Blessings upon you, Larami, for these and your many other contributions to my wasted and wonderful childhood.
(Images via Horrorpedia and eBay)
Archive for the 'Universal Monsters' Category
Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Alien Glow Putty (Larami, 1979)
Published October 26, 2015 Fantasy Art , Larami Toys , Universal Monsters 3 CommentsCreature from the Black Lagoon Poster from Weird Worlds #5 (Scholastic, 1980)
Published October 8, 2015 Magazines/Zines , Posters/Poster Art/Poster Pen Sets/Paint by Number , Universal Monsters 4 Comments
Weird Worlds was a kid’s horror and fantasy magazine that ran for eight issues from 1978 to 1981. Much like other Scholastic magazines, many issues featured a detachable poster. I would love to scan the whole run, because it’s a great example of the kind of advanced, somewhat esoteric material kids expected at the time. There were stories by sci-fi luminaries like Bradbury and Asimov, features on UFOs and paranormal phenomena, weird and disturbing facts and Forteana, fantasy art portfolios (Frazetta, the Brothers Hildebrandt). I particularly remember the wonderfully graphic comic book strips by Steve Bissette, best known now for illustrating Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing in the ’80s. You can read a few of these strips at The Horrors of It All.
Also check out this Monsters of the Greek Myths poster, a Scholastic giveaway from the same year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: 1980 was a hell of a year to be a kid.
(Image via Donald Deveau/Flickr)
Remco’s Universal Mini Monster Action Figures (1980)
Published July 21, 2015 Remco Toys , Universal Monsters 5 Comments
I’m not sure what convinced Remco that Universal Monsters were going to compete in 1980, when a little movie called The Empire Strikes Back came out and the horror genre was dominated by ultraviolent slashers and demons from hell, but I’m glad they did: regardless of how much money was lost, the Mini Monsters are some of the coolest action figures ever made. The cards are beautiful too. I love the glow in the dark graphic surrounding Frank and the Phantom on the versions seen here. The figures were first released in non-glow versions (the Creature was dark green).
Azrak-Hamway International (AHI), which acquired Remco in 1974, produced 8-inch Universal Monster figures from 1974-1976. The later Remco line (1980-1981) also included a series of 9-inch figures (hence the “mini monster” designation for the 3 3/4-inch figures), a nifty vinyl Play Case, the awesome Monsterizer, and hand puppets, as well as ancillary items like makeup kits. As always, I’m including some prices below.
2 Warps to Neptune 