New Universal Monsters in 2014 from Diamond Select

[aura of foreboding]

"The Mole People" was made by Universal International, so how is it not a Universal monster?

I guess I should have put the word "classic" in there.

The classic Universal Monsters end with the Creature, in my book.  Mole People was never released under the "Classics Collection," which was pretty expansive as far as Monster inclusion.  They didn't make the cut.  I accept the Mutant, because it's a pretty cool costume design, but also don't consider him to be a true classic Universal Monster. 

Anyway, it was a rant against Universal's apparently selective licensing more than anything.

[Anton Phibes]

If they could have eeked out a Mego style Werewolf of London and Monster on Campus as a final wave I would be tickled pink.

Monster on Campus gets no love. Yet the film is much more entertaining than the Mole People in my opinion.

I am not going to complain too much though. I seem to remember a time pre-Sideshow when gettting even decent Phantom of the Opera merchandise was considered "risky". Now more people seem to know who the Phantom is over the Mummy.

The licensing seems to change over the years. For instance---in the 60's it was Glenn Strange's Monster who was used for a lot of the merchandising and ads, and the Chaney Mummy. Now those two hardly ever see the spotlight.

[aura of foreboding]

The licensing seems to change over the years. For instance---in the 60's it was Glenn Strange's Monster who was used for a lot of the merchandising and ads, and the Chaney Mummy. Now those two hardly ever see the spotlight.

Though both came back in 1997!  Then the horrible 2001 style guide took over...

[Mike Scott]

Mole People was never released under the "Classics Collection,"

Neither was "Phantom of the Opera" '25. 

[Count_Zirock]

Neither was "Phantom of the Opera" '25. 

Well, that's because Universal allowed the copyright to expire, as they did with "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" '23.

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[Count_Zirock]

If they could have eeked out a Mego style Werewolf of London and Monster on Campus as a final wave I would be tickled pink.

Seems to me there's another company of great Distinction, that might be able to help us with these Mego-styled Dummies...

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[aura of foreboding]

Neither was "Phantom of the Opera" '25. 

Still, PTO was included in the line-up.  Granted, not the superior version, but PTO nonetheless. 

Well, that's because Universal allowed the copyright to expire, as the did with "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" '23.

And I don't think anyone can deny that these two are truly classic Universal Monsters.   

[VulcansFury]

Monster on Campus gets no love. Yet the film is much more entertaining than the Mole People in my opinion.

Thanks for that, I'm going to check it out. I hadn't heard of Monster on Campus before. I really liked Mole People. It's not the greatest overall, but I love the designs, and the creepiness of the Mole People really impressed me. (I saw Mole People for the first time ever last year, even after owning the Sideshow figure for years!)

I've bought 2 DST Mole People so far, tempted to get a third to hack off the legs and make a custom of one climbing out of the dirt. I figured I'd let the folks in my area buy theirs before I wiped out all the TRU's.

[Mike Scott]

Thanks for that, I'm going to check it out. I hadn't heard of Monster on Campus before. I really liked Mole People.

You can get Monster on Campus, The Mole People and other Universal sci-fi flicks in this set.
http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Sci-Fi-Ultimate-Collection-Vols/dp/B0013XZ6SY/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1381081067&sr=1-1&keywords=classic+sci-fi+ultimate+collection+volumes+1+2

[ravenloft]

I guess I should have put the word "classic" in there.

The classic Universal Monsters end with the Creature, in my book.  Mole People was never released under the "Classics Collection," which was pretty expansive as far as Monster inclusion.  They didn't make the cut.  I accept the Mutant, because it's a pretty cool costume design, but also don't consider him to be a true classic Universal Monster. 

Anyway, it was a rant against Universal's apparently selective licensing more than anything.

Agreed, the classic universal Monsters stops at the Creature of the Black Lagoon. The late 50's and 60's style of movie with the nuclear bomb freaks of nature (giant gila monsters, ants, etc.) and UFOs and aliens are a completely different feel from a classic monster movie and don't blend. Mole man and Metaluna Mutant are more in the genre of pure science fiction with no element of gothic horror.

Gothic horror films usually have some supernatural element. Some sci fi monsters definitely have gothic horror elements, such as invisible man, Dr. Jekyll Mr.hyde or Frankenstein's monster who defined gothic horror for all time. Not saying sci fi can't be scary, some sci fi has changed the genre completely like Alien which now is in its own category sci fi/horror. The Fly would be another good example of sci fi with a strong horror element.

It is not like a monster mash up with metaluna or the mole people meets wolfman or dracula would be possible, it would be a joke, because they exist in different fictional universes so to speak. Although they are interesting film costuming, I don't think they belong with classic monsters either.

[aura of foreboding]

I went back to TRU today.  The sloppy Phantom was gone, as was one of the Hunchbacks.  Clearly there is a Chaney collector out there.  All that remains of the retros is one Mutant.  Pretty scary, considering that they still have two Brides left from a year ago! 

[jimm]

Brides and a Mummy still warm the shelf also. Not only are they not clearance priced they are a few bucks more than the new releases:

[marsattacks666]

Brides and a Mummy still warm the shelf also. Not only are they not clearance priced they are a few bucks more than the new releases:

The Bride, is the least cool, out of all the Universal Monster figure line. Probably the reason why she is still at Toys R?
I can not explain the why the Mummy hasn't found new homes? The Mummy figure doesn't look that awful.

[aura of foreboding]

I must admit that, although essential, this Bride did not speak to me.  She's okay, but she's really not that dynamic.  Of course I had to get her, and I'm not disappointed in her, but she didn't really excite me either.  My favorites are as follows: Phantom, Creature, Frankenstein, Wolf Man and Dracula.  The Mutant, Mummy, and the Bride are cool, but I have them more just to have them.  Now, had the Mummy been the original Kharis design, he would definitely have been in my favorites list.   

[Gasport]

Well, my local TRU still [today was a delivery day] didn't get the retro cloth figures. So i decided to take a trip about 40 miles west to another TRU and lo and behold, they had 2 Phantoms and a Mutant and i bought them all. They had none of the Mole Man, Hunchback or Jekyll's, though.  They did have the Mezco Creech, which i was happy to see in person. Very impressive, but i blew over 70 bucks on the retro's and had to stop there. Was also surprised to see the Revell reissues of the Aurora Wolfman, Mummy and Drac models which i thought were long gone from store shelves. Will check again at my local store on Thursday for the retros. Wouldn't mind grabbing another Mutant & Phantom. I'm very selective about what new monster toys i collect these days, but these guys are over the top!