MacabreDaily's Exclusive SDCC22 NECA Booth Tour!
Now that Comic-Con made its triumphant return back to the San Diego Convention Center, so has the excitement and enthusiasm of "nerd" collecting ambitions (I include myself). Unremorsefully ready to drain bank accounts dry, all to get those hard-to-find pieces to add to our display cases and bookshelves.
Of course no SDCC visit would be complete without making a pitstop to the National Entertainment Collectibles Association booth on the exhibit floor, that's NECA for most of ya. Macabre Daily had the honor to be given a private booth tour of NECAs upcoming and current horror and science fiction collectible toy lines. We took the pleasure of meeting with one of NECAs art directors, who was gracious enough to give us the tour himself.
He started the tour with introducing us to all the NECA SDCC22 exclusives. This year we were met with a plethora of amazing intellectual properties and toy lines. Fortunately for us, a few of those exclusives are in the Macabre Daily wheelhouse.
This year The Thing franchise continues with a new SDCC exclusive figure that took the inspiration from the movie poster and brought to life in 7" figure form. Standing at 7 inches tall, and features an LED light in head and interchangeable and removable face plates to create posters iconic light burst effect. NECA also continues next year with The Thing in celebration of it's 40th anniversary, by introducing the "dog thing" with interchangeable parts to better mimic the metamorphosis of the thing in the movie.
Another SDCC exclusive was the Ultimate Wedding Gretta Gremlin from Gremlins 2: The New Batch. This figure stands at about 6 inches tall, decked out with a white cloth goods wedding gown. Gretta is also featured with synthetic hair, interchangeable hands, a wedding bouquet, and a display-friendly window box package. Continuing with Gremlins 2: The New Batch we will be getting a two-pack set some time soon, called the tattoo set. MD will report on that when more information is available.
As you all know the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line has been flourishing over at NECA. This year they gave us horror geeks something we can sink our fangs into when TMNT crossed with Universal Monsters. NECA acquiring both licenses of these two beloved franchises, decided to do a mashup. "It had been done in the past (with other companies) but decided to do our own take on it" -Stephen. Unique mashups such as Franken Raph, Leonardo as The Hunched Back, The Invisible Donatello, Michelangelo as The Mummy, Bride Of Frankenstein April O'Neill and Splinter as Van Helsing.
Since we're on the topic of Universal Monsters, the line continues for the first time NECA is showing off the Bela Lugosi Dracula, The Invisible Man, and The Creature From The Black Lagoon. Also, new this year to this line are the Monster accessories set; The Mummy's Tomb, Dr. Frankenstein's lab, and Dracula's Castle. All will be available early next year.
Robocop is back! NECA also reintroduced the 1987s Robocop back to SDCC this year by unveiling the Ultimate version of the crime-fighting cyborg, with improved deco and a few new accessories. Also battle-damaged Robocop with multiple heads, his mechanical chair, and accessories as well. And back by popular demand, the ED-209 is being re-released. Collectors and geeks long beckoned its return, now for the third time.
Predator is one of the NECAs longest and most successful running lines and by far an absolute favorite. The company is finally wrapping up the Lost Tribe series after two long pandemic-stricken years. 2020 was the set release date for the Predator 2 30th anniversary Lost Tribe line. Revealing ultimate packs for the last three in this wave which is Elder "Grey Back" Predator, Snake Predator, and Boar Predator. All should be available starting in September through early 2023.
With Hocus Pocus getting a sequel this year, NECA introduces the Sanderson sisters in Toony Terrors form. All three sisters and Billy are getting the "Toon treatment". Also Teen Wolf, aliens from They Live, Ghouliana from The Beauty Of Horror, and fan favorite, Killer Clowns From Outer Space.
There are two new cloth goods figures that NECA fans are talking about. The two new Matt Hooper figures from 1975s Jaws. One is outfitted with his Amity arrival apparel and the other one has scuba gear from the shark cage battle as he fights Bruce.(The Great White Shark was affectionately named Bruce by Steven Spielberg after his lawyer.) Both utilized Richard Dreyfuss's likeness.
NECA was also showing another SDCC reveal with Herman Munster from Rob Zombies' new film The Munsters remake in a 7" scale figure with an extra head and accessories. NECA also doing an old-school homage to the old Remco figures with the large head featuring all three main characters for the film, Lilly, Herman, and Grandpa.
Lastly, after another long two-year hiatus, we are getting Chucky and Tiffany from Bride Of Chucky. Both figures are life-size, one to one scale, and have synthetic hair, real clothing, and full articulation. These two are not only long anticipated but long overdue. We can't wait!
It was an absolute pleasure to be given this opportunity, again a big big thank you to George and Stephen over at NECA. Now that we've seen what's to come from NECA, what are you most excited about? Let us know, we'd love to hear about it.
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