Action Figure Review: Fisto from Masterverse: Masters of the Universe New Eternia by Mattel

 

   It's been a few months since I last reviewed a Masterverse figure, hasn't it? The last one I looked at was Leech back in July. Recently I found most of the newest series or two of figures and they've been pretty good. I haven't picked up all of them but I did grab the 1987 movie Beast Man, the New Eternia Evil-Lyn, and the Revolution Snake Sorceress Teela and Hordak. I've looked at so many variants of those characters, though, that I didn't get around to reviewing them. The New Eternia Fisto seemed to warrant a review, however. I'm a fan of the guy and he usually ends up being a strong figure no matter what line he's in. Mattel isn't at all flooding the market with releases from this line but they do  seem to consistently get new figures out and it's fun to see what they do with the characters. I've been getting a bit bored with MOTU Origins as of late but Masterverse is still a quality lined that feels designed to both to impress with their coolness and their pure toyeticness. These guys just have some neat "gimmicks" that make messing around with them fun. Ready to check out Fisto? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Jonah Hex & The General (All-Star Western) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   I'm not terribly knowledgeable on Jonah Hex but I do like the character, so I scooped this guy up when McFarlane put up the preorder over the summer. Not is this just a cool western cowboy figure, it's also one of the few DC figures to come with firearms since Warner Bros. "no firearms" mandate for all of their brands. It seems that Warner Bros. has loosed their regulations a bit in the past six months or so, allowing for figures to come with firearms if they're directly marketed to collectors (Jonah Hex and & The General have "17+" printed on the box) and are sold directly online. Since Jonah's release we've also seen a BvS Batman two-pack with weapons, a re-release of Thomas Wayne as Batman with pistols, and the upcoming (and ridiculously priced) 2-pack from the 2019 Joker film. Jonah Hex comes with his faithful steed, The General, and is available in this McFarlane Toys Store exclusive set or in another Gold Label set with blue clothes, a grey coat, and The General with white hair. Ready to set off on a reviewing journey with Jonah Hex and The General? Then ride along into the break...

Action Figure Review: Nemesis Immortal from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Cobra-La is probably one of the most unusual concepts ever used in G.I. Joe since the beginning of the brand in 1982. Sure, we've had G.I. Joe as an adventurer, a cryo-frozen World War 2 soldier, and every sort of military/ ninja/ spy/ international super team that you can think of, and we've seen G.I. Joe in multiple scales and styles. Still, in 1987 G.I. Joe went hard into a sci-fi/ fantasy theme with the introduction of Cobra-La, an ancient snake themed civilization that once ruled the glove but who now hangs out deep underground in the Himalayas. This wasn't the first time the brand went in that direction (in 1976 the Adventure Team fought the Intruders, intelligent caveman like enemies from another world and in 1986 they met the Transformers), but Cobra-La really cemented the weird sci-fi, horror, and mystical elements into the brand in a major way. Some people love them and others hate them, but for decades now they've had an affect on the brand's identity. Cobra Commander (Once a Man) figure started things, but the appearance of Nemesis Immortal seems to show that the Classified Series is willing to embrace these elements, too. Based on the character from the 1987 animated film and the 1987 ARAH toyline who was originally named Nemesis Enforcer, Nemesis Immortal kind of dropped unexpectedly on October 28th and shipped out within a week. Crazy! No preorder or anything. Ready to check out one of the most fearsome adversaries for the Joe team in the Classified Series to date? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Huntress (The New 52) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   We are quickly approaching the end of the year and it's time to check out another McFarlane DC Multiverse figure. Personally, I think 2024 has been a pretty strong for this line as the amount of unique characters and Batman heroes and villains that has been added to the roster has been pretty impressive. I believe we're probably getting more figures per year than Mattel released at the height of their DC Universe Classics line and far more than DC Direct/ Collectibles ever released in a year. Furthermore, they're all compatible, unlike most DC Collectibles and DC Direct sets, which usually had their own scales, styles, and artist specific aesthetics. Huntress is new to DC Multiverse and is part of the McFarlane Collector Edition subset which costs a bit more, but usually comes with a few more extras as well. Huntress in her default look comes in her outfit from The New 52 while her Platinum release is based on her early/ mid 1990s look that was also utilized in the Total Justice toyline from Kenner. I've seen the Platinum version around quite a few times but I haven't been tempted to pick her up. This one was a huge want for me, though, and it's probably my second favorite Huntress costume (I love her Jim Lee/ Hush design best; I'm a sucker for that era). Ready to check out McFarlane's first attempt at Helena Wayne? Then let's check her out after the break...

Happy Franksgiving! Frankenstein's Monster with Chair from Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   Is 1935's Bride of Frankenstein the first sequel to be better than the original in film history? I think so. The Wolf Man is my favorite Universal Monsters character and film as well as a character with a very solid storyline through multiple films (especially since he was always played by Lon Chaney Jr.) but the Frankenstein film series is a close second to me for best film series, and the Bride of Frankenstein is definitely a high point, perhaps the highest, in the series. Boris Karloff returns in the sequel and his take on the creature sees some tremendous character growth. NECA has previously released a figure of Frankenstein's Monster from the first film but the popularity of the second film definitely warrants another take on him. This was actually given to me as a birthday gift from my birthday back in September and was ordered by my parents in late August or early September, but he didn't show up until a few weeks ago. NECA's online store is really not very user friendly and their customer service is a bit rough, but, fortunately, they did deliver and I received my birthday gift in early November. Honestly, I had originally wanted this guy to be the crowning jewel of 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe but I ended up creating Happy Franksgiving! to give the guy his own special month. Ready to check out Frankenstein's Monster from Bride of Frankenstein? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Scare Mare & Scare Glow #999 from POP! Rides: Funko Fusion by Funko

 

