When it comes to classic horror characters, Universal’s movies of the 1930s and 1940s became the prototype for many other iterations of the likes of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman and, of course, The Mummy. As the classic movie starring Boris Karloff as the ancient Egyptian monster celebrates almost 90 years of inspiring horror filmmakers, NECA are continuing their range of action figures based on the Universal Monster universe. Having already released black and white and color versions of Frankenstein’s Monster, and have teased their Wolfman and Dracula designs based on the likeness of Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi, it is now the turn of Karloff’s The Mummy.
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Any fan of the Universal Monsters universe will admit that there has been a distinct lack of good quality action figures based on the classic look monsters that kickstarted the many big screen outings that would come in the future and in many cases have yet to be bettered despite advances in filmmaking technology. While NECA and others have been delivering many nostalgic hits with their super-articulated toys based on 80s and 90s movies and cartoons such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Back to the Future and Animaniacs, this collection of Universal Monsters is something else and almost like bringing home a piece of art rather than a toy.
The NECA description of their latest unveiled offering reads: “For the 90th anniversary of the extraordinary silver-screen classic, NECA presents The Mummy in authentic black-and-white! In this Universal Monsters classic, Boris Karloff shines as the ancient Mummy in a tale of love transcending death. The sculpt captures the intricate special effects makeup that required eight hours to apply and two hours to remove. Standing in 7” scale, the figure comes in premium packaging with interchangeable heads, interchangeable hands, and Egyptian chest that opens.”
In the 1932 movie The Mummy, an archaeological team uncovers the mummified remains of the Egyptian prince Imhotep and the fabled Scroll of Thoth. When the scroll is read aloud, Imhotep is resurrected and escapes his tomb. Years pass, and the ancient prince takes on the appearance of a wealthy man, searching Egypt for his former lover who he believes has been reincarnated as Helen Grosvenor.
Taking its inspiration from the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen a decade earlier, producer Carl Laemmle Jr. instigated a search for a novel to provide the story for an Egyptian-centered horror movie that would follow up Dracula and Frankenstein. However, with no novel being found, but the final story sharing many plot points with Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story The Ring of Thoth, a new story was written about a San Francisco magician who survived millennia by injecting himself with nitrates. After moving the setting to Egypt and making amendments to the name and origin of the lead character, the film we know as The Mummy took shape quickly into the one released in December 1932.
NECA’s The Mummy figure comes with additional hands, heads and a number of accessories including the Scroll of Thoth and is available for pre-order with delivery expected in June 2022. You can read more about the figure and see additional photos at NECAOnline.com.
