Affiliate Link – Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon ReAction Figure
I’ve seen a handful of comments here and there about how the announced ReAction Figures from Funko don’t look quite right, but after seeing the display of toys at New York Toy Fair last week I think the designs are great. Something very important to remember is that Kenner’s vintage Star Wars series ran from 1978 to 1985, and if you line the toys up you can clearly see an evolution of design as Kenner’s toys got more detailed with each wave.
But when it comes to the Universal Monsters Creature from the Black Lagoon ReAction Figure*, I feel the figure looks like it could have come right out of 1979 or 1980. That straight-armed pose and overly-green body looks to me like it would be right at home in the classic Creature Cantina Action Playset (see the official Star Wars blog). After all, doesn’t this guy look like those original Cantina alien action figures are all good friends of his?
Go back in time and reminisce about the Universal Monsters horror classic with this Creature ReAction Retro Action Figure! Featuring the likeness of the Creature in a simplified retro Kenner format, this Creature Action Figure is a must-have for all Creature from the Black Lagoon fans! This 3 3/4-inch tall ReAction Creature Action Figure has 5 points of articulation and features the 1980s style card back design, with a coffin-style blister where the action figure is displayed! Each card back features a memorable look of the character from the classic movie.
Related articles
- Funko reveals their massive new Re:Action toyline, now with pics (io9.com)
- Mezco’s Exclusive “Creature from the Black Lagoon” Pre-Orders Now Open (battlegrip.com)
So, the pictures we’ve been seeing posted at Entertainment Earth, are they the finished products, or just photo mockups? My (and a few others) concern is that the sculpts are soft, even for that style, with the figures not looking much like the source material.
I’ll admit, that Creature looks pretty good in that photo, though.
@Chris – After chatting with the Funko staff I’m predicting that the pics we’ve seen are 75% to 90% of the way to finished/what the final toy will look like.
The actual toys on display looked better than the pics we’ve seen online, but that may be an illusion; sometimes pics just highlight flaws and strangeness that we don’t actually notice in real life.
I had some Universal Monster action figures back in the mid-80’s that were 5-point articulation and the Gill-Man was more detailed than this one. I don’t remember the company that put them out, but they had a pretty extensive run. I also had Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster, and I remember there was a Wolf Man and a Phantom of the Opera, too. All of them looked better than the Funko figures I’ve seen so far. And that seems sad to me. Like the took the ‘retro 70’s vibe’ and just overcompensated. The actual figures actually available at the time looked better. I dunno. I like the idea of the ReAction line… but “5 points of articulation and retro look” can be really awesome. Outer Space Men anyone?
I remember there being Universal Monster figures at this size back then, too. Didn’t Mego produce them?
Not sure if I’ll pick up this line, but the Universal Monsters are really appealing to me. I think the Creature is a standout. You really can’t beat the price, especially for a niche line. $10 seems like a steal at today’s prices.
Kevin, apparently it was Remco. I found this example of their Creature http://www.toymania.com/334archives/monsters/creature.htm
I don’t remember the packaging looking like that but those are definitely the figures I was thinking of. I remember getting one at a drugstore on a trip to Fort Bragg, California.
Jason, Kevin, you guys are thinking of the Remco mini-monsters. https://www.battlegrip.com/?p=57495
Now that you’ve posted this, I am remembering that article about the playset that i-mockery posted back in the day. There’s something about the simplicity of these toys (and the upcoming Funko versions) that are very appealing on a purely fun level. Reaches back to my younger self in the ’80s, I guess.