   I'm pretty excited about today's review as it fills a neat space in my collection. I really was impressed with the recent set of Scare Mare and Scare Glow that Mondo put up for preorder this past summer. Impressed looking at it online, that is. The set of a new Scare Glow and the all new Scare Mare in Mondo's 1/6th scale Masters of the Universe line was available as a pair for $775 dollars. Yikes! If I had really wanted it, I absolutely could have afforded it, but I've definitely reached a point where the prices of some action figures and collectibles really just cause me to balk. I'm also at a point where space is at a premium in my collection. The wingspan of Mondo's Scare Mare is 54" and I just couldn't even think where I'd put something like that. I've been scaling back my collection this year, selling off older pieces I didn't have on display or that I'd lost interest in. I love Scare Glow, but already having two Mondo Scare Glows, not having space for the Scare Mare, and reluctant to pay $775 for a preorder, I passed. That's why I was pretty excited that Funko added Scare Glow and Scare Mare to their Funko Fusion line based on the recently released videogame. I didn't even know what Funko Fusion was at first but it's since come out and doesn't seem to be lighting the world on fire. At least having a POP! Rides of care Mare & Scare Glow allows me to have a representation of the character in my collection at a fraction of the price of Mondo's. ready to check out Scare Mare & Scare Glow? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Vincent R. "Falcon" Falcone & Quarrel (Night Force) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series

 

   Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series has been a raging ball of burning hot fire since it released in 2020. At myself and everyone else was like, "What? A 6 inch Snake Eyes? Why?"

   And then it was full speed ahead. The line feels like a true behemoth, especially considering that the only active Joe media throughout the line are comic books and the fairly disappointing 2021 Snake Eyes movie. When I look at all the figures and vehicles I've collected in this line to date there's only one disappointment that really stands out in my mind: Falcon. The figure was just a disaster, particularly because of that goofy headsculpt that looked like one of the Thunderbirds marionettes. Fortunately, Hasbro has now released an updated Night Force version of Falcon along with Quarrel, one of the G.I. Joe repaints that were part of Palitoys' Action Force line. Quarrel was originally released in 1983 as a repaint of Scarlett and has shown up off and on in US Joe collectibles, including as "Undercover Scarlett" as a giveaway at the 1992 G.I. Joe Convention. I love Night Force and I'm really thrilled to get some new figures for the sub-team. Falcon was a true Night Force member from the original 1988 line and Quarrel is a cool International variant whose color scheme fits in perfectly with the Night Force. Both figures feature a nice mixture of parts, too, so the set feels like more than just a pair of repaints. This is a Walmart exclusive and it seems to have been limited to online sales. Ready to check out these new additions to the Night Force crew? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Michael Myers on Fire from Halloween II by Culture Fly

 

   I'm about month late on this review, huh? I actually received this Michael Myers vinyl figure as a birthday present a little over two months ago but, since I stuck to the theme of 2024's Universal Monsters theme and this figure is from Halloween 2 which was released by...Universal Pictures? So was Halloween 3, Halloween 2018, Halloween Kills, and Halloween Ends. Wait.... is Michael Myers a Universal Monster? Ha ha. I don't really count him in there as he didn't appear during the Universal Classic horror period of 1913 through 1960, but I'm sure someone could make an argument. He has appeared multiple times at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. It's because of the different studios and licensing why we get Halloween figures and merchandise from sometimes random and very specific movies. Anyways, this is one of two Halloween 2 vinyl Michael Myers figures that have been released through Culture Fly at Five Below, a pretty cool store for finding minifigures and little vinyl figures. They also have lots of neat snacks. I decided to take a look at the Michael Myers on Fire figure. If I'd had him earlier he would have made a good candidate for Hot Toy Summer. Ready to check this guy out? Then join me after the break...

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...

Action Figure Review: Hugo Strange as Batman (Batman: Transference) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   Today I'm checking out a Batman figure that isn't really a Batman figure. Who could it be? Why Dr. Hugo Strange dressed as Batman, of course. The packaging sources this figure to 2020s's Batman: Transference, but Hugo Strange has worn a Batman costume many times in the past. In fact, you could say he does it obsessively. I've actually owned a few Hugo Strange figures, including the DC Collectibles Arkham City version, the DC Direct Secret Files figure, and Diamond's Gotham version. A few years back I sold off quite a few of my DC Direct/ DC Collectibles figures as I was growing concerned about impending breakage (many of them used clear plastic for joints and seemed to crumble over time). There are quite a few I regret selling, like the Arkham City Hugo Strange, but this guy is a nice fill in for the Secret Files release who was dressed the same way. Interestingly, this is a Platinum release but it's not a variant. There's just not a standard counterpart for this figure. He fortunately wasn't too difficult to find and I've seen him on Walmart shelves quite a few over the past two months. Ready to check out Hugo Strange as Batman? Then join me after the break...


   

Action Figure Review: Count Dracula from Operation: Monster Force by Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction

 

   It feels like it's been a good two years or more since this line was announced but Operation: Monster Force has finally arrived and I do have to say it's worth the wait. A collaboration between Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction, Operation: Monster Force is an incredible mix of a military action toyline (think G.I. Joe: Classified Series and Action Force) with a horror theme. The first series of eight figures began shipping in October and while I originally hoped to review one or two of them for 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe, that never came to pass. Today, though, I'm going to start checking out a few figures from the line, starting with Count Dracula. Let me say that, oddly enough, Dracula is the weakest figure in the first series due to a lack of accessories. Character wise, though, he's the most recognizable classic monster in series 1, so he caught my attention. Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction have worked up a pretty cool storyline for this series and each figure has a minicomic strip inside the front flap. Count Dracula isn't the main villain of Operation: Monster Force, however; he's an uneasy ally of Declan Van Helsing in his campaign against the Forgotten King, a powerful Egyptian sorcerer. Released from his prison in Tomb 13, Dracula leads Delta Red, an army of soldiers temporarily inflicted with vampirism, against the Forgotten King. Ready to see how this take on Count Dracula turned out? Then join me after the break...

