Let's usher in Kissmas right away, shall we? Not that I need to say this but, KISS is a hard rock band founded in New York in the early 1970s. Known for their outrageous makeup and costumes, each member of the band adopted their own unique comic book style persona. Vocals and bass guitar player is The Demon, vocals and rhythm guitar player is The Starchild, on drums is The Catman and lead guitarist is The Spaceman. However, their unique look isn't the only thing they're known for. Since their formation, KISS has put on very extravagant live performances that include fire breathing, blood spitting, levitating drum kits, rockets and other crowd-pleasing pyrotechnics.
Figures Toy Company is releasing a very unique Santa Christmas Figure set. This set is packaged with an 8" Kiss members in a Mego style. Each member of Kiss comes in a cloth costume, with their instrument of choice, and very kisstacular boxart. Who else on your block would be able to say "I got Santa and Demon in the same package".
The paint and articulation are very nice, you can tell each KISS member apart from the others. This is due to a great head sculpt. very lifelike and true to the person it represents.
One thing I did notice is they decided not to go with the Ace Frehley aka Spaceman, but rather Tommy Thayer. I believe this is also due to bad blood between Ace Frehley and the KISS camp (Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley). Also missing is Peter Criss on drums, instead we get current drummer Eric Singer. This is still a must have set for all the KISS Army. Each clamshell is resealable, meaning you can take these guys out and enjoy them and put them back anytime.
The Santa figure in this set is the same across all the sets, this is one thing I wish they would have changed. Why not have a little unique Santa per each figure? I would have liked to see Santa have an interchangeable head that had the make up of each figure he came packaged with. This being said it's worth getting out the cash to get the full set, because who doesn't need this?
Figures Toy Company have several other KISS figures up on the site which I also think are good to compare this set to. You may have seen our previous review (a preview video). One in particular is the 1974 8" figure set based on the 1974 KISS album. These figures are wearing a classic KISS costume (the ones I remember). The Demon has his leather studded wings, Catman has his classic make up, and each figure have their giant KISS heels.
Sticking with Figures Toy Company comes a totally different set. We get the Dressed To Kill album cover figures. Gone are the leather and studs trading in for a suit and tie. Each figure still has the classic make up, but look truly unique in their suit. Gone are the giant leather boots with large heels, trading in for loafers. You also get a smaller sized figure included with the 12" one also dressed in a suit. Each figure is limited edition (only 75 produced). They also produced the 8" Set.
One last set I'd like to mention is a non-Mego style set from Bif Bang Pow!. This Love Gun 3 3/4" figure set comes with 11 points of articulation and a fold out diorama. Each character comes with specific make-up and accessories. Also included with each figure is a temporary tattoo. Put Demon and Starchild together to form the Alive II stage while Spaceman and Catman form the Love Gun stage using included dioramas. Each figure also includes one unique paper-craft drum set piece. Collect all the figures to build the complete drum set. This set is due to land on Earth in January 2016. PS: There's also a set of all four from Love Gun!
Time to Rock and Roll all night and party everyday, EH!!! But, before I go.....
IN MEMORIUM: I just wanted to take a minute and mention the passing of one of horror truly iconic actors, Gunnar Hansen. He was the original Leatherface (and to me the best) in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I never got to meet him, but from what I've heard he was a stand up man. You'll be missed.
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