action Figure Review: Destro & Iron Grenadier Despoiler from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

   As you can tell, I'm, clearly behind on my G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews. I'm working to catch up, though, as it's been my favorite active toyline since the line debuted in 2020, so now I'm checking out a release from way back in June: Destro with his Iron Grenadier Despoiler. I absolutely remember getting the vintage version of this figure back in 1988 and being quite thrilled with the opportunity to have a Destro in my collection as I was too young to be into the line when the original Destro was released. This is a pricy release although Hasbro definitely has enhanced the size of the Despoiler. It was a tiny little vehicle back in 1988 but it definitely feels more impressive now. As I was looking at pictures of vintage Despoilers and the packaging they came in I was surprised to learn that some of the boxes had the Battle Force 2000 logo on them. I don't think I ever realized that the Iron Grenadiers were originally created as an adversary for Battle Force 2000. Of course, over the years the Iron Grenadiers have grown in popularity and have become a fan favorite while Battle Force 2000 is one of the least popular sub teams ever. Let's take a look at Destro and his Iron Grenadier Despoiler after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jack O. Lantern from PIX! Garbage Pail Kids by Thrilljoy

   I am always down for a character with a Jack o' Lantern for a head so I made sure to preorder the PIX! Garbage Pail Kids Jack O. Lantern for this year's "Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror" since he fits the theme perfectly. Thrilljoy is a newer company (founded in 2024 by former Funko CEO Mariotti) and PIX! seems to be their signature line. Like Funko, they're releasing vinyl figures of multiple different pop culture characters at fairly reasonable prices. Thrilljoy's PIX! figures are a bit less stylized, a bit more expensive, and I believe they all have a set edition run. Each figure has at least one chase variant, too, and the figure comes in a blind box. Well, they actually come in a nice display box but there's a cardboard sleeve that you tear open to reveal whether you received the standard edition or the chase variant. Jack O. Lantern is based on a Garbage Pail Kids character who appeared in the collectible cards back in 1986 and is essentially a pumpkin headed guy carving his own face. That's pretty wild! The variant of Jack O. Lantern has a pumpkin pie head with a piece carved out, which is also funny, though I do prefer the regular version of this guy. Ready to check a pumpkin who carves himself? Then let's take a closer look after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Creature from the Black Lagoon (Black & White) from Tubbz Mystery Egg: Universal Monsters by Numskull Designs

   I received a pretty cool little surprise for my birthday: A Tubbz Mystery Egg. I've had a Jeep for a couple years now and while my dashboard isn't covered with ducks, I do have a few in a little tray and in a little net bag inside. I received this guy as a little extra gift probably more for my love of the classic Universal Monsters than because it's a duck. These guys are blind bagged, which I'm not a huge fan of, so I'm not sure I'll go out and attempt to snag any more, though you know I really want a Wolf Man. I like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, though, and this black and white variant is pretty cool. Not only do the minifigures look like little rubber duck versions of the Universal Monsters breaking out of an egg but the figure comes inside of a little plastic egg, keeping you from being able to tell what's inside of the wrapper. These can vary in price depending on where you get them as I've seen them listed for between $5 and $9 dollars. Which characters are available? It looks like there is a regular and black & white creature, a regular and black & white Bride, a Wolf Man, Mummy, Frankenstein Monster, Dracula, and Invisible Man, and a rare bronze Dracula, silver Frankenstein, and gold Mummy. Ready for a look at a very classic looking Creature from the Black Lagoon? Then dive in and join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tony Tony Chopper (Drum Island) from S.H. Figuarts: One Piece by Bandai/ Tamashi Nations

 

    S.H. Figuarts has really been pushing the One Piece line lately and they're doing a solid job of beginning to fill out some rosters/ teams/ storylines. I mean, One Piece has been going for decades and there are so many different characters and arcs, but it really feels like there's a renewed effort on Bandai's part this year. The main pre-time skip cast has been getting a lot of attention lately and now we have a "first appearance" version of Tony Tony Chopper, the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates, from when the crew first meets him on Drum Island in the Grandline. Yes, Chopper is in fact a doctor. A reindeer doctor. A blue-nosed reindeer doctor. A blue-nosed reindeer doctor who ate the Human-Human Devil Fruit and can talk and transform into different forms. Wild stuff. Let's check out this cute little guy after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Hot Wheels High from Hot Wheels: Halloween Series by Mattel

