The stunning - and weird - The Mummy (Costume Colors) from Super7 shows just how valuable a good license is with the right creative team. The old Universal monster movies are cultural classics, in the sense that everybody wants to have seen them but fewer people actually watch them. Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Creature, and countless others are recognized as Halloween staples and cultural institutions. But movies you'd actually watch? Maybe not. (A shame, they're fun and short.)
The Mummy figure is, according to Super7, based on vintage Halloween costumes. Maybe I'm the wrong age, but I can't remember it or find it on Google, but I am seeing some pretty swell Ben Cooper costumes that look a lot more like Dengar. But there's nothing in these colors, with bright red, with green splotches, and a blue head. If it's based on an actual costume, I don't know which one it is. But it doesn't matter, this one is just weird enough to be worth a look.
In the world of kaiju toys and sofubi in general, wacky recolors are the norm. Indie toymakers need them too - the audience for weird collector figures isn't always a big one, so being able to do a run in glitter, or glow, or neon, or clear, or whatever really helps your bottom line. So far the Mummy from Super7 - which uses a different sculpt than the original Funko x Super7 one - is in a standard deco, a flatter/brighter SDCC color, a clear pink Luminators figure, and this oddball, plus a glow-in-the-dark translucent one. They're all different enough to be weird and interesting, giving something for monster fans to buy that doesn't necessarily look like all the figures they already bought. Sure, it's the same sculpt, and yes, some have the same basic paint applications. But dang it, they're interesting.
This 3 3/4-inch scale action figure is cast in a bright red plastic that almost feels orange. The hands and head are painted blue with green bloody detail on the front and back, plus a bloody eye and some green eye shadow. It's the kind of thing you see in the store and are like "What? That's ridiculous. Why would anyone buy that?" and then drive back a week later to buy it. Or at least that's how it went for me, and then it rang up at $3.69 which as you know isn't even real money. If you wanted a Mummy that looks like it could fight G.I. Joe Eco Warriors, where else are you going to find it?
Since I don't recognize - and can't find - the source of inspiration, I can only say it's bizarre and great. I see some pins and such that seem to have similar eye patterns, so I can only assume that figures like this are serving as a canvas for more creative pursuits. I've got no problem with that - the card art is weird, the figure is an eyesore, and it's the kind of thing that I assume is going to disappear as the current crop of toy buyers starts to get old and die off. I mean, I bought this on clearance - and I see a lot out there.
I wish I lived in a timeline where Super7 made this figure for actual children, be it 40 years ago or today. At $20, it's probably going to be collected and stowed away by most fans - I assume young people would have fun with it as a cheap toy. As it is neither cheap nor a toy, I can only say it's charming, it's weird, I've paid more for less. I really like it. I'd love to see Super7 try a few more weird variants like this, particularly if the regular Mummy is still in circulation. And if they don't want to, well, at least we've got this guy.
16bit.com is best not viewed in Apple's Safari browser, we don't know why. All material on this site copyright their respective copyright holders. All materials appear hear for informative and entertainment purposes. 16bit.com is not to be held responsible for anything, ever. Photos taken by the 16bit.com staff. Site design, graphics, writing, and whatnot credited on the credits page. Be cool-- don't steal. We know where you live and we'll break your friggin' legs.
RSS 
