Attack of the 7-inch 31 Days of Toy Terror: Shredder as Dracula from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters by NECA

 

   Wait! Isn't the theme of this year's festivities "The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror?"

   Well, yes, but there are absolutely some larger figures I want to review as well. I can't ignore some of the newest, coolest, spookiest stuff coming out right now, can I? Mixed in are going to be come reviews of larger figures. Deal with it!

   NECA has been slowly building the roster of their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters toyline. Very slowly, actually, as the first figures released were back in 2022 and we've only been getting one or two new figures a year since then. Splinter as Van Helsing was released years ago (back in 2022), which seemed like pretty clear evidence that Shredder as Dracula was coming. Well, he's finally arrived. It's been about three years, but we now have an official Shredder as Dracula action figure, something the vintage line didn't have (Playmates released Don as Dracula in 1993). Instead of going with the Shredder wearing a classic Bela Lugosi inspired costume, James Groman has designed an all new look that captures the aesthetics of both the Shredder and Dracula, but also adds in the look of a feudal Japanese warlord. Dracula as a daimyo? Very cool! Interestingly, there are three variants of this figure, all with different color schemes. I'm looking at the standard red and black version (the mainline release) but there is a red version exclusive to Target and a black and gold version exclusive to Walmart. The figure comes with three portraits and each version is displaying a different portrait on the figure in the package. Let's check out the standard version of Shredder as Dracula after the break...

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror! Frankenbear from Deddy Bears Minifigures by Innov8 Creative Academy

 

   For today's tiny tidbit of terror I'm really excited to check out Frankenbear from Innov8 Creative Academy's Deddy Bears Minifigures. I've been aware of the Deddy Bears for the past year or two but when they released some minifigures that were available at Five Below, they caught my interest. Last year I picked up two or three of the series 1 figures (I know I grabbed the werewolf bear and the Jack o' Lantern bear) and this summer I picked up Frankenbear from series 2. I'm always down for a riff on Frankenstein/ the Frankenstein Monster! These guys seem to be available at many places but I've picked mine up at Five Below for $5 bucks. While there are Deddy Bear plushies, squishies, and larger plastic figures that do have swappable limbs and such, these smaller guys are reminiscent of things like the Funko Mystery Minis, the Cryptozoic figures, or the Monogram International figural keychains, but with a stand. They're cute, creepy, and they're not sold in blind bags/ boxes; you actually can see who you're getting! The Frankenstein monster is one of the all time great characters in horror literature, so who wouldn't want a cute, cuddly version of him? Let's check out Frankenbear after the break...

(For those of you who like behind the scenes facts, this is actually the first 31 Days of Toy Terror review I wrote! I started this year in mid July, and finding yesterday's POP! mini Dracula, this guy and the Universal Horror Classics Tiny Mights in close succession helped me come up with this year's theme.)

The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror: Dracula and Castle from Bitty POP! Towns: Universal Monsters by Dracula

 

"I am... Dracula."

"I bid you welcome."

Hey, didn't I use this same opening last year? 

Ah, who cares? A good intro is a good intro! Welcome to the 2025 installment of 31 Days of Toy Terror! This year's theme is "The Incredible Shrinking 31 Days of Toy Terror" as we're looking at smaller figures based on a wide variety of horror classics. So, how small are we going to go with this year? I'm saying that toys around 4 1/2 inches or less are all welcome. I thought going specifically just covering minifigures, but that seemed like it might get dull after a bit. Besides, I think the standard sizes for most horror based action figures are between 6 and 8 inches, so maybe go with that. Now I do have some special reviews on Fridays that are larger figures since I don't want to ignore some of the great horror figures that have been released lately and which I've added to my collection. This Bitty POP! Towns Dracula and Castle though? It absolutely fits out theme. I discovered this guy a few months ago and I've been just sitting on him to be the introductory review. Minifigures and such are in again these days (just stroll through 5 Below or various stores at your nearest mall) and Funko has even been taking the POP brand to a smaller scale. Ready to check out one of the world's most popular monsters in his most popular portrayal? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Bride of Frankenstein from Toony Terrors by NECA