   I was really excited this year because I had the chance to do something I've always wanted to do: Take a ghost tour! We took a train to New Orleans this summer and took a walking ghost tour while staying in the French Quarter. It was a lot of fun and a spooky good time. My wife and daughter had to keep me in line from asking too many questions ("Not trying to be funny, not trying to get a laugh, I don't want anybody to have the worst day at their job..."). Today's installment of Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror is a jet powered bus that's labeled Terror Tours! The model itself is called "Hot Wheels High" and it's a 2013 Hot Wheels concept of a school bus or tour bus that is heavily modified for some serious travel. Ready to jump in this tank of a bus and see some spooky sites? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dr. Sarah Bowman from Day of the Dead by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   For today's installment of Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror I'm finishing up Trick or Treat Studios' Day of the Dead line by taking a look at Dr. Sarah Bowman, the film's primary protagonist and someone who can fight the other zombies in the line. She's a solid choice for the line due to her role in the film, played by actress Lori Cardille, though I do have to admit that she's the least interesting of the figures since she's not a zombie and she doesn't rip apart like Capt. Henry Rhodes. Still, she's a vital part of the film and she comes with some nifty weaponry. Ready to check out Dr. Sarah Bowman? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: "The Bride of Frankenstein" '40 Ford from Hot Wheels Silver Series: Universal Monsters by Mattel

 

   Ready for another Universal Monsters themed Hot Wheels car? Today I'm checking out the last of the cars from this series that I'll probably be reviewing this year: The Bride of Frankenstein's '40 Ford. This is a very classy coupe and it looks perfect for the Bride to cruise around in. Likely on a moonlit night without any lightning, though, as the roof is down on this one. Ready to check out the classiest car in this series? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Franken-Snoopy from Peanuts by G. Mason Group

 

 We never leave out our four legged friends here at Action Figure Barbecue! While our dog, Zoey, has volunteered to write special reviews  on toys over the past few years for 31 Days of Toy Terror (she enjoyed all of the kind remarks and praise she got), this year we've decided to give Krypto a turn. We adopted Krypto in August of 2025 and he has made himself right at home. He's a very mellow, pleasant little guy with a very serious stare. Ready to read a (dog) toy review written by our poodle/ Westie/ Yorkie/ whatever he might be rescue dog? Then read on!

[Editor's Note: While Zoey never quite got the hang of spelling or proper grammar in the 6+ years we've had her, Krypto is quite a good writer and is rather well spoken. He's also rather polite and proper.]

   Hello, everyone! My name is Krypto. I am very excited to join you today for what Barbecue calls a "review" of a new toy that I was gifted. My "gotcha day" was in August and my Gram-Gram, who is Barbecue's mom, gave me this because I am a very good boy. Yes, yes. Very good. Very handsome and shaggy as well. I do not have many toys, only three or four, and they have all been gifts from my Gram-Gram. Usually I'd rather nap, have my belly rubbed, or stare at people than play with toys but sometimes I will pick one up and carry it around. Unfortunately, Zoey will usually take my toys. She is a nice dog but she doesn't seem to understand what sharing is, and so she will steal my toys. I usually keep my toys in Adora's room, that way Zoey does not get them. Today I will talk about a green snoopy who I am told is a Frankenstein version of Snoopy. There are many little toys of Snoopy in this house, though most are Barbecue's. Would you like to learn more about this Snoopy Halloween toy? Then, I believe, you should click the button so you can read more after the page break. Yes, yes.

