Scooby-Doo "Mystery Machine" Playset - Character Options (2017)

Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine Playset by Character Options

The Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine Playset from Character Options is available from various online retailers right now.  It contains three action figures and a Mystery Machine that unfolds into a sort of "Mobile Command Center" type deal.  The Mystery Machine can fit two figures in the front seats, although Scooby doesn't really fit in there very well unless you hang his head out the window.  Any of the human Scooby gang will fit in there just fine.  There is also some room for more figures in the back of the van, so if you don't mind cramming them in there awkwardly, you could probably transport the whole Scooby Gang.

In the Box

The three action figures are Freddy, Scooby, and a ghost.  The Scooby figure is the same one that I reviewed earlier this month, and the Freddy figure feature the same articulation as the Shaggy figure from that review, so check that review out for more information.  (http://misfitdaydream.blogspot.com/2018/10/scooby-doo-fiendish-foes-tower-playset.html) The third figure is the ghost, but calling it an "action figure" would not be accurate, because it has no articulation, it's just a solid piece of white plastic with two eye holes painted on.  That was kind of disappointing, although it does make a nice looking prop.  It's probably just best to think of it as an accessory to the playset rather than an actual action figure.

Scooby and Freddy Encounter a Ghost on the Road

The Mystery Machine has wheels that actually roll.  The front doors don't open, but there is a flap above the seats that opens to make it easier to position the figures in the driver and passenger seats.  The back of the van unfolds into a multi-level playset.  It has some sculpted mechanical  details and instrumentation, and some stickers ot add more details.  The actual purpose of the sculpted and sticker details is undefined, which is fine.  It mostly just left open to a kid's imagination.

Mystery Machine Command Center

These Scooby-Doo toys seem to be constantly repackaged and resold under different configurations, so you should shop around to get the best version of this toy.  For instance, as I write this review, there is a version of this that comes packaged with just the Freddy figure, and has no stickers inside the van, that is priced at $41.94 on Amazon, while another listing has the version I reviewed with all three figures and the stickers for just $17.99.

The Ghost is Just a Hunk of Plastic

The Ghost

Uhh... ghost radar?

I don't know... a flame-thrower?

The Sccoby Gang Needs to Clean Their Van

Fred Behind the Wheel

"Whew!  I'm glad we finally ditched that ghost!"

Scooby-Doo "Fiendish Foes Tower" Playset - Character Options (2015)

Scooby-Doo Fiendish Foes Tower Playset by Character Options

This is an odd but fun playset that I just bought from Amazon.  It's a dungeon tower playset with 5 action figures and a few accessories for $26.  That's more than worth it for the action figures alone!  In fact, I already had 3 of the 5 figures, and I was mainly buying it for Dracula and Skeleton Man, but even then, two figures and a playset for that price was worth it for me.

The Packaging

The toys come packaged in a cardboard box shaped like the Mystery Machine, which is a fun touch.

The package lists the contents as:

• 1 x Torment Tower
• 1 x Scooby
• 1 x Shaggy
• 1 x 1000V Man
• 1 x Dracula
• 1 x Skeleton Man
• 6 x Coins
• 1 x Torment Table

The Dungeon Tower

 The tower is a curiosity.  One thing I noticed about it right away, is it has hinges on the sides, like it is supposed to be attached to another toy.  Was this once part of a larger castle or haunted house set, and is now being repurposed as a standalone piece?  That's what it looks like, but what this other playset was or is, I have no idea.

There is a cauldron on the top of the playset, with a small hole that goes down into the dungeon tower.  Additionally, one of the plastic coins that the set comes with can fit into a slot in the cauldron and block that hole.  It looks to me like this may have been a "slime" playset before it was repurposed.  You could put a figure in the tower, fill the cauldron with slime, and then remove the coin from the slot, causing the slime to ooze down onto the action figure.  I don't have any slime handy to try this out, but that's what it looks like to me.

The coins are another oddity.  They all have a pirate skull on one side, and the face of a Scooby-Doo character on the other.  The 6 coins that I got had 1 Ghost of Redbeard, 1 Pirate Scooby, 2 Pirate Freddies, and 2 The Beast of Bottomless Lakes.  There are holes on the outside of the tower that the coins pop in to.  What purpose is being served by this?  I don't know.

Tower and Coins

The "Torment Table" is a small table that fits neatly into the tower, or can be removed.  It's not clear where the "Torment" aspect of this comes in to play.  It's basically just a little coffee table.

Tremble in Fear Before the Deadly "Torment Table!"

The 5 action figures are all great looking figures that look to have stepped straight out of the cartoons.  However, the articulation on the figures varies greatly.

