Action Figure Review: Doom Slayer from Doom: The Dark Ages by McFarlane Toys

 

   I'm a pretty big fan of Doom but it's been around 6 years since I last reviewed anything related to Doom. I blame that on there just not being a lot of merchandise based on the games. This year Doom: The Dark Ages released and I absolutely loved it. With the mixture of the traditional Doom aesthetic with a world that felt like a swords and sorcery locale mixed with advanced technology (kind of like Eternia, now that I think about it), Doom: The Dark Ages really mixed things up in a fun way, resulting in a game that felt like you were inside of a heavy metal album cover. McFarlane has released a few Doom figures over the years but this is the first based on Doom: The Dark Ages (they've also released the giant mech suit, the Atlan) and it was the inaugural figure in McFarlane Toys' new Elite Edition line of figures. What's elite about them? They do come with a nice amount of accessories and they're touted as having "an incredibly detailed sculpt with premium paint applications." OK. What else does it mean that these are part of the Elite Edition series? They cost around $50 to $60 dollars. That seems a bit steep for a McFarlane Toys mass market release but this guy sold out crazy fast and is selling on the secondary market for two to three times the original price, so I guess there are plenty of Doom fans desperate for Doom Slayers in their collection. Ready to check out the Elite Edition of the Doom Slayer? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Donner Party from Operation: Monster Force by Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction

 

   I'm really a fan of Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction's Operation: Monster Force line and today I'm reviewing what is absolutely my favorite figure from them to date: The Donner Party. Yes, while it's one figure who definitely gives off Frankenstein's Monster-like vibes, the character still goes by the name The Donner Party. Why's that? Well, according to the comic included on his packaging and in the bios found online, he's actually a being made from the remains of some of the half-eaten corpses left behind from the ill-fated Donner Party from their disastrous winter of 1846-1847 in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Put back together by a mad scientist known only as The Devil's Caretaker, the Donner Party has spent the past two centuries following and keeping a protective watch over the descendants of the relatives of the folks who make up his body. After a descendant of the Donner family, a woman named Isola Donner who is one of the four women in the world with purple eyes, is taken by the Forgotten King, The Donner Party comes out of hiding and joins up with Operation: Monster Force to help them find the whereabouts of their greatest foe. 

   Wow! That's one heck of a story. I love how instead of just giving us a slightly different take on the Frankenstein Monster, Operation: Monster Force has instead transplanted the character into an American context, steeping him in elements of western and pioneer folklore. He's an incredible figure and one of the standouts of the line to date. Ready to see what Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction have cooking here? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger (Retro) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now that we're all stuffed, let's jump in again with some action figure reviews! I'm still way, way behind on reviewing G.I. Joe: Classified Series figures but I'm trying to catch up. Today I'm checking out another of the Retro series releases and this time it's a Retro series figure that actually adheres more to the Sunbow animated series rather than to the vintage A real American Hero action figure: Courtney "Cover Girl" Krieger. The first Classified Series Cover Girl was released in early 2023, right when Hasbro was starting to use the now infamous "plastic-free" packaging. Not only was this a radical departure from how action figures have traditionally been packaged but it also was a series of figures that had some weird issues with the faces. The Classified Series has always been really strong when it comes to the headsculpts and face printing but figures from this particular wave like Cover Girl, Falcon, and the standard Outback all had odd looking portraits and/or face printing. This one really isn't a redo of that figure, though. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only reused part is her torso. Everything else is either new or sourced from somewhere else. She's a pretty interesting figure as with her blonde hair with a different headsculpt and a fairly different outfit, she could easily pass for a new character instead of Cover Girl. I believe Cover Girl only appeared like this in the original Sunbow animated G.I. Joe miniseries and was later changed to a more toy accurate design (she was also blonde in the 2009 Rise of Cobra film, where she was portrayed by Karolína Kurková, so this is definitely a more obscure take on the character. Ready to check out Cover Girl? Then join me after the break...

Barbecue's Bonfire 12/1/2025 Livestream Tonight on YouTube at 8:30pm EST

 I'll post a link in a few hours. Be there or be square!

*Update* Here's the link!: https://youtube.com/live/CzDmVmBl9Cg?feature=share

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

 

   Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction's Operation: Monster Force action figures first dropped near the end of 2024 but this year they managed to get the second series out during the month of October! I had hopes to get at least one of the new ones reviewed for 31 Days of Toy Terror or Re-Halloween but, alas, it was not meant to be. How about squeezing one in before Thanksgiving? Absolutely! Operation: Monster Force is really drawing from across the realms of horror and the weird for inspiration and today we're looking at Doctor Caligari, a new take on the character from the 1920 German expressionist horror classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. In Monster Force, Doctor Caligari has been reduced to a brain in a jar who now uses his knowledge and expertise on dreams and somnambulism to create an army for the Forgotten King . Besides the silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, there also seems to be a lot of inspiration from the word of Mike Mignola and the Hellboy universe in this guy. I really like him! How'd he turn out? Let's find out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Dreadnok Monkeywrench from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Do I gush over each new G.I. Joe: Classified Series release that I review? Often, sure, but hear me out: Monkeywrench is easily a top five figure of the year. Heck, he's easily a top three figure of 2025. That's right, Monkeywrench. A 1986 Dreadnok with a harpoon gun. Seriously, though; Hasbro's Joe team has taken each of the Dreadnoks released in the Classified Series and just radically improved them while still keeping them recognizable. Monekywrench was my first Dreadnok as a kid as the 1986 and 1987 lines were out when I first got into G.I. Joe. He's a cool figure, don't get me wrong, but the vintage Monekywrench was never one of my favorites. Honestly, as a young kid I'm not sure I quite knew what to make of the Dreadnoks. I got more into them as a teenager and young adult getting back into collecting the line in the late 90s/ early 200s and now they're easily one of the best 'subsets' of the Classified Series. Monkeywrench is incredible. Off hand, the only 2025 release I can think of that I like more than Monkeywrench is Crystal Ball. Am I the only one that kind of feels like Hasbro really goes out of their way to elevate some of the more average figures from the vintage line? Let's take a look Bill Winkie, (better known as Monkeywrench) a Welshman born on Guy Fawkes Day who left his hometown of Rhyl to make his way through London's East End and eventually to Australia to join up with the Dreadnoks. 

