The Monster Squad

"Give me the Amulet you little bitch!!"

Go check out Branded in the 80's, Shawn if hitting it out of the park with the Monster Squad posts this Halloween

New Creature Commando cartoons!!!

It's the return of the Creature Commandos! Okay it's three shorts on DC Nation, but it's the Creature Commandos and not Frankenstein and the Agents of Shade....ugh

Drinking with Universal Monsters

Promotional glasses have been a thing for a long time, well up until that whole poisonous ink on the Shrek glasses thing. Gas stations in the 60's would give out a glass with a free tank of gas they way fast food chains would in the 80's and the subject matter would reflect the popular trends at the time.

In 1963 Anchor-Hocking a glassware company produced a set of four glasses for gas stations

featuring the Universal Monsters. The glasses featured colorful images of Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, the Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon but surprisingly no Dracula. The release date of the set falls before the lawsuit that virtually removed Dracula from merchandising due

to the Bela Lugosi likeness so it unusual to see the Creature included. One could argue that they wanted an even number of glasses but the inclusion of the Bride of Frankenstein or the Phantom would have evened the number of glasses out, however it may just have been a case of preference of characters by the production team.

In 1980 a new set of glasses were released but this time at Universal Studios itself. This collection of five glasses included Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolf Man, and the Creature again but now included

Dracula and the Metaluna Mutant from "This Island Earth". The designs on the glasses are more generic approximations of the characters and resemble the artwork from the Monster Gallery Coloring Book and the Famous Monsters of Legend figure cards. 

More recently Universal Studios Theme Parks sold a VERY limited number of boxed Universal Monster Steins

exclusively at their parks. The Series included

Frankenstein's Monster with a miniature castle Frankenstein at the bottom of the stein, Dracula with a red cross at the bottom, the Wolfman with a pentagram, the Mummy with a grave marker, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, whose stein is

empty... like his love life. 

Sideshow Toys produced a set of four Universal Monster shot glass heads that included

Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula, the Mummy and the Wolf Man.

Next we'll look at the most recent additions to your Universal Monsters barware choices...

A laughter break

Animated Tomb of Dracula

Marvel's Tomb of Dracula as animated by Toei Animation

Unmade Universal Monster Movies - Wolf Man vs Dracula

Following Phantom of the Opera (1943), in the middle of the Silver age of Universal Studio's monster movies, a new sequel to Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman was considered for a Technicolor production: Wolfman vs Dracula! Lon Chaney Jr., who was the only actor to portray Universal's four classic monster roles; Dracula, frankenstein's monster, the mummy and the wolfman. At first Chaney was to play both roles, as his father Lon Chaney Sr. had done in several of his famous silent films. But Larry Talbot in his human phase would look exactly like Count Dracula so the role of Dracula was given to it's originator Bela Lugosi. A script was prepared by Bernard Shubert, who had written the screenplay for Tod Browning's London After Midnight(MGM 1927) remake Mark of the Vampire (MGM 1935). Shubert kept the settings very tight in its scenes, to keep the cost down to balance out for the extra expense of technicolor. But by 1944 Bela Lugosi was in his 60s and would have had to play part of his role as a giant bat much like in the Copolla Bram Stoker's Dracula in the 90s - and that would have been too much for him. And they couldn't have the Wolfman fighting an animated bat much like John Carradine's depiction of the Count or even Lugosi's portrayal in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. So they decided to make one of their Arabian Nights film on the Technicolor contract and all that remained of Wolfman vs Dracula are some color 8x10s of Chaney in both parts.

The movie would have opened with the discovery of Larry Talbot's  body in a grave alongside the

skeleton of a woman. His clothes are rotted from the passage of years but Larry's body remains perfectly preserved. The body is taken to the hospital of Dr. Ziska where a bullet is discovered lodged next to his heart just enough to keep it from beating. The bullet is removed and Larry Talbot comes back to life. Larry sets out to find a cure for being a lycanthrope. He finds the local hangman, Anatole and begs him to end his life with a silver bullet. In a true Hollywood coincidence, Count Dracula happens to be paying Anatole a visit not only the same day, but the same time as Talbot looking  to add the hangman's daughter, Yvonne, to his list of brides. Anatole refuses to cooperate just as Yvonne refuses Dracula's request. Larry and Yvonne eventually decide the only way to save her is for them to be married immediately which makes very little sense but things get moving once Dracula is exposed as the vampire count and the full moon approaches.