Action Figure Review: Zartan (Ninja Force) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

   He might not be a spooky action figure but Zartan is definitely dressed up! A master of disguise, Zartan always looks a bit different and his 1993 Ninja Force variant (known to A Real American Heroes as Zartan v2) gave the Dreadnok leader a black leather vest, neon green pants, and a bright orange mohawk. At the time it seemed like just part of the neon craze of the early 1990s where action figures were trying to capture the attention of kids with brighter colors and popular themes, but really, this was a version of Zartan that actually fit in better alongside of his Dreadnok subordinates. While the original Zartan looked rather lowkey and somewhat mystical at times, the rest of the Dreadnoks borrowed their styles liberally from biker gangs, punk subculture, and post-apocalyptic films like The Road Warrior. With the Ninja Force Zartan, Hasbro's Joe team took a swing and dressed Zartan in punk fashion. It may not have been much appreciated at the time but over the years it has become more popular. Ninja Force is Target's current G.I. Joe: Classified Series subtheme and I also have the other two 2-packs in hand (so don't worry, they're coming). I'm impressed by all of them! The Classified Series has really taken those vintage designs and concepts and improved them. Let's take a look at Ninja Force Zartan and see what all he offers. Join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Michael Myers from Squishmallows by Jazwares

   Michael Myers again? Yup. Michael Myers again. The man is synonymous with Halloween and I'm usually a pretty easy mark for most Michael Myers items that are on the affordable side. During a shopping trip to Five Below back in early September I stumbled upon this Michael Myers Squishmallow and I just had to have it. My daughter has never been too into Squishmallows (I think she has a couple of the Pokemon ones and maybe a random one or so) but her best friend is all about them, so I've seen Squishmallows around my house over the past number of years. I've never owned any myself, but old Michael Myers was just too irresistible. He's cute and squishy, too. Why is Michael Myers cute and squishy? I don't know. I guess because of Halloween and Halloween nuts like me. I think there's a larger version of this guy who's probably around 8 inches tall and much wider and squishier, so this might be a smaller, less expensive option exclusive to Five Below (but don't quote me on that). Ready for a snuggly buddy to watch Halloween with? Or, more specifically, Halloween 2. Because this guy is noted as being from 1981's Halloween 2 rather than the original 1978 film, I guess you can only watch the Universal released films with him. Just kidding! Once he's yours you can watch any of them you want with Michael Myers on your lap. Ready to get squishy and spooky? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dodge Charger Stock Car from Hot Wheels: Halloween Series by Mattel

 

    How about another spooky car? Today I'm checking out yet another vehicle in the 2026 Halloween series of Hot Wheels and this time it's a Dodge Charger Stock Car that is showing off its Halloween spirit. This one isn't as inspired as the Baja Hauler I looked at a week or so ago that was outfitted for delivering pumpkins but it's still a neat little frightening automobile. Let's go fast and turn left over and over after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dr. Tongue from Day of the Dead by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   We're getting closer to Halloween and I hope you're enjoying these reviews from Trick or Treat Studios' Day of the Dead toyline. Today I'm checking out Dr. Tongue, the first zombie shown in the film. He's a creepy character with one of the best designs in horror. This guy might not be an iconic character but I think he's definitely a recognizable zombie. Even folks who neither know his name nor what film he's from can still recognize him based on his popularity. I've seen many masks based on him over the years. Why's he called Dr. Tongue? Well, because he's missing his lower jaw and his tongue is just hanging out. And he apparently has a medical degree. Can you believe that I scored this guy while walking around a Walmart earlier this summer? Action figures based on George Romero classics in the electronic department? What a crazy time to be alive! Let's check out Dr. Tongue after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: "The Wolf Man" Drift Rod from Hot Wheels Silver Series: Universal Monsters by Mattel

 

   How about another creepy car? Today I'm looking at the Drift Rod from the new Hot Wheels Silver Series: Universal Monsters set of cars. This muscle car has been given a new paint job inspired by the Wolf Man. That's an interesting thought, isn't it? A big, hairy V8 rolling down the road, honking a horn that lets out a big howl. Yeah, that's the ticket. The Wolf Man is my favorite of the Universal Monsters and I was really excited to see what this one looked like in person. Let's see what Larry Talbot drives when the moon if full and he's on the prowl after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Horri-Dame from Legends of Dragonore by Formo Toys