   During 2025's festivities, 31 Days of Toy Terror Takes the Universe, I featured the Bride of Frankenstein for my Halloween review, though she didn't get as much attention throughout the month like most of the gents. The Bride is absolutely an A-Tier Universal Horror icon despite the fact that she appears in only one film for less than 4 minutes. Still, that four minutes has cemented Elsa Lanchester and the Bride in horror history. Today I'm checking out the first of the fairly new Universal Monsters Toony Terrors, featuring The Invisible Man, the Phantom of the Opera, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Bride of Frankenstein. Today is a bit of a sneak preview for this Halloween season and I was inspired to check out the Bride as I've watched the trailer for Warner-Bros. upcoming 2026 film The Bride! like 3 or 4 times today and I'm pretty excited for it. Maggie Gyllenhaal directs Jessie Buckley as the Bride and Christian Bale as Frankenstein's Monster in a cross between Bride of Frankenstein and Bonnie and Clyde? That's a crazy choice and I'm ready for it. I'm always open for new takes on the classics. Let's check out a stylized version of the classic Bride tonight, though. Play here comes the bride and walk down the aisle after the break...

Action Figure Review: She-Hulk from Marvel Legends Retro Collection: Fantastic Four by Hasbro

 

   Gosh, I've been a way for a couple of days, haven't I? I've been working on reviews for next month's 31 Days of Toy Terror, sure, but your old pal Barbecue has also been under the weather for a couple days and I'm just now finally feeling well enough to sit up and work on a review. How about we take a look at a fairly recent release from Hasbro's Fantastic Four themed Marvel Legends Retro Collection? Yes, it's She-Hulk clad in her Fantastic Four outfit. This is a pretty smart release on Hasbro's part for three reasons: 1. She-Hulk is popular and the majority of her action figures have sold quickly; 2. This is nice brand synergy with the recent release of the Fantastic Four movie as the character is connected to the team; and 3. She-Hulk joined the Fantastic Four at the end of Secret Wars, so this figure can kind of go along with the Secret Wars Retro Collection releases from earlier this year. I actually skipped the Iron Man Retro Collection version of She-Hulk (and now I wish I hadn't) but I do believe this figure is a repaint of that release with a new portrait, new accessories, and more hands. Ready to see if Jennifer Walters' latest release is worth laying down your hard earned green for? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Footloose from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro

 

   After reviewing four Cobra agents in a row (and M. Bison, who did show up as a villain in the vintage G.I. Joe line) it's time for a hero. A Real American Hero. Let's take a look at Footloose from the G.I. Joe: Classified Series. Part of the 1985 series of vintage G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero figures, Footloose is currently the second to last 1985 single carded character we need to finish that year in the Classified Series (we just need Airtight now). An infantry trooper, Footloose had a rather basic specialty compared to other Joes. I wonder what led to him being placed on the Joe team, anyway? Footloose had an interesting file card that portrays him as an Eagle Scout and valedictorian who drops out of college, moves to California, and "became quite weird for about three years." Eventually he reaches a point where he questions the meaning of his existence (or lack thereof) and joins the army. Interestingly, Larry Hama originally suggested that figure should have just been an update of Grunt rather than a new character, but Hasbro apparently disagree and we have a somewhat far out, though presumably competent soldier who once told a kid playing football "Nice catch blanco nino, but too bad your ass got saaaacked." And then he tackled the kid after he was down. Seriously, besides the figure and file card, this is the thing I remember most clearly about Footloose. Avoid a similar fate as that kid by joining me after the break...

Action Figure Review: M. Bison (Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive) from Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   A week or two ago I reviewed the Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive Dhalsim that was one of the two Jada Toys SDCC exclusives for the Ultra Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers line and now I'm reviewing the other exclusive: The Deluxe Player 2 Exclusive M. Bison. This is the third version of Bison Jada has released in this line, after the original release and the BBTS exclusive Player 2 M. Bison, and they've all had different colored outfits. This new variant comes with a lot of new extras though, including new portraits for both himself and the original Bison figure, the Psycho Crusher effects, and the blue fiery figure representing when other World Warriors get hit by Bison's Psycho attacks. There's a lot of new stuff here and this is definitely a fully loaded set! Ready to check out another version of the big boss of Shadaloo? Then join me after the break...