In all it would have been a great addition to the Universal Monster movie series and unfortunately remains a might have been. 

STOP, (Mego) Hammer Time!

If you've been here before you know I like monsters, heck it's in my name, and you also know I love Mego style figures especially the old Mad Monsters and the new Universal Monster Mego style figures. But I also love me some Hammer films, they were my dad's preferred version of the monsters especially Christopher Lee's Dracula, so when I learned there is a company making Mego style Hammer monster you can bet I was a happy little monster.
The company, Distinctive Dummies has produced some great short run figures in the past in 12 inch scale like The Thing from Another World, Vincent Price in House on Haunted Hill and the Curse of the Werewolf among others but now they have turned their attentions to the 8 inch Mego scale with some stunning results.

Lets take a look at the figures produced so far starting with Christopher Lee as Dracula, Prince of Darkness

First we have a reasonably good likeness of the actor, post a recent feeding. I think the choice of having him post meal with the blood on his fangs and around his mouth clearly sets this as a Hammer version of the character. It always seemed and my dad was quick to point out that the Hammer films had blood while the Universal ones did not. Moving on to the costume, the long red lined cape seems more impressive then the kind of short cape the Diamond Select Retro Universal Monsters Dracula has. I'm willing to bet one could slip some thin wire into this cape and pose it into some cool action poses. Also I have to point out that it's nice that the skin tone between the face and hands of this Dracula match, the Diamond Select mismatched hands and face just drive me up the wall. The packaging is very nice, reminiscent of the Mego Mad Monsters with a nice movie poster shot on the front and the lineup on the back and a blue theme for this monster. A really nice figure that at this time is unfortunately sold out .

Next we have Christopher Lee again as the Mummy in Hammer's The Mummy. Another great likeness here

in the face and the body has the dried out hollow husk I remember from the film where the Mummy had holes torn into him. I'm not a big Mummy fan but this is one version I can appreciate alot. The figure sells for $75.00 and is limited to 50 pieces

The most recent release is Christopher Lee as the Frankenstein Monster in Curse of Frankenstein. I l like different takes on the Monster that vary from the Karloff version and this is one of the more famous variations on the Monster. The head sculpt features the lumpy patchwork had of the monster with his jagged scars and the body has a nice reproduction of the long coat worn in the film. I so want to add this figure to my collection. Like the Mummy he is selling for $75.00 and limited to 50 pieces.

Now as much as I love this version of the monster, part of me hopes there is a series two so I can get the other version of Hammer's Frankenstein...the block head one....

 
The last figure planned for the line according to the packaging backs is a real favorite of mine, Oliver Reed as the Werewolf in Curse of the Werewolf. I have no pictures of what they have planned for this figure, but if we go by their previous 12" version and the customs of the character out there we are in for a sweeeeet werewolf

 

Transformers Vintage Horror Movie Series

The Vintage Horror Movie Series was a proposed subline to the Generation 1 series of Transformers which never made it past the conceptualization phase concept art phase.

The series would have seen several monsters from classic horror movies realized as transforming robots. Whether these robots were going to be Autobots or Decepticons is unknown, probably Decepticons, and why movie monsters were to be the basis for the transformers chosen configurations will forever remain a question. Known monsters within the Vintage Horror Movie Series include:

Dracula

Creature from the Black Lagoon

The Fly

 Sorry, no Frankenstein's monster.