Dracula Stalks His Prey

Dracula's arms rotate up and down at the shoulders, and that's it, no other articulation.  His head is a separate piece and FEELS like it should rotate at the neck, but it doesn't on my figure, and I didn't want to try and force it and accidentally pop it off.

10,000 Volt Ghost

The 10,000 Volt Ghost has cut joints at the shoulders to move his arms up and down, and has hinges at the knees and elbows.  No articulation at the hips, though, so the knee hinges are mostly pointless, because if you bend them the figure won't be able to stand up.  One of my figures elbows is stuck, you can see paint pooled up in there gluing it shut.  I could probably get some paint thinner and clean it out and get the thing moving if I choose to do so.

Skeleton Man!

Skeleton Man and Shaggy are articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.  Scooby has all of that PLUS a rotating tail, so I guess he wins.

You can get some decent "running" poses from Scooby and Shaggy, which is nice.

It's kind of weird, though.  The figures are all from the same line, yet they range from 2 points of articulation to 8 points.  However, this is a line aimed at kids, not adult collectors, and most kids aren't going to be terribly concerned with how many points of articulation a toy has, they just want to bash them around and have fun, and these figures seem perfectly good for that.

The Slime Hole

The Torment Table Sets Off the Decor of the Dungeon Nicely

Fangface!

Eyeball Skeleton

Electric Mouth

"Zoinks!"

"Ruh roh!"

Scooby-Doo "The Phantom Racer," "The Witch Doctor," and "Redbeard's Ghost" Action Figures - Character Options (2013)

More Scooby-Doo Monsters!

MONSTER MONTH continues with three more monsters from Scooby-Doo.  The 21st, 22nd, and 23rd monsters of MONSTER MONTH are The Phantom Racer, The Witch Doctor, and Redbeard's Ghost!

The Phantom Racer, The Witch Doctor, and Redbeard's Ghost

The Phantom Racer Menaces Fred and Daphne

Phrightening Phantom Phace

The Witch Doctor

MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE BREAK...

Scooby-Doo "The 10,000 Volt Ghost" Action Figure - Character Options (2013)

The 10,000 Volt Ghost

It's MONSTER MONTH, Day 8!  Today I'm looking at another scary Scooby-Doo monster: The 10,000 Volt Ghost!  It first appeared on TV in 1976 in "The Scooby Doo Show" episode "Watt a Shocking Ghost."   This action figure was part of a 10 figure set that was available at Toys R Us and other stores a few years ago.

The 10,000 Volt Ghost appears to be a ghostly creature composed of pure electricity, and conducts an electrical field powerful enough to melt metal.  Of course, like all classic Scooby-Doo villains, the monster is really a criminal in disguise.

"Zoinks!  It's the 10,000 Volt Ghost!"

AC/DC - High Voltage


More photos after the break...

Scooby-Doo "The Beast of Bottomless Lake" Action Figure - Character Options (2013)

MONSTER MONTH, Day 2!  The Beast of Bottomless Lake is a Scooby-Doo villain that first appeared on TV in 1978.  This action figure was part of a 10 figure set that was available at Toys R Us and other stores a few years ago.   The Beast is a half-human, half-fish monster in the tradition of The Creature from the Black Lagoon (See also: Island of the Fishmen and Humanoids from the Deep),  Of course, like all classic Scooby-Doo villains, the monster is really a criminal in disguise.

Velma and Fred Confront the Beast

Fish Face

Pale Death Rides a Great Dane

Toy Collection, Part 2: New, Used, and Vintage

Here's a few of my latest acquisitions for my toy collection:

Talking Batman Alarm Clock

I used to have one of these when I was three years old, it's one of my most vivid childhood memories. I had no use for an alarm clock at that age, but I loved it anyway, because I could hear Batman talking to me. Now, thanks to ebay, I have this again.

Mystery Incorporated Action Figures

 I found Shaggy, Velma, Fred, and Daphne in a bag of random toys at a local thrift store. They didn't have Scooby, but I bought it anyway. A few weeks later, I found Scooby in another random bag of toys at the same store. Now I have the complete set!

Venture Brothers Action Figures

A collection of new Venture Brothers action figures from Bif Bang Pow toys. On the left are two 3 3/4 inch Brock Samson action figures. The standard version in black, and the limited edition 2012 San Diego Comicon version in a blood-smeared white t-shirt.

Then I have an assortment of retro Mego-style 8 inch action figures/dolls. These are the way they used to make action figures in the '60s and '70s: plastic dolls with removable cloth outfits. These days they mostly only make girl's dolls like this, like Barbie, or Bratz, for instance. But back in the day, they used to make boy's toys, such as the original G.I Joe, Captain Action, The Six Million Dollar Man, Mego's World's Greatest Superheroes and lots of others, in this style.