   I'm very excited to check out today's figure as it's one of the 2026 releases from Formo Toys' Legends of Dragonore line: Horri-Dame! If you're not familiar with Legends of Dragonore, this is a toyline heavily inspired by 1980s 5.5 inch scaled barbarian fantasy toy lines. You know, Masters of the Universe? The line has some serious MOTU fans and creative talents behind it like Emiliano Santalucia and Joshua Van Pelt, so you can see the MOTU influence in Legends of Dragonore. Horri-Dame is a new character in Legends of Dragonore who is heavily inspired by the green witch concept by vintage MOTU creative talent Ted Mayer. The character was often called the Hoard Witch by fans and was erroneously cited by Tomarts as a concept version of Evil-Lyn, but that's just not true. In the Masters of the Universe Classics bios, she was later identified as Sultra and had a bio card written by Danielle Gelehrter (AKA horror host Penny Dreadful XII!) who, if I remember correctly, championed for the figure in MOTUC back in the day. Horri-Dame isn't an official version of the MOTU character by any means but you can definitely see the inspiration. Consider her a tribute or homage to a cool concept, though she has a lot of differences including a cool face swap feature, a broom that is also a rifle, and some soft goods. There's always room for a spooky witch at Halloween, right? Let's check out Horri-Dame after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ramp Rats from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

    Over the next two or three months, in addition to 31 Days of Toy terror, be prepared for a ton of G.I. Joe reviews. I've got a lot of missed ground to cover! Take the Cobra Ramp Rats, for example; these guys showed up at my door back in May! I've had them on my desk for about five months. I've messed around with them quite a bit, though, so I'm excited to finally talk about them. Who are the Ramp Rats? The packaging and promotional material identify them as the ground crew for the Cobra Rattler, which shipped during the summer of 2025 and was the Classified Series HasLab for 2024. The the aircraft and weapons technicians for the Rattler and any other Cobra aircraft. A figure similar to the Ramp Rats first appeared in the HasLab Skystriker as a stretch goal: The Cobra Ground Crew. Now, that idea has been expanded and we have a two pack of figures with a large storage crate to support your Cobra air force. I know that some folks don't care for G.I. Joe figures who aren't directly involved in combat bit I kind of dig the worldbuilding aspects, even if I'm not building massive scenes and dioramas. As long as the figure has someway to defend themselves, I'm happy, and these guys come with a nice complement of accessories. They're all reused, sure, but they're a decent assortment. Let's take a look at the Ramp Rats after the break...

Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror: Young Michael Myers from John Carpenter's Halloween by Plastic Meatball

   Today I'm excited to check out a figure I've had since May that just feels like the perfect figure for this year's 31 Days of Toy Terror countdown: Young Michael Myers from Plastic Meatball's John Carpenter's Halloween toyline. We've had a few figures of adult Michael Myers in the line, but a young Michael? That's a first in the faux retro style this line imitates so well! I missed out on NECA's Halloween: The Evolution of Evil 2-pack from 2006 and I've really wanted a young Michael Myers from Halloween night 1963 for my collection and this guy definitely fills a nice role in my collection. Earlier this month I reviewed the Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers 2-pack which includes Michael's niece, Jamie Lloyd, in her clown costume from the end of the film, and you probably aren't surprised that these two share a body. They're young kids in clown costumes. How different are they? It's smart reuse (I'm not sure who was planned first) and well executed. Ready to check out the haunting figure of six-year old Michael Myers from just moments after he stabbed his sister, Judith, within their own home at 43 Lampkin Lane in Haddonfield, Illinois? Then join me after the break...

  

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Baja Hauler from Hot Wheels: Halloween Series by Mattel

 

  Mattel released the first series of Halloween themed Hot Wheels cars back in 2002 with the Halloween Highway series and they've been pretty consistently releasing themed car sets for All Hallows Eve ever since. I'm not a huge collector of toy cars, usually only those connected with a franchise I like such as Ecto-1s or Batmobiles, but as a sucker for all things Halloween these definitely caught my eye. Actually, I should be honest and say they caught the eyes of my parents. Yes, I'm in my early 40s and I'm still blessed to have my parents and they still will see cool stuff when they're out and about and will give me a call to see if I'm interested. I have a few of these 2026 Hot Wheels: Halloween series cars on the countdown this year but I'm starting out with what might be my favorite: The "Pumpkin Delivery" variant of the Baja Hauler. Ready to haul some pumpkins directly from the pumpkin patch to your door? Then hop in and let's check out the Baja Hauler after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Capt. Henry Rhodes from Day of the Dead by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   

