by James K-Brak
Since the Halloween season has just wrapped up I can’t think of a better conclusionthen to take a closer look at some classic Universal Monsters. Funko has been making great Pop! figures for a while and within the last year they have ventured into retro 3 ¾” figures. This new line from Funko, called ReAction figures, has hit the market fast and strong. The line combines vintage figure articulation with some modernized details making it an instant hit with collectors that want toys like they had when they were kids in the 70’s and 80’s.
Universally Yours: Funko has also added to the fun of this line by having a large variety of licenses to create a very wide assortment for the ReAction line. The assortment I am going to look at today is the Universal Monsters line. Each figure in the line comes packaged on a blister card with a photo of the monster on the front and a checklist of the all the monsters available on the back. The packaging stands out right away as it is very similar to how Kenner Star Wars figures were packaged through the 70’s and 80’s. The Universal Monsters are broken down into two waves. The first wave consists of Frankenstein’s Monster, Bride of Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, and the Invisible Man. The second wave is made up of the following Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Phantom of the Opera, and the Mummy. There were also two chase figures that were glow in the dark of the Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The two glow in the dark figures are a nice compliment to the line which gives the whole line a nod to Remco’s monsters line from the late 70’s early 80’s.
The articulation on each figure is a standard 5 point design very similar to Kenner and Remco’s figures. On each figure the arms and legs move, along with the head. Two of the figures in the line come with vinyl capes just like Remco’s figures did and also the way Kenner’s star wars figures came with capes. The joints on them are well made and can assume poses like their vintage counterparts did. These figures do not have the articulation that modern figures have, but that I think is a draw to many older collectors since it resembles vintage figures so well. The paint on them is simplistic but works for these figures since the vintage figures didn’t have a lot of paint apps on them. The updated detail on the figures comes in the sculpting for the bodies and some of the faces. The clothes on the figures have a lot of little details sculpted in that really add to the enjoyment of them.
All in all these figures are a nice throwback to a simpler time in action figures that many older collectors would appreciate. They also open the door to younger collectors by offering figures of classic monsters in forms that they might not be familiar with. The price point on each figure is right around $9.99 depending on the retailer. The price combined with the nostalgic factor of these is a pure win in my book. You can pick these figures up at most online retailers and some brick and mortar stores like Toys R Us and Barnes and Noble. If you would like more information on these or any of their other products in this line please visit ReAction (may still be under construction).