The Mummy [ReAction/Monsters of the Silver Screen]

It was the monster figures that first caught my attention when Super7 started their ReAction figure line a good decade or so ago. I was quickly hooked and have been buying the old school style figures ever since. Their Monsters of the Silver Screen blind box series features Universal Monsters in black and white colors similar to how they appeared in those classic movies. Obviously, I'm a fan. Today we'll be looking at The Mummy. This figure represents Boris Karloff's portrayal of Imhotep, who was also played by Arnold Vosloo in the popular newer moves. Well, the ones that started in 1999.

That is technically newer than the focal point today. That movie came out in 1932, which was 93 years ago. Honestly, I prefer Kharis over Imhotep. He's The Mummy in all the sequels and is the stereotypical Mummy you think of regarding the monster. Imhotep spends most of his movies rejuvenated and is only in the traditional look in fleeting moments. When I was very young, my brother and I had Remco Monsters that got played with a lot. My brother had The Mummy and I had Frankenstein's Monster.

They glowed in the dark and had a terrifying grabbing gimmick when a button on their back was pushed. A little later on, my Dad acquired a sale boat model that went on display in our living room. I don't know why, but The Mummy and Frankenstein became the permanent passengers of that boat. Come to our house, watch TV in the living room, and be amazed by our boar piloted by monsters dammit. I've got multiples of these ReAction versions of the monsters, this one is in black and white... like the movie.

Halloween Is Not Canceled, Thanks To Dracula

I've been hearing it all year. Halloween is canceled. Yet here we are celebrating the spooky shit out of it. Pandemic be damned, we all flew over the moon and rang in the best season of the year. 

It's not Halloween yet, at least not until we all watch my favorite Halloween Special of all time- The Halloween That Almost Wasn't! Seems a little more fitting this year huh? The video attached above is a pretty good copy of the VHS release (with alternate 'The Night Dracula Saved The World' title).

I'm not ashamed to admit I watch it throughout the year. Just like old Halloween commercials and a few other choice specials, it's some of my favorite things to watch. I love it so. 

The season is winding down, I know. Soon I'll have to pack the pumpkins away and wait another year for... who am I kidding? Everyday is Halloween on Zone Base. They'll be spooky shit all year. It's even in the sites description. It's a site about robots AND monsters. Duh.

If you watch the video from my site, or later on TV, enjoy Dracula and the gang saving Halloween. They had to save it from a fed up Witch. We had to save it from a freaking pandemic. Admittedly he probably had an easier job.

Your Mummy Wants Some Ice Cream

Who doesn't love ice cream? Despite the normally cooler temperatures of fall, a ice cream cake from Carvel shaped like a pumpkin is just the thing for a spooky dessert. The wife and I often get one ourselves, they're great. We're definitely getting one this year, especially after last year's Baskin Robbins Halloween Ice Cream cake fiasco.

What happened? Pure incompetence when trying to order one lead to a corporate complaint and a complimentary one. I'd like to say all was well, but even the act of picking it up was a nightmare. So, we're gladly getting another Carvel this year. Unfortunately we don't have access to a Carvel store here in Georgia, but they're readily available at most grocery stores. 

You think the mummy is overdue for some ice cream goodness? He's been in that tomb for what, 50 billion thousand years? You know his dry ass could go for that pleasant vanilla taste and he'd probably savor the coldness after being buried in the hot desert for so long. I'll tell you what, though. No matter how cool I think the mummy is, that fool tries to steal a piece of my Carvel and I'd have to whoop that old ass. He's like a King or something, he can buy his own.

Trick Or Treat With Pizza Head And Steve

It's probably safe to say you're going to eat pizza on Halloween. While it might not be the official meal of the holiday... it might as well be. Nothing beats a slice of the stuff with Garfield's Halloween Adventure on and trick or treating the kids. Everyone has their own favorite brand to order. 

I have fond memories of Halloween parties and Little Caesar's. Dominoes is always good, and I've always liked Papa Johns. Maybe you've got a cool local place. Of course everyone gets Pizza Hut, it's just right and who didn't love Pizza Head and Steve? In the commercial above he has a great little Halloween adventure himself.

I love Halloween.