   

Action Figure Review: Wolverine from Marvel Legends Series: 85th Anniversary by Hasbro

 

   2024 is Marvel's 85th anniversary and Hasbro released a subset of some really impressive action figures to celebrate. I've actually picked up a few of these that I didn't get around to reviewing (Ghost Rider and Warbird/ Ms. Marvel) but I definitely wanted to review this The Astonishing X-Men Wolverine figure. Besides being a figure of Wolverine (who always sells), this was a solid choice on Hasbro's part as 2024 is also Wolverine's 50th anniversary, X-Men '97 was released and hit the right nostalgia buttons, and this figure features a yellow and blue suit that's quite similar to Hugh Jackman's suit in Deadpool & Wolverine. Sure, Hasbro couldn't get the MCU accurate figures out in time, but this guy probably caught the attention of quite a few fans just wanting a yellow suit Wolverine. This outfit is based on The Astonishing X-Men run from 2004 through 2013 (the third volume as other X projects used the title previously) which Hasbro has slowly been building the main cast of for a couple years (they've done Cyclops and Emma Frost but haven't got around to Kitty Pryde, Colossus, and Beast yet). I'm not terribly familiar with this run (my X-Book reading knowledge is mostly limited to pre-2000 stuff) but I do like this costume. Plus, I'm not one to often turn down a Wolverine figure. Ready to check out this Astonishing take on Wolverine? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Bone Collector V2 from Action Force by Valaverse

 

   Can you believe that Valaverse's Action Force line has already reach it's 100th figure? To mark that special occasion Valaverse released a second version of The Bone Collector, one of the most popular Action Force figures. I reviewed the original figure back in early 2022 and I believe he was the first of the Action Force figures that I reviewed. There is a random bloody variant of this guy that was offered but he was limited to 100 pieces, so pretty tough to get ahold of. I received this version of The Bone Collector for my birthday just a little under two months ago, so you can tell there's been a lot of cool stuff coming out that's distracted me. Ready to check out The Bone Collector V2? Then join me after the break...

Happy Franksgiving! Frankenstein #1630 from POP! Movies: Universal Monsters by Funko

 

   It's time for another Franksgiving review! Today I'm checking out another figure from Funko's newest series of Universal Monsters POP! vinyls featuring a unique aesthetic that reminds me of the look of comic book art from the 1970s. They're bright, bold, and feature some unique shading and colors that set them apart from the usual darker, often greyscale, palette of the Universal Monsters. I reviewed the Bride of Frankenstein from this set on Halloween for 2024's 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe so now it's nice to have Frankenstein/ the Frankenstein Monster to go along with her. Ready to check out this eye-catching tribute to Boris Karloff's classic take on the character? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Dreadnok Road Pig & Rawkus from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

 Ready for more G.I. Joe: Classified Series goodness? Then let's check out Road Pig & Rawkus! Another deluxe human with animal companion set, Road Pig offers up another threatening Dreadnok as a deluxe release, this time with a new animal companion, Rawkus, Road Pig's pet pit bull. Road Pig is another 1988 release that has been wonderfully updated for the Classified Series. We really are getting a good team of Dreadnoks going, aren't we? I had Road Pig as a kid and liked him quite a bit. I never owned any of the earlier Dreadnoks (Torch, Buzzer, Ripper, and Zartan) until I was older in high school and collecting the vintage line around 1999-2001, so the 1987 through 1989 Dreadnoks were my main guys. Named Donald Deluca after a Hasbro design director, Road Pig had an interesting file card that listed his extensive arrest record and a split personality in the Larry Hama penned Marvel Comics series. Road Pig went back and forth between the more mild mannered Donald and the crazy aggressive Road Pig. This figure has gotten a bit of a negative reception due to some collectors perceiving him as looking larger and heavier than his vintage toy and having a more stylized appearance. I'm actually quite a fan for the most part, though I'm rarely in favor of the Classified Series figures being rigidly beholden to their vintage counterparts. Ready to check out a deluxe two pack with Road Pig and Rawkus? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Sergeant Rock (DC Classic) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   Interestingly, I actually had a couple of Remco's vintage Sgt. Rock figures as a kid. I'm not sure where I got them, though. Maybe from yard sales or from a neighbor giving stuff away? DC Direct released a Sgt. Rock figure in 1999 and Hasbro made some 12 inch Sgt. Rock figures back in  the early 2000s, so this isn't the first time there has been a toy of the Rock of Easy Company, but this one definitely is the first that's in scale with a wide range of other DC characters (DC Direct began changing their scale and style pretty quickly after those first couple years of product), so that's definitely a plus. I like some of the more unusual DC characters and I was pretty excited for Sgt. Rock, who was released as one of the McFarlane Collector Edition a few months back. Sgt. Rock was a staple of DC's World War 2 era comics and has continued to appear in the DC Universe from time to time, even though he is widely reported to have died in 1945, killed by the last enemy bullet fired on the last day of the war. Ready to check out Sgt. Rock? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Two toylines have absolutely swamped me with cool releases lately: McFarlane's DC Multiverse and Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series. I actually don't buy everything from the Classified Series currently (I've skipped some of the Retro releases, didn't back the Rattler, and am holding off on the Stinger due to space at the moment), but I do pick up most of them, even some of the crazier characters. 1986 and 1987 were my first years collecting the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line as a kid, so some of those weirder characters from that era are some of my favorites. I love the earlier characters ('82 - '85) because of the comics and their prevalence in the franchise but they were mostly gone from toy shelves when I was a young lad. I'm way more nostalgic for '86 - '91 since those are figures I had. Raptor (who has now been give the real name Chip Talon) is an accountant who works wonders for Cobra financially. He's also a falconer who is obsessed with birds. The original figure is one of the most bizarre ever from the vintage line but he's been reworked quite a bit here. He's never been a major character (he only had one figure in the vintage line and a 2017 Collector's Club subscription service figure) but he did play a fairly large role in the comics for a bit during the storyline of Cobra Commander being assassinated, replaced, and then rediscovered. Raptor died in the Marvel Comics. How? Botulism. Yeah, that's pretty wild. What other comic book character can you think of who died of botulism? Let's check out Chip "Raptor" Talon & General Ledger after the break...

