NECA Ben Cooper Monster Figures (Dracula & Witch)

Regrettably, I was late to the party on the NECA Ben Cooper Monster Figures, but I managed to grab a couple at a somewhat reasonable price on the secondhand market. A third wave of '80s themed figures like Aliens and Gremlins has more recently gone up for preorder, but I was more interested in the '70s themed figures like this Dracula and Witch.  

The packaging is fantastic all around on these, and collector friendly- I'll be keeping mine for storage. The figure can me nestled back into its tray and slid right into the box, which hasps closed neatly at the top. The charming Ben Cooper Costume Shop box insert even doubles as a backdrop diorama.

The little pleather costumes aren't the same material as those old Ben Cooper costumes, but they really look like it! The masks aren't removeable, and that's fine by me. You can see their human eyes behind the masks in the right lighting, which is slightly creepy. The attention to detail in the styling and rendering of the costumes is fantastic- I didn't know I needed one until I saw them!

 

Looks like our trick or treaters have run into the Universal Monster gang, running 

Frankenstein's Monster through the NECA Monsterizer! It's going to be a great Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Make It FUN!

NECA Monsterizer & Retro-Card Universal Monsters

I've had most of these NECA Retro-Card Universal Monsters on ice for a while now, the Monsterizer and Bela Lugosi Dracula arriving from preorder just this March. As a child, I had the Remco 3.75" Universal Monsters, two or three of their clothed 9" counterparts, and a dungeon playset/carry case for the smaller figures, but no Monsterizer. So, getting this NECA version was really a thrill! Check out the video:

The only sounds the Monsterizer makes is the clickety-clackity of the laboratory table when winded in and out. The light options are more diverse, culminating in a flashing of the four conductors. The sculpt and drybrushed/washed patina on this toy is really great and will pair nicely with your more realistically painted NECA Ultimate Universal Monsters figures. I was impressed with its quality. That said, this isn't a toy for rough play- it has fragile parts that could be vulnerable.

It was only a little sad cracking into these beautiful retro card backs, but mostly fun! There's none of the extra hands, heads or accessories the Ultimate versions enjoy, but their glow-in-the-dark faces pay homage to the Remco 3.75" figures of the early '80s, making these attractive to kids my age, particularly the Dracula with that vinyl cape. My NECA Ultimate Series Creature from the Black Lagoon also makes an appearance in the video above!

Below, my childhood Universal Monsters lunchbox!

I could only be happier with this if it made electrical sounds when engaging/lighting the conductors, but this updated Monsterizer is a terrific accessory for the NECA 7" Universal Monster figures- particularly the glow-in-the-dark retro card back versions. You might even be able to put your 8" Mego figures in this, I'll have to try that. Recommended!

Happy Halloween! Make It FUN!

Masterverse New Eternia Battle Armor Skeletor & Revolution Snake Sorceress Teela

I was caught by delightful surprise seeing these two figures in stock from Paulmartstore's eBay store and ordered them a week ago, the Battle Armor Skeletor being the one I was most interested in. His size bulked up by his very detailed armor made this shiny, colorful figure all the more attractive. Everyone has been showing off the recent Skeletor Throne, but this figure had more new parts than the figure included with that throne, including an articulated mandible and removeable rams horn helmet.

This Skeletor was a fitting follow-up to the New Eternia Battle Armor He-Man...

Below, Battle Armor Skeletor with my Masterverse Revelation Skeletors and the New Eternia Skeletor. Skeletor has been a favorite villain of mine since 1982, and I like each of these figures for their unique qualities. 

Aside from his battle axe, Battle Armor Skeletor included a scimitar like my New Eternia Skeletor...

Below New Eternia Battle Armor Skeletor with my MOTU Origins Battle Armor Skeletor and Panthor- I've heard rumors of a Masterverse Panthor and I'm hoping it will be a general release and not some exclusive that's hard to acquire.

The mysterious origin of this Snake Sorceress Teela has always been a fascination to me, and I like how the Revolution storyline brought this in, Teela using the spirit of Ka to battle Hordak and Skeletor to save Pretrenia.

Teela included a Ka effect piece that fist over the end of her staff...

Below, Masterverse Snake Sorceress Teela with my MOTU Origins Eternian Goddess...

And finally, Masterverse Snake Sorceress Teela with my Mastervese Revelation Teela (V2), 

Revolution Sorceress Teela, and the first Revelation Teela...

