Plush Frankenstein

The Monster gets all cute and cuddly come October, not coincidentally around Halloween time, when Washington-based Funko, purveyor of vinyl action figures and bobbleheads, releases a set of Universal “Movie Monsters” plush toys.

The licensed characters include a Mummy, Wolfman, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and a downright adorable Frankenstein Monster with green skin and big button eyes. The figures are approximately 7-inches high. Collectors can pre-order now through specialist dealers, such as Entertainment Earth.

Related:
Frankenstein Toys

More Runaway Brain Designer Toys

The dazzling 1995 Mickey Mouse Meets Frankenstein short, Runaway Brain, is proving popular with designer toy sculptors. Following up on my last post about the vinyl figures by Mediacom Toy of Japan, here are some more versions offered through Sideshow Collectibles.

The figure at top is the crazed, Maniacal Mickey who’s had his brain electrically switched with that of a Kong-sized Frankenstein Monster.

Also available is the mad scientist monkey, Dr. Frankenollie (at right) whose name is a playful homage to legendary Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson. These were sculpted by David Pacheco and cast in porcelain.

Still available from Sideshow is 2007’s Runaway Brain Mickey sculpted (I love the drool effect) by Monster 5 for Span of Sunset. This one’s an articulated vinyl figure available in standard color, a “neon” version (pictured below), as well as versions in candy red, and chrome (photos of the color variants appear on Vinyl Pulse). The Span of Sunset figures are packaged in a cereal box with a t-shirt and a pack of trading cards.

Runaway Brain, the seven-minute short from 1995, is up on YouTube.

Related:
Mickey’s Frankenstein Figurines
Frankenstein Meets Mickey Mouse

Mickey's Frankenstein Figurines

It’s two pop culture icons rolled into one. Medicom Toys of Japan has revealed pictures of its new vinyl figures of Mickey Mouse in full Frankenstein mode.

At top, Mickey appears as a stiff-limbed Teenage Frankenstein, standing some six and a half inches high, with a bolted flat head and a blue smurf-like complexion. Below, it’s Evil Mickey from the 1995 short Runaway Brain that featured a giant Frankenstein Monster.

Beautifully sculpted, these collectibles are scheduled for an October ’09 release and should run over 100$ apiece.

Related:
Frankenstein Meets Mickey Mouse

Gigantic Frankenstein

“Make a Friend!” the comic book ads said in ‘64, showing a kid holding Big Frankie’s hand, as if they were out walking together.

A wonderful sculpt, topping out at 19 inches, Gigantic Frankenstein was a squat monster with a big head, and big moveable arms. He was chained to a chunk of concrete, which might explain his morose expression. The box art — highly collectible even without the kit! — features a bright green and yellow painting by legendary illustrator James Bama of The Monster based on Glenn Strange’s appearance, modified with the forehead “clamped horns” of the original 1931 test makeup.

Today, nostalgic collectors will pay a small fortune for an original Gigantic Frankenstein in good condition. Availability is limited because the kit was not successful and soon discontinued after it was first released, late in 1964. The term "gigantic" could be applied to its original price tag of $4.98, at a time when you could still pick up an Aurora model kit (including the classic tomb-striding Frankenstein) for ninety-eight cents.

Unauthorized recasts and reproductions of the box have popped up through the years, but now toy collectors and Frankenstein fans will be delighted to hear that Moebius Models will be offering an official, licensed Gigantic Frankenstein reproduction, on release this summer. Price tag is around a hundred dollars, but then again, Gigantic Frankenstein never came cheap.

Here’s the Moebius Models site.

Here’s a gallery of beautiful, high-resolution photographs of the original Aurora kit.

Thanks to John Cozzoli’s Zombos Closet of Horror for the heads up!

Frankenstein Friday Round Up

Don Megowan kicks back and chills on the set of Tales of Frankenstein (see previous post) while we round up recent Frankenstein sightings on the net.

Frankenstein Elected

On the news front, Frankenstein won his elections in the Indian northeastern state of Meghalaya. Other candidates for Congress included Hitler, Newton, Kennedy, Rockefeller, and Tony Curtis. Read all about it in the Hindustan Times.

The Frankenswizzler

On the novelty front, Frankensteinia reader Tony Lee spotted a Mon-Stir Frankenstein swizzlestick on eBay. Produced by Zoo-Piks in 1964, it was part of a Universal-licensed set that included the Mummy, Wolfman and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

The red Frankenstein swizzlestick is shown here with a Frankenstein iron-on transfer, a Mister Softee Ice Cream premium, also from 1964. Stick and iron-on are offered by Mpgstuff.

Thanks, Tony!