Action Figure Review: Sandman (Wesley Dodds: The Sandman) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   While most of who I'm still waiting for from McFarlane Toys as the clock is running down on their time with the DC license are Batman villains who still have yet to be made or who need definitive classic editions, I still also have a few more of DC's more mystical characters/pulp heroes/ Justice League Dark members that I still want from the line. You know, characters like Madame Xanadu, Enchantress, a classic Etrigan, Zatanna, Black Orchid, and Phantom Stranger. They all look great together on a shelf and I'm eager to get as many as I can from McFarlane before Mattel takes over. I picked up Sandman back in October during a trip to Target and I was pretty pleased to find him. He's a Target exclusive and, since they've been running a decent amount of in-store deals using Target Circle, I think I got a nice discount on him as I was also picking up a few Marvel Legends on the same day. Remember last December when I reviewed The Question and said "I wonder if we'll ever see this body used to make the Sandman?" 

   Well, I guess I was right! Of course, I'm pretty sure McFarlane gives most of this body to anyone wearing a suit and a jacket, don't they? While Mattel released a classic version of Wesley Dodds' Sandman in DC Universe Classics back in 2011, this is a more recent take on the character from the 2023 comic books series. Ready to check out the Sandman? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Flint (Retro) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Sorry I've been absent for a few days! There has just been a lot going on around my house and such but I'm going to get a few new reviews in before Thanksgiving. New G.I. Joe, Action Force, and Marvel Legends stuff is dropping left and right and I'm just trying to keep up but falling woefully behind. Today I'm checking out one of the newer (but not newest) Retro styled figures from the Classified Series: Flint! Between Duke and Flint I've always preferred Flint and, since he's a major character in G.I. Joe, getting a Retro carded version of him isn't unwarranted. I still really like the original Classified Flint from 2021, though, as his gear is a bit more modern while he's still recognizable as Flint. The Retro series definitely captures the look and feel of the vintage 1985 Flint figure while updating him with a slightly newer body. Interestingly, Hasbro created a packaging chase variant for this figure, giving 82 of the figures unique card art by Rich Pellegrino. I'm not one for keeping my figures in the package but that variant is selling for crazy money so I guess if you have one you'd be pretty pleased. Imagine getting one, not knowing it was such a rare chase variant, and tearing it open. Yikes! Enough about packaging, though; let's focus on the figure inside as we check out Flint after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cable from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men '97 by Hasbro

 

   Most of the new X-Men '97 figures arrived last month but with how busy things were with 31 Days of Toy Terror it has taken me a bit to get to them. I loved the first two series of X-Men '97 figures that Hasbro released in 2023 and 2024 and it's nice to get another series of characters. Hasbro is definitely putting out some solid X-Men '97 product and I'm excited to see when we get figures based on the upcoming second season as everything so far is based on season 1. Cable appeared in eight episodes in the original animated X-Men series and five episodes in X-Men '97 and this look covers most of his appearances throughout both shows. This is also a pretty great standard Cable for folks wanting one. While the X-Men '97 figures do have a bit of an animated style to them, I don't think they stand out in a standard comic collection, either. These really get me excited as I loved the X-Men animated series as a kid and wanted figures that more resembled the show than what Toy Biz released at the time. Ready to join Nathan Summers on a journey through time and space? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cobra Commander with Combat Armor from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   This new version of Cobra Commander with Combat Armor is definitely sold as Cobra Commander, but is it? Is it really? In 1987 Hasbro pumped put a new version of Cobra Commander, this time clad in some pretty serious battle armor with a built in-life support system. The original file card certainly proclaims that this is Cobra Commander and for a kid like me who didn't start collecting G.I. Joe figures until sometime in 1986 or very early 1987, this was my Cobra Commander growing up. In the DIC animated series this was also Cobra Commander. In the Marvel Comics, however? This was actually one of the identical Crimson Guardsmen, Fred Broca, AKA Fred VII, the man who stole Cobra Commander's identity for quite some time. Whether you take this as an armored upgrade to the classic Commander or an usurper using the Commander's name, Hasbro has released a pretty solid update that should probably please most collectors. Ready for an upgraded Cobra Commander? Then join me after the break...

Barbecue's Bonfire November 10th, 2025 Round 2! Use this one! It works!

Action Figure Review: Dash Rendar from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV by Hasbro

 

   This is actually my fourth review of a 2025 Star Wars: The Black Series release from Hasbro which is way more Star Wars: The Black Series reviews than I've done for a few years now. Why so many this year? Well, I've purchased six Black Series figures this year (I didn't review the updated A New Hope version of Han Solo or the larger R2-D2 on the ROTS card) as four were well needed updates of the original heroes and two are from Shadows of the Empire. That's the case for Dash Rendar here as he was one of the main protagonists for the 1996 multimedia project. I've been awfully bored of the Black Series lately as it feels like Hasbro just really doesn't know what to do with it, but I'm still really nostalgic for the Star Wars of the 1990s. Power of the Force II figures, the Expanded Universe, and Shadows of the Empire were all the rage at that time and I was the prime age for it. I loved my Dash Rendar figure from Kenner and I've been waiting for Hasbro to finally tackle him in the Black Series. How'd he turn out? Do you still need your Han Solo figures if this guy is around? Let's find out after the break...

