Action Figure Review: Cobra Commander (Once A Man) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Sure, my main focus right now is on this year's 31 Days of Toy Terror Halloween Countdown (31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe), but that doesn't mean I'm not reviewing plenty of other cool stuff as well. Today I'm checking out Hasbro 2024 SDCC exclusive, Cobra Commander (Once a Man), a Classified Series take on Cobra Commander from the 1987 animated movie. In the film Golobulus, the leader of the ancient Cobra-La grows tired of Cobra Commander's failures and exposes him to some spore pods that cause him to devolve into a snake-like creature. Besides the incredible opening a sequence where the G.I. Joe team fights Cobra at the Statue of Liberty and Sgt. Slaughter's "Slaughter House" training center, Cobra Commander wrapped around Roadblock and screaming "I was once a man!" in his screech, snake-like voice is probably the main thing most folks remember from the film. The G.I. Joe: Classified Series seems to be a big enough success that Hasbro is drawing from a variety of sources for cool new figures and this one seems to be pretty popular considering the movie isn't always held in the highest regard. Well, mostly Cobra-La, though they do have cool designs. Want a more serpentine Cobra Commander? Then join me after the break to check him out...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: The Invisible Man from Universal Monsters by Jada Toys

 

   Right now Jada Toys is a pretty popular company thanks to their various ad icons figures (Chester Cheeto, Tony the Tiger), their Mega Man line, and their excellent Street Fighter 2 line, but their 2021 Universal Monsters line went largely unnoticed. Kind of like Dr. Jack Griffin, the Invisible Man himself! Today I'm checking out the Invisible Man, one of the figures from Jada Toys' second series of Universal Monsters figures. The Invisible Man is one of my favorite classic Universal horror films (I'm even quite a fan of the sequels, too) and I really liked some of the unique accessories Jada Toys gave this guy. Sadly, this line seems to have quietly ended with only six characters in it as Jada apparently no longer has the license. I'm hoping to review most of them during 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe, so let's start by taking a look (or not) at the Invisible Man....

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: April O'Neil as the Bride of Frankenstein from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   

   Today I'm back with another Universal Monsters themed review and it's another from NECA's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters line: April O'Neil as the Bride of Frankenstein! April as the Bride of Frankenstein was also released in 1994 as part of series 2 of the vintage Playmates TMNT Universal Monsters line and, thus far, she is so far one of only two figures that match the TMNT character and Universal Monster from the vintage line (Leonardo as the Creature from the Black Lagoon is the second). Interestingly, not only is this a figure of April O'Neil as the Bride of Frankenstein but it is based on Judith Hoag's portrayal of April from the 1990 live action film. Incredible! This is a figure of a lady (Judith Hoag), playing a lady (April O'Neil), disguised as a lady (Elsa Lanchester) who was playing another lady (Mary Shelley), imagining herself as another lady (the Bride of Frankenstein). This might be the most convoluted action figure ever made! Let's take a look at another excellent addition to the TMNT obsessed NECA's Universal Monsters tribute line after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Creature from the Black Lagoon from Universal Monsters ReAction by Funko

 

   While Super7 solely owns and handles the ReAction brand now, originally they partnered with Funko in distributing the brand back in 2014 after the success of Super7's recreated Alien figures. Some of the early figures were kind of rough but others were highly impressive. I still love the ReAction figures of the Universal Monsters and the modern horror icons and have them displayed proudly in my ReAction/ vintage Kenner styled collection. Today I'm looking at the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the titular creature (or Gill-man) from the 1954 Universal horror film. The first figure I reviewed from this series was the Mummy back in 2014 and now, a little over 10 years later, I'm finishing up my reviews of all nine basic figure in the series with the Gill-man. Funko also released a glow-in-the-dark Gill-man as an exclusive, but I don't have that one. Let's delve into the deep and check out the Creature from the Black Lagoon after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Raphael as The Wolfman from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters by NECA

 

 

  Raphael is my favorite member of the TMNT and the Wolfman is my favorite of the Universal Monsters crew, so you can probably guess that I'm predisposed to liking this guy! Raphael as The Wolfman is another figure that's new in NECA's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters line for 2024 and, while there was a Wolfman figure in the vintage Playmates toyline, it wasn't Raph. Leonardo was the Wolfman in the first series of Playmates' figures from 1993 (Raphael was the Mummy in 1993 and the Metalua Mutant from This Island Earth in 1994). This version is fully in color though there's also a black and white variant partnered up for a double feature with Leonardo as the Hunchback, offered as a Walmart exclusive this past summer. I actually liked this guy so much I picked that setup, too. Ready to check out this "carnivorous canine creature?" Then join me after the break...