Action Figure Review: Two-Face (Batman Forever) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

I still have quite a few McFarlane DC Multiverse figures I'm wanting to review but today I'm looking at the last figure I plan to review from the Batman Forever subset: Two-Face, as played by Tommy Lee Jones. The Batman franchise has always attracted big names to it, from the celebrity mainstays and guests of the classic Batman TV Series to today's trend of villains like the Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn getting their own spinoffs, both movies and TV shows. When Batman Forever came out in 1995 the casting for the movie was definitely pretty heavily talked about with Jim Carrey as the Riddler and Jones as Two-Face. Go and read others who were considered for the main villains (Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, Kelsey Grammar, and John Malkovich for the Riddler; Al Pacino, Martin Sheen and Robert DeNiro) and you can see that these roles had some crazy serious competition. I loved Batman Forever as a kid but over the years I've come to dislike it quite a bit. There are parts I still like, but now watching it I'm disappointed at how silly and non-threatening the villains are in the film. Despite the fact that Jones apparently told co-star Carrey at one point, "I don't like you. I hate you, and I cannot sanction your buffoonery," Jones cackles and yuks his way through this film, almost being as big of a goof as the Riddler himself. Two-Face has an amazing look, but looking back I wish Billy Dee Williams had gotten the chance to play the character. Let's take a look at the figure after the break and see how it turned out...

Happy Franksgiving! Charlie Franken-Brown from Peanuts by Just Play

 

   I had so much fun with this year's 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe and such a great response that I wanted to continue. I'm still making my way through the Universal Studios classic horror films and decided I'd try to keep up the theme of Universal Monsters for November for no other reason than that I'm enjoying it. Today I'm looking at a little 3-inch figure of Charlie Franken-Brown, which is Charlie Brown dressed up as Frankenstein. I received him for my birthday a month or two ago and tried to work him into the countdown but it just didn't happen. He's from Five Below and was available as a single packed figure along with Snoopy as a Jack O'Lantern and Lucy as a cowgirl. I've also seen a pack of the three figures in one container online, but I don't know where that available from. It was released in 2022. This figure seems to have been released previously in resin with better paint applications, too. Being a big fan of Peanuts and the Universal Monsters, I thought this was a big win and a nice surprise for my birthday. I have the Super7 Franken Snoopy, too, so he'll go nice with that figure. Let's check out Charlie Franken-Brown after the break...

Action Figure Review: No.77 from Frontline Chaos by JoyToy

 

   Most of the time my toy collecting is rather predictable. If you stop by here often you know I collect and review stuff like Marvel Legends, G.I.Joe: The Classified Series, Action Force, most Masters of the Universe stuff, McFarlane's DC Multiverse figures, Universal Monsters and NECA horror figures. Every now and then, though, I jump in and grab something random that I've seen online, perhaps in phots that someone has taken. Today I'm looking at a very unusual figure: No.77 from Joy Toy. Joy Toy is pretty popular right now because of their Warhammer action figures but they also have their own line of random characters called Frontline Chaos. Frontline Chaos is an eclectic mix of 1/12 scaled characters with little to no backstory and soft goods outfits. I saw this nurse figure (No.77 legitimately seems to be her name rather than a release number or anything as the other figures in Frontline Chaos have legit names and such) and though she looked pretty cool and just a bit creepy. I mean, she's attractive, yeah, but there's also something off about her, too. Initially I thought she'd make a good assistant to the Joker. For some reason she puts me in the mind of the "Love That Joker!" spoke model from 1989's Batman. The more I have her in hand, the more versatile I think she'll be. There's a lot of fluctuation in the pricing of this figure as I've seen her from from $65 dollars to over $100 retail. Depending on how much you pay might determine how much you like her. Ready for a visit from No.77? Then turn your head, cough, and join me after the break...

Happy Franksgiving! Frankenstein's Creature from Figura Obscura by Four Horsemen Studios

 

   Wait? What's this? Hasn't October's 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe ended? Yes, it did. So welcome to Happy Franksgiving, a month long celebration of the Frankenstein Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein. How did this come about? Well, for one there are some pretty good Frankenstein action figures that came out a little too late for me to get them lined up for October. Also, not only have I finished watching through Universal's Frankenstein series of films as part of my classic Universal Horror watch through but I've also recently finished Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. To kick off Franksgiving I'm first checking out Frankenstein's Creature from the Four Horsemen Studios' Figure Obscura line. We've received some excellent figures from classic horror literature in this line such as the Headless Horseman, the Masque of the Red Death, and the Ghost of Jacob Marley, and Frankenstein is a fine addition to the collection. It's pretty cool to have a version of the Creature based on the book's description rather than based on or inspired by Boris Karloff's iconic portrayal. This set went up for sale in late September and did arrive to me in early October, but I decided to hold back on it a bit. Not only does the set come with an excellent figure of Victor Frankenstein's Creature (or the Monster, or Adam Frankenstein, or call him Frankenstein, too, as that's perfectly acceptable, too) but you get a bunch of Victor's lab equipment. Ready for a look at the complex and complicated Creature from Mary Shelley original Victorian masterpiece? Then join me after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Bride of Frankenstein #1631 from POP! Movies: Universal Monsters by Funko

 

   