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

 

   Lately I've been trying to start up a weekly livestream on Mondays at 8:30pm EST on YouTube as the latest iteration of my Barbecue's Bonfire posts that I used to post from time to time. Last Monday I tried to stream my second episode which involved me showing off some Jack o' Lanterns my family carved, talking about my dog Krypto, and doing a live review of the latest DC Multiverse version of the Riddler based on the 2003 Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee series Batman: Hush. About 25 minutes into the stream I think I cut out, though, so I did a live review of the Riddler and talked about the transition of the DC license from McFarlane to Mattel next year to myself. I blame my wife. I think that's when she started watching some One Piece and our internet just couldn't handle all the strain. Anyways, I had taken the pictures and I figure I should go ahead and also do a written review of the Riddler. I've been looking forward to this one as the designs of the characters from Hush are some of my favorites. When I think of the Batfamily and Batman's villains, their depiction in Hush is likely the first thing that comes to mind for me (stuff from the Knightfall era is probably second in most cases). Even with the story now being over 20 years old, I think the designs are still just very classic and definitive of an era of Batman comics. McFarlane has certainly visited Hush a few times now but there are plenty of characters from the series that could still be made. I still want a Hush version of Poison Ivy, Ra's al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Alfred Pennyworth before McFarlane Toys loses the license. For now, though, let's check out the Riddler, the man behind the Hush plan. Join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Vega from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   Now that Re-Halloween has come and gone I have a ton of non-spooky reviews to catch up on, one of which is Vega from Jada Toys' Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers line. Vega (originally named Balrog in the Japanese version of the game) is one of the original four nonplayable "boss" characters and the only character to use a legitimate weapon from the Street Fighter 2 roster. A claw? Imagine showing up to a martial arts tournament where everyone else is using their fists and feet and you whip out a metal claw. Hey, Vega made it happen, so more power to him. With a mixture of Spanish bullfighting techniques and Japanese ninjutsu inspired fighting, Vega stands out even among the already colorful cast of Street Fighter. Vega is named after the star, Vega, which is part of the constellation Lyra and it's also the fifth brightest star in the night sky, so I guess the name works for a guy who stands out with his star power. With Vega's release we are now 3/4ths of the way through the Street Fighter II: The New Challengers main roster which is pretty incredible to me. While I feel like Jada Toys could be releasing these much more quickly, they're steady enough that I'm confident that we'll finish the line and move on to the Street Fighter Alpha 3 roster. Ready to challenge Vega? Then jump in the cage and join me after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025: Michael Myers (Halloween H20: Halloween Twenty Years Later) from Halloween by NECA

 

   It's Re-Halloween and it's time for Michael Myers to... well, not come home. How about make a trip out to California? Sure, let's go with that! Michael Myers travels to California in 1998's Halloween H20: Halloween 20 Years Later in a continued pursuit of his sister, Laurie Strode. NECA has really been on a roll over the past few years as they've now released modern figures of Michael Myers from Halloween II, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, and all three of the 2018 trilogy films. Now they've tackled H20 and a Halloween: Resurrection version of Michael should start showing up any day now. If NECA gets around to the original film again along with Halloween 4, Halloween 5, and both of the Rob Zombie films they're have released a Michael Myers from every movie he's appeared in! (NECA did release figures from the original film but it was back in their Cult Classic days, so they're not well articulated.) H20 Came out when I was a freshman in high school and I caught in when it was released on VHS at a friend's house. Thinking back, it was probably the second or third of the Halloween films I saw as a friend and I watched the original quite frequently and I'm pretty sure we rented Halloween II at some point. I watched the movie again this week and I don't think my feelings on it have changed much over the years. There's a lot to like about the movie (Jamie Lee Curtis, good cinematography and some especially cool shots, a good story that does capture elements of the original film, solid cast) and a lot that still disappoints me (not sold on the overall look of Michael Myers, there's not a lot of fall or Halloween ambience in the film). Ultimately, it's pretty much smack dab in the middle of the movies in terms of my ranking of them. Still, am I going to turn down a new Michael Myers figure? Nope. Let's check this one out after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025: Michael Myers Candy Case from Universal Candy Cases by CandyRific

 

   You know who didn't make an appearance during 31 Days of Toy Terror this year? Michael Myers! We've got to fix that so for both today and tomorrow expect the Shape to be at the front and center! Today I'm checking out a Michael Myers Candy Case from CandyRific. I remember back as a kid when you could find candy in some elaborate containers that were far more enjoyable than the candy itself. Some of my favorites were a Slimer candy container that I used with my Real Ghostbusters figures, a plastic Batmobile from the 1989 movie, a Sonic the Hedgehog figure with moveable arms, a Snoopy driving a green car, and one of those bubble gum beepers which I covered with stickers and carried my Spin Fighters around in. Want candy or a toy? Why not both? My mom found this somewhere and gave it to me as an early Halloween treat which makes it even more special. I have to admit that I feel pretty blessed to be in my early 40s and still have a mom who will by me Michael Myers themed items when she sees them. Thanks, mom! Anyway, this guy is sold loose like this with a cardboard tag attached to his head which also seals the candy compartment. I believe he's sold in a tray alongside a Chucky Candy Case with four of each character or in a special boxed two-pack of both characters. Since Universal distributed the film, they have the rights to Halloween 2 which is why you see so much merchandise from it. That's also why the merchandise usually goes out of its way to note that it's from Halloween 2. Did you not get enough candy on Halloween and need both some more sugar and another Michael Myers collectible? Then join me after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025 'Masque of the Red Death' Phantom from Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   Can you believe that NECA is making action figures based on a movie that is 100 years old? It's pretty amazing that silent horror films have the staying power they do and still have fans! I mean, at this point I can't imagine anyone who saw the film during its original run is still alive, so everyone who is a fan is a fan of a movie that they weren't the original audience for. My wife has a grandfather who just turned 100 this year as well, but that means he would have been a baby when the film came out as he was born earlier in the year than the film's November 15th, 1925 premiere date. That's crazy to think about! NECA released their standard version of Lon Chaney as the Phantom of the Opera back in 2023 and now in 2025 they've released the 'Masque of the Red Death' Phantom dressed in his costume from the "in color" scene of the film where the Phantom crashes the masked ball. It's a memorable moment in film history and it's incredibly cool to have it commemorated here. Ready to check out the 'Masque of the Red Death' Phantom? Then join me after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025: The Invisible Man from Toony Terrors by NECA

 

   It's time for me to complete the most recent series of Universal Monsters inspired Toony Terrors from NECA and today we're looking at the Invisible Man, the star of my second favorite Universal classic horror film (all the films released from 1931-1960), The Invisible Man. While Jack Griffins' face is only seen at the end of the film, he certainly gets a nice variety of outfits in the film and this trench coat and fedora combo are what he wears at the very beginning of the movie when Griffin shows shows up on a snowy night at The Lion's Head Inn. Interestingly, NECA hasn't released this version of Griffin in their Universal Monsters 'Ultimates' line. Could they have a third version of the Invisible Man in store for us down the road? It's a cool design for Toony Terrors and while I expected them to go with the more iconic smoking jacket look, this one is very cartoonish, making Griffin look like a classic spy or detective which would track well for a Saturday Morning cartoon. Let's see what can be seen here after the break...

