Tag: Super7

Recommended music: Christina Aguilera feat. Dr. John – Merry Christmas, Baby (Live)

For this #WhateverWednesday, we’re checking out more action figures that are perfect for the time between Halloween and Christmas. Today’s pick from the Super7 ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line is Dr. Finkelstein!

In the movie, Dr. Finkelstein is voiced by the late William Hickey, an Academy Award nominee who you would certainly recognize as Uncle Lewis in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. His performance makes the character especially creepy. Dr. Finkelstein, credited as “Evil Scientist,” is the wheelchair-bound mad scientist of Halloween Town. He helps Jack Skellington with the plan to take over Christmas by reanimating reindeer skeletons, but I’ve always seen him as a secondary villain because of how he treats Sally, the living ragdoll he created.

Funko excluded Dr. Finkelstein from their Nightmare Before Christmas ReAction line, and Super7 also skipped him when they rebooted the line in 2020. Luckily, he finally appeared in the last wave of NBC ReAction figures in 2022. In addition to the five traditional points of articulation: a ball neck, shoulders, and swivel legs, the doctor’s head also has a hinge to reveal his brain as seen on screen. Although he is sculpted in a sitting position, the figure includes his signature motorized wheelchair. He also comes with a skull for use in his next creation, Jewel, a wife for himself, using part of his own brain. The paint and sculpt are simple and match the line’s style, and the painted details on the chair make this figure a better value than some others in the ReAction series.

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Recommended music: The Jacksons, Mick Jagger – State of Shock

For this #WhateverWednesday, we’re still focusing on action figures that fit well between Halloween and Christmas. Today’s pick from the Funko ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line is Shock!

In the film, Shock is convincingly voiced by Catherine O’Hara and is one of Oogie Boogie’s three mischievous henchmen, alongside Lock and Barrel. This seven-year-old trick-or-treater, dressed as a witch, demonstrates her cunning by helping to “kidnap the Sandy Claws” due to Jack Skellington’s request.

Funko released Shock in the second wave of their Nightmare Before Christmas ReAction line in 2016. The figure has five points of articulation: a ball neck, swivel hips, and shoulders. Her hands are too small to hold her accessories: her signature mask, a bone slingshot, and a cat-in-a-box. I didn’t include these in the photo, but it’s a generous set for a ReAction figure, especially since later henchkids came with fewer extras. I do wish she came with a broom, but I am happy the face is accurate, and the mask stays in place when needed. The paint and sculpt are simple and fit the line’s style. There are larger, more detailed versions available, but this one complements the rest of the ReAction series.

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Recommended music: Flowdan – Original Ragamuffin (feat. Wiley)

For this #WhateverWednesday, we are still highlighting action figures that are particularly suitable for the period between Halloween and Christmas. Our selection for today, from the Super7 ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, is Lock!

Along with Shock and Barrel, Lock is one of Oogie Boogie’s three raggamuffin henchmen. This trick-or-treating six-year-old is dressed like a little devil and definitely lives up to that look with his actions against Santa Claus. He also sounds older than he is, since Paul Reubens voices him in the film.

Although Funko included Shock and Barrel in their Nightmare Before Christmas ReAction line, they did not initially release the leader of the trio. Lock appeared in Funko’s Dorbz and Pop Vinyl lines, as well as in Nightmare Before Christmas collections from Applause, Diamond Select, Jun Planning, and NECA, but not in the 3.75-inch scale. Super7 also omitted Lock from the first wave when relaunching the line in 2020. However, he was finally included in the last wave of NBC ReAction figures in 2022.

The figure features the standard five points of articulation and includes one accessory: his mask, as depicted in several scenes from the film. While the paint and sculpt are relatively simple, they are consistent with this line’s aesthetic and accurate right down to the little devil tail. Although larger and more articulated versions exist, this figure integrates well with the ReAction series.

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Recommended music: Johnny Marsh – Vampire Christmas

This #WhateverWednesday, we’re checking out action figures that are just right for the time between Halloween and Christmas—though not for Thanksgiving. Today’s pick from the Super7 ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line is Vampire!