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

 

   

   I always like to have at least one Monster in My Pocket minifigure as part of 31 Days of Toy Terror and this year The Phantom gets the first honors! No, he's not specifically base on the 1925 Universal Studios silent film The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney, but that's where most people remember him from. Or the 1910 Gaston Leroux novel. Or one of the musicals. Or the 1943 Universal Studios remake The Phantom of the Opera with Claude "The Invisible Man" Rains as the Phantom. Erik, the titular Phantom who helped build the foundation of the Palais Garnier Opera House and thus was able to craft secret layers and passages for himself, is quite a recognizable character in pop culture and literature, so his inclusion in the first series of Monster in My Pocket was well deserved. Universal's The Phantom of the Opera is actually a public domain film at this point (Universal didn't renew the copyright registration for the film back in the early 1950s) so you don't always see the Phantom with the regular crew, but I always like to see him in there. Let's take a look at this mini monster after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Tower of Fear from Mezco's Monsters: 5 Points by Mezco

 

   Today I'm really excited to check out the Mezco's Monsters Tower of Fear, a very classic feeling monster playset that was released earlier this year as part of Mezco's 5 Points. I've had this set in hand for about 5 months now and it's certainly a very unique and cool set. If you're not familiar with Mezco's 5 Points, they're essentially retro action (ReAction) styled action figures with better, more modern sculpts. This set is really quite neat and there's a lot I love about it, including the incredible art on the box (which is almost 2 feet tall). The figures are all top tier and blow away pretty much every other retro styled figure out of the water. They're much more in the vein of the now vintage McFarlane's Monsters than the ReAction figures released by Funko or Super7. If I were reviewing this set on the basis of the figures alone they would all receive the highest marks. They're not the Universal Monsters but when you have Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, a Werewolf, the Mummy, and a Sea Creature all in one place at one time, who do you think of?

   So, the figures are great, but what about the Tower of Fear itself? A lot of people who have purchased it and reviewed it seem to be surprised that the playset and the various elements like the coffin, sarcophagus, and lab equipment, are all made from cardboard. I knew the playset was cardboard though I didn't realize that the stuff like the coffin and sarcophagus were cardboard as well. I read back at some of the press releases and advertisement pages on multiple sites and I do agree that it wasn't always clear that the set was cardboard. Now, the set originally retailed for around $95 dollars, so getting five retro action figures and a full plastic playset for that price does seem to be a bit of a stretch, but I guess it was possible. There's still a lot of spooky fun to be had here, though, particularly if you go in with managed expectations. Want to check out Mezco's take on five of the main monsters? Then join me after the break...

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

 

   Sundays are getting a Mummy theme this month and today I'm checking out the 2010 release of the Mummy from Diamond Select Toys. This guy is now 14 years old and I remember receiving him as a Christmas gift from my parents along with Diamond's Creature from the Black Lagoon figure as well. These were the first two releases in the series that began in late 2010 and which ended in 2016, though Diamond did release a few other Universal Monsters products after that. The series is interesting because it really started with very statuesque releases, like most Diamond Select Toys product of that era, but eventually evolved into having figures with much more articulation. Many figures had multiple releases and the Mummy was one of them. You could get Imhotep in the large Diamond Select standard half box/ half blister card package with the sarcophagus (the one I'm reviewing today) or in a Toys 'R Us exclusive slimmer card with slightly more articulation and a display base. This guy definitely is an impressive figure but, at the same time, is pretty much a statue with accessories. Want to check this one out further? Then join me after the break as we unravel the mystery of this mummy...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: The Metaluna Mutant from Universal Monsters ReAction by Super7

 

   

   I love the Universal Monsters but they're not a particularly colorful bunch. I mean, the movies themselves are black and white, but even when depicted in color they're mostly a pretty muted looking bunch. Thankfully, the Metaluna Mutant adds some bright, bold Techniclor to our Universal Monsters marathon that is this year's installment of 31 Days of Toy Terror! This is the Super7 Universal Monsters ReAction figure which imagines the creature in a Kenner inspired retro action figure style. 

   So... we must ask the question...is the Metaluna Monster considered a Universal Monster and is This Island Earth part of the classic Universal Horror collection? That's an issue of debate. It's a sci-fi film with a vastly different feel from the classic Universal horror pictures released prior to 1961 (The Leech Woman from 1960 is usually considered the last classic Universal horror film) and it wasn't included in the early 1990s Universal Classic Collection home video releases, so a lot of folks say no. 
  