Action Figure Barbecue going live on Youtube tonight at 8:30pm!

 

Here's the link! Come join me for some post Halloween fun. 

Re-Halloween 2025: Assortment #4 from Dr. Malgam's Body Bags by ToadFrog

 

   I've got another set of Dr. Malgam's Body Bags by ToadFrog to check out today. It's tough to review these guys like a regular figure since you're getting seven mixed up parts with each figure rather than a complete figure that you mix and match with others but it is fun to show off all of the parts. At some point I'll probably add pictures of the completed figures so you can see who can be fully built with series 1. This feature is dominated by the amazing Sea Creature head but there are plenty of other cool parts in this set. Let's check out Assortment #4 after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025: Creature from the Black Lagoon from Toony Terrors by NECA

 

   The Creature from the Black Lagoon got a lot of love during 31 Days of Toy Terror this year, didn't he? Well, I've got one more Gill Man review for you as part of the Re-Halloween festivities and it's the Creature from the Black Lagoon Toony Terror figure from NECA. I really like NECA's Toony Terrors and while I don't pick up every release, I'm certainly grabbing all of the Universal Monsters and classic horror characters they put out. The Creature looks incredible hear! I think NECA has largely done an impressive of translating all of the horror characters they've tackled into a classic "Saturday morning cartoon" aesthetic but there are some that just standout and the Gill Man is one of those. He looks like he just stepped out of his own animated series! Imagine a funky 1970s or 1980s cartoon where the Creature and the other Universal Monsters solve crimes from Castle Frankenstein, probably with a couple of kids and a talking pet. Yeah, now you're in the right frame of mind. Imagine the PSAs at the end of each episode where the Creature shows up to talk to kids about the hazards of diving into shallow water, swimming alone, and not throwing plastic into the ocean. I want to live in that timeline! Let's check out the Toony Terrors Creature from the Black Lagoon after the break...

Re-Halloween 2025: Assortment #1 from Dr. Malgam's Body Bags by ToadFrog

 

   Guess what? Here at Action Figure Barbecue Halloween hasn't ended! In fact, I still have seven days of spooky reviews lined up for you and they're not just the leftover candy that no one wants. No, this is quality stuff! Join me today as we check out another figure in Dr. Malgam's Body Bags, a line that was launched through Kickstarter in 2024. Today I'm checking out Assortment #1 of the line which features the head for the Vampire along with a bunch of other assorted body parts. Now, I am aware that the toe tag on my body bag says Assortment #2. I really didn't think I mixed these up or around at all, but it seems like Assortment #1 and Assortment #2 got mixed up somehow. I don't have any missing parts between the two sets, so maybe I goofed or maybe something just got mislabeled. Anyways, this is either #1 or #2. Rather than sell these as complete figures that you swap (i.e. a Werewolf, a Vampire, etc.) ToadFrog is shipping these pre-mixed up, meaning you'll have to purchase multiple sets to get a full figure (the parts for which aren't all available yet). It's a mix and match gimmick, so it does make some sense, though I think I would have preferred being able to buy full characters with an extra included part. Let's check out this set that's dominated by the Vampire's head after the break...

Attack of the 6 3/8th inches 31 Days of Toy Terror: Richard "Crystal Ball" King from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Happy Halloween! We've made through another 31 Days of Toy Terror and I've got something special lined up: Richard "Crystal Ball" King from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series. So, you're probably asking "Why a G.I. Joe on Halloween?" 

   Allow me to explain. First, look at this guy: Crystal Ball is really freaking creepy. He's creepy on his own, sure, but Hasbro really went and made Crystal Ball even more frightening with a variety of extra parts that are either conjured by Crystal Ball or a result of some sort of arcane science. Second, Crystal Ball is a character created by horror master Stephen King and his son, Owen King, back in the 1980s when Owen was nine years old. Crystal Ball was name dropped in Stephen King's 1987 novel The Tommyknockers Owen King's name and hometown was used for the G.I. Joe character Sneak Peak. Heck, his new file name, Richard King, is a blend of Stephen King's name and his pseudonym Richard Bachman. Crystal Ball has always been an odd character as he is the seventh son of a seventh son, a hypnotist, and something of a mind reader, delving into the supernatural side of the G.I. Joe property that hasn't always been the most popular. The vintage figure was also inspired by the appearance of Vincent Price, so there's a lot of horror star power here. Over the years, I think many fans have come around to the odder characters, enjoying that fact that Cobra Commander certainly find and hires some unusual talent. For the Classified Series Hasbro went all out for this Walmart exclusive figure, taking the vintage figure and just massively improving and updating him with new concepts. Ready for an updated take on Crystal Ball? If all signs point to yes then join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Assortment #2 from Dr. Malgam's Body Bags by ToadFrog

 

   Halloween is almost here so let's take a look at something pretty spooky and new: Assortment #2 of body parts from Dr. Malgam's Body Bags! Dr. Malgam's Body Bags was launched as a Kickstarter project on May 1 of 2024 and funded within 8 hours. With a cool product of swappable monster parts solid in fabric body bags, a well implemented campaign, and some good stretch goals, the campaign ended with $62,565 dollars. While the past year has been a rather topsy-turvy time for manufacturing and launching a business, ToadFrog kept backers well updated and delivered the quality goods early this fall. Mine arrived right at the end of September. I've been wanting to do a couple video reviews of these as something fun and different so I just jumped in and did one earlier this week while looking at Assortment #3. The general idea of these figures is that each set is sold in a fabric body bag that includes a variety of parts for different monsters. You can build a random monster from a hodgepodge of the parts but you'll need multiple sets to create a full monster. Oddly enough few of the monsters have all of their parts available, though ToadFrog has hinted that the future needed parts will be part of a possible series 2. I'm looking at assortment #1 which contains the Frankenstein (monster) head and a variety of other random parts. Huh. Now, oddly enough, when I look at the campaign page and other folks' pictures, this seems to actually be Assortment #1. Huh. I wonder if mine just got mislabeled? So, this is likely Assortment #2 but my Body Bag says #2. Well, these are meant to be swapped but I haven't done any real swapping yet. So this review might just be a confused mess. Anyways, let's unzip this body bag and join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dr. Beargrave from Deddy Bears Minifigures by Innov8 Creative Academy

