TJ's Random toy review Number 2
Dr Frankenstein
Mcfarlane Monsters Collection
Mcfarlane toys
1997
Alright, just blazing along with these at record speed.... Next up is a 2 for 1. It is the Mcfarlane Toys take on Dr Frankenstein, his lab and his monsters. For those who didn't know, Mcfarlane toys are responsible for making the toy industry what it is today IMHO. When Spiderman looked like this:
Spawn looked like this:
Sure, one could argue that Spidy was aimed at kids and Spawn at adults, but these toys raised the bar and forced companies like Toy Biz to produce kid and collector friendly figures, like Spiderman Classics. So when Mcfarlane had a go at creating something a little different than your average toy company, he really did a great job. They also created different toy lines that were aimed at adult collectors. This legitimized the collector market and made way for companies like NCEA and Mezco. These were also the first toys that pushed the limits as far as how graphic they were. To my recollection, there were no blood soaked GI Joe figures in Toys R Us when I was a kid.
According to
www.spawn.com these monster figures were the first non-comic toys that Mcfarlane released. Wave one was released in April 1997 as four separate play sets. Dracula, Hunchback, Werewolf and Dr Frankenstein. These were based on Todd McFarland's interpretation of these classic monsters. They were also a little different to the Regular Spawn toys as the scale was smaller than the average toy. This allowed them to release the super cool play sets that made these figures really shine.
The second wave came a year later in May of 1998. It included three new scenes; The Phantom of the Opera, The Sea Monster and the Mummy and the forth was a continuation of sorts. They expanded on the original Dr Frankenstein Lab and created a second level with even more Frankenstein-y goodness.
When the first wave was released, I was still heavy into Star wars. I was just graduating from High School and these really didn't show up on my radar. It wasn't until the second series that they really caught my eye and I proceeded to pick em all up. I think I paid $20 per set at my local comic book shop and it was well worth it. My favorite set is the Frankenstein set as it is the most intricate and detailed, but all the others are gems and are well worth the cost.
So off to Dr Frankenstein's Lab well go:
This was The lab released in wave one. It is exactly what you would expect to see in a mad scientist basement complete with Book case, Electronic tools of chaos, some random papers thrown around a big wood table to create monsters with...
Unfortunately, time is a harsh thing on toys and my rubber straps have since cracked a broken. I am hopping to replace them, but I need to find some black rubber bands.
The second base is a little more elaborate as it is raised off the ground, has more book shelves, a movable table and no lab would be complete without a blood soaked operation table that can raise up to the fully charged electric towers certain to give any monstrous creature life...
Together they combined to make a very nice scene right out of the movies...
Now to our cast:
The first wave came with Egor and what I can only assume is the original Monster. And before I say anything more, I have to say that Egor is Creepy. From his twisted smile to his blood splatted lab coat, he really pulls of the assistant to a mad scientist look.
The first monster looks great from his brain down to his big Frankenstein boots. His body is a patch work of skin and stitches and looks like he has been made from parts that don't exactly match up. The other really cool thing is that he comes with an interchangeable head that can showcase his new found brain (that is removable) or a head that is stitched up for a night on the town.
Next up is the Man of the hour, Dr Frankenstein himself. Now it looks like the good doctor may have had some work done on himself, as he has a Mechanical hand (Perhaps he donated the other to science?), and a mechanical eye piece. He has also updated his look with trendy Goatee and Ponytail. Overall he looks like a mad scientist and it works for him and this set.
The last of this Motley Crew is the Monster 2.0. This came with The Dr in wave two and I can only assume the Dr's second project after the original success of the first monster. It looks like something right out of a monster movie, but IMO is the weakest of the series as it is reminisent of a mummy more that a man made patchwork abomination. The other disconcerting thing is why are the tubes that are attached to his intestine area feeding to it's heads??? At any rate, it is suitable enough to lay down on the operating table for the Dr. to perform his work.
These are all the accessories that come with the set. Everything that one may find in a mad scientists lab. Notice the holes or hooks on the interments. They are made to fit on the Character belts and are a really nice touch. The thing on the Bottom right is a stomach and intestines. Yeah, it fits on a hook on one of the shelves. Talk about sanitation!
And finally the set all together:
And on the shelf:
Final thoughts. These monster sets are a great example of everything good bad bad with Mcfarlane Toys.
It is great because it is an imaginative, creepy, amazingly detailed toy that looks awesome when displayed on a toy shelf. Its biggest fault is just that though, it is only good for display. Mcfarlane toys do an amazing job at sculpting, detail and painting, but sacrifice playability for it. Now this isn't really a bad thing for me as I don't play with my toys, but it really limits any creative poses and after-opening fiddleing that I like to do with my other toys and is primary why I stopped collecting Mcfarlane toys.
Overall I love this set and would give it 4.5 out of 5.