   How about another figure from Trick or Treat Studios' Day of the Dead toyline? Since we've already covered a zombie (Bub), let's now take a look at one of the humans from the film: Capt. Henry Rhodes. While the zombies are certainly a problem in the film, Capt. Rhodes is the primary antagonist for our heroes as he's heavily armed, commands a group of soldiers, and is steadily losing his grip on reality. Inspired by the classic Kenner figures of the late 1980s and 1990s like Beetlejuice, The Real Ghostbusters, Police Academy, Aliens, Terminator, and Jurassic Park, these figures really impress me because they remind me of the toys I really grew up playing with. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I really like the Dead movies, as well. During a sleepover as a very young teen, a friend and I watched Tom Savini's remake of The Night of the Living Dead two times on MonsterVision with Joe Bob Briggs in one night; ever since, I've been obsessed with horror and zombies, so these figures "give me life" as the youth of today might say. Which is odd to say of zombie action figures, especially this guy, who gets killed by zombies. Spoiler alert, by the way. Let's check out Capt. Henry Rhodes as we Trick or Treat through 31 Days of Toy Terror....

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: "The Mummy" Rip Rod from Hot Wheels Silver Series: Universal Monsters by Mattel

 

   Just in time for Halloween Hot Wheels has released a set of five Universal Monsters inspired vehicles in the Silver Series. These cars are a little more expensive than your average Hot Wheels, but cheaper than some of the more specialized vehicles. Hot Wheels often does Halloween inspired cars and if I lived in a neighborhood and had Trick 'r Treaters, I'd be inclined to buy a bunch and give them out as treats as they're really quite neat. One of the first cars I found is the Rip Rod decorated in tribute to the 1932 Universal Studios film The Mummy. Is this a buggy that Imhotep could possibly use to cross the deserts of Egypt? Let's check out this speedy and scary car after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Pumpkin Snoopy (Black & White) from Peanuts by Just Play

 

   Despite not being too frightening (though he has worn masks, been a were-beagle and a vampire bat, and even dressed up like the Frankenstein Monster), Snoopy is definitely a Halloween icon. Charles Schultz always played up the holiday in the Peanuts comic strip, knowing how important it is to children, and the release of the 1966 animated special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was a celebration of not just Halloween but so many other elements of that special time of autumn, too. While the minifigure I'm looking at today isn't specifically based on that special, it is fitting for Snoopy to dress up like a Jack o' lantern. This minifigure came out a couple years ago in full color at Five Below (and maybe other retailers; I'm not sure if he was an exclusive or not) and this year he has returned in a black & white colorway. I love Snoopy and have a shelf of different Snoopy figures both because of my love of the character and because he has long reminded me of my beloved jackabee (Jack Russell/ Beagle mix), Crouton, who passed away last summer. He was an old fellow when he died, but he came to us as a stray over 15 years ago and while we first thought he was brown, a bath revealed that he was white with black speckles, kind of like Snoopy. Crouton also had a red collar and he kind of sat in that vulture pose that Snoopy often took. Sure, Halloween is a time for candy and ghouls and watching terrifying movies, but it's also a time for nostalgia, and sometimes nostalgia is remembering those we've loved and lost. This one is for you, Crouton! Join me after the break...

Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror: Michael Myers & Jamie Lloyd from Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers by Plastic Meatball

 

   With a theme of toys that focus on the holiday of Halloween for this year's 31 Days of Toy Terror you just know that Michael Myers will make more than one appearance. Today I'm excited to check out another figure from Plastic Meatball's retro inspired Halloween action figures though this time it's from Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. This 1988 sequel continues the story from Halloween II and introduces Michael's niece, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris) and is the first part of the fan-named "Thorn Trilogy" of films. While the rest of Plastic Meatball's Halloween releases have been focused on the original 1978 John Carpenter directed film, this release heavily shares tooling with those figures to create a 2-pack based on Halloween 4. It's an exclusive to Fright-Rags and released in late spring of this year. Ready to check out the frightening duo of Michael Myers & Jamie Lloyd? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Wolf Man from Tiny Nightmares by Just Play