   Happy Halloween! Today's the day to go out and enjoy lots of spooky fun, so don't just sit around online all day; make the most of this Halloween! Today I've got a rather brief review of the new Bride of Frankenstein POP! vinyl from Funko. This is a fairly new release and while it's not the first version of the Bride that Fynko has released, it certainly is the most colorful. On Funko's website they call this variant Bride of Frankenstein (Deco), which I assume is how they're referring to this cool colorscheme that reminds me of 1970s comic book art. Despite the Bride only being in The Bride of Frankenstein for under 4 minutes (and appearing in no other films) her unique appearance and the creepy mannerisms Elsa Lanchester gave her have still made her one of the most recognizable and iconic monsters in the world of horror. James Whale's  original cut of film would have been 87 minutes long but Carl Laemmle Jr. wanted it cut down, so the only version we have today is only 75 minutes. The film is excellent and top tier Universal Horror, but wouldn't you have liked to have seen that original director's cut? Let's celebrate the Bride of Frankenstein by checking out this cool, colorful POP! after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Wolf Man from Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   It's Werewolf Wednesday once again at Action Figure Barbecue's 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe and today I'm checking out an incredible figure of Lon Chaney, Jr. as Larry Talbot, the all time greatest Wolf Man of them all! Lon Chaney Jr. was in well over a dozen Universal classic horror films and played some of the main Universal Monsters including Dracula (in Son of Dracula), Kharis the mummy (in three Mummy films), Frankenstein's Monster (in The Ghost of Frankenstein), and, of course, Larry Talbot, the Wolf Man. While Chaney played roles made famous by other actors, he was the only person to play the Wolf Man during Universal's classic horror era. NECA released this figure in black and white in 2022 with this full color version following in 2023. I'm not sure a better, more accurate figure of the Wolf Man has ever been released. Ready for a definitive figure of my favorite of the Universal Monsters? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Sgt. Slaughter (Mad Marauders) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Sgt. Slaughter was a huge part of the G.I. Joe: A Real American hero franchise in the 1980s and he had four different figures available during the decade. He also had a few groups of his own that he was the commander of. In the 1987 G.I. Joe animated movie Sgt. Slaughter led the Renegades (Mercer, Taurus, and Red Dog), released as a three pack of action figures, while in 1989 Sarge received his own subset: Slaughter's Marauders. In the Classified Series the name has been changed to The Mad Marauders. This version of Sgt. Slaughter is largely a Mad Marauders/ Slaughter's Marauders repaint of the first version with blue, green, and brown, though he does come with quite a few more accessories than the first release, making him a much better deal. While I'm nuts about Tiger Force and Night Force, the Mad Marauders figures don't appeal to me in quite the same way, though I do own the three already released (Barbecue, Spirit, and Low-Light). Ready to check out this Mad Marauders take on Sgt. Slaughter? Then join me after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Van Helsing from Universal Monsters Alliance by Pop Mart

 

   We are almost to Halloween and today I've got an unusual character from the Universal Monsters canon: Gabriel Van Helsing from 2004's Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman. Yes, Van Helsing is a Universal Monsters film! Sure, everything I've been looking at is pretty much pre-1960 but the Universal Monsters have lived on not just in nostalgia and rewatches but in attempts to rejuvenate the franchise. 1999's The Mummy is without a doubt the best movie in the entire Mummy franchise (and I'm a guy who regularly wears a Universal Studios The Mummy had based on the Boris Karloff original) and due to the success of both that film and it's sequel, The Mummy Returns, Universal Studios returned to the same well, bringing back director Stephen Sommers and recruiting Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale to fight the classic monsters with a mixture of Victorian charm and steampunk sensibilities. Dracula and his brides, Victor Frankenstein, Igor, and the Monster, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and a wolf man, too? Sign me up. Honestly, just hearing about it makes it sound like possibly the greatest film ever made. In reality... it's just OK. I saw it back in 2004 when it was released and I even watched it again quite recently. It's a decent  movie with a great visual style that just tries to jam too much stuff into one movie, over does the CG, and could stand to slow down a bit at times. It's a shame we never got another one, perhaps to rectify some of the issues with the first film, but it wasn't a hit. Still, Van Helsing is a recognizable character (Hugh's Van Helsing isn't directly Professor Abraham Van Helsing from Dracula, and may actually be the angel Gabriel, oddly enough) and Pop Mart's Universal Monsters Alliance line included him in their roster last year. Want to have Van Helsing chill out with the creatures he's sworn to hunt down? Then join me after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Bela Lugosi as Dracula from Universal Monsters ReAction by Super7

 

   Mondays mean Dracula reviews during 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe! Today's Dracula review for this week is the Bela Lugosi as Dracula figure from Super7's Universal Monsters ReAction line. The original ReAction Dracula was released by Funko back in 2014 while this version is from 2018. Most of the Super7 ReAction figures are superior to their Funko counterparts, but what about Dracula? I'm honestly not so sure. There's nothing wrong with him but there's also not much that makes him clearly superior to the previous Drac. Ready to check out this small version of Bela Lugois in one of the most iconic horror roles of all time? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Violent Ken (Deluxe) from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   What do you get when you cross Ken Masters with M. Bison's Psycho Power? Violent Ken! This deluxe figure released on Jada Toys' Next Level store over the summer (it's still available, too)  represents Ken surging with Psycho Power energy and intent on taking down everyone in his path. He's brainwashed by Bison, sometimes to be in his service but often just running with his own agenda to be the best and violently destroy anyone who stands in his way. The regular Ken figure shipped as part of the second series of Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers figures earlier this year and this is an enhanced version of that figure. He's a repaint with three portraits this time around, a new energy effect for his Shoryuken, and some barrels from the background that can be broken during a fight or attached during the bonus stage. Ready for battle? Then join me after the break.... 

Fight!

31 Days of Toy Terror: The Mummy from Universal Monsters Alliance by Pop Mart

 

   It's another Mummy Monday as we enter the week of Halloween and today I'm checking out the Mummy from the Pop Mart blind boxed Universal Monsters Alliance line. These came out last year and feature the classic Universal Monsters (and a few less often seen friends) chilling out in movie theater styled chairs with snacks. Get it? They're watching their films! I love it. This is such a cool and cute line of little figures. There are 10 figures in the set but only 9 figures in a case as Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde is a 1/108 chase figure. My case didn't come with him and he's pretty pricy, so I don't have him. I have the rest of the crew, though, and I thought this would be another fun chance to show off Boris Karloff's Imhotep. Let's take a look at this blind-boxed classic after the break...