 

   Halloween is almost here and we've got another visit from the Deddy Bears! I've reviewed a couple of these fun little guys and this time I'm looking at another Series 2 mini: Dr. Beargrave! He's a great companion for the Frankenbear figure, wouldn't you agree? While he's not based on any particular pre-existing character, Dr. Beargrave is obviously inspired by Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelley's classic novel Frankenstein and all of the mad scientists who have come after him. These are some nifty little terrifying bears and while I like collecting them, I do have to keep them away from Zoey as she'd probably try to eat them. You know how much she loves bears! These aren't blind boxed, so you know what figure you're buying. I've been finding these at Five Below and seem to restock them quite frequently. I haven't noticed any figures being particularly hard to find but Dr. Beargrave is listed as 1:24, so presumably he's rarer than most others. Let's step inside Dr. Beargrave's laboratory and see what's cooking...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Creature from the Black Lagoon from Tiny Nightmares by Just Play

 

   Last year I didn't feel like Phantom, the Creature or the Bride got enough love so they've been showing up more frequently on this year's countdown. I reviewed the Bride of Frankenstein from this series of smaller horror figures last week so this week I'm checking out the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the other classic Universal Monster in the set. A few months ago I saw these Target (and recently Walmart) sold in little blind boxes. Tiny Nightmares from Just Play offers the Bride of Frankenstein, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Michael Myers, Pennywise, Chucky and Tiffany, M3GAN, and the Nun. They seemed a bit pricy at around $8 to $11 dollars and I was really only interested in the Universal Monsters, Michael Myers, and maybe M3GAN, so I passed. In September I was at Five Below and stumbled upon these little guys again, though now for $5 bucks. Instead of being sold in boxes, Five Below's offerings come in foil bags with fewer figures (Michael Myers, Tiffany, and Pennywise are absent) with a different set of cheat codes. To find the Creature from the Black Lagoon in the bagged set you'll look for a code "E" on the bag (it's the last letter in a series of numbers); for the boxed set you'll look for "F" for the Creature. So far as I am aware, the blind bagged and blind boxed figures are supposedly the same figures, just with an adjustment to the assortment and codes. I'm glad that Just Play added this as I probably wouldn't have purchased them without knowing who I was grabbing. Ready to swim with the creature again? Then join me after the break...

Halloween 2025 Horror Toy Haul from Toy Federation in Greer, SC and More...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Phantom of the Opera (Masque of the Red Death) from Universal Studios Monsters Little Big Heads by Sideshow Toys

 

   This year's 31 Days of Toy Terror was not intended to be so heavily focused on the Universal Monsters crew but, hey, that's what I like and I have a pretty decent collection of them. Today I'm checking out the first figure I've ever reviewed from Sideshow Toys' 1999 Universal Studios Monsters Little Big Heads: The Phantom of the Opera in his Masque of the Red Death guise. The standard version of the Phantom was released in the first series of Little Big Heads in 1999 while this figure was released as part of the second series in 2000. Sideshow Toys really went all in on the Universal Monsters around the turn of the millennium and released a lot of really high quality product. These guys are 4-inch figures with the aesthetics of a bobblehead (though their heads don't bobble!) and Sideshow released a decent cast of characters in multiple color variants (full color, greyscale, bronze, glow-in-the-dark, etc.). I love the Phantom in this outfit! Ready for the terrifying Phantom to get even creepier? Than join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Hunchback of Notre Dame from Universal Studios Monsters by Uncle Milton

 

   Today I have an interesting offering for 31 Days of Toy Terror with a look at a figure from Uncle Milton's 1991 Monster Studio set, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, which itself is a recast of the original Louis Marx & Company figure from 1963 or 1964. The original plastic figures were sold loose by Marx in 1964 in both bright blue and orange color schemes. Marx made toys from 1919 until 1980 and was the first company to license the Universal Monsters for toys. Louis Marx sold his company to Quaker Oats in 1972 who then sold it to the British company Dunbee-Combex-Marx in 1976, closing up shop on the last Marx factory in West Virginia in 1980. Eventually, the Marx molds were licensed to toy company Uncle Milton who produced both glow-in-the-dark versions of these vintage toys and a Monster Studio set with six cream colored figures, a set of paints, and a brush. I've seen 1990 or 1991 listed as the year of release for the glow-in-the-dark figures and 1991 or 1992 for the Monster Studio set. The seller I acquired these from had them in bulk and claimed that Uncle Milton produced these in 1990 and was offering the figures in bulk in this color a year or so before they packaged them together in the Monster Studio set. It sounds like these were available individually, though not at standard retail. Maybe mom and pop shops and hobby shops? Can anyone shed any more light on these? I know hobbyists have recast these figures in different colors over the years beginning around the year 2000, so there are lots of these out there. For now, let's enjoy this cool recast of a vintage Marx Quasimodo that's older now than the Marx figures were when Uncle Milton recast them. Join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Spike & Sprout from MrBeast Lab Hybrids by Moose Toys

 

   I really like plant themed characters! Maybe it's because of my childhood love of Moss Man but I'm just nuts about the aesthetic. Plant guys, giant plants, plant women; I'm just sold on all of them. Fortunately, Spike & Sprout was one of my first pulls and I love this guy's (or these guys') crazy aesthetic. Remember the vintage Matchbox Con-Nec-Tors or the various Mashers lines that Hasbro puts out every few years? The Lab Hybrids by Moose Toys remind me of those, though the figures on their own are just quite good, too. Nothing earth shattering, but they're fun smaller figures (between 4 and 4 1/2 inches) solid in plastic Erlenmeyer (conical) flasks. The standard figures are in smaller flasks and are blind boxed, so there's a bit of a risk there. I did purchase a few of the MrBeast Lab Hybrids back in August and while I really like them, the blind boxed nature of them is just not conducive to going all in on, especially at $10 bucks a figure.$10 bucks a figure is decent if you know what you're getting, but not when you might pull a duplicate. Ready to check out the plant duo of Spike and Sprout? Oh, and why a duo you might ask? Because Sprout is presumably "sprouting" from Spike's head. Someone must have used some Miracle-Gro! Let's dive in to the frightening world of plant people after the break...