Crestwood House Monsters- The Mummy

Friday night is the time for frights, aight? Going down our weekly look at the legendary children's book series by Crestwood House as we enter a summer holiday here in the US, I figure The Mummy would be pretty appropriate. It's so hot I'll be walking like old Imhotep by the end of the weekend and smelling like baby powder. Summer is a Spooky Season and nothing is more terrifying than chaffing. Ow.

It looks like the full book is in the preview this time, but if you want to download it to your phone or tablet for free, follow the link in the viewer.

I've always been more partial to Karis than Imhotep as far as the Universal Mummies go. Whenever you think of a traditional Mummy, you're thinking of Karis. Imhotep just left his tomb is the bandages and went about sorcery. I generally like Karis's movies better too. Though there on all the Universal Monsters signage, there's Imhotep. I'd say it's because Imhotep was in the original and Karis was in all the sequels (not counting remakes). But Jason wasn't the killer in the original Friday the 13th either. It's not fair. Karis, I appreciate you man.  Just wanted you to know that dude.

Friday Night Frights- Egyptian Melodies

It's Friday Night and you know what that means... actually right now it means I'm laying exhausted in my new home after moving all day (hooray for scheduled posts!), but to you it means some spooky shit here on the base! Disney is known for it's lighthearted family fun... but also for dark subject matter. For every happy ending, there was a death or two along the way. It's not just for dramatic storytelling either, sometimes they just like to make something scary for the hell of it.

Bravo Disney!

Here we have Egyptian Melodies from 1931 staring a cute little spider as he explores a pyramid. Know what a pyramid is? A big fancy ass crypt full of mummies and curses!

Ghostbusters Vs The Mummy

Regardless of your belief in the paranormal, between a pandemic and GIANT FUCKING MURDER BEES, this is clearly the year The Ghostbusters needed to be called. While I haven't found any of the new Real Ghostbusters toys yet, needless to say, I... uh... want that stuff. I can hear Egon figuring out just how to deal with those bees right now, and Venkman wondering if maybe the city should have called the zoo.

It's probably not a shock to any of you that I was a big fan of the Ghostbusters Monsters series of figures. Cool versions of classic monsters to scare the absolute shit out of Winston with, what's not to love? In the above commercial, we get to see the boys break out some new gear to battle The Mummy with... and they go a little overboard with. Admittedly if I had a giant vacuum car for battling ghosts with, I'd probably look for reasons to use it also.

Friday Frights- Face Of The Screaming Werewolf

Lon Chaney Jr. was best known as The Wolfman in The Universal Monsters movies. If you swing by the Mego section of your local Target, you'll see an action figure of him as a werewolf alright... but not the Wolfman. It's a figure of of his werewolf character from "Face of the Screaming Werewolf". I'm guessing the rights were dirt cheap or free for Mego here. I'm not sure if the movie is even public domain, just nobody cares. Which is unfortunate as it's one of Lon Chaney Jr's final performances.

If you don't watch the entire movie above (it's only an hour), let me explain the "plot". Two mummies are found in a pyramid. One just happens to be a werewolf.

The Mamba And The Mummy

THE COBRA MAMBA, a fast attack copter with laser guns and missiles on both sides. A giant purple and black menace featuring two detachable attack pods and twin rotor blades that looked amazing when they weren't hitting each other. In 1988, while on a spring break spent at my Grandma's house, THE COBRA MAMBA went on it's most devious mission yet. A museum robbery. Did I mention I was in the 4th grade?

Mummy Dearest

Man, it sure is Monday.

Dracula be in a hurry!

It's the big day! OR IS IT? Guys, I'm not joking around anymore. Unless somebody can convince the Witch to fly over the moon tonight... Halloween is OVER!!!! 

Let's just hope Dracula and the gang can save Halloween!

Dang... is the Mummy ok? He fell like a million times.

Magic Mummy

It's October, it's Halloween. A nice time to turn the lights off, light a few candles, and watch some old spooky crap. This here is Magic Mummy, a cartoon starring Tom and Jerry as cops chasing down some spooky shit. If grave robbers and dancing skeletons are your thing... I didn't think ahead how to follow that sentence. Uh.... part 5.

The Monster Squad

Monster Squad is the best movie ever.

The Halloween that Almost Wasn't/The Night Dracula Saved the World

This is my favorite Halloween special.

Just bask in it's glory.

They go disco dancing.

Whoa...

I know hardly anything about Gold Lightan, but I've been inspired to watch more by this clip alone.