 

   

   OK, so while most figures this year will tie into the Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror theme of figures related to Halloween in some way, the Wolf Man is just one of my cheats. I mean, is there ever a real reason to not review one of the Universal Monsters? The Wolf Man is my favorite and I was really excited to see him pop up in Series 2 of Just Play's Tiny Nightmares minifigures. I reviewed the Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Bride of Frankenstein last year (from series 1) and I was pleased to discover that these aren't truly blind boxed. Instead, there is an alphabetical code on each one that corresponds to the character inside. The Wolf Man is letter "H" for the normal series that includes eight figures, so if you find that "H" then you have Larry Talbot. (Note: Last year Five Below did get a special set case of these figures with fewer characters that was lettered differently, so it's possible that there is a separate case assortment out there.) Ready for a fun treat for this Halloween season? Then join me after the break...

Check out Adora's Art: Anakin Skywalker

 

Usually I just review toys and action figures but right now I'm a very proud dad; my daughter, Adora, just showed me this piece of art she's been working on. I'm pretty impressed by it! Her talents have doubled since I last showed them off, right?

Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror: Bub from Day of the Dead by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   What is this year's theme for 31 Days of Toy Terror? That's right: Toys that are connected to the holiday of Halloween itself! It's Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror, baby! That can include toys that are based on things like Jack 'O Lanterns or action figures based on movies and such that take place at Halloween, sure, but what about toys from Trick or Treat Studios? You know what? I'm going to allow it! I've really taken a liking to Trick or Treat Studios various movie based toylines that are reminiscent of the five or six point of articulation action figures of the late 1980s and 1990s. They make me think of classic Kenner lines like The Real Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Police Academy, and even stuff like Aliens, Predator, and Jurassic Park. Sure, other companies released toys like these, too, but these really give me that old school Kenner vibe. I've got a bunch of these lined up for this month but I'm definitely going to be checking out all four figures from Trick or Treat Studios' Day of the Dead line. I'm a huge fan of George Romero's zombie films and I was amazed when I saw these at my local Walmart in their horror section in the late spring/ early summer. I'm starting off with Bub, the most recognizable zombie from 1985's Day of the Dead. Ready to check out Bub with his "Undead Salute" action? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Finger Lickin' Pistol Whippin' Captain Spaulding from House of 1000 Corpses by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   Today's review just might help set the tone for a lot of the reviews to come this October as it actually centers on two ways that the main theme for 2026's 31 Days of Toy Terror is applied: It's both from a piece of media that is set on or around Halloween (House of 1000 Corpses) and it's an action figure from Trick or Treat Studios, a company who has been putting out some incredibly delightful retro styled action figures that feel like they're based on action feature driven toylines from the late 1980s and 1990s, so it has Trick or Treat in the name. Is that a stretch? Ahh, who cares, right? I've admired these from afar for a year or two and with this year seeing toys from some of my favorites like Day of the Dead, Army of Darkness, and Trick 'R Treat, I thought these might be well worth a look as they're some of the coolest horror toys being produced today. I started working on these reviews back in June and I was expecting the Army of Darkness and Trick 'R Treat figures to be released in August but that doesn't seem to be the case now. That made it a bit tougher for this year, especially with having so many reviews already done prior to October, but I've tried to make it work (though this year does have some more random figures put in just for fun). Now, let's talk about Finger Lickin' Pistol Whippin' Captain Spaulding...

