Custom Tomland Monster #3: Morlock

The Morlocks were a race of primitive, underground-dwelling cannibals from H.G. Wells novel "The Time Machine.  When I made this custom version of Tomland's Morlock, I drew my inspiration from the 1960 Time Machine movie more than I did the original Tomland figure.  I kept the yellow and green color scheme from the Tomland clothing though, using a Classic TV Toys repro Mego Robin Hood outfit that I cut up a bit.

Unlike the original Tomland version, though, I DID NOT give the Morlock an ascot.  Although that would have put him into some swanky company along with Charles Nelson Reilly and Fred from Scooby Doo, it just didn't seem to suit a flesh-eating cannibal.

 I also didn't give him a whip, which I didn't have, although that would have been cool.  Instead I gave him a blood-smeared wooded baton, which I like as well.  I thought about gluing some fabric or fur on his arms and legs to make his body hair, but I ended up just painting it on.

This guy looks like he's REALLY ENJOYING bashing someone's head in with that club.

The Morlock appeared originally in Tomland's Famous Monsters line, and was later repackaged as a space alien named Bico for their Star Raiders line.  Read about both of them here (Famous Monsters) and here (Star Raiders).

BONUS! MUSIC VIDEO:
Black Sabbath - Time Machine

Custom Tomland Monster #2: The Abominable Snowman

For my second Tomland Monster custom, I have the Abominable Snowman.  Tomland's Abominable Snowman was also known as "Abominable Snow Man Yeti" and was also packaged as an alien in the Star Raiders line as "Tago."  Read all about those original figures HERE (Famous Monsters version) and HERE (Star Raiders version).

The paint job I employed on this head was copied directly from the original figure.  The difference is the outfit.  The original had a loose white jumpsuit with fringe along the edges.  I couldn't find anything quite like that, and I didn't want to try to make clothes from scratch, so I went with this "ghost" outfit from Classic TV Toys.  I think it works pretty well for the creature, though, in both form and color.

BONUS!  MUSIC VIDEO:

Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Abominable Snowman In The Market

Custom Tomland Monster #1: The Fly

Since I wanted to review a bunch of Mego style cloth outfitted 8 inch action figures for the Countdown to Halloween, I looked in to buying some monster figures made by a company called Tomland, which made Mego style figures in the 1970s and 1980s.  But it turned out that those figures are expensive, like anywhere from $75 to $300 each, depending on how rare they are.  However, I saw that Dr. Mego's Repros had resin copies of some of the Tomland Monster heads for sale, so I thought it might be a fun project for Halloween to put together some custom versions of those monsters, using the heads from Dr. Mego as a starting point.  So I ordered the heads, and I got some other custom clothing and bodies from Classic TV Toys and the 8 Inch Superstore.  I made a total of six figures, which I'll showing on this blog off and on for the next couple of weeks.  First up: The Fly!

The Axe-Wielding Human Fly

The paint looks sloppy zoomed in this close, but it looks fine in real life.  And I'm not just saying that because I painted it myself (actually I am).

CLICK HERE to read about the original version of Tomland's The Fly.  For my version, I went with something a little closer to how The Fly looked in the 1958 movie.  That includes giving him a fire axe, as that was what The Fly used to smash up his lab equipment in the film.

BONUS!  MUSIC VIDEO:

The Cramps - Human Fly (1978 Promo Film)

 If you haven't seen this yet, you should check it out, it's a 16mm horror promo film The Cramps shot for "Human Fly" in 1978 that recently surfaced on the internet.  The actual song doesn't kick in until a minute or two in to the film, so don't worry that your speakers are going out or something.

Coffin for 8 Inch Retro Figures - Classic TV Toys

Classic TV Toys Coffin

If you dig around the Classic TV Toys website, you can find lots of cool and weird accessories for 8 inch Mego action figures, including today's item: coffins!

A Glowing Hand Emerges From the Coffin!

Having a Mego scaled coffin is great for Mad Monsters like the Dreadful Dracula, or any other vampire or undead character.  The coffins have removable lids and are lined with fabric.  They come in 3 color schemes: black with red lining, golden brown with white lining, and grey with purple lining.

