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!

More Wolfman!

I have been really enjoying digging into my favorite holiday her on the Super-DuperToyBox, and the Wolfman was a childhood favorite from way back I'm unsure if I had a Ben Cooper-style Wolfman mask, but I did have a full head latex/fur werewolf mask with hands at one point. This Super 7 Wolman mask is very much modeled after the Lon Chaney Jr. 1941 Wolfman, complete with Universal Movie Monsters branding stamped on the box. It's adult-sized and came just sitting in its untaped box for easy access- very collector friendly. I paid $18.97 for mine at Movie Posters Etc.

Target has been stocking these NECA Retro carded Glow-in-the-Dark Universal Monsters figures, their packaging modeled after Remco's 3.75" Universal Monsters figures I had in the early '80s. I've seen The Mummy, but not the Frankenstein that NECA solicited. Mine will stay on card as a Halloween decoration for next year.

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Happy Halloween!

Mego Flocked Werewolf & The Fly Collector 2-pk

Both these figures were sold individually but got released again in one of these Mego 2-pks with a collector coin. These two were probably lumped in together due to their flocked bodies- if the characters ever appeared in a movie together, I didn't see it. I'd tell you I don't care about the coin, but such an accessory would be included in toys of the past and I kinda like having it in my Detloff cabinet with my Mego figures.

The Werewolf was the big draw for my purchase of this Mego 2-pk, his flocking more visually apparent to its bristled texture. The Wolfman was probably my favorite childhood monster, and a character I definitely dressed up as for Halloween and had toys of.

I am a little more familiar with the modern 1986 version of The Fly, co-starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, but the head sculpt on this is fantastic. He's pretty simple with lab coat and pants only, but emits that Mego vibe, Sure, a beaker/flask accessory would have been nice, but her really doesn't need much else to tell us what he is.

Of note, these Megos are flocked from head to toe- I can even see displaying your Werewolf shirtless if that's your thing. The articulation doesn't seem hindered, though the Werewolf shed a lot with his coarsely whiskered body.

Below, the Werewolf and Fly with my Mego Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein and his Bride, and the Mummy- a pretty good classic horror line-up if I say so myself! Again, I've employed my Funko Primal Age Batcave for some background- the scale is off, but the mood is right!

I was really looking forward to these, especially the Werewolf, but was delighted with the retro/sci-fi appeal of the Fly as well. There were a few other really fun Mego 2-pks, but this one spoke to me most. There will be more Mego Horror coming up on the Super-DuperToyBox, so keep an eye out for the month of October!

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Happy Halloween!