Vinyl Pop Holidays Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus
3 3/4 Inch Scale
By: Funko
$5
Just the other day we reviewed Rudolph of the Funko Vinyl Pop figures and today we check in with Kris Kringle himself. If you’ve been good this year, ol’ Saint Nick is likely on his way to you later tonight.
And if you’ve been bad… Well maybe you can just buy this Funko vinyl and hope for a better result next year!
Vinyl Pop Holidays Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph
3 3/4 Inch Scale
By: Funko
$5
It’s Christmas time once again. Here at Infinite Hollywood, we love Christmas. So today I’m taking a look at some of the holiday Pop vinyls from Funko. These came out last year, but I only managed to review the Bumble last year, so this year I wanted to get the rest of the crew. They made quite a few different Christmas vinyls based on the old Rankin-Bass animated movies, but they only made 3 Rudolph characters. Rudolph, Santa Claus and the Bumble.
Of course this year, they’ve added Yukon Cornelius, Hermie and the Misfit Elephant to the mix. Maybe we’ll review those next year! Anyway, here’s Rudolph himself! Just in time to lead Santa through a foggy Christmas Eve.
The big guy is on his way! What’s on your Christmas wish list this year?
This week the League wants to know what’s on my Christmas list? Well, I have to say that I don’t have much in mind. Typically around this time of year I have lots of wants. I normally could rattle off a dozen different things that I want. But this year? Not so much.
Sure there are things I could enjoy, but there’s almost nothing out there that I really, really want. This holiday season has been very stressful for me. Between a variety of charities, buying for some family members and doing donation drives like Infinite Toys For Tots, I’ve been far more into giving than receiving this year. Trust me, I’m shocked too. Normally I’m pretty selfish, ya know?
I feel pretty lucky this time of year, as I have darn near everything I could want. I suspect there’s also a big part of me that has some apathy towards everything that’s currently in the toy aisles. I get more excited about older lines than I do current stuff.Honestly, I’m sure I’ll be happy with whatever I get.
I am hopeful I might get some Adventure Team stuff from my Secret Santa and beyond that, I’ve pretty much left things to chance. My GF is planning some sort of big surprise for me, but I haven’t the foggiest clue what it could be. Likewise, I don’t expect anyone else in my family to get me anything “cool”. This year will probably be the least toy filled year I’ve had in quite some time. I think that says a lot about where my toy collecting habits are these days.
But I have to put something on this wish list, don’t I? I won’t do anything lame like “world peace” or whatever, because that’s no fun. This is supposed to be a WISH list. Something extravagant and rare… Hmm…
Lego City
Advent Calendar
1.7 Inch Scale
By: Lego
$33.99
Today’s review is not your typical toy review. Instead it’s the start of 24 different mini reviews. All my life I’ve wanted to do an advent calendar, but as a kid I never got to do one. I don’t think I even really discovered they existed until I was probably too old to do one anyway… Well technically I’m too old now, but you know what I mean. I think about as close as I came to an advent calendar was those old 7-Up Santa Calendars where you put a new cotton ball on his beard each day.
Anyway, every year I think about getting one, but I usually don’t remember until it’s 15 days into December. This year I remembered and when I saw that Lego had their own little pre-made advent calendar in the stores, I jumped. So from now until Christmas, join me each day as we share this advent calendar, my first ever, TOGETHER!
If you don’t know an advent calendar is basically a countdown to Christmas, with a new little gift of some sort each day. The third annual Christmas in Hollywood gets started with a bang, as day one of the Lego advent calendar starts now…
Packaging:
Before I reveal the prize, I should go over the general box in this first review, since each additional review will only be about the items containted in the calendar day. It’s a really colorful package and the box itself turns into the calendar. You simply cut some tape and lift the top flap to reveal the Christmas scene.
The fold out portion is actually pretty neat because it’s very colorful and creates a base for your Lego winter wonderland. It might only be cardboard, but it’s a nice inclusion regardless.
Day 1:
Unlike some advent calendars, the Lego City Advent Calendar isn’t arranged in order. Instead the days are randomly scattered about. It took me a minute to find the first day.
When you pull open the flap, you see a little picture of what you’re getting. Today it looks like we’re getting a crook.
I must admit that a burglar or escaped convict is a bit of a strange way to start a Christmas countdown, but hey who am I to doubt Lego?
He’s pretty easy to assemble and is actually a neat little guy. I haven’t bought a Lego in decades, but I know they’re a lot more elaborate these days. That said, this guy definitely harkens back to the older Legos in that he’s fairly simple.
“Doctor… Doctor WHO?!”
There are some nice details on his shirt, which is actually prison garb. You can see the beginning of his inmate number. The gold tooth is equally a nice touch. He also comes with a little white plastic piece. I’m not sure what it’s for. I assume another day will reveal more of this mystery.
You can reverse his scarf and make it more like he’s a bandit in the old west of something. Anyway, that’s about it. Pretty simple figure for day one. Tune in tomorrow to see more of the advent-ure unfold!
Creepy Classics
Zombie Claus
8 Inch Scale
By: Cast-a-Way Toys
$25.00
It doesn’t get much better than this. What’s cooler than a Zombie Santa Claus? Zombies are all the rage these days, but Cast-a-Way toys have delivered a figure on my door step just a day before Christmas that is sure to
Cast-a-Way started out as a small company (in fact they still are) which made custom monster figures. This figure is the first new monster that the Cast-a-Way crew has made in several years. The “Creepy Classics” line is back and what better way to kick it off than with a monstrously undead St. Nick! I bought this guy over at their Website and he’s now sold out. However maybe if you’re a good boy or girl this year and beg the guys at Cast-a-Way, they may do another run.
