It's almost Christmas... so ready for something spooky? This is definitely an "out of season" review but I had a few figures I purchased with the intent of reviewing them for 31 Days of Toy Terror but I didn't have enough days in October. Today I'm checking out the very cool Seaweed Monster from Super7's Pre-Code Horror ReAction line. This is definitely a very deep cut for an action figure and I like the idea behind the line: Pay tribute to some of the great horror comics of the pre- Comics Code Authority era. Looking for some vintage horror comic based figures from prior to 1954? Then this line's for you. The Seawood Monster is the only figure from this line I picked up as I found him the must visually appealing, plus I found him on sale. The Seaweed Monster appeared in 1952 on the cover of issue #7 of Ace Comics' Baffling Mysteries. He's a spooky fellow and I don't know anything about, but when you're this creepy looking does it matter? This guy predates The Creature from the Black Lagoon! Let's check out the Seaweed Monster after the break...
Height: 3 7/8ths
Articulation: Swivel hips, swivel shoulders, and a swivel neck.
Accessories: None
Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars
Little Known Fact: After the Comics Code killed his gig in horror comics, the Seaweed Monster took up a career in aquarium sales.
* Like most other ReAction figures, the Pre-Code Horror line has a really nice design that uses the original cover art. Interestingly, the design on the card is the original cover art but flipped around to better position the character on the vintage Kenner styled card.
The Positives:
* The Seaweed Monster is a very cool and rather creepy figure. For the most part the vintage artwork is captured nicely in the ReAction style and there is a realism to the figure that's just kind of unsettling. Unsettling in a good way, though. It's a well made horror toy. He's got ridges on his arms and legs, a really unusual skin texture, and a primitive pair of trunks, kind of like Mer-Man.
* That headsculpt is really eerie! He looks...kind of human, with recognizable facial features, but clearly there's more going on here than just that. Check out those pointy ears and that beard that looks to be made of seaweed. I'm also just loving the eyes. This is a wonderfully bizarre design. I guess you could say it's baffling.
* The texture on the Seaweed Monster's body is fantastic and that scaly skin is allover, front and back. It's just such a neat effect.
* Here's a shot of the ridges on his arms and legs and his webbed hands and clawed feet.
* When it comes to a ReAction figure, you usually know what to expect when it comes to the articulation, so no surprises here. He moves at the standard five joints and feels nice and solid. I do prefer the feel of Super7's retro action figures in this style over any other companies. They just feel right.
Usually ReAction figures are known for their simplified sculpts but the Seaweed Monster is pretty impressive. Seriously, Super7 did a really nice job on him. Whether he's kept carded as a piece of pop culture art or opened up and placed on the shelf with other retro styled monstrosities, he's quite a nice figure. He's an impressive and very obscure comic monster and he makes a cool companion piece to other creatures of the sort. Crazy to have this guy who outdates the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Swamp Thing, and Man-Thing! He really is a Great figure with a very school sculpt and fantastic textures.
This is the first figure of the Seaweed Monster I've reviewed on the site.
This is the first figure of the Seaweed Monster I've reviewed on the site.
He's cool looking! As a kid I would have probably had him fight Perseus.
ReplyDeleteHe does have a similar aesthetic to the Clash of the Titans figures, doesn't he?
Deletehe looks a bit like Moss Man's grandad or something. :)
ReplyDeleteNow I like him even more!
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