   On the other hand, the film was intended to be scary, or at least thrilling (other films from the classic era clearly were more sci-fi than horror), it was released in 1955 by Universal Studios (the era of the Universal classic horror films), and it's been licensed to appear in multiple Universal Monsters toylines since at least 1994 when Raphael was blended with the Metaluna Mutant for second series of Playmates' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/ Universal Studios Monsters crossover line. The era and the licensing usage for at least three decades now definitely says to me that Universal Studios considers the Metaluna a Universal Monster (maybe B or C tier), so that convinces me to include him here. Ready to check out the crazy mutant best known for his appearance in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie? Then grab your interocitor and join me after the break...

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

 

   
   This month Fridays are going to be Franken-Fridays for 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe! Today I'm starting things off small with a look at the Monster from Matchbox's 1990 Monster in My Pocket toyline. I've always loved these rubbery little minifigures and while I didn't have that many of them as a kid, I've amassed a collection over the years. Based on Victor Frankenstein's Monster (who is commonly and rightfully called Frankenstein) from Mary Shelly's novel Frankenstein, the Monster borrows from multiple depictions of the creation, including very heavily from Boris Karloff's iconic take in the Universal Studios films. This little guy is the first Frankenstein and the first Monster in My Pocket review for 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe, so let's bring him to life after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Leonardo as The Creature from the Black Lagoon from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   This year's theme, "31 Days of Terror Takes the Universe," is absolutely a tribute to the Universal Monsters and the classic Universal horror films of the early 20th century. Along with plenty of toys of the classic monsters you know and love you're also going to see quite a few of NECA's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Universal Monsters figures. These guys have been out for a few years now but somehow I slept on them. I'm sleeping no more, though, and since grabbing some of the newer figures I've managed to pick up the whole series. It's quite fortuitous that NECA has both the TMNT license and the Universe Monsters license and was able to make these happen, though they're not NECA's original idea or anything: Playmates Toys actually released TMNT and Universal Monsters crossover figures back in 1993 and 1994. I wasn't collecting the TMNT any more in 1993 (the only figure I had from that year was Walker, and who knows why?) but I do remember the weirder and weirder variations coming out. The Universal Monsters Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles returned for a second series in 1994 and Leo as the Creature from the Black Lagoon was one of the releases. He was the second Leo released, too, as the first series had Leo as the Wolfman (NECA made Raphael the Wolfman, so my favorite turtle meets my favorite of the Universal Monsters). Ready to check out the terror of this swampy, slithery, drippin' dude? Then dive in and join me after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: The Wolf Man from Universal Monsters by Jada Toys

 

   Part of the fun of 31 Days of Toy Terror is that I get a chance to review some stuff outside of my normal reviewing habits. Sometimes I review stuff that's way older than this blog while other times I go back to look for things I've skipped or missed. This year you're going to see quite a few figures from Jada Toys' 2021-2022 Universal Monsters toyline. The Wolfman is my favorite of the Universal Monsters and while I was tempted by this figure (and the rest) as they were coming out, I really never saw them in stores. The distribution was weird for the line (something Jada Toys seems to be getting a handle on with their Street Fighter toyline) and I wasn't sure how deep they were willing to go. I sometimes have a weird habit with some toylines where I don't want to jump in if I don't think there's a likely chance that the company is going to go deep enough into the line. Of course, the line didn't last that long (they never even got to the Mummy or the Phantom) but I managed to pick some of these up over the summer and they're really quite cool. Let's take a look at the Wolfman from George Waggner's classic 1941 Universal Studios film after the break...

31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe: Dracula (Transylvania) from Universal Monsters by NECA

 

"I am... Dracula."

"I bid you welcome."

  Welcome to 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe, the 2024 edition of 31 Days of Toy Terror! This year is the 12th year of 31 Days of Toy Terror so I decided to do something extra special for this  countdown to the spookiest day of the year. This time we're focused on the Universal Monsters! These guys and gals are horror movie royalty and this year we're celebrating them all. To kick off the festivities this year we're starting with a look at NECA's Count Dracula in his Transylvania garb. Count Dracula isn't the first figure from NECA's Universal Monsters series of "Ultimates" figures but he is the first star of the Universal Studios horror films in the era of sound films. While Lon Chaney's Quasimodo and Phantom are typically placed alongside the later Universal Monsters, Bela Lugosi's Dracula is kind of the anchor of the films as a whole. I think he's a fitting subject for our first review, don't you think? 

“Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring.”

Join us after the break...