Attack of the 7-inch 31 Days of Toy Terror: Bride of Frankenstein (Glow-in-the-Dark) from Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   It's a Friday in October so it's time for a larger toy review than the standard fare for The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: How about a visit from the Bride of Frankenstein? NECA released this glow-in-the-dark figure inspired by the classic Remco Mini Monsters as an SDCC 2025 exclusive, so I've had her chilling on the shelf for a good few months waiting for October. NECA has gone beyond the original six figures from the vintage line (Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Phantom of the Opera), offering up their takes on the Invisible Man, Nosferatu, and the Bride of Frankenstein. This figure is largely a repaint of the previously released Bride of Frankenstein but some new touches like the plastic retro inspired cape and the green face really maker her stand out. Ready for a glow in the dark figure that's a real scream? Then let's join the Bride after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Mr. Good and Evil from Lego Minifigures by Lego

 

   

   Back when I did my first ever 31 Days of Toy Terror (back 2013 at The Epic Review), there were definitely a few Lego sets and minifigures that were part of the festivities. I decided to throw another Lego minifigure in this year for old time's sake and today I'm checking out Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Um, I mean Mr. Good and Evil. That's the official name for this guy from Lego, anyway. He was released as part of Series 9 of the blind bagged minifigures back in 2013 and was definitely inspired by  Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Unlike the complete transformation between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as two separate personalities, however, Mr. Good and Evil has both sides of his personality present at once, more like Two-Face. Both sides are constantly trying to sabotage each other as well. What a conundrum! Ready for a look at Mr. Good and Evil? Then join me after the break...

  

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Bride of Frankenstein from Tiny Nightmares by Just Play

 

   A few months ago I was at Target and found these really cool little blind-boxed minis, Tiny Nightmares from Just Play, that feature a couple Universal Monsters characters (the Bride of Frankenstein and the Creature from the Black Lagoon) as well as Michael Myers, Pennywise, Chuck and Tiffany, M3GAN, and the Nun. They seemed a bit pricy and I was really only interested in the Universal Monsters, Michael Myers, and maybe M3GAN, so I passed. Just a few weeks ago I was at Five Below and stumbled upon these little guys again, though now for $5 bucks. They were also packaged in foil bags instead of boxes and I thought I might have a better chance of pulling the figures I wanted most. The bagged set has fewer figures (Michael Myers, Tiffany, and Pennywise are absent) but it made it more likely I was going to get the one I want. After a good bit of feeling the packages and probably looking awfully suspicious I decided to check online and see if there was a code on the bags. Sure enough there was! To find the Bride of Frankenstein in the bagged set you'll look for a code "D" on the bag (it's the last letter in a series of numbers); for the boxed set you'll look for "E" for the Bride of Frankenstein. So far as I am aware, the blind bagged and blind boxed figures are the same figures, just with an adjustment to the assortment and codes. I'm glad to be able to pull the ones I wanted without getting duplicates or grabbing a mini I didn't care that much about (*cough* the Nun *cough*). Ready to once again spend some time with the Bride of Frankenstein? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Beach Head & Quick Kick (Night Force) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   As it's getting dark earlier and earlier every day it's probably time to call on Night Force again! I have absolutely loved nearly every Night Force release in Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series and it's probably my favorite subset in the line at this point. I like Tiger Force (as I had most of them as a kid) but Hasbro has really changed up the figures more for Night Force, giving us some pretty cool variants. Beach Head always seems to have great figures and this one is based on the Retro carded version which, oddly, I didn't review. Quick Kick is incredibly different, though, getting not just a cool new portrait (for him) but also a completely different outfit from the prior release that feels more fitting for an elite military unit. This set is a Walmart exclusive and is still available online as of this review being published. I think this is one of the strongest release/ variant sets in this line to date as both figures are really solid and the accessories are insane. Ready to check out Beach Head and Quick Kick? Then join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Male Alien (They Live) from Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights by CultureFly

 

   Ready for another true minifigure for The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror? Then let's check out another of CultureFly's Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights from John Carpenter's 1988 classic They Live: The Male Alien. Yes, one of the male versions of the aliens or ghouls who have secretly invaded the earth this time. I reviewed the Female Alien and John Nada not long ago, so look back and check out those reviews for more details. Today I'm interested in talking a bit about how these are labeled as Universal Horror Classics. When I think of Universal horror classics, I think of the films of Universal during the silent period and from 1931 to 1960, but this line is based on films from the 1970s through the late 90s. Interesting. The classic Universal films did eventually lead to elements of a shared universe at times, though they also shared many of the same cast and crew members giving them a more cohesive feel. Do the post 1960s films have the same connective tissue as those classics, though? Apparently CultureFly and someone at Universal Pictures does. Let's take a closer look at this guy after the break...

Action Figure Review: Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   
   If you talk to some fans of G.I. Joe, especially folks who just jumped back in to collect the Classified Series, you'll often find that many really only collected the first few years of the A Real America Hero line. The A Real American Hero brand of G.I. Joe has been around for about 43 years now and, from 1982 through 2018, 1/18th scaled figures were released in every calendar year except for 1995, 1996, and 1999 (though other Joe product was available). There's also been an ever present cycle where the line tried to reintroduce characters and previous concepts and then goes and steps the brand forward. In 1991, G.I. Joe really began to push new takes on the most popular characters including Snake Eyes, who we're checking out today. This version is based on the 1991 "version 4" figure that changed Snake Eyes' traditionally all black look for a lot more grey and blue. I never had this version of Snake Eyes as a kid in the 1/18th scaled line though I did have the 1992 12-inch "Hall of Fame" figure of Snake Eyes in this outfit. This looks for Snake Eyes was used on most G.I. Joe licensing art and merchandise throughout the early 90s including video games and the DIC animated series. While we haven't received a figure based on Snake Eyes v3 yet (which was my Snake Eyes), this look is pretty unique and I was excited to get it in hand. How is he? A bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately, though mostly that has to do with accessories. Ready to check out the Classified Series take on the 1991 Snake Eyes? Then join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Gollum the Fisherman from Middle Earth Toys by Toy Vault