Packaging:
Cast-a-Way came up with their own Mego protective cases as well, called Super Clams. They’re semi-hard plastic and resealable. This is great for a figure like this, because once the holiday is over you can pop him right back in his card and keep him safe. I really wish more toys had a package like this.
Your zombie is kept safe and snug in his plastic tomb. Of course, letting him out is just part of the fun! The other good thing about the clamshell is that it doesn’t damage the interior card.
Speaking of the card, just look at it. Man that’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s not on some cheap piece of paper either, it’s a nice medium thickness cardboard. It’s bound to last a lifetime. Really great work here. The picture of Zombie Claus is so awesome.
The back of the package shows off the regular series figures in the Creepy Classics line. Note that while the Zombie there does have the same head sculpt, he is indeed in a different color scheme. So this isn’t an exact repeat. That one is blue, this one is green.
Sculpt:
Because “Mego” figures all share a similar body, the meat of the sculpt is in the outfit and head. These figures are one of a kind, made from a resin cast and each individually painted. That really ups the quality level here and the guys at Cast-a-Way have created a really great look for the Zombie.
The head is chocked full of detail both from a sculpting and paint standpoint. Each head was airbrushed and dry brushed to really bring out the details in the sculpt. What’s really impressive is that the paint matches the molded skin color of the figure like a charm.
Santa’s beard and hat are a separate piece, but they are sewn together. As best I can tell this whole outfit is handmade by the guys at Cast-a-Way. I can see some spots where the white was glued onto the red fabric and really adds an unexpected deviousness to this Zombie. It really looks quite unkempt and well, creepy!
This guy has a face that will scare babies, I’m telling ya! And he’s just the right amount of gross, not so gross you don’t want to display him. He’s quite attractive in that sense.
The green is a nice color and it contrasts well with the red. I’m glad they went with this design for the Zombie.
The included boots are a “pirate” type patent leather design. They’re not actually patent leather, but they look it. The mall Santas in the 1980′s used to wear boots just like this. A really nice added touch.
Articulation:
When it comes to articulation and movement, Cast-a-Way has reimagined Mego. They offer a body that on one hand is nearly identical to the classic Mego body and yet on the other hand has more articulation and is better engineered. I don’t know how they do it, but this is everything you could want out of a Mego-like figure and more.
The body is exactly like the flesh colored one on display here, but in a green color. The big added area of movement over the classic Megos is the swivel arm. You’d be surprised how much of a different that one simple point of articulation makes. The other thing to note is how perfectly straight this figure stands. Not like Mattel’s slumpy body.
The hands are different too. They’re a softer rubbery material. This means you can put pretty much any weapon of accessory in there with no fear of it breaking. Yet at the same time he holds with a tight grip!
Zombie Claus has more than enough articulation to terrorize your toy collection, that’s for certain!
Accessories:
I hate to sound like a company spokesman here, but Cast-a-Way simply gets it. I’ve ranted on and on in this section for other “modern Megos” about how these toys need several accessories. Cast-a-Way shoots and scores in that regard.
He comes with his beard and hat (the whole outfit including boots are also removable) and he’s got a Red Ryder Carbine Action B-B Rifle. Okay, maybe it’s just a shotgun, but it certainly looks like he shot his eye out! You also get a big ol’ bunch of creepy crawly bugs. Including some that glow in the dark!
He was also supposed to come with a sack of coal.
The good folks as Cast-A-Way did end up sending me my coal bag later. Great service from those folks.
Even missing an accessory this guy comes with a crap load more than the other companies are offering with their toys.
Value:
Only $25?! Almost every “modern Mego” on the market runs for about $20. When you consider that these are handmade and offer a ton of accessories, were produced in a super limited quantity and have a superior body to all others on the market, this is an absolute steal. Cast-a-Way gets it when it comes to price and value too!
Score Recap:
Packaging -10
Sculpting – 9
Articulation – 10
Accessories – Shotgun, Hat and Beard, Bugs
Value – 10
Overall – 10 out of 10
I wasn’t expecting to get another perfect 10 before 2010 ended, but sure enough Cast-a-Way has delivered. Only the sculpt scores a 9 and that’s just because I felt like being a Scrooge somewhere. Seriously, this guy is about as good as it gets. Have a
So I don’t have the packages for either of these two, so I’m going to do a quick spotlight photo review. Mickey Mouse stars as Bob Cratchit in the Mickey Christmas Carol and Morty Mouse, one of the Mickey’s small friends, is Tiny Tim. Each of these figures were packed on a single card, they were not a double pack.
Mickey looks great as Bob Cratchit and as with the other figures, Playing Mantis put a lot of attention to the details on his outfit. The hat unfortunately just sits on the head and is prone to fall off with even the slightest ant fart.
The scarf is removable and underneath is a nice little suit coat.
The back has several details painted and sculpted.
Mickie however, unlike Minnie, is an important character in the story and a much needed addition to the set.
He comes with a coal bucket, one piece of coal (not pictured), an ink quill that needs to be thawed out and a home sweet home sign. All things that were seen in the film.
I didn’t even know the mouse who played Tiny Tim had a name. I don’t really recall seeing Morty in anything else, but I guess he is a established Disney toon character.
He is pretty adorable as Tiny Tim and it’s an important figure to have for the collection.
He has a slight lean so that you can use his crutch. His hat, unlike everyone else’s, has a groove to fit the ears and it sits on his head pretty good.
Since Morty was smaller than everyone else, they gave him a ton of Tiny Tim accessories. He comes with the little bear he gets at the end, a stool, a barrel, a Christmas tree and two different presents.
Both figures are worth picking up, but can be a bit costly to track down. They make a nice addition to the set, but otherwise they could also be used as decent Mickey Mouse figures. Playing Mantis’ Memory Lane line was really good and it’s a shame these figures came and went so suddenly.