Oddly, the legal feasibility of this proposed series is highly questionable. While the character of Count Dracula dwells within the public domain, the Creature from the Black Lagoon is owned by Universal Studios, while the Fly is owned by 20th Century Fox. Generations identifies the toys as being these characters specifically, not parodies or approximations. Whether any actual attempts were made byTakara or Hasbro to obtain rights from the proper studios is unknown, though that fact may have contributed to the series' cancellation at the early concept art phase.

Universal Monsters Online

hold on....gimme a minute... okay I am awake and not dreaming, this is really happening...

Look at that willya?

Aint that sumthin'?

Yes folks what we have here is a Free to Play MOBA featuring the Universal Monsters, and we all know how special these guys are to me and my late Uncle Freak. Basically you get to pick your monster from the sizable stable of Universal Monsters and beat the snot out of each other. That's right, pit Frankenstein against the Metaluna Mutant and see which freak of science is stronger. Let Dracula mix it up with the Mummy, The Bride take on the Invisible Man, Wolf Man sink his fangs into the Mole People. I'm so damn excited right now I could scream! Seriously this looks to be great with some seriously solid character designs for the main monsters check 'em out after the official press release...

“San Francisco – June 12, 2012—Bigpoint today released new information about its anticipated free-to-play (F2P) browser-based title, Universal Monsters Online. The game, which Bigpoint is developing in collaboration with Universal Partnerships & Licensing, will enable players to experience Universal’s iconic cast of classic monsters in a highly-competitive Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) setting.

Taking on the persona of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon – among many other notable monsters from Universal’s rich history – players compete with and against each other in a blend of combat and strategic game play.

Like all Bigpoint titles, Universal Monsters Online will be F2P. In-game currency can be used to purchase items such as new characters (after a free-trial period), unique character skins, and special abilities.

Bigpoint plans to begin closed beta testing shortly, and is now encouraging players to sign-up for early access at:http://www.universalmonstersonline.com/“

Man I am loving that Bride design, she's got that pretty girl that stomp ya into the dirt look to her! And that Creature is KILLER.

Now get yer butts over to the website and sign up for a chance to beta test, I have, ya can count on that. Oh and while your there go to the character section and drool over the animated models of some of the monsters. I did and now I have a puddle to clean up.

Universal Monsters Online Game

Found this while lurking about the interwebs, here's the write up

"All you PC horror lovers out there could finally jump in joy because there is a new free-to-play horror-themed game coming out soon. Developed by Universal Studios, Universal Monsters Online is an MMORPG that is fast-paced and action-packed! It combines the use of 3D isometric graphics, cinematic audio, and even includes a deep gameplay for those of you who wouldn’t mind a change in controls for once in a while.

Inspired by the Universal Monsters film, the game introduces classic characters including Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man and loads of other iconic monsters online. You can cooperate with your monster’s companion to terrorize and wreak havoc when you wander about in the village. It is really a crazy and stirring thing to see the innocent villagers run away from you as they have never experienced such profound fear before. Join us! Step on a dramatic journey along with your loyal companion, and prove to the world that you are not to be played with."

I have no idea if you're playing as the monsters or a human, I'm hoping monster... you can go to the website and sign up for updates, I did.

Mad Monster Party figures

Holy crap, how long have I wanted figures from this movie. Probably since I first saw the movie as a wee tot. I know I know we had the vinyl figures years ago but I wanted more, and I finally got them.

Here's Uncle Boris Frankenstein as portrayed (vocally anyways) by Boris Karloff. The sculpt is FANTASTIC, you can see the sculpture work of the original stop motion model on this figure's face. And the accessories complete the package with the spider monster from Felix's tour of the castle and the test tube containing the Formula for Destroying Matter.

Dracula looks just like the movie and vicariously the Jack Davis artwork. He looks ready to crack his original Bat-man jokes. The bat accessory is great but now has me ready to track down an Iron Tail figure from the Here Comes Peter Cottontail line.




















































and here's Fang, The Frankenstein Monster, must i say anything here, just look at him.





























I cannot wait for this line and I really hope it does well enough for future series so I get a Creature and Wolfie.

Photos came from cooltoyreview.com  - go check them out