In The Nightmare Before Christmas, four vampire brothers appear among the citizens of Halloween Town, and a fifth shows up playing hockey near the end. The tall vampire helps search for Jack Skellington, saying, “I peeked behind the Cyclops’ eye.” When the town is “Making Christmas,” the vampires are shown making toys to place under the Christmas tree, including a fanged wooden duck pull toy.

Diamond Select and other companies have made vampire action figures before, including a set of all four by Japanese maker Jun Planning, but Funko never added a Vampire to their Nightmare Before Christmas ReAction line. Super7, however, released this one in the first year after relaunching the line in 2020. The figure has the usual five points of articulation, and its legs look a lot like the bell-bottom pants on old Kenner Star Wars figures. Instead of the black umbrella often seen with the vampires, this figure comes with the fanged toy duck, which is a fun touch. Though simple, the sculpt and paint match the film well enough. There are larger and more articulated versions out there, but this Vampire fits right in with the ReAction line.

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Recommended music: Hans Zimmer – Discombobulate

For this #WhateverWednesday, we’re looking at action figures perfect for the season between Halloween and Christmas. From the Super7 ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, it’s Harlequin Demon!

The Harlequin Demon is inspired by the classic harlequin clown, known for its diamond patterns, feathers, and jester hat. It’s a look that’s both familiar and a bit creepy. Like other Halloween Town residents, this monster loves to scare people and help get ready for Christmas. He’s also puzzled by the new holiday and shows off by turning a dead rat into a hat you can give as a gift.

Funko didn’t add Harlequin Demon to their The Nightmare Before Christmas ReAction line, but Super7 brought him in when they relaunched the line in 2020. The figure’s lower jaw moves for a sixth point of articulation, but there aren’t any accessories, which is a bit disappointing for the $20 price. While NECA Toys and Diamond Select Toys have made better Harlequin Demon figures, and Funko has produced cheaper versions, this figure fits in well with the ReAction line. The sculpt and paint match the movie really well, and I think it would look awesome under a black light.

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Recommended music: Pentatonix – Making Christmas

For this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’re continuing with figures perfect for the Halloween season through the Christmas season. From the Funko ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, it’s Devil!

I don’t believe this is supposed to be the actual devil, but rather he’s a devil lookalike who does show up in a handful of scenes and gets multiple lines in the film. He enjoys singing with the other residents of Halloween and also “Making Christmas,” including assisting Corpse Dad and Wolfman in making the Scary Teddy.

Funko actually included Scary Teddy, pictured here with the Barrel figure, when The Nightmare Before Christmas ReAction line debuted in 2016, but they did give the devil his signature pitchfork. Super7 did not rerelease the Devil figure for the eventual relaunch of the line.

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Recommended music: Behemoth – Ov Fire and the Void

For this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’re continuing with figures perfect for the Halloween season through the Christmas season. From the Funko ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, it’s Behemoth!

In the film, Behemoth is a large man wearing overalls with an axe sticking out of his head. The axe must have caused some damage (like striking a zombie in the head), as Behemoth rarely speaks outside of his exclamation of “BUNNY!” when he is near the accidental hostage Easter Bunny. When Jack is handing out jobs for Christmas (Behemoth’s role is producing nutcrackers), his list says “Farmhand” as Jack doesn’t even appear to know his name.

When The Nightmare Before Christmas ReAction line debuted in 2016, this version of Behemoth included the well-placed axe in the head and included a small nutcracker that fits in his hand (and could really use some more hits of paint). The sculpt is solid, right down to the detailed chest hair. 😄 Super7 did not release the figure again for the eventual relaunch of the line.

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Recommended music: Billy Idol – Eyes Without A Face

For this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’re continuing with figures perfect for the Halloween season through the Christmas season. From the Funko ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, it’s Mayor!