   Toy Vault's Middle Earth Toys line only ran from 1998 through 2000 and while they didn't get to many characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, they did release toys in multiple sizes. The line had some pretty good internal scaling and Toy Vault's takes on Gollum (and Smeagol) were suitably smaller than most other figures in the line. They also capture a very creepy depiction of Gollum! Toy Vault released four different versions of Gollum (or Smeagol) and while this one, Gollum the Fisherman, has a quote from The Two Towers on the package, it always makes me think of Gollum when Bilbo meets him in The Hobbit. Toy Vault only had the rights for The Lord of the Rings and not The Hobbit, though, but apparently they didn't realize that at first, so some lineups had to be changed. This past year I was able to accomplish one of the things I've most looked forward to which was reading the The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to my daughter and then watching the films with her, so now the series is even more special to me. It's a shame that Toy Vault never had the chance to really go far with this line as it was just a wonderfully unusual collection that emerged during the time when companies were realizing that collectors could support toylines and the direct market was becoming a legitimate means of distribution. Ready for a look at Gollum the Fisherman? Then keep a sharp look out, hold on to your precious, and join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Deadpool as Jacob Marley #1494 from POP! Plus by Funko

 

   

   Ready for a touch of Christmas leading up to Halloween? Then I've got you covered! Today I'm really excited to show off a very unusual Funko POP! that I found near the end of August at GameStop: Deadpool as Jacob Marley! Listen, I like Deadpool as much as the next guy, but I'm pretty sure this is the first Deadpool POP! vinyl that I've purchased. Now Jacob Marley? I've mentioned here before that A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite stories. I try to read Charles Dickens' book once every other year and I watch multiple film versions of it every year. I've also been able to amass a nice collection of action figures and toys based on the Christmas classic and Jacob Marley is my absolute favorite. So Deadpool as Jacob Marley? I'm down for it. A figure as Dead(pool) as a doornail? Sign me up! This is a weird, wacky figure and I'm completely ok with giving it a slot during spooky season. At just a bit over 4 inches, I think it fits our theme as well. Join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: John Nada (They Live) from Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights by CultureFly

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and review minifigures, and I'm all out of bubblegum."

   It's time for not just another minifigure from Culturefly's Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights but another from John Carpenter's 1988 classic They Live as well: John Nada. Originally intended as a role for frequent Carpenter collaborator Kurt Russell, Russell's unavailability led to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper being cast in the role as the man who exposes an alien invasion to the world. I'm really glad that CultureFly picked They Live as one of the movies this series delivers characters from as it's one of my favorites and their isn't a ton of merchandise from the film. Ready to check out a miniature Nada to protect your desk? Then join me after the break...

Attack of the 11 and a 1/2 inch 31 Days of Toy Terror: Purple Skeleton Bear from Wild Knots by Kong

 

    We never leave out our four legged friends! Our dog, Zoey, has volunteered to write special reviews for the last two years of 31 Days of Toy Terror and she enjoyed all of the kind remarks and praise she got. Zoey absolutely loves her stuffed toys and she 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 once again again bribed her into writing another review by buying her a new Kong Wild Knots bear, which is her favorite type of you. She has seven or eight of these bears in different colors and they really do seem to be her preferred toys. Ready to read a (dog) toy review written by Zoey, our 7-year old Kelpie/ terrier rescue dog? Then read on!

[Editor's Note: Zoey is a very, very good dog, but she has never been the best speller. She also doesn't always use the correct words. While we've tried to work with her on this for the 5+ years we've had her, it seems that Zoey will forever talk the way she talks. 

   Hi. This Zoey. I dog. And I back again because it Howlween. How I know? I know because Krimstin and Girl start putting up fake punkins. Everywhere. Lots of punkins and other things that they tell me are decrations and not snacks or toys. Barbcue seem to think it Howlween all year long. He always wear punkin on head and sit round eating treats and watching movies he say scary. They not scary. Mailbox scary. Cars driving by scary. People other than family, Gram-Gram and Pap-Pap, and Girl's loud friend scary. But movies not scary. Bears not scary, either. They friends. And snacks. Mostly snacks. Bear is my favorite animal. I love bears. Barbecue tell me my dog food made from bear, but I think he make it up. Last month Barbcue sent picture of new purple Howlween to Krimstin and say he find at store. Krimstin say "Zoey spoiled. She have too many toys. She not need more bear." 

   

   But I get on phone and say "Want want. Please give. Thamks. I polite and cute and Barbcue spoil me. He bring home purple bear that look like skelton. He say it spooky, but it not look like mailbox or plastic bag blowing across yard. I think it look yummy. Snack! He hold it up and ask me if I want it. I say "Want want. Please give! Give! Want!" he throw it to me. It amazing! I call this purple bear Bone Bear. While I chewing, Barbcue say I have to write review. I think Bear was bribe. It OK. I telligent and litrate. I write review. Hit button to read more, pleeze. Thamks...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Phantom of the Opera from Toony Terrors by NECA

 

   I'm really glad that Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera still gets lumped in with the classic Universal Monsters. He's from the silent era, so he predates the classic Universal Horror period of 1931 to 1960, and the film is in the public domain. Still, I think he belongs as he's one of Lon Chaney's strongest creations and he just feels right at home next to the other classics. I like him better than Claude Rain's Phantom from 1943 and I'm glad NECA picked him for the second series of Toony Terrors focused on the Universal Monsters. I'm excited to review the Phanton as he is one of my favorites. So... let's address this figure's height: He's 5 1/2 inches tall. Yes, this year's theme is The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror, so wouldn't you expect a shorter figure? I originally wanted to just do minifigures and shorter stuff, but I really want to work these guys in. Besides, these are shorter than your standard horror action figures, right? Yeah, of course. Let's go ahead and count the Phantom! Join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Mummy's Tomb from Universal Studios Monsters by Jack in the Box

   Just this past weekend I reviewed the Mummy from the 1999 Jack in the Box "Universal Studios Monsters" promotion and I mentioned that there were actually two sets Jack in the Box Universal Monsters toys included with the kids meals from different years. Today I'm going to check out the Mummy again, but this time it's from the 2002 promotion where it was billed as "The Mummy's Tomb." Now, The Mummy's Tomb is the title of the 1942 film in he Kharis series, but I don't think this figure is really connected to that film. I did hint that I was going to check out something from this second Jack in the Box Universal Monsters promotion in a previous review, so, how about that? I try to always do what I say I'm going to do! This second set seems to be much more uncommon, perhaps even selling out fairly fast and causing many folks heading to Jack in the Box for Monster Tacos and curly fries to come up as empty as Dracula's coffin on a cold, October night. I actually remember being in a Jack in the Box where a friend of mine worked during this promotion and seeing at least one angry customer who was at the drive-thru come inside the store because their didn't get a "monster" with their order. This lady was really aggravated and was threatening to call the police for fraud since the store was advertising the product. She kept demanding that my friend come out from behind the counter and pull down the big cardboard standup or whatever that showed off the toys that were available since it was false advertising. 