   Played by the late Sid Haig, Captain Spaulding is the most recognizable character from Rob Zombie's 2003 horror film House of 1000 Corpses. For years I basically avoided the film as it just didn't seem like something that would appeal to me. I do like some of Rob Zombie's music but outside of his two Halloween films, I had never seen seen any of his other films until the last year or two when I caught House of 1000 Corpses on a streaming service. It's a wild movie for sure. Not great and not terrible, but certainly very unlike anything else I can recall. Sure, it definitely draws inspiration from so many horror classics, but it really is a very unique and strange film. It's gross, yes, but it's kind of fun with a really impressive cast of oddballs. Trick or Treat Studios released this series of action figures in 2022 and they included five action figures and a carrying case with a build-a-figure spread across every release except for Captain Spaulding. I guess they decided that he would be so popular that they wouldn't need to do anything extra to push him. Let's check out Captain Spaulding, the patriarch of the Firefly family and the proprietor of a gas station and fried chicken joint that also houses Captain Spaulding's Museum of Monsters and Madmen, after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Hooded Vampire/ Dracula from Flexy Halloween Creeps

 

   I'm really excited to show off today's installment of Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Hooded Vampire/ Dracula from the vintage Flexy Halloween Creeps toys. Have you ever seen or heard of this guy before? I've had this vampire for as long as I can remember, and I think I have a few more of these floating around somewhere in my haunted house. What's the deal here? Well, the "Flexy Halloween Creeps" were sold out of big cardboard box that was set right on the shelf of a drugstore or novelty shop.  The assortment included the vampire, a witch, a skeleton, a scarecrow, and a mummy. At some point they were re-released by a company called Tony USA in 2-packs under the title "Halloween Bendy Monsters Scary Friends" and a Frankenstein's Monster figure was included, too. These were purchased in bulk boxes and were imported from China to the USA and UK for dirt-cheap between the 1970s and early 1990s with the figures receiving different color updates every so often. These figures don't have any official names so I'm using the names I found on Dinosaur Dracula when Matt gave these out as part of the 2018 Halloween Funpack (Tall Skeleton, Hooded Vampire, Green Scarecrow, Rainbow Mummy, and Ugly Witch) as those seem like as good of names as any. Ready to check out the spooky Hooded Vampire who is clearly based on Dracula? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror! Ghost Bob from John Carpenter's Halloween by Plastic Meatball

 

  

  Since the theme of this year's festivities, Trick or Treat with 31 Days of Toy Terror, is looking at toys that are really tied in with Halloween in some way, you can bet your black licorice that figures based on the Halloween series are going to show up on this list more than once. Today I'm checking out a release from earlier this year: Ghost Bob from Plastic Meatball's retro inspired John Carpenter's Halloween. I've reviewed a couple of these in the past but it's been a few years since Plastic Meatball has released anything new. This year they've had a few exclusive releases through Fright Rags: Ghost Bob, Young Michael Myers, and a Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers 2-pack. Ghost Bob isn't really Laurie's friend Bob Simms; instead, it's Michael Myers wearing a sheet with eyeholes and Bob's eyeglasses overtop. It's one of the only times that Michael Myers wears a unique outfit or disguise in one of the films and it definitely captures a weird part of his character that some of the later films are missing: Michael is somewhat of a practical jokester who will do weird, theatrical things for effect. Why? Who knows, but he does put some effort into his menace. Let's take a look at "Ghost Bob" after the break and see if this guy is worth adding to your collection...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck by LEGO

 

   Happy Halloween 2026! Welcome to this year's installment of 31 Days of Toy Terror which is titled: Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror! I love horror themed toys but not all of them are really themed around Halloween, are they? No, of course not! This year, my focus is on toys that are directly connected to the holiday in some way. Pumpkins and Jack-O'-Lanterns? Absolutely! Toys that are based on media connected to the holiday like Trick 'r Treat and Halloween? Bring 'em on! Toys designed to be little Halloween tie-ins and impulse purchases? Sure, load them in the cart. Toys from the aptly named Trick Or Treat Studios, a company who produces lots of horror themed action figures? Hey, I gotta fill this list somehow, so I'm sometimes playing fast and loose with the rules. This year, I'm starting things off by delivering you a giant Jack-O'-Lantern. LEGO always puts out some fun and spooky stuff each Halloween and I really like this Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck set that was released last year. It's not a huge set but it is pretty cool, featuring a farmer delivering a giant Jack-O'-Lantern in a pickup truck that has been decorated for some autumn fun. Maybe the farmer is taking this guy to a competition, parking him outside of a haunted hayride or a haunted corn maze, or perhaps taking part in a Halloween parade? Let's get the spooky season rolling after the break...