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...

Attack of the 7-inch 31 Days of Toy Terror: Van Helsing (Horror of Dracula) from Hammer House of Horror by NECA

 

   While it feels like these figures are only trickling out, NECA's classic horror has been one of my favorite things over the past year and almost every new release is worth celebrating. While the Universal Monsters action figures seem to be their primary focus, NECA has also released a number of public domain and silent film characters in their Classic Monsters line. They've also just started getting into the Hammer films with Christopher Lee's take on Count Dracula released last year. Peter Cushing's Van Helsing is a newer release from the past six months or so, now giving us someone to take on the Count.  I've watched a handful of Hammer horror films over the years but not all of them. My watch marathon of all of the classic Universal horror films is still going (as of my writing this review back in August I'm at 1953's It Came From Outer Space) but when I'm done there I'm still deciding if I want to  make my way through Vincent Price's filmography or the Hammer horror releases. NECA's pair of figures are based on 1958's Dracula, or Horror of Dracula, as it was titled in the United States. Starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Melissa Stribling, and Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth!), the film was a hit and spawned eight sequels, six with Christopher Lee returning as the Count. I don't know if NECA has plans to go all in on the Hammer House of Horror line or if they're only planning to do Lee and Cushing due to their popularity, but I'd love to see Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith from The Vampire Lovers, Raquel Welch from One Million Years B.C., Cushing and Lee as Baron Frankenstein and the Creature, Hammer's take on the Werewolf, and perhaps the Collinson twins from Twins of Evil.  I know there have been other Van Helsing figures made (along with other collectibles based on Cushing's Van Helsing), but this one is great because you can mix him with so many other classic horror icons. Ready to take a look at Peter Cushing's take on the heroic Dr. Van Helsing? Then join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Spring-Heeled Jack from Monster in My Pocket by Matchbox

 

   It just wouldn't be 31 Days of Toy Terror without looking at a Monster in My Pocket minifigure, would it? Not only are they one of the best horror toylines from the Golden Age of toys but they're also also perfectly fitting for this year's theme: The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror! Today I'm looking at another of my favorite MIMP minifigures, Spring-Heeled Jack. I love the Victorian Era and Spring-Heeled Jack's period of activity very much followed it as his first appearance was in October of 1837, just a couple months after the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign, and his last noted appearance was in 1904, just a few years after her death in 1901. Was Spring-Heeled Jack a malevolent supernatural entity, a mischievous and ill-willed prankster, an extremely acrobatic pervert, an extraterrestrial being, or the devil himself? Perhaps he was the real-life equivalent of someone who just put all of their RPG stats into agility or acrobatics? He was a pop culture juggernaut during the Victorian Era, eventually even turning into more of a folk hero and precursor to the superheroes that would come about in the early 20th century. I have a shelf or two of various horror icons and other characters from the Victorian Era and that's where this guy likes to hang out. Ready to check out Spring-Heeled Jack? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Christopher "Law" Lavigne & Order from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Another G.I. Joe: Classified Series review? You'd better believe it! This line just keeps giving and giving and giving and today I'm really excited to check out a modern take on another of my childhood favorites: Law & Order. I loved any G.I. Joe figures that came with animals as a kid, especially dogs, and since I didn't get into G.I. Joes until 1986-ish, Law & Order (1987) was my first set of a Joe with a canine companion. Hasbro has released some incredible sets of Joes and Cobras with animal companions (dogs, wolves, crocodiles, eagles, giant scorpions, warthogs, macaques, iguanas) and this one is another good one. They've gone full out with most of these, offering some excellently articulated animal action figures rather than just a solid plastic animal companion like the vintage toys had. Law & Order did appear in the comics and they've had a few action figures over the years, but I think they're probably best known from their appearance in the animated film where they're part of the Rawhides. Ready to check out the team of Order and Law? Order finds the bombs and Law drives the car. They tried it the other way around but it didn't work. Join me after the break...

