Toy Island Universal Monster Figures out on the shelves

[palitoy]

Haven't seen them personally but reports are buzzing around the net.

Here is a Michael Crawford review with lots of pictures:
Universal Monsters action figures - Another Pop Culture Collectible Review by Michael Crawford, Captain Toy (http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_042307a.htm)

[MegoGeek]

I'm torn. While I love seeing new UM stuff these are very underwhelming.

CFTBL cool (of course)........sadly, all others L.A.M.E. - lame.

After the Sideshow figures I don't know why anyone bothers doing monster stuff.These are on par with the Jakks stuff from a few years ago...crapola.

My prediction: Creature will be nearly impossible to find at retail, all others will be peg warmers.

I give them credit for shipping these a few weeks before Halloween. That might garner some sympathy holiday spirit purchasing that they might not have seen in the middle of summer.

[palitoy]

They are kind of underwhelming, I thought the Marvel legends articulation was a good idea but they're not in scale with that stuff so it's kind of moot.

I do think they are a step above the Jakks crap but somehow below the Burger King figures of the ninties...

[toysrus]

Does anybody know what stores carry these? I havent seen them at Toys R Us, Target or Walmart.

[toys2cool]

I'm torn. While I love seeing new UM stuff these are very underwhelming.

CFTBL cool (of course)........sadly, all others L.A.M.E. - lame.

After the Sideshow figures I don't know why anyone bothers doing monster stuff.These are on par with the Jakks stuff from a few years ago...crapola.

My prediction: Creature will be nearly impossible to find at retail, all others will be peg warmers.

I give them credit for shipping these a few weeks before Halloween. That might garner some sympathy holiday spirit purchasing that they might not have seen in the middle of summer.

I gotta agree man,he's the only one who's body doesn't look weird

[cjefferys]

I'm torn. While I love seeing new UM stuff these are very underwhelming.

CFTBL cool (of course)........sadly, all others L.A.M.E. - lame.

After the Sideshow figures I don't know why anyone bothers doing monster stuff.These are on par with the Jakks stuff from a few years ago...crapola.

My prediction: Creature will be nearly impossible to find at retail, all others will be peg warmers.




Strong agreement on all counts. The Sideshow stuff really spoiled me, I love them. Nothing can touch those, and these new ones don't even come close.

[Mikey]

I thought the tiny head --- big body style was already out of fashion (thank goodness).

Too bad T.I. isn't up with the times.

To be honest, I don't like any of them.

[ramsey37]

I've been meaning to track down the Creature from that set, but it seems like every eBay seller wants to unload the entire set, not just the Creature. I don't have any interest in the rest of that line, sad to say.
George

[Meule]

I'm torn. While I love seeing new UM stuff these are very underwhelming.

CFTBL cool (of course)........sadly, all others L.A.M.E. - lame.

After the Sideshow figures I don't know why anyone bothers doing monster stuff.These are on par with the Jakks stuff from a few years ago...crapola.

My prediction: Creature will be nearly impossible to find at retail, all others will be peg warmers.

I give them credit for shipping these a few weeks before Halloween. That might garner some sympathy holiday spirit purchasing that they might not have seen in the middle of summer.

Gotta agree as well. Except for Creech they look terrible, especially Wolfman

[Count Creepyhead]

My local TRU has had them for a few weeks, if not for the price, I would have grabbed a set.

I think you guys are being a bit too harse on them. The bodies aren't that bad at all and other than Frank, they all have great face sculpts. In person they look really cool. The likenesses aren't there, but unlike Sideshows, these guys are toys and are meant to be played with. and that is one thing we are lacking Monster toys, I'm sick and tired of Monster Collectibles. I don't think the world needs any more Polystone dust collectors.

[cjefferys]

What also really hurts them in my opinion, is that the company didn't (or couldn't?) get the likeness rights from the Lugosi, Karloff or Chaney estates. What's the point of doing a Universal Dracula, for example, if it doesn't look anything like Lugosi (not that toy companies haven't gone that same route in the past)?