More Later- Make It FUN!

MOTU Masterverse New Eternia Sy-Klone & Mekaneck

New Masterverse like Sy-Klone and Mekaneck are running lower in price at Target than a lot of other sellers like BBTS and Entertainment Earth, and mine rung up even lower at $20.89 using my Target card. I'm lucky to have several Target stores in the surrounding county, because I don't see a lot of new Masterverse stock at every location. I believe these will be two popular figures- better to move on them now if you can.

This Masterverse Sy-Klone is dazzling in color and design, with a metallic, glossy sheen and translucent parts. In addition to his shield and flame effects that plug into his wrist gauntlets, Sy-Klone has a mask that slips in place under his helmet securely. I missed out on the Mattel Creations MOTU Origins Sy-Klone, but this one is really something.

I had zero interest in Mekaneck as a character previously, never having had the original figure in 1984, but this is so much fun that I was won over. I love his shield and scope, but the five neck segments really make this a fantastic action figure!

 

Below, Sy-Klone and Mekaneck with my Masterverse 

Revelation Roboto and New Eternia Man-E-Faces ...

Mekaneck and Sy-Klone battle Tri-Klops ...!

Below, Mekaneck and Sy-Klone with my New Eternia Man-At-Arms, Battle Armor He-Man, Tri-Klops, and Revelation Evil-Lyn. It appears as though Masterverse with continue for some time, and I have more on ice to show you in future posts. Stay tuned!

More Later- Make It FUN!

MOTU Masterverse Revolution Battle Armor He-Man, Sorceress Teela, Gwildor/Orko 2pk, New Eternia Tri-Klops

 

I'm going to keep things rolling here with more MOTU Masterverse, these all preordered off BBTS in January of this year, arriving here back in April. I may have been most excited about this Revolution Battle Armor He-Man that also came with the standard He-Man chest harness- Fantastic!

I already had a New Eternia Battle Armor He-Man that I loved- he came with more accessories, including a Sword of Power, but I favor the Revolution version side-by-side. Both came with interchangeable armor plates to show battle damage, and I prefer the darker tone of the Revolution He-Man and his flashier battle axe...

Below, Revolution He-Man with my Masterverse 40th Anniversary He-Man

 and MOTU Origins He-Man, and atop his trusty steed, Battle Cat ...

I enjoyed this year's Masters of the Universe: Revolution on Netflix well enough, though I came to the party with less skin in the game- I was less attached to the original Filmation cartoon. My childhood experience of that mythology came from the mini comics included with the initial 1982 product launch, portraying the characters in a more mysterious and grittier world. By the time the Filmation show arrived in September of 1983, its squeaky-clean presentation didn't interest me. Regardless, I was more interested in this Revolution Sorceress Teela as a compliment to my Revelation Teela and Sorceress figures.

Revolution Sorceress Teela with version 1 and version 2 Revelation Teela ...

Revolution Sorceress Teela with my Revelation Sorceress...

Gwildor is the dwarf-like Thenurian who invented the Cosmic Key in the 1987 Masters of the Universe live action film, starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man. The fan favorite was carried over into the animated series, and while I've collected none of the Masterverse movie figures, I'm plenty happy with Gwildor. Along with the Cosmic Key, he carries his jeweled magic staff and a Sword of Power. He won't strike any Spider-Man poses, but he does have a fair amount of articulation, including a swivel on those ears.

This deluxe Masterverse Revolution Series Orko includes a serious base with moving parts and a snap-on cape extension, all of which makes for a somewhat large footprint for such a diminutive character. You can unclip the magic orbital rings though if you want to consolidate his shelf space.

Below, Masterverse Revolution Orko with my MOTU Origins Orko and Power Attack Orko...

This Masterverse New Eternia Tri-Klops figure feels deluxe with accessories a little more exciting than Battle Armor He-Man's, including an optional bejeweled sash with sword and alternate rotating eye band. I never had Tri-Klops as a kid in the '80s, but this figure rocks- his paint deco and accessories are fantastic!

Below, Tri-Klops with New Eternia Webstor and Trap Jaw...

Another pretty nice batch of Masterverse figures, Gwildor possibly being my favorite, followed closely by Battle Armor He-Man or Tri-Klops. So great! More Masterverse to come here on the Super-DuperToyBox, stay tuned!

More Later- Make It FUN!