 

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: B3A5TBOT and Atomic Terrana-Claw from MrBeast Lab Hybrids by Moose Toys

 

   It's always fun to check out something different during 31 Days of Toy Terror so today I'm looking at these fairly new MrBeast Lab Hybrids action figures by Moose Toys. While YouTube personality MrBeast has the most popular channel out there, I'm guessing a lot of collectors aren't terribly familiar with his various toylines produced by Moose Toys. I've seen the various lines like the MrBeast Lab Swarms, MrBeast Lab Mutators, and the various MrBeast Goo Jit Zu releases in stores but I was never really tempted to pick any up until stumbling on the MrBeast Lab Hyrbids back in early August. Remember the vintage Matchbox Con-Nec-Tors  or the various Mashers lines that Hasbro puts out every few years? These remind me of those, though the figures on their own are just quite good, too. Nothing crazy, but they're fun smaller figures (between 4 and 4 1/2 inches) solid in large plastic Erlenmeyer (conical) flasks. The standard figures are in smaller flasks and are blind boxed but the two-packs and the 5 figure Mega pack have set figures (the Mega-Pack does have a chance for a rarer figure, though). I only saw this two-pack the day I grabbed it and it features the B3A5TBOT and Atomic Terrana-Claw. A killer robot and a nuclear dinosaur skeleton? That's 31 Days of Toy Terror material for sure! Let's check out this 2 pack of Lab Hybrids after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Captain Heinous (From Uranus) from Monster 500 by Creata

 

   Today I'm not just checking about a spooky smaller figure; I'm also checking out a spooky smaller vehicle! How about a flying saucer? Yes, it seems we have aliens again but today it's not a threat from Mars. Instead, it's Captain Heinous (From Uranus)! If you don't remember Monster 500 (who eventually became Monsters 500, I believe, due to a legal challenge based on the similarly named energy drink), don't be surprised; they didn't last long and seem to have only been sold at select Toys 'R Us stores. I could go on about the history of the line but there's an incredible fan site with everything I could tell you and more! I reviewed one of these guys over 10 years ago and I guess it's time to get to the other one in my collection. Ready for a slimy little alien in a hot rod that is reminiscent of the fabled Savage Mondo Blitzers that were loved by kids and reviled by teachers and the general public? Captain Heinous (From Uranus) was listed as Super Evil on a scale of "Not That Evil" to "Pure Evil" and is known for his "Craftiness." Get it? Crafty. Space craft. The bios for these guys had puns galore. Ready to roll with this extraterrestial? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

    Looking for today's 31 Days of Toy Terror post for October 2025? Just look below this one! I've still got to mix some regular toy reviews in with the spooky stuff!

   I might be posting some newer stuff here, sure, but when it comes to G.I. Joe: Classified Series I'm a few months behind. Hasbro has been absolutely hammering us with stuff lately! In the past week I've received so much Joe stuff with more on the way. Today I'm looking at the current Target exclusive Alvin "Breaker" Kibbey who is a but more of a classic take on the character compared to the Target exclusive from 2021 that included the RAM Cycle. Target's got the monopoly on Braker, apparently. I actually found this guy in July while on vacation at Myrtle Beach, SC, and I ended up grabbing another one online. I rarely buy two of one figure but Breaker's one of my favorites and I wanted to be able to use both of his portraits. Ready to check out the Joe team's original Communications Officer from Gatlinburg, TN? The join me after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: #1 'The Invasion Begins' from Mars Attacks ReAction by Super7

 