Action Figure Review: Robin (Batman Forever) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   

   Halloween is almost here and while this isn't a 31 Days of Toy Terror review, nor is it a scary action figure in any way, this version of Robin from Batman Forever absolutely reminds me of Halloween. In 1995, when Batman Forever came out, I though Chris O'Donnell's Robin was the coolest. I remember finding the Kenner Street Biker Robin on the same trip to Target that I found the Riddler and Two-Face, so that was a huge deal, but it took me quite a bit more time to find Hydro Claw Robin, the first Robin that was actually in his costume. I think I put the animated series Robin on that figure and gave him the staff from the Toy Biz Joker figure to complete my ideal Robin at the time. For Halloween that year I dressed up as Robin and had a great costume that actually had a hard plastic chest plate. Sadly, my parents have not been able to find any pictures from that Halloween, so that's a bummer. Recently a friend shared an old picture of him and his brother as the Riddler and Two-Face from 1995 and I really wanted to show off my Robin costume. I'm pretty glad to get this guy as Robin is definitely the best part of Batman Forever (though Dr. Chase Meridian, Sugar, and Spice are close). I don't dislike Val Kilmer but I think he's pretty much the most boring Batman we've ever had. Chris O'Donnell as Robin, however, really worked quite well. It's a shame we didn't get to see him teamed up with Michael Keaton's Batman. This guy is a darn fine Robin figure, so let's take a look at him after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Mole Man from Universal Monsters ReAction by Super7

 

   We're looking at a deeper cut today (some might say deep enough to satisfy a Hollow Earth theorist), though one that's supposed  to be getting a remake soon: The Mole Man from the 1956 Universal Studios sci-fi horror film The Mole People! Are you looking for a "fabulous funny freak-out" about Sumerian albinos that worship the Babylonian goddess Ishtar deep within the earth and who use a race of enslaved mole people to harvest mushroom? A film that is so bizarre that is was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000? A movie about the people who make that nice Mexican sauce? Then let's check out the Mole Man from Super7's Universal Monsters ReAction series. Let's dig in, after the break...

Action Figure Review: Chun-Li (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive) from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   I've been nuts about Chun-Li since playing Street Fighter II: The World Warrior on the Super Nintendo I got for Christmas when I was in 3rd grade. The only woman in the original roster, Chun-Li was captivating, quick, and fun as heck to play as due to her speed and cool attacks like the lightning leg. She's not just one of the faces of the Street Fighter but one of the most memorable video game characters of all time. I reviewed the standard Jada Toys Chun-Li release from 2023 earlier this year and today I'm checking out the Chun-Li Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive that was released on Jada's Next level website this summer for SDCC 2024 and which is still available as of this week. This is a pretty cool offering that gives you not just Chun-Li in one of her alternate color schemes but also offers up some new accessories and a new portrait. In fact, Jada Toys included two copies of the new laughing/ victory headsculpt: One for this figure and one with the correct colors so it can be used with your standard Chun-Li. How cool is that? I love when figures come with accessories and items like this that can be used with figures you already own. Let's get ready to throw down with Chun-Li after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Grumpy Bear as Frankenstein #1627 from POP! Movies: Care Bears X Universal Monsters by Funko

 

   OK, I've got one more incredibly adorable review for 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe and this time it's Grump Bear as Frankenstein from Funko's POP! vinyl Care Bears X Universal Monsters line. I reviewed Bedtime Bear as the Mummy a few days ago and now I'm getting the chance to review this guy. Grumpy Bear is probably my favorite of the Care Bears and I love this combination of him and Frankenstein's Monster. His personality and expression just make this one work! I'm a little surprised that whoever was behind this design didn't try to find an already green Care Bear, but personality wise Grumpy Bear is the best fit. Ready for a review that's sure to make your day a bit grumpier? Than join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Riddler (Batman Forever) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   The last three months have been crazy for DC Multiverse, especially for fans of Batman and his related allies and villains. I've actually had the Batman Forever set of figures since the middle of August but I've been so busy writing reviews for 31 Days of Toy Terror that I've had to put a lot of stuff on the backburner. I'm not planning on reviewing all of the figures in this set but I have a few that definitely hit some nostalgia buttons for me. First up, I'm going to check out the Riddler. Back when Batman Forever was released in 1995 I was in love with this movie. I liked Batman Returns at the time, too, but I appreciated the brighter palette of Batman Forever. That summer I wore my baseball cap with the Batman and Riddler's question mark logo on it all the time, carried the coin from Kenner's Two-Face coin in my pocket, read the comic adaptation quite frequently, and ate more than my share of McDonald's Super Hero meals. Batman Forever was a big deal and, being just out of fifth grade, I was digging the ride of it being huge all that summer. I've seen the film a couple times over the past decade or two and I have to say that it doesn't hold up for me. If you would have asked me a year or two ago which Batman film was the worst I would have said Batman & Robin, and there would have been a time when I wouldn't have even spoken that film's name. Ask me now, though, and I'll tell you that Forever is easily the worst of the Batman films. I'm not going to get into a movie review here, but the movie takes it's greatest strengths, Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, and just wastes them. There's no menace; just goofiness and cackling. Still, nostalgia. I remember how excited I was to find the original Kenner Riddler figure from the film at a Target that summer of 1995 and this guy gives me a bit of the same feel. Ready to check out the Riddler? Then join me after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: The Creature from the Black Lagoon from Universal Monsters Select by Diamond Select

 

   It's Thursday again, which means it's time for another trip to the Black Lagoon! Today's review is the original 2010 release of the Creature from the Black Lagoon from Diamond Select's Universal Monsters Select line. There were two versions of the Gill-Man available in the first series of releases: A Toy 'R Us exclusive version with just a display base and this standard version which includes a different base and a figure of Kay Lawrence. I got this set for Christmas of 2010 along with the Mummy and while there isn't much articulation here, the figure certainly displays well. Let's dive in for another look at the Gill-Man after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: The Wolf Man from Universal Studios Little Monsters by Fetch for Pets

 

Our dog, Zoey, did a special review for last year's 31 Days of Toy Terror and it was pretty popular. Zoey absolutely loves stuffed toys and carries them all around the house. She carries them, licks them, chews them a bit (though she is rather gentle), throws them around, and uses them like pillows. I tempted her into writing another review this year by buying her another Wolf Man toy. Ready to read a (dog) toy review written by Zoey, our 6-year old Kelpie/ terrier rescue dog? Then read on!

[Editor's Note: Zoey is a very, very good dog, but she's still not the best speller. She also doesn't always use the correct words. We've been working with her on this, though progress is slow going.]