[Werewolf]

I think they are awesome! I got mine months ago online. Worth every penny. They definitely have a Marvel Legends vibe about them both in sculpts and articulation. Not to mention the massive build a Frank figure.

http://megomuseum.com/mmgallery/files/5/2/tiuniversal.jpg

[Werewolf]

I think you guys are being a bit too harse on them. The bodies aren't that bad at all and other than Frank, they all have great face sculpts. In person they look really cool. The likenesses aren't there, but unlike Sideshows, these guys are toys and are meant to be played with. and that is one thing we are lacking Monster toys, I'm sick and tired of Monster Collectibles. I don't think the world needs any more Polystone dust collectors.

Well said.

The Sideshow figures, while great looking, are fragile and have little to no usable articulation. Dracula being the worst unfortunately. He had no articulation below the waist, couldn't stand off his base and is stuck in basically one pose.

Don't get me wrong, again I think the Sideshow figures are great and I bought the whole set, but it's nice to have actual Universal Monster toys again.

[danadoll]

Aaargh!...I may have to get these (even if they're a bit crappy...These don't seem that bad), just like I had to get the Jakks figures (bleh). I just love the Universal Monsters characters...I have a hard time passing on anything related to them.

Dana

[Type3Toys]

What also really hurts them in my opinion, is that the company didn't (or couldn't?) get the likeness rights from the Lugosi, Karloff or Chaney estates. What's the point of doing a Universal Dracula, for example, if it doesn't look anything like Lugosi (not that toy companies haven't gone that same route in the past)?
Actually, they Frank is not Karloff but Glen Strange. The Dracula is not Bela but Chaney from Son of Dracula. Maybe TI could not get the Bela and Karloff estates on board. Either way, the likeness the were going for was nailed.
I have them and they are fantastic. The set I have is mounted on the wall in my shop. I would like to pic up a set to open though.

[The Bat]

I'm a "Creature-a-holic"....so I had to get Him. He's a little skinny, but well articulated....unfortunately....He's not 8" tall. But I like Him anyway(GREAT Face Sculpt!).

The rest of Em'...I don't plan to own.

[Count Creepyhead]

Actually, they Frank is not Karloff but Glen Strange. The Dracula is not Bela but Chaney from Son of Dracula. Maybe TI could not get the Bela and Karloff estates on board. Either way, the likeness the were going for was nailed.
I have them and they are fantastic. The set I have is mounted on the wall in my shop. I would like to pic up a set to open though.

The Frank looks nothing like Glenn Strange The ears are a dead giveaway they were going for a Karloff look. Glenn's Frank has more exposed head clamps etc......and Drac is son of Drac?..umm no not even close. These are all 100% Generic likenesses. Besides the Creech who was just a guy in a suit, The mummy and the wolfman are the closest to the actual actors likenesses.

This is what most Universal Merchandise is based on the past few years.

X-Entertainment's Halloween Season: 2004 (http://www.x-entertainment.com/halloween/2004/october14/)

TI payed for the Universal monster license, not the Chaney, Karloff, Lugosi license. All of which are very expensive. Especailly Lugosi who's kid is a real PITA when it comes to merchandising.

[palitoy]

I will likely buy these for my kids should I find them at retail.

I visited the Universal Licensing booth the last time I was at the Frankfurt bookfair, they had a huge monster sign but sadly, Dracula was just this generic guy, it was sad.

Oh and Son of Dracula had a moustache. The mummy kinda looks like Tom Tyler, if you squint.

[Mikey]

Is Drac's necklace a star of David ?

[cjefferys]

The Frank looks nothing like Glenn Strange The ears are a dead giveaway they were going for a Karloff look. Glenn's Frank has more exposed head clamps etc......and Drac is son of Drac?..umm no not even close. These are all 100% Generic likenesses.

I'd have to agree, I don't really see Strange or Chaney at all in those sculpts. Besides, if they were able to use Chaney's likeness for Son of Dracula, you'd think they'd be able to do the same with the Wolfman.