Dreadful Dracula: Used Coffin Salesman

I love having props and accessories to pose my action figures with, and coffins are pretty much a must-have item for monster figures.  These coffins would also make great pencil cases or jewelry or nick-knack boxes for, like, the little goth kids, or whatever.  You can order them at:  http://www.classictvtoys.com/coffinsfor8inchfigures.aspx

BONUS!  MUSIC VIDEO:

Modest Mouse - Satin in a Coffin


MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE BREAK...

Thurl Ravenscroft

Thurl Ravenscroft was a voice actor and singer with a deep booming voice, most famous as the the voice of Tony the Tiger ("Good? They're grrrreat!").  During his career he recorded a handful of classic horror novelty songs, let's check a few of them out courtesy of our old friend YouTube!

Grim Grinning Ghosts


The Headless Horseman


Teenage Brain Surgeon
]


You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch


The Legend of Diamond Bar

Okay... this one is not horror, but I used to live in Diamond Bar when I was a kid (Diamond Point Elementary School, grades k-5), so I thought it was kind of funny.

The Cannibal Song

Universal Monsters "The Bride of Frankenstein" 8 Inch Retro Figure - Diamond Select/Emce Toys (2012) 2nd Review

I first reviewed this Bride of Frankenstein figure in 2013, see my original review here:
http://misfitdaydream.blogspot.com/2013/01/diamond-selects-universal-monsters.html

Since I'm reviewing every other figure in this line this month, I thought I should revisit this one, as well.  I've taken some new photos of the Bride along with her mate Frankenstein's Monster, as I didn't own the Monster figure at the time of my original review.  I've also included a few photos from my earlier review.

My review wasn't favorable, and now that I own all of the figures, I can safely say that it is my least favorite from this line. Which is a bummer, since The Bride of Frankenstein is my favorite Universal Horror movie.

My main objection to this figure was the face sculpt.  It doesn't look anything like Bride actress Elsa Lanchester, but even if they didn't have her likenesses rights, they could at least have given her an attractive face, even if it was a generic "pretty girl" face.  When combined with the Bride's makeup and hairstyle, it still would have read as The Bride.  Instead, we got this sculpt, which I described in my original review as a "horse face."

Still, even a flawed Bride of Frankenstein is still The Bride of Frankenstein, so for me, it's still a must-have, even if I'm not as enthusiastic about it as I am the other figures in this line.

BONUS!  MUSIC VIDEO:

Elvira (with Fred Schneider from the B-52's!) - The Bride of Frankenstein


MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE BREAK...

Universal Monsters "The Mummy" 8 Inch Retro Action Figure - Diamond Select/Emce Toys (2011)

The Mummy

The Mummy was part of series 2 of Diamond Select and Emce Toys Retro Cloth Universal Monsters figures.  Like the other figures in this line, it is quite nice.  It's got a great facial sculpt that really captures the likeness of Boris Karloff as The Mummy, although I think it could have used a better paint job on the face to make it pop.  As it is, it just kind of gets lost in a haze of non-contrasting green plastic.

The Mummy Awakes

I'm not so sure I'm sold on the cloth outfit, either.  I don't think the loose strips of cloth hanging on the figure really blend in with the outfit he is wearing underneath it, they kind of just look like they are sitting on top of it.  But despite those minor criticisms I have about it, overall I still think it is a very nice figure, and since The Mummy is one of my all-time favorite movies, this one is a must-have for me.

Life After Death

MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE BREAK...

Universal Monsters "The Mummy" 9 Inch Action Figure - Mezco Toyz (2014)

The Mummy

Mezco's Universal Monsters 9 Inch Scale The Mummy is part of their line of stylized Universal Monster figures that also includes The Creature From The Black Lagoon and Frankenstein's Monster.  The figures have exaggerated features that highlight their monstrosity, and they look great on display together.

Monster Mash

This is a really unique and cool looking version of the Mummy, and I strongly recommend it and the other figures in this line if you are a Universal Monsters fan.

BONUS! MUSIC VIDEO:

Little Tibia & the Fibians - It's The Mummy


MORE PICTURES AFTER THE BREAK...