I have been hunting down variations of the AHI monsters for many years. Jointed wrists, different head sculpts, etc...there is one style sometimes called the "cupped hands" variation that has eluded me. I used to think that these didn't exist, or they were AHI heads that a person just put on generic 8" bodies.
Well, a couple months ago, a guy brought in an AHI Frankenstein to a toy show and sold it to me - it was a cupped hand style. Unfortunately, it had soccer shoes on instead of boots! Well, I had the figure anyway.
This past week, an eBay seller had a whole set of the basic 4 monsters for sale from an estate - all of which were this rare variation. So, I bid and won them. They arrived today, and they are very interesting. First, the group shot:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/ahi.jpg)
As you can see, they are all in great condition. The mummy's wrappings have started to slip down his legs, but he remains originally wrapped. In fact, they all appeared to be in perfect, unplayed with condition excepting the Frankenstein; which has some chew marks on the right hand.
The heads are cast in a very cheap vinyl/rubber that is a little different than the other AHI's I have:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/Picture114.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/Picture116.jpg)
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/Picture117.jpg)
And the Frankenstein has a very lopsided head; it sticks out on the left side. Both of the Frankensteins I have are like this:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/Picture111.jpg)
The arms are longer than the usual AHI arms, and they stick out past the sleeves:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/Picture119.jpg)
But the most unusual thing about these guys...they are wearing soccer shoes! Complete with 3 Adidas stripes and cleats on the bottom:
(http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd71/actionplus/Picture110.jpg)
It looks as if the Dracula and Frankenstein figures were actually released this way! It would be too much of a coincidence for both these and the Frankenstein I got previously to be wearing the exact same shoes; especially when these are not typical 8" shoes that I am aware of. I think they had to use these shoes because the feet on this body type are considerably larger than the standard AHI figure feet - the shoes and boots made for the other body styles will not fit these guys - but the Adidas cleats will.
Anyway, I think they must have had left over parts somewhere that they were producing the AHI figures, and made a production run of these unusual variations.
There you have it...more than you ever wanted to know about this unusual monster toy variation. This is the kind of stuff that excites me about collecting. I know, I need to get a life... ;D
Monster's like sports too! Must have been night games for Drac.
GOOOOALLLL!
BK
I think it's very exciting! Their little dolly hands always made me think of them as the little girly monsters of the AHI universe. But now I realize that they are in fact the JOCKS. They are the AHI ATHLETES!
Yet more variations to look for....sigh ;D Thanks Any, I enjoyed reading your post and learning.
Great stuff, Andy -- nothing makes me more eager to read a new thread than mention of AHI!
I also have two Type "B" Franks with bulges on the left side of the head, one of them approaching acromegalic proportion. I wonder why it's always on the left side? In fact, I wonder what causes these not uncommon deformities in the first place?
BTW, the Mummy and Wolf Man are at a distinct disadvantage having to compete in bare feet. Laurie Halbritter has several styles of 8" scale sports shoes available at Toy Fanatic so you should make sure everybody on the team has the right equipment before they play....
LOL! Maybe some shin pads, too.
Makes me wonder if these things were sold in Central and South America with that footwear...
And speaking of Laurie; I heard that she had or has some of these cupped hand figures in the package. I would love to see if a packaged example could confirm the soccer shoes - or even how these were packaged. I know that some of the later issued figures were sold bagged rather than carded.
I once owned a cupped-hand Wolf Man a few years back. I don't recall ever seeing a complete set of four cupped-hand AHIs before. Congrats!
George
Thanks, George. I haven't seen a mummy until this batch. Like the jointed wrist versions, it seems to be one of the most scarce.
The REAL question, is what Soccer team would they back?
I am guessing Manchester United.
Matt
Andy, are all there arms longer or just Frank's? Will the standard shoe fit, not that I would change it, but just wondering if the body is a bit different size or the feet?
Thanks!
BK
Quote from: michblk on November 06, 2008, 02:47:12 PM
Andy, are all there arms longer or just Frank's? Will the standard shoe fit, not that I would change it, but just wondering if the body is a bit different size or the feet?
The bodies are all the same - just different heads and clothes. The arms on these bodies seem to be longer than the standard versions, and the feet are considerably larger - to the point that the AHI shoes and boots will not fit on these figures. I can only assume that is why the soccer shoes were used. They were larger, black and close enough.
Thanks, I wonder if these were earlier or later editions? Seems like there would be a Creature out there head made of the same vinyl.
They strike me as being later issues, but the Frankenstein has the shirt and the jacket; where later issued ones are usually characterized by the absence of the shirt. So, maybe they were right before the last release. Purely speculation, of course.
Quote from: mjaycox on November 06, 2008, 12:45:28 PM
The REAL question, is what Soccer team would they back?
I am guessing Manchester United.
Matt
Gotta be Cardiff City :)
Maybe I just forgot about it, but I don't think I've ever seen a bagged AHI figure. Who has one of those? Is there a picture?
I also wonder if there is a third version of the Creature. I've heard people swear up and down that there was a dealer at a Chicago show in the 80s that had three different carded Creatures side by side. There was the male and female we are familiar with, then there was something they describe as a "giant bendy." It was reportedly the most movie-accurate version of the three. I've also heard people say they've seen this thing loose. I tell them they are probably thinking of the smaller Bend Ems Creature, or they are thinking of the female Creature with its bendy arms and legs. No, they insist there is an 8-inch AHI bendy Creature out there.
Sounds to me like they saw the bendy, and time has distorted their memory, but you never know.
There were some bagged AHI figures on eBay, this was maybe in the late 90's. They were coming from Hong Kong I think, and they were all sealed but the clothes were rotting. No header card or anything, just a poly bag.
Thanks Andy for adding yet another spin to the seemingly endless variations of AHI monsters.
I think I'm liking this variation the best - Acromegalic Athletic Marfan Syndrome Monsters.
BTW, I was also curious if these monsters with their big feet also meant that they have ..
Never mind. ;D
Terry, you know what they say...big feet, big shoes. ;)
Wearing a size 10 1/2 right now. How about you? ;)
Quote from: fmofmpls on November 08, 2008, 03:36:19 PM
Wearing a size 10 1/2 right now. How about you? ;)
General, does your shoe size change? ???
BK
Quote from: fmofmpls on November 08, 2008, 03:36:19 PM
Wearing a size 10 1/2 right now. How about you? ;)
11 D ;D
Raymond Castile = 7 1/2 :(
Quote from: fmofmpls on November 08, 2008, 05:08:08 PM
Raymond Castile = 7 1/2 :(
Actually, that is my shoe size. Basically an 8, plus or minus a half size depending on the manufacturer.
Quote from: raycastile on November 08, 2008, 05:10:24 PM
Actually, that is my shoe size. Basically an 8, plus or minus a half size depending on the manufacturer.
Again, I'm a 10 1/5, plus or minus a half size depending on the experience or mood of the moment.
If Meek were here, I'm sure she would scold me for such inane remarks.
Quote from: fmofmpls on November 08, 2008, 05:57:25 PM
Again, I'm a 10 1/5, plus or minus a half size depending on the experience or mood of the moment.
If Meek were here, I'm sure she would scold me for such inane remarks.
God loves you Terry, and so do I! You are one funny dude. ;D