   What's the height limit for The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror this year? I'm going to say right around 4 1/2 inches or less. I really thought about strictly doing minifigures, but that was going to be fairly limiting and just not as much fun. Besides, the 7 inch range of action figures has kind of become the default for most horror toys, probably because that's the size of McFarlane Toys' original Movie Maniacs from 1998, and this year I wanted to avoid having the countdown filled with traditional collector focused figures. Let's take a look at today's subject from Super7's Mars Attacks ReAction line: #1 'The Invasion Begins.' Super7 only released three different figures in this series, along with various repacks and recolors (like glow-in-the dark) and each figure is named after a specific card from the original 1962 Topps trading card set. This is pretty much your standard Martian from the property and I did not want the #36 'Destroying a Dog' figure at all. I'm too much of a dog person, so unless the dog is a vicious werewolf or a zombie dog whose on the hunt, I don't want anything to happen to any dogs, including toy dogs. The Martians seem to show up fairly regularly as part of 31 Days of Toy terror so let's welcome them back on their quest to take over the Earth. Ready for an invasion? Then join me after the break...

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

 

   I'm back with another Deddy Bears review from the Deddy bears Minifigures line and this time I'm checking out Muertobear, a Day of the Dead/ Dia de los Muertos themed bear. I love the beautiful colors and festive designs during the celebration and this guy really appealed to me. He's one of the rarer bears in the series, packed at a rate of 1 in 24. I found a new case of the series 2 Deddy Bears at a Five Below near me back at the end of July and scooped him up. Muertobear is fun, colorful, and decorated with some really beautiful patterns. He's ready for a celebration as he loves music and dancing! Ready to check out this cute little fellow? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Firefighter (Search & Rescue) from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   Looking for today's 31 Days of Toy Terror post for October 2025? Just look below this one! I've still got to mix some regular toy reviews in with the spooky stuff!

   Hasbro has done some interesting stuff with the Legacy Collection subset of the G.I. Joe: Classified Series. The first four deluxe figures covered specific troop specialties of the original four vintage 12 inch G.I. Joe types (Action Soldier, Action Sailor, Action Pilot, and Action Marine) but now we're getting some offshoots with the upcoming Emergency Services Unit Police Officer (which seems to now be shipping) and today's subject: The Search & Rescue Firefighter. The first four figures in this subset were pretty cool because they could function as troop builders, new characters, or accessory packs for the line. These two figures have some different uses, though, as I'm sure a number of 1/12th scale collectors will want police officers and firefighters for their collections and displays. G.I. Joe has had a long history of including a variety of first responders in the 12 inch line and this seems to fit in well. It's also a great way to create some new tooling, reuse previous tooling, and give the Joes some help. Barbecue can't fight all the fires on his own, can he? Hasbro gave this figure the specific designation of a Search & Rescue firefighter, meaning these are the folks who head into dangerous situations to locate those in need (search) and get them out (rescue). Burning buildings, car accidents, amusement park mishaps; where ever there's trouble these professionals will be there to get you out. A hearty Yo Joe to all of the firefighters out there! Let's check out the Search & Rescue Firefighter after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dr. Loomis (Halloween II) from Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights by CultureFly

 

   CultureFly has released some very cool retro inspired minifigures over the past few years in their Tiny Mights line and I was absolutely shocked to find a new series of them during a trip to Five Below back in mid July. This newest series is called Universal Horror Classics, though it's not based on the Universal Classic Horror/ Universal Monsters films and characters. Instead, these are based on characters from some of Universal's post 1980 films that are largely unrelated to the Universal Classic Horror period which ran from 1923 through 1960. I say largely unrelated because the DNA of The Wolf Man is definitely present in 1981's An American Werewolf in London, which is one of the films represent in these minis. The other are Child's Play 3, Bride of Chuck, They Live, and Halloween II. Today I'm looking specifically at Dr. Loomis from Halloween II. These guys are available in 3-packs that look like little VHS tapes and in single packed capsules. I found the capsules at Five Below and initially snagged what I could find. Each mini can be had in multiple colorways, so there are twelve separate sculpts with at least 10 different colors available. Ready to check out a diminutive Donald Pleasance for your collection? Then join me after the break...