   Hi. I Zoey. And I back. Back in black. And brown. With white. Girl say I look like Cimmammammon roll. I is good dog. Very best. And I like wolfs. Like, like, like. My Gram-Gram bought me stuffed werewolf when I younger. He Werewolf and he very nice. He big and delicious. Then for my birthday my family buy me purple werewolf. He Lon. I call him that. He purple, fuzzy, and delicious. He squeak. Two weeks ago Barbcue tell me he have gift for me. He hide it behind his back and make go squeak. Squeak, squeak. I kind of like a wolf but I not go squeak. I bark and am fierce. I sit and say "Want, want. Please give." I also say that when people have food. So Barbcue give me it. It little Wolf Man. Barbcue say it Wolf Man from Universe of Monster. He watch lots of old black white movies and say they Universe of Monster. I just sit and get pets. Or bark at deer. They friends. And snacks. Mostly friends. I talk about Wolf Man now. Hit button please. Thamks. 

Action Figure Review: Tatsu from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by NECA

   

  Getting an action figure of Tatsu from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films was a huge surprise. Even when I was a kid I was always hoping that we would get a Tatsu figure at some point, but he never materialized. With NECA going deep into the TMNT 1990s films over the past five years or so it seemed like it would be inevitable but for years it seemed that there was an issue with getting actor Toshishiro Obata to allow his likeness to be used. There weren't any concrete details I could find; there was some speculation it might have had to do with a religious or cultural belief or even that NECA couldn't get in touch with him, though apparently Mr. Obata still responds to fan mail. Whatever the case, a few months back Tatsu began appearing at Walmart stores in the US with no warning. What? That's crazy, right? Tatsu is an incredible figure and a standout in a year that's been full of standout toys. Coming up with top ten lists for this year is going to be insane! Let's check out this very cool take on Master Tatsu after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: The Phantom of the Opera (The Silver Screen Edition) from Universal Studios Monsters by Sideshow Toys

 

   I've done a couple silly or cutesy reviews over the past couple days, so let's get back to something really scary with a look at the Silver Scream Edition of the Phantom of the Opera from Sideshow Toys' Universal Studios Monsters toyline. I've looked at one figure from this line already this year (Frankenstein from series 1), so let's jump in and take a look at a series 2 figure. Lon Chaney's Phantom was part of the regular series 2 alongside of the Bride of Frankenstein and the Creature, but was also part of a Toys 'R Us exclusive "The Silver Screen Edition" series which offered the figures in a black & white greyscale color scheme. Sideshow has been one of the most prolific companies to release Universal Monsters merchandise (they still do today), and they included far more characters than most other companies, going back to the silent era films and including more sci-fi characters like the Metaluna Mutant and the Mole People. The Phantom was one of the few characters to get a true non-color scheme variant in the line with a Mask of the Red Death variant in series five. This is the basic Phantom, though, and sculpt and paint-wise, I think it's held up pretty well. Let's check out the Phantom of the Opera after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Frosty Bite from Frosty Frights by Wendy's

 

   Today I'm being a bit silly again as we're taking a look at Count Dracula as.... a Frosty? Yup. Starting during the first week of September, if you got a kids' meal at Wendy's you could get a little minifigure of the Wendy's Frosty dressed up like a classic monster. Have you always wanted a Frosty dressed up like Dracula? Then Frosty Bite is for you! These should definitely appeal to fans of Halloween goodies like the classic McNugget Buddies. There are six different sculpts, five of which have two different color schemes, so you've got 11 different figures overall. Let's take a look at this chilly child of the night after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Bedtime Bear as the Mummy #1628 from POP! Movies: Care Bears X Universal Monsters by Funko

 

   Today's a Sunday so it's time for another review of the Mummy and this time we've got something really scary! It's.... a Care Bear? Yup. A Care Bear. One of the most unusual mashups of 2024 surely has to be Care Bears X Universal Monsters, a mixture of cute and creepy that I don't anyone saw coming. Why? I don't know but I'll be honest; I was kind of intrigued when I first hears about these and I picked up the Funko POP! vinyls as soon as I saw them at a local GameStop. Well, a couple of them. Bedtime Bear was the only Care Bear I had as a kid, so I'm sort of partial to the sleepy little guy. Well, sleepy during the day. You see, Bedtime Bear stays up all night to serve as the night watchmen for Care-a-lot, so no wonder he's drowsy during the day. Of course now he's awoken from his thousands of years of slumber and he's roaming the pyramids looking to restore his original power. Or he's just Bedtime Bear cosplaying. Let's check out Bedtime Bear as the Mummy after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Invisible Man from Monster in My Pocket by Matchbox

 

   

   The Invisible Man is back! This time we're checking out Griffin, the Invisible Man himself, from Matchbox's 1990 Monster in My Pocket minifigure line. I love these rubbery little guys! I had a few as a kid but over the years I've amassed more of them. They're always fun to look back at, especially as part of 31 Days of Toy Terror. I'm a huge fan of the Invisible Man, both the original H.G. Wells novel and the Universal Studios films. If you've never seen any of the sequels, they're worth checking out. Vincent Price is the invisible star of The Invisible Man Returns and plays Sir Geoffrey Radcliffe, a friend of Dr. Frank Griffin, the brother of the original Invisible Man. Radcliffe is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and Griffin secretly gives him the serum to turn invisible until his innocence can be proved. It's quite good! The Invisible Woman is also legitimately funny, though a straight up comedy that's not really related to the others. The lovable Virginia Bruce plays Kitty Carroll, a struggling model who volunteers for an experiment but uses her invisibility to get back at her boss, improve working conditions for her coworkers, romance a rich guy, and stop some gangsters (one of whom is played by Shemp Howard). Anyways, we're looking at the original Griffin today, so let's check out this minifigure after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror: Frankenstein from Universal Studios Monsters by Sideshow Toys

 