Frankenstein Mask

Also on eBay recently, this one from Toy Ranch, is Herman, a rare Don Post Frankenstein mask from 1989. It’s a full-head job with real hair and a yellow-tooth grin.

Don Post created the very first commercially available Frankenstein rubber mask sixty years ago. His studio produced several Frankenstein models through the years, either licensed likenesses or generics, like Herman. It is said that back in the 50s and 60s, Frankenstein masks accounted for 70% of all monster mask sales.

Plug-In Frankenstein

Another Toy Ranch offering is the Telco Frankenstein Motionette, a 24-inch statue with a big green head and a melancholic expression. Plug it in and it rattles its chains. These were produced in the early 90s and available in various sizes and your choice of A/C or battery versions.

Frankenstein Legion

And finally, those of you who enjoyed David Lee Ingersoll’s fabulous Legion of Frankensteins illustration that I originally posted about here, should check out his Skook blog where he is currently sharing some of the preliminary sketches for that piece.

Todd McFarlane's Frankenstein

Artist and entrepreneur Todd McFarlane’s toys were never meant for children. Along with companies like Sideshow Collectibles, McFarlane Toys, launched in 1994, carved a new niche in the marketplace, producing toys, playsets and action figures aimed squarely at the young adult and collector’s market.

McFarlane’s large articulated figurines set the standard for quality sculpts, with amazing likenesses and scrupulous detail lavished on its collections of licensed movie character, rock stars and famous sports figures. The company also produces original action figures, led by McFarlane’s own Spawn superhero character, and dramatic re-interpretations of classic fictional characters.

McFarlane’s horror and fantasy toy series include wildly pumped-up, radical rethinks of the classic movie monsters, legendary horror figures like Jack The Ripper or Elizabeth Bathory, and gleefully sordid, horror versions of assorted fairy tales including The Wizard of OZ characters, and Santa Claus! The OZ series features a Tin Man that looks like a steampunk robot and disturbing, nightmarish versions of Toto, the Scarecrow and the Lion. Dorothy appears as a blimp-chested, bondaged babe. The Santa Claus collection also features blood-chilling renditions of Santa, demonic elves, pointy-tooth reindeer and, here we go again, Mrs. Claus as a candy cane pole dancer.

Between 1997 and 2002, McFarlane Toys offered three different Frankenstein Monsters…

The first Frankenstein Playset, released in 1997, features a deformed, blood-splattered mad scientist and a slabbed Monster on a castle lab stand. The characters are rather crude when compared with versions to come. Note that Dr. Frankenstein holds a severed head that bears a likeness to The Monster’s final iteration, five years hence.

The Dr. Frankenstein Playset of 1998 is a variation of the original. Both playsets are designed to snap together and create a large, multi-character tableau.

This one featured another dungeons-like lab base, a different mad doctor, and a bizarre, two-headed Monster with accessories that include a bone saw and discarded intestines.

In 2002, the McFarlane’s Monsters collection was the most accomplished and extreme remix of the classic monsters to date, featuring Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, the Mummy, a Werewolf, a marginally Gillman-inspired Sea Creature, and a wholly original Voodoo Queen.

The elaborate design, careful sculpting and construction of this set are vastly superior to that of the previous efforts.

This skull-faced Frankenstein is equipped with a warrior’s wicked wrist-blade. He’s decked out in leather and armor, wears a partial helmet, chains, hooks, and what appears to be a cape made of stitched-together human faces. For reasons unexplained, he carries a mouldy skeleton with entrails in a cage on his back.

McFarlane’s Frankensteins are punk and gore, kickass cyborg monstrosities, worlds away from the Mary Shelley original.

Most of these figures are still available through resellers, though sometimes at inflated prices. The very nicely done McFarlane’s Monsters minisite is worth visiting. On the Frankenstein page, you can access closeups of the figure, and be sure to click the QVTR link to see it in the round.

Todd McFarlane’s site, and the McFarlane horror, fantasy and science fiction toys list.

On Wiki: Todd McFarlane’s page, and McFarlane Toys.

Frankenstuff

Frankenboots

Your Frankenstein Monster getup isn’t complete until you slide into a pair of 4-3/4 inch platform shoes. Don’t forget to duck through doorways, and watch out for snapped ankles. Now priced to move, from Buycostumes.com.

Frankenflate

This nylon, four-foot tall, inflatable Frankenstein Halloween porch decoration comes with dangling spiders and its own self-contained fan. Display year-round to confuse the neighbors.

From Brands on Sale.

Frankenpuppy

And finally — GAAAAH!

Transform Poochy into an amusing creature made of reanimated dead body parts with this lightweight velcro-strap headpiece and elastic cuffs.

Do NOT attempt this with a large, ill-tempered cat.

