Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Capt. Henry Rhodes from Day of the Dead by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   

   How about another figure from Trick or Treat Studios' Day of the Dead toyline? Since we've already covered a zombie (Bub), let's now take a look at one of the humans from the film: Capt. Henry Rhodes. While the zombies are certainly a problem in the film, Capt. Rhodes is the primary antagonist for our heroes as he's heavily armed, commands a group of soldiers, and is steadily losing his grip on reality. Inspired by the classic Kenner figures of the late 1980s and 1990s like Beetlejuice, The Real Ghostbusters, Police Academy, Aliens, Terminator, and Jurassic Park, these figures really impress me because they remind me of the toys I really grew up playing with. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I really like the Dead movies, as well. During a sleepover as a very young teen, a friend and I watched Tom Savini's remake of The Night of the Living Dead two times on MonsterVision with Joe Bob Briggs in one night; ever since, I've been obsessed with horror and zombies, so these figures "give me life" as the youth of today might say. Which is odd to say of zombie action figures, especially this guy, who gets killed by zombies. Spoiler alert, by the way. Let's check out Capt. Henry Rhodes as we Trick or Treat through 31 Days of Toy Terror....

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: "The Mummy" Rip Rod from Hot Wheels Silver Series: Universal Monsters by Mattel

 

   Just in time for Halloween Hot Wheels has released a set of five Universal Monsters inspired vehicles in the Silver Series. These cars are a little more expensive than your average Hot Wheels, but cheaper than some of the more specialized vehicles. Hot Wheels often does Halloween inspired cars and if I lived in a neighborhood and had Trick 'r Treaters, I'd be inclined to buy a bunch and give them out as treats as they're really quite neat. One of the first cars I found is the Rip Rod decorated in tribute to the 1932 Universal Studios film The Mummy. Is this a buggy that Imhotep could possibly use to cross the deserts of Egypt? Let's check out this speedy and scary car after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: Pumpkin Snoopy (Black & White) from Peanuts by Just Play

 

   Despite not being too frightening (though he has worn masks, been a were-beagle and a vampire bat, and even dressed up like the Frankenstein Monster), Snoopy is definitely a Halloween icon. Charles Schultz always played up the holiday in the Peanuts comic strip, knowing how important it is to children, and the release of the 1966 animated special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was a celebration of not just Halloween but so many other elements of that special time of autumn, too. While the minifigure I'm looking at today isn't specifically based on that special, it is fitting for Snoopy to dress up like a Jack o' lantern. This minifigure came out a couple years ago in full color at Five Below (and maybe other retailers; I'm not sure if he was an exclusive or not) and this year he has returned in a black & white colorway. I love Snoopy and have a shelf of different Snoopy figures both because of my love of the character and because he has long reminded me of my beloved jackabee (Jack Russell/ Beagle mix), Crouton, who passed away last summer. He was an old fellow when he died, but he came to us as a stray over 15 years ago and while we first thought he was brown, a bath revealed that he was white with black speckles, kind of like Snoopy. Crouton also had a red collar and he kind of sat in that vulture pose that Snoopy often took. Sure, Halloween is a time for candy and ghouls and watching terrifying movies, but it's also a time for nostalgia, and sometimes nostalgia is remembering those we've loved and lost. This one is for you, Crouton! Join me after the break...

Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror: Michael Myers & Jamie Lloyd from Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers by Plastic Meatball

 

   With a theme of toys that focus on the holiday of Halloween for this year's 31 Days of Toy Terror you just know that Michael Myers will make more than one appearance. Today I'm excited to check out another figure from Plastic Meatball's retro inspired Halloween action figures though this time it's from Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. This 1988 sequel continues the story from Halloween II and introduces Michael's niece, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris) and is the first part of the fan-named "Thorn Trilogy" of films. While the rest of Plastic Meatball's Halloween releases have been focused on the original 1978 John Carpenter directed film, this release heavily shares tooling with those figures to create a 2-pack based on Halloween 4. It's an exclusive to Fright-Rags and released in late spring of this year. Ready to check out the frightening duo of Michael Myers & Jamie Lloyd? Then join me after the break...

Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror: The Wolf Man from Tiny Nightmares by Just Play

 

   

   OK, so while most figures this year will tie into the Trick or Treat Through 31 Days of Toy Terror theme of figures related to Halloween in some way, the Wolf Man is just one of my cheats. I mean, is there ever a real reason to not review one of the Universal Monsters? The Wolf Man is my favorite and I was really excited to see him pop up in Series 2 of Just Play's Tiny Nightmares minifigures. I reviewed the Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Bride of Frankenstein last year (from series 1) and I was pleased to discover that these aren't truly blind boxed. Instead, there is an alphabetical code on each one that corresponds to the character inside. The Wolf Man is letter "H" for the normal series that includes eight figures, so if you find that "H" then you have Larry Talbot. (Note: Last year Five Below did get a special set case of these figures with fewer characters that was lettered differently, so it's possible that there is a separate case assortment out there.) Ready for a fun treat for this Halloween season? Then join me after the break...

Check out Adora's Art: Anakin Skywalker

 

Usually I just review toys and action figures but right now I'm a very proud dad; my daughter, Adora, just showed me this piece of art she's been working on. I'm pretty impressed by it! Her talents have doubled since I last showed them off, right?

Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror: Bub from Day of the Dead by Trick or Treat Studios

 

   What is this year's theme for 31 Days of Toy Terror? That's right: Toys that are connected to the holiday of Halloween itself! It's Trick or Treat for 31 Days of Toy Terror, baby! That can include toys that are based on things like Jack 'O Lanterns or action figures based on movies and such that take place at Halloween, sure, but what about toys from Trick or Treat Studios? You know what? I'm going to allow it! I've really taken a liking to Trick or Treat Studios various movie based toylines that are reminiscent of the five or six point of articulation action figures of the late 1980s and 1990s. They make me think of classic Kenner lines like The Real Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, Police Academy, and even stuff like Aliens, Predator, and Jurassic Park. Sure, other companies released toys like these, too, but these really give me that old school Kenner vibe. I've got a bunch of these lined up for this month but I'm definitely going to be checking out all four figures from Trick or Treat Studios' Day of the Dead line. I'm a huge fan of George Romero's zombie films and I was amazed when I saw these at my local Walmart in their horror section in the late spring/ early summer. I'm starting off with Bub, the most recognizable zombie from 1985's Day of the Dead. Ready to check out Bub with his "Undead Salute" action? Then join me after the break...