   I get aggravated when restaurants don't seem to have availability or any knowledge of their own promotions, too, but this lady was taking it way too far! Anyways, I never expected that 23 years later I'd be writing about those Universal Monsters toys on my own website. While the 1999 promotion accompanied a rerelease of the films on home media, a Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights themed attraction, and the release of the remake of The Mummy, I don't think much happened with classic Universal Horror in 2002 except for a showing of many of the films on AMC's 7-day MonsterFest event. I guess that just shows there's never any event needed to celebrate the Universal Monsters! Let's look at the 2002 fast food offering of the Mummy after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Creature from the Black Lagoon from Vinyl SODA by Funko

 

   Ready for a dive into the murky depths of the Black Lagoon today! I hope so, because that's where we are headed as we look at the Creature from the Black Lagoon from Funko's now defunct Vinyl SODA line. I really liked these little figures in the cool metal soda can containers but apparently they were too much of a hassle for Funko. Besides Funko just releasing too much product over the last few years (remember how they scrapped $30 million worth of merchandise in 2023) and causing a glut, apparently the Vinyl SODA line was particularly problematic as the metal cans were getting more expensive to produce and people would order full cases of these figures, open them until they got the chase figure, and then return the rest, causing many retailers to get stuck with an excess of unsold items. The Gill-man was originally exclusive to Gemini Collectibles with a metallic variant packed at a 1:6 ratio. This is just the standard version, though, because I really liked the style of these. I like the Vinyl SODA designs even better than Funko POP! figures, so I'm sad they disappeared so soon. Ready to take a look at the Creature? Then dive in and join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Female Alien (They Live) from Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights by CultureFly

 

   I think everyone realizes that I usually start working on my 31 day Halloween countdown before October. If I didn't start around July or August like I usually do, I'd spend every day working on toy reviews all through October. Starting early is a nice way to ease myself into the spooky season, too. As of my writing this, it's September 23rd and I have yet to find any more of the Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights at 5 Below. I originally found five of the figures back in mid-July and that was the last time I've seen any of them. I've been looking, too, as I really want the Michael Myers minis, Laurie Strode, and the An American Werewolf in London Kessler Werewolf. I managed to find all of the They Live minis, though, so let's start checking out that subset by looking at the Female Alien minifigure. That's a generic name for sure (some other products call them Ghouls rather than Aliens and I've seen John Carpenter himself call them both, along with just "creatures"), and this little figure could easily be one of a number of female aliens from the film. I do wonder if she's based on this particular alien, though, as the dresses look similar and NECA also made a figure of the same character, so presumably the figure might be in some sort of licensing guide or something? Let's take a look at the Female Alien minifigure after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Vampire Organist/ Dracula from Haunted Haven by Caldor/ Four Star

 

   This isn't the oldest toy or collectible I'm reviewing for this year's 31 Days of Toy Terror but it might be one of the most unusual and uncommon. It's certainly not a rare or valuable collectible by any means, but it's not something commonly seen in reviews and collections. In fact, I don't even know the official name of the release, so Vampire Organist or Dracula is just my best guess. So what exactly is this guy? He's actually a polyresin collectible figure from a Halloween village collection sold exclusively by the now defunct retailer Caldor (the manufacturer is listed as Four Star) in the early to mid-1990s. Are you familiar with those little ceramic or porcelain Christmas villages (or Dickens Villages) that people set up and decorate with miniature figures, fences, trees, lamp posts and such? Well, Haunted Haven was like that but for Halloween. I was enamored with Dickens Villages as a kid and when I discovered they had Halloween villages as well I was even more thrilled. I've always liked dioramas and little village and town setups, so when I was younger my parents would by these for me around Halloween to make little scenes. I don't recall having any of the houses or buildings but I did have quite a few of the figures and little pieces and such. The best I can find is that this guy was sold in 1994, so I would have been 10 or 11 when I got him. I still have quite a few of my original ones from childhood and they're mixed in with my various horror collections and shelves. Should we take a look at this vampire organist who very well may be Count Dracula? Then join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Mummy from Universal Studios Monsters by Jack in the Box

   Want some frights with your shakes? Then let's jump in and take a look at some good old fashioned fast food fright with a look at the Mummy from the 1999 Universal Studios Monsters promotional event at Jack in the Box. Yes, you heard me right: Jack in the Box! Most everyone is familiar with the famous Burger King Kid's Club Universal Monsters from 1997 (NECA even did a tribute to them), but you don't hear much about the Jack in the Box Universal Monsters promo. In fact, they did two promos: One in 1999 and another in 2002. I actually have a funny anecdote about that promotion, but I'll save it for later this month (*wink*). So, Jack in the Box with the Universal Monsters in 1999? What's the deal? Did they miss out on the Star Wars: Episode I License? Well, yeah, but 1999 was actually a big year for the classic Universal Horror license as the remake of The Mummy was released (and is still freaking awesome), there was a rerelease of the most prominent films with new documentaries included, and Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights 1999 features two haunted attractions based on the characters: The Mummy, based on the film from that year, and Creature Features, featuring the classic characters. There are six figures in the set (The Mummy, Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man, the Phantom, and the Creature, all of which can be seen at Chris Does Comics) and I do have them all, but I picked the Mummy. He wasn't in the Burger King set and he's a pretty clever little toy. Ready to break an ancient curse and check out the Mummy? Then join me after the break...