[Werewolf]

Is Drac's necklace a star of David ?

No, but it can sorta look like it in blurry pictures.

Best pic I could find. Still not that great but you can easy tell it's not the Star of David.

Dracula Photos (http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0021814/Ss/0021814/drac2.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Lugosi,%20Bela)

The best I can describe it is, it's entirely gold in color and looks like a starburst with one round bead between the six points of the starburst. In the center of the medallion is a circle that has an image of a moon over a mountain side.

[MegoGeek]

Ok.

One of my toy jobbers just got me a CFTBL and I must say, out of the package it's a keeper.

[phil]

Yesterday I picked up the Wolf Man at TRU. I don't think they are as good as the Sideshow figures but from what I've seen in photos and figure I got they're ok.

[toysrus]

I have been checking toys r us for the past few days, so far no luck! Where in the store are these? With action figures? like near the star wars & batman stuff? Do these toys come boxed or carded?

Thanks!





Yesterday I picked up the Wolf Man at TRU. I don't think they are as good as the Sideshow figures but from what I've seen in photos and figure I got they're ok.

[phil]

The figures are carded. At the TRU I was at I had to go up and down the action figure aisles looking for them. They were just stuck in a spot were
there was room for a couple of pegs. They only had the Wolfman which i bought.

[palitoy]

I over heard some (very nice) Monster toy dealers at Kane County discussing these figures and one of them said that because Toy Island couldn't find distribution for these, they are limited to 1,000 sets.

[Werewolf]

I over heard some (very nice) Monster toy dealers at Kane County discussing these figures and one of them said that because Toy Island couldn't find distribution for these, they are limited to 1,000 sets.

That's disappointing to hear.

They really are great figures (best articulated Universal Monsters figures to date) and it's a shame they won't be getting a wider distribution.

No doubt I can forget a second series of these.

[unataper]

I will definitely be on the lookout for these figures. I am a big Universal Monster collector. I even have the Burger King toys as well as all of the TMNT as Universal Monsters (which I think are great!....funny but great still!)

Thanks for the heads up-
Cecil

[EMCEtoys]

Wow, I really hated these. I really miss Sideshow's original figures. I think they were the best representation of Universal monsters ever.

[The Bat]

Wow, I really hated these. I really miss Sideshow's original figures. I think they were the best representation of Universal monsters ever.


Totally agree! I had the Creature, and sold him on eBay.:silly: I have the Sideshow Creature, and he's EXCELLENT!!:yes:

[Werewolf]

Wow, I really hated these. I really miss Sideshow's original figures. I think they were the best representation of Universal monsters ever.

The Sideshow Monsters were great but their articulation was terrible.

Later figures, like Dracula, were stuck in one pose, couldn't stand without the base, had no articulation below the waist and what little articulation he had was barely usable. Dracula and Phantom Mask of Red Death are also prone to tipping over and plastic warping.

Great looking figures on display. But not terribly fun toys.

[palitoy]

At first, I thought these figures were lame. Then I bought a set for the kids and they're all kinds of fun. Sure their likeness is generic but they're action figures in every sense of the word and my kids play with them, a lot.

I prefer them over sideshow honestly, they made a total convert.

[MIB41]

Hopefully EMCE can still come in and get a license to do REAL Universal action figures in the 8 inch format. THOSE would have great potential.

[Werewolf]

At first, I thought these figures were lame. Then I bought a set for the kids and they're all kinds of fun. Sure their likeness is generic but they're action figures in every sense of the word and my kids play with them, a lot.

I prefer them over sideshow honestly, they made a total convert.

Well said. I love them and wish Toy Island would have made more. It still pains me they didn't make a Bride or a Phantom of the Opera.

[Gorn Captain]

The Sideshow are basically statues, true, but I love them.
I was really sorry to see the 8 inch line abandoned.
There were so many more cool characters out there.

I only need to score The Invisible Man and the Metaluna Mutant (both the colour versions), and I'm done!