   Today for Franken-Friday I'm checking out a Universal Monsters figure from the 1990s: Frankenstein from Sideshow Toys' Universal Studios Monsters line. And, yes, they do call him Frankenstein here. And, yes, that is perfectly acceptable. Anyways, I was looking back at my review archives and realized I've never reviewed any of these figures on the site. The Universal Studios Monsters was a cool set of 8 inch figures released by Sideshow Toys from 1998 through 2001. Sideshow did a lot with the Universal Monsters license back in the late 1990s (after Hasbro had a run with the license), including a lot of stuff on the lower end that was sold at retail in places like Target, Toys R' Us, and Media Play. Sideshow is still releasing Universal Monsters product but it's now mostly higher end collectibles. This line was definitely indicative of many collector lines of the time with limited articulation, diorama like elements, and a focus on display over play. Still, they were neat and they covered a wide range of characters from 1923's silent version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame with Lon Chaney to 1956's The Mole People. Frankenstein (or Frankenstein's Monster) was part of the first series in 1998, along with the Wolf Man and the Mummy. Ready to check out another tribute to the Boris Karloff's Monster? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Clock King from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   It's time for another regular action figure review to break up the Halloween season and all of the Toy Terror I'm subjecting you to on a daily basis! Since time permitted, today I'm checking out another one of the "premium" DC Multiverse McFarlane Collector Edition figures: Clock King! Listen, the Clock King's history is a mess. There are multiple Clock Kings with different names and I'm not even going to pretend that I can keep them all straight. This guy is the original Clock King, though: William Tockman. Originally a bit of a Green Arrow villain in World's Finest Comics #11 from 1960, over the years the Clock King has tended to be an enemy of Green Arrow (he was part of the Longbow Hunters and in the show Arrow) but shows up more often in Batman related stories and media, including the 1966 series. He's been part of the Injustice League, the Suicide Squad, and Justice League Antarctica, has fought a number of Batfamily members, showed up in The Lego Batman Movie, and is married to the Riddler in the Harley Quinn animated series. For a Silver Age gimmick villain, the Clock King sure has legs. Or hands. He's a villain I'm quite surprised to see and while I'm pleased, it's pretty odd to get a more obscure villain when the DC Multiverse line hasn't even given us a comic book based Harley Quinn yet. No Harley Quinn, Power Girl, or comic Two-Face and Poison Ivy, but we got Clock King? Eh, we'll get to those eventually, right? I'm definitely enjoying McFarlane's random villains to add to Batman's Rogues Gallery. Let's check this guy out after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Creature from the Black Lagoon (Glow-In-The-Dark Costume Colors) from Universal Monsters ReAction by Super7

 

   Today's a Thursday, so I'm back with another Creature from the Black Lagoon review and this time it's a toy that isn't from my collection. This glow-in-the-dark version of the Gill-man is from Adora's collection and was a Christmas gift from a friend a year or two ago. Adora was thrilled to let me take some pictures of him for 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe this year. While I've now reviewed the Funko ReAction Creature from the Black Lagoon, I haven't owned any of Super7's versions of the Creature personally. While this is a wildly colored version based on classic 1970s era Halloween costumes, the sculpt is much sharper and nicer than the original 2014 Funko figure. This guy has a nice healthy glow, wild colors, and a cool display box that mimics an old Halloween costume package. Ready to dive in for another Creature from the Black Lagoon review? Then join me after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Wolfman from The Wolfman by Mezco

 

   

   While most of the reviews this month are based on the classic Universal horror films and silent films released between 1923 through 1956 or 1960 (there's a bit of differing opinion there), Universal has returned to these characters multiple times over the sixty plus years since the classic era ended. Today I'm checking out an action figure based on one of the better modern era remakes: Benicio del Toro's Wolfman from Joe Johnston's 2010 film. The move came out in February of 2010 and I was really excited for it. The Wolfman is definitely a top tier Universal Monsters film in my book and I actually liked how the 2010 film set the film in 1891, fifty years before the setting of the 1941 film. Mezco released a few products for the film at the very end  of 2009 and early 2010, including a blood spattered variant of this figure (as a Blockbuster exclusive!) and a 1/6th scale figure. I think I purchased this guy at Toys 'R Us and he's the basic version of the Wolfman. Ready to check out the Wolfman from one of his more recent outings? Then join me after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Ultimate Professor Burke from Classic Monsters Collection by NECA

 

   Let me start by saying that I am completely aware that London after Midnight, a 1927 silent horror film directed by Tod Browning (Dracula and Freak) and starring Lon Chaney, is a Metro-Goldwin-Mayer release and not a Universal Studios picture. This year is pretty much completely devoted to the classic Universal Studios pictures of the first half of the 20th century and their descendants but I do take liberties from time to time and I'm certainly willing to bend the rules for Mr. Browning, Mr. Chaney, and the film London After Midnight. I've not seen the original film but, I'm willing to bet, neither have you. You see, London After Midnight is a lost film with the last known copy destroyed in a vault fire at an MGM studios backlot in Culver City, California. There are some novelizations and such of the film available as well as a 2002 Turner Classic Movies reconstruction of the film, but what has kept this unseen film in the minds of so many horror fans to this day? The terrifying image of Lon Chaney as the Man in the Beaver Hat from multiple publicity stills and posters and the fantastic title and poster for the movie. I personally think London After Midnight is an incredible title that's very evocative and creepy. It also does tie into the plot, with the murder that starts the plot taking place around 1:00 am in London. In the film Chaney plays a dual role as both Professor Edward C. Burke, an agent of Scotland Yard investigating a murder, and the mysterious Man in the Beaver hat, the ghastly faced, vampiric man. The Man in the Beaver Hat is actually Professor Burke in disguise, attempting to learn the secret behind the murder of he's been investigating, but that's not revealed until closer to the end of the film. Inevitably, many folks who love the Man in the Beaver Hat as a horror icon would probably be disappointed to learn that the Man in the Beaver Hat is Professor Burke in disguise rather than a true villain, but the character still has an incredible appearance. This character is a great choice for NECA, a company who is really showing a lot of love to classic horror films. Ready to discover what happens in London when the sun goes down? Then join me after the break...