In the film, the Mayor of Halloween Town briefly enjoys celebrating another “successful” Halloween (whatever that means), but quickly turns his focus to planning for the following year’s holiday and briefly freaks out when Jack Skellington doesn’t answer his door the morning after Halloween. The mayor is literally a “two-faced” politician who can rotate his head around 180 degrees to reveal either a happy or a sad face.

When the ReAction line first made The Nightmare Before Christmas in 2016, this first version of Mayor came with his megaphone cast in purple plastic and his sculpted paper “plans” for next Halloween. The Super7 version released four years later would not retain the plans and changed the megaphone to black. The biggest upgrade for that version is that the “sad” face received a significant paint upgrade with additional detail, resulting in a more screen-accurate white face instead of the blue appearance in this version.

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Recommended music: Catherine O’Hara – Sally’s Song

For this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’re continuing with figures perfect for the Halloween season through the Christmas season. From the Funko ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, it’s Sally!

In the film, Sally is a rag doll from Halloween Town who longs for her independence from Dr. Finklestein, while also being enamored with Jack Skellington. She is voiced by Catherine O’Hara, who previously worked with the film’s writer/producer, Tim Burton, on Beetlejuice in 1988 and later on the 2012 remake of Frankenweenie.

When the Reaction line first covered The Nightmare Before Christmas in 2016, this initial version of Sally came with her basket and hole-filled spoon. The Super7 versions released four years later would replace those accessories and upgrade the paint job, but I think this figure is just fine on its own for this simplified 4” toyline.

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Recommended music: Danny Elfman – Doctor Finkelstein / In The Forest

For this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’re continuing with figures perfect for the Halloween season through the Christmas season. From the Super7 ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, it’s Jack Skellington and Zero!

When the Reaction line first covered The Nightmare Before Christmas in 2016, Funko was still producing it. They released several carded versions of Jack, each with a different facial expression. However, none of the regular retail releases included Jack’s ghost-dog Zero. There was a limited-run early-bird release of Jack and Zero for San Diego Comic-Con in 2014. Still, Zero was otherwise unavailable until Super7 rebooted the line without Funko in 2020, which included these two in the first wave.

I like the look of this Jack figure with his lanky limbs, and the Zero figure is a cute addition. This scene in the film shows Jack taking Zero for a walk and passing the door to Thanksgiving Town, while the door to Christmas Town is much more appealing and quickly pulls him in with a snowy gust of air. This is becoming increasingly common among people who decorate early for Christmas, often looking past Thanksgiving. [I also love how this picture turned out, as I think it was the first time I discovered how to make a layer transparent like Zero – DM]

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Recommended music: Catherine O’Hara, Danny Elfman, and Paul Reubens – Kidnap the Sandy Claws

For this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’re kicking off a new series of ReAction figures from the collection. From the Funko ReAction The Nightmare Before Christmas line, it’s Barrel!

While the look of this youthful character’s head (both with and without his removable mask) now reminds me of Jared Leto’s look for Joker in the Suicide Squad film, for the 23 years before that, he was just a cute 5-year-old from Halloweentown who served as a costumed henchman for Oogie Boogie. The film’s composer, Danny Elfman, provides the voice of Barrel for the film and soundtrack.

The action figure captures his appearance from the film well, even with the limited paint applications and articulation the line is known for. Besides the mask, a little vampire doll is included for a rare (for this line) second accessory. In the film, the doll is seen when Jack Skellington (as Santa) leaves it for a child on Christmas, only to have it come to life and fly after a pair of children until the (real) Santa returns and replaces it with a normal doll. This has nothing to do with Barrel but is a wonderful way to add value to this release. An additional release of this figure also included a lollipop accessory, but this first release did not.

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Recommended music: The Amazing Brando – Ghosts’N Goblins

So, on this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’ve come to the end of the Super7 ReAction Ghosts’N Goblins line.

Here are some of the figures popping up in the promo art for the game. This artwork was seen in advertisements, on the sides of some arcade cabinets, and on console game cartridges.

No skeletons included here, I think that’s enough #GhostsNGoblins for this year!

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