Attack of the 7-inch 31 Days of Toy Terror: Shredder as Dracula from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   Wait! Isn't the theme of this year's festivities "The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror?"

   Well, yes, but there are absolutely some larger figures I want to review as well. I can't ignore some of the newest, coolest, spookiest stuff coming out right now, can I? Mixed in are going to be come reviews of larger figures. Deal with it!

   NECA has been slowly building the roster of their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters toyline. Very slowly, actually, as the first figures released were back in 2022 and we've only been getting one or two new figures a year since then. Splinter as Van Helsing was released years ago (back in 2022), which seemed like pretty clear evidence that Shredder as Dracula was coming. Well, he's finally arrived. It's been about three years, but we now have an official Shredder as Dracula action figure, something the vintage line didn't have (Playmates released Don as Dracula in 1993). Instead of going with the Shredder wearing a classic Bela Lugosi inspired costume, James Groman has designed an all new look that captures the aesthetics of both the Shredder and Dracula, but also adds in the look of a feudal Japanese warlord. Dracula as a daimyo? Very cool! Interestingly, there are three variants of this figure, all with different color schemes. I'm looking at the standard red and black version (the mainline release) but there is a red version exclusive to Target and a black and gold version exclusive to Walmart. The figure comes with three portraits and each version is displaying a different portrait on the figure in the package. Let's check out the standard version of Shredder as Dracula after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror! Frankenbear from Deddy Bears Minifigures by Innov8 Creative Academy

 

   For today's tiny tidbit of terror I'm really excited to check out Frankenbear from Innov8 Creative Academy's Deddy Bears Minifigures. I've been aware of the Deddy Bears for the past year or two but when they released some minifigures that were available at Five Below, they caught my interest. Last year I picked up two or three of the series 1 figures (I know I grabbed the werewolf bear and the Jack o' Lantern bear) and this summer I picked up Frankenbear from series 2. I'm always down for a riff on Frankenstein/ the Frankenstein Monster! These guys seem to be available at many places but I've picked mine up at Five Below for $5 bucks. While there are Deddy Bear plushies, squishies, and larger plastic figures that do have swappable limbs and such, these smaller guys are reminiscent of things like the Funko Mystery Minis, the Cryptozoic figures, or the Monogram International figural keychains, but with a stand. They're cute, creepy, and they're not sold in blind bags/ boxes; you actually can see who you're getting! The Frankenstein monster is one of the all time great characters in horror literature, so who wouldn't want a cute, cuddly version of him? Let's check out Frankenbear after the break...

(For those of you who like behind the scenes facts, this is actually the first 31 Days of Toy Terror review I wrote! I started this year in mid July, and finding yesterday's POP! mini Dracula, this guy and the Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights in close succession helped me come up with this year's theme.)

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dracula and Castle from Bitty POP! Towns: Universal Monsters by Dracula

 

"I am... Dracula."

"I bid you welcome."

Hey, didn't I use this same opening last year? 

Ah, who cares? A good intro is a good intro! Welcome to the 2025 installment of 31 Days of Toy Terror! This year's theme is "The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror" as we're looking at smaller figures based on a wide variety of horror classics. So, how small are we going to go with this year? I'm saying that toys around 4 1/2 inches or less are all welcome. I thought going specifically just covering minifigures, but that seemed like it might get dull after a bit. Besides, I think the standard sizes for most horror based action figures are between 6 and 8 inches, so maybe go with that. Now I do have some special reviews on Fridays that are larger figures since I don't want to ignore some of the great horror figures that have been released lately and which I've added to my collection. This Bitty POP! Towns Dracula and Castle though? It absolutely fits out theme. I discovered this guy a few months ago and I've been just sitting on him to be the introductory review. Minifigures and such are in again these days (just stroll through 5 Below or various stores at your nearest mall) and Funko has even been taking the POP brand to a smaller scale. Ready to check out one of the world's most popular monsters in his most popular portrayal? Then join me after the break...