From Costume Craze.

Frankenstein Toys

Frankensmurf

This year, the Smurfs celebrate their 50^th anniversary. Creator Peyo (Pierre Culliford, 1928-1992) first introduced the little blue imps as secondary characters in his delightful comic strip Johan et Pirlouit, set in medieval times.

An instant hit, the Smurfs earned their own strip and went global when animated for TV. A merchandising goldmine, Smurfs figurines come in endless variations, including this Frankenstein Smurf, from 2005.

The Smurf website.

Frankenplush

Novelty and plush-toy maker Gund’s Frighty Night Collection includes spooky witches, vampires, and a grumpy-looking Frankenstein that comes in various configurations like tote bags, lamps, and bendables,

Press the nose on this big, 17-inch huggable, his eyes flash and he wishes you a Happy Halloween. For those of us who celebrate All Hallows' Eve all year round.

Gund website.

(Thanks, Dread!)

Frankenstein Events of 2007

Starting here and all this coming week, I will undertake to list the Top 5 Frankenstein Events of 2007.

This list, of course, is entirely personal, wildly arbitrary and seriously subjective. These are the events I interpret as being significant. The only criteria used here is What Struck Me. Anyone else might remix the list in a different order or come up with a whole different batch of events that deserve mention. I cannot judge films, plays, books, toys and merchandising I haven’t seen, so unless any of these garnered uncommon critical praise or high media visibility, they can’t make the list.

Perhaps, if we’re still meeting here in a year’s time, if you like the concept, I might assemble a panel of experts from among our very knowledgeable readers and come up with a more informed and inclusive list of Frankenstein Events for 2008. We’ll see. For now, without pretensions, here’s my list, with my heartfelt Season’s Greeting to all.

First, some runners-up…

GIANT FRANKENSTEIN PEZ DISPENSER

It is one of the most common search engine terms leading to this blog. The folks at Pez Candy, Inc. produced this special, limited edition, Universal-licensed, Frankenstein head Pez dispenser. It’s a foot tall, it lights up and makes noise. Candy and batteries are included, and both taste the same. You are more likely to find one on eBay than in your local pharmacy’s notions department.

THE BEDSIDE FRANKENSTEIN

Continuum Publishing’s playful series invites its readers to sample their books at leisure, serving up its contents in bite-size articles, sidebars and capsules. The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Frankenstein, written by Carol Adams, with Douglas Buchanan and Kelly Gesch, encompasses all aspects of Frankenstein’s stride through popular history, complete with quizzes, a crossword puzzle, flip-books, “monsterbilia”, and maps of Mary Shelley and Victor Frankenstein’s travels. There are interviews with Forrest J Ackerman and Frankenstein uber-expert Don Glut. I love the great cover by Dan Piraro.

You can sample pages from the book on Amazon’s Online Reader.

FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS DVD

The Monster’s heart, a Nazi submarine, the bombing of Hiroshima… And that’s just the beginning of this, one of the most delirious Frankenstein films ever made. It ends with a 25-foot tall, flathead, caveman Frankenstein battling what appears to be a giant vinyl octopus. And its got Nick Adams in it, too.

Frankenstein Conquers The World, aka Frankenstein vs Barugon (1965) makes the Year’s Best DVD list over at Tim Lucas’ Video WatchBlog. David Kalat calls it “A stellar job, a DVD done right”. Fellow reviewer Sheldon Inkol says, “you owe it to yourself to experience the unbelievably loopy Devilfish finale.”

MARION MOUSSE'S FRANKENSTEIN

My #5 pick for Frankenstein Event of 2007 goes to Marion Mousse’s gorgeous graphic novel version of Mary Shelley’s book, which I previously blogged about here.

The art is loose and confident, cartoony, yet accurate and detailed. This engrossing adaptation is very faithful to the original, and still allows for exploration and development of the themes and characters. Volume one (of three) ends, tantalizingly, with the creation scene. The next two episodes are coming out in 2008.

Published by Delcourt of Paris, this one deserves to be translated into English, perhaps collecting the three 48-page parts together into one book. Like I said in my original review, pending a translation, this one is worth getting for the artwork alone.

Next up: The countdown continues with a Frankenstein Controversy!

Bag Head Frankenstein, And Other Fun Links

The plastic fangs have been put away and the countdown is on: Only 354 days to Halloween! Until then, let’s lurch back a bit and see if we can extend the chills from the last one.

Countless blogs celebrated the spooky holiday (here’s a list of the most dedicated ones) with numerous mentions of Frankenstein along the way. Here are some of the standouts…

Erick, over at Wonderful Wonderblog, posted excerpts from Movie Monsters, a kid’s activity book by actor, director and makeup man Alan Ormsby, published by Scholastic in 1975. The Brown Bag Frankenstein Head looks fun enough to try, though I can’t help thinking the whole thing might collapse before you’re done.

Erick also posted the entire booklet from View-Master’s 1976 Classic Tales Frankenstein. The uncredited writer did a fair job condensing the whole story into 12 short-short pages, even throwing in some puzzles, too! What I’d like to see now are the actual puppet scenes from the reel itself.

Comic book writer John Rozum turned his blog into Halloween Central all through October. Scroll around, it’s loaded with goodies, including a terrific “How to make a ghost” post. Frankenstein got a whole week’s worth of attention (look for posts dated October 21 to 27) with Frankenstein movie reviews, lots of Frankenstein paperback covers, Frankenstein games and toys including Ben Cooper Wigglers and a beautiful Frankenstein Push Toy (pictured at right) trick or treating with his little skull-shaped pail.

John’s blog is fun any time of year, and you should check out his unique cutout art, too, which also includes Frankenstein images.

Shawn at Branded in the 80s posted some sweet Halloween stuff, notably a look at the Crestwood House Monster Series for young readers. The Crestwood books, with their distinctive orange accented covers, infiltrated school and public libraries in the late 70s, introducing a whole new generation of kids to the classic monsters. Shawn reproduces several pages from the Frankenstein book, surprisingly well-written and complete, given its short length, with shots of the Edison Frankenstein, Boris Karloff in spiffy street gear, The Munsters, and a rare, candid picture of Christopher Lee in his post-brain trauma stitched-up skull makeup.

Hey, Shawn, now can we get a peek inside Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman?

Finally, a few more recent links, not posted at Halloween, but Frankenstein related...

Trailers From Hell has the Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein trailer up with commentary by director John Landis.

On Vitaphone Varieties, a superlative blog devoted to film and music of bygone days, Jeff Cohen looks at the first horror talkie, The Terror (1928), the early SF musical Just Imagine (1930), complete with mp3 excerpts, and the 1931 Frankenstein, reproducing a contemporary ad disguised as newspaper article, “Miracle Performed by Dr. Frankenstein”.

And on the indispensable Video WatchBlog, Tim Lucas, who has developed a brilliant perspective on Peter Cushing’s interpretation of The Baron through the Hammer Frankenstein series, writes a vivid appreciation of a new HD version of Terence Fisher’s Frankenstein Created Woman (1967). This one is a Must Read.

Now, click away!

Franken Monkey

These cute Frankenstein tryclops with lolling tongues are hot designer collectables beautifully sculpted by Roberto Jhageri for Atomic Monkey Ltd.

There are two models, each offered in a variety of colors. The stiff-arm walking Franken Monkey is a 3-inch resin figure, and the one with the spiral tail is a 6-inch vinyl figure with a pop-off snorkel skullcap and a removable glow-in-the-dark brain!

Atomic’s Franken Monkey family will soon expand to include Count Mockula, Igor, and a 6-inch vinyl Mummy Monkey with removable limbs.

Collectors note: Runs are strictly limited and selling out quickly. Check the Atomic Monkey site for availability. Sold out models can sometimes be found with resellers like Rotofugi and Panik’s Toy Box.

Here’s a review of the Franken Monkey on Plastic & Plush.

(Thanks, Bibi!)

Neato Frankenstein

Neato Coolville is a place filled with Tiki motels, wax museums, penny arcades, haunted house attractions, and glowing neon signs. There’s a 25-foot Mr. Muffler on Main Street, tailfin cars at the Drive-In, and Korla Pandit is playing the local lounge every night.

It’s where old toys go to retire. Not the kind of mint-in-the-box, museum quality, collector’s don’t-touch-‘em toys, but the real, storied ones, the ones that were played with, like the Remco Frankenstein Action Figure beautifully photographed above, proudly wearing its scuffs and scrapes.

Neato Coolville is the very appropriate name of “Mayor” Todd Franklin’s blog. It’s a great stop for the nostalgic — you’ll rediscover those Star Wars bubble gum cards you collected as a kid — but this is also pop culture archeology, a repository of essential art, once mass-produced and ubiquitous, now rare or out of style, offering a spellbinding glimpse into the fast-fleeting past.

Clicking around Todd’s blog, you’ll find plenty of Frankenstein fun, including a giant axe-wielding statue in Burbank, and a stopover in — of all places — Frankenstein, Missouri. For sheer Pop Frankenstein ecstasy, check out Neato Coolville’s Monsterville photoset on Flickr, full of toys, comic book ads, posters and novelties.

You know, I wonder sometimes what Mary Shelley would make of, say